[F7 - SP] Rumors of a Fiery Beast <<Arabian Nights>> Second Night - [Completed]

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

Progressive Story/Quest Series

<<Arabian Nights>>

Second Night: “Have you heard?”

This quest takes place on Floor 7.
This quest is not repeatable after completion.

Quest Background:
At noon, a while after completing the previous quest, you receive a PM from Ali. The message is simple: a request for you to meet him at dusk at the 'Drunken Crane' Tavern on the 7th floor, annexed with the coordinates for the place. When you reached the designated spot, you find Ali at the bar where he invites you for a drink. "Have you heard?" he asked while making sure that your conversation isn't being eavesdropped on. "They say that those bandits have tamed a legendary being, a three headed chimera of a goat, bear and lion. They captured it from the other side of Nimbus, high up the mountain." he says with a disbelieving tone. "Can you check it out for me? Maybe slay it if you can and bring back some proof? You did a great job with those bandits I doubt you'll have a hard time with a little beast like that." he adds with a laugh that seemed like a bad omen. The coordinates for an general area where a thieves hideout, where they might be keeping the beast, are sent to you. Again, a quest confirmation window shortly follows, appearing in his immediate vicinity, will you accept it?

Route options:

1. (Liar route) - Find the Manticore's location, kill the beast, get the loot from it and then tell Ali you didn't find it/bring no proof of its existence.
2. (Honest route) - Find the Manticore's location, kill the beast, get its loot then return the item drop to Ali.
3. (Scout route) - Find the Manticore's location, observe it then turn back and simply inform Ali of your discovery, without bringing back any proof of its existence.

• The thread creator chooses the route in his initial post, the rest of the participants agree with his decission by replying to the thread.
• Regardless of the chosen route, players still need to kill/bypass all thieves.
• At the end of the thread before locking, a staff member will roll and post the roll ID. This roll will be used in the later parts of this quest series.

 

Prerequisites:

1. All of the thread participants must have completed the previous quest of this series: First Night - "It all began with a couple of words" (Any route)

• Players need to link it in their first post along with posting their stats, skills(+mods), equipped items and battle ready inventory.

 

Requirements:

1. Thread must have at least 1 completed page of roleplaying. (21+ posts).

2. Must roleplay talking to Ali at the Tavern before you accept the quest from him and after you return to the tavern to claim the rewards, in min. 5 posts. (in total, overall)

3. Fight against the primary group(s) of thieves, find and kill/observe the Manticore (depending on route choice), then defeat the secondary group(s) of thieves when you return. (more information below)

4. To find the Manticore, players need to roll a LD of 10 in the out of combat post(s) that come after defeating the primary group(s) of thieves. They can engage in combat with it (or walk away and defeat/bypass the remaining thieves) in the next post (depending on route choice). 

5. Any number of players can be take part in this quest. A party constitutes of 4 players max. If there is more than one party, the bandit number multiplies accordingly:
   Total number of bandits = 5*(number of parties)
   3(per group)*(number of parties) before fighting/observing the Manticore + 2(per group)*(number of parties) on the way back to Ali
   Note#1: The secondary party can have between 1 and 4 members, a secondary team can be formed only when there are more than 4 players participating on this quest.

6. In posts which contain multiple rolls for player and mobs, the roll order is as the following: Player roll -> Thief(s) roll  ||  Player roll -> Chimera roll. 
   Note#2: When more than one player team is present, attack turns are as the following: Player team 1 -> Bandit group 1 -> Player team 2 -> Bandit group 2 / etc. || Player team 1 -> Manticore x2 -> Player team 2 -> Manticore x2 / etc.

 

Quest Mob Information:

             

<<Senior Thief>> - A masked NPC in shady clothing of sand-like color wielding a dagger. Receives its(their) own dice roll!
When rolling for a thief or a group of thieves, make sure to use your own username. If you decide to do one roll for a group, the dice apply to every member of the group.
Example: on a successful hit for 'Tri Pierce' each bandit will use that specific sword art on the player with most hate in the party. In case that 2 or more players have the same highest amount of hate, the thieves will split equally in and attack those players.

Note#3: You CANNOT modify the preset stats for the thieves. 
If this quest is taken as a Solo Party, the player can fight the bandits one after another using stealth mechanics. In a PP/OP the thieves spawn in groups.

Note#4: In a PP/OP, a player may attempt to skip fighting the thieves if they have invested at least 1 rank in the 'Sneak and Hide' skill; by applying the stealth mechanics. A player will still need to roll X number of times, one for each mob he/she tries to bypass. A player may try to act as bait for the group, if the thief's LD is higher than the player's 'Stealth Rating', the thief will attack the player (using that same roll dices) without alerting the other thief(s), making it possible to kill the mobs one by one. If a player bypasses any number of the required thieves, he/she can still go back and help the rest of the team; or try to bypass all, then leave the thread and finish the quest.

Note#4A: If a player gets attacked by a thief while the rest of the team(s) fight, the player needs to fight the thieve alone until the rest finish their own fights. If a player has succeeded in getting past all the thieves, he/she will receive the rewards upon completing the quest, even if the rest of the team fails/dies. In this situation if the player is the only one to live he is allowed to double post until completing the quest.

Stats: 

• Health: 186 / Damage Mitigation: 43 / Accuracy: 2 / Savvy: 2 / Tier 2 Bleed (8-10 nat BD)
• Basic Damage: 9 (10 on a natural BD of 9 , 11 on a natural 10 BD of 10)

Available Sword Arts / Conditions (Thief dice):
Bandits don't have an energy bar but they will use sword arts with every successful hit.

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

 

---

Image by Denny Edwards

<<Manticore>> - A unnatural and highly implausible, mythical beast. Its body made from more than one animal part: a vaguely humanoid head with shark teeth, the body of a lion and the wings of a dragon(or bat). Its tail end in sharp and long spikes, most likely used as an instrument of attack. The Manticore receives its own Dice Roll. When rolling for it, make sure to use your own username.

Note#5: You CANNOT modify the preset stats for the Manticore.

Stats: 647 Health / 50 Damage Mitigation / Accuracy: 3 / Evasion: 2
65 Basic Damage per hit / Tier 2 Burn Damage (on a successful non-critical hit after modifiers, except a natural 8,)

Abilities:

• Double attack: The chimera attacks twice in one turn, once on a successful BD and second on a successful MD. Evasion/Accuracy or any kind of Battle dice related action applies to the Monster dice as well. This acts as two distinct normal hits, each being mitigable.
• Partial Phase: The chimera will always deal a minimum of 24 normal damage per hit, even through Armor and Armor Abilities/Mods. Except for the following Fire Breath attack.
• Fire Breath: On a natural BD/MD of 8-10, the chimera will breath fire, releasing a AoE attack that will affect all players fighting it for 40 normal damage and Tier 2 Burn Damage per post, for the next 2 individual player post. It is possible to simultaneously release 2 Fire Breath attacks if the BD and MD meet the requirements for it. In this case, Burn Damage does not stack but resets post count, while the normal attack damage combines into 80 normal damage; this value is then mitigatable. 

Mob Drop:

• Manticore Mask [Tier 1 or 2, Unique Heavy/Light armor]: 'Taunt, +1 Flame Aura, +1 Damage Mitigation'. A mask that has the same distorted human expression with shark teeth, as the Manticore that dropped it.
  This item goes ONLY to the player that dealt the last hit, effectively killing the Chimera. It is instantly received the moment the mob dies; it morphs to the dominant type of armor skill the player has, as tier 2, if the player's level is >= 25, tier 1 otherwise. Tradable afterwards.

 

Rewards:

1. (Liar route) - 8,000 Col, 3 SP, Manticore Mask (last hit reward), 
2. (Honest route) - 8,000 Col, 3 SP,
3. (Scout route) - 8,000 Col, 2 SP.

• The completion of this quest will be a prerequisite for continuing the series.

 

Quest Ending Description/Dialogue:

1. (Liar & Scout route) - "Eh? so it's all just a rumour made up by the thieves??? " he asks with a partially surprised expression as you start telling him your story, "I didn't really believe it, without some proof...." he sighs but then produces a pouch full of Col coins. "For your troubles..." he adds while tossing the pouch towards you. In the same time, the Quest Ending Window pops in front of you, displaying your hard earned rewards.
2. (Honest route) - "Eh? so it's all true???" he asks while staring at the Chimera Mask in his hands. Still, didn't seem as surprised as you'd expect him to be, hinting that maybe such implausible things weren't a strange sight to him. He quickly gets over and starts fooling around with the mask as he heads towards the Tavern's exit. "Almost forgot!" he adds as he turns around and hands you a pouch full of Col coins. "It isn't much but I'll be in your dept." he adds as he leaves the tavern with the mask on his face bouncing around happily, like a kid that got a new toy. In the same time, the Quest Ending Window pops in front of you, displaying your hard earned rewards.

 

Recommended Level: 25-35
Parties or Groups of players are recommended and encouraged. Consumables as well.

Credits: Some quest concepts borrowed from the ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ Middle Eastern and South Asian stories and folktales.

Prerequisites:

Spoiler

Previous Thread:

Shield Stats:
HP: 880
EN: 88
DMG: 3
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
MIT: 124

Gear:
Bloody Hell (T2): 2 DMG, 24 Bleed (8+)
Razor Ire (T2): 28 Thorns , 1 Recovery
Pain Drinker (T2): 54 Regen

Familiar:
Norbert: 54 Mit

At Ready:

Basic Teleport Crystal
Seeking Aura - +3 LD Trinket (Equipped at start, but switching soon after)
Finder's Keeper - +1 Skill Slot (Search & Detect) (Equipped at start, but switching soon after) 
Healing Crystal (160 HP) x 3
Immolation Pot (14 Thn) x 5
Banner of Support (Dimensional Backpack)

Skills:
Block: 5
Heavy Armor: 4
Battle Healing: 3
Search & Detect: 1
Howl
Parry
Familiar - Mit: 3

Active Skill Mods:
Focused Howl

 

Just as Shield was wrapping up in his shop for the day, he noticed a notification in his inbox. As he opened the message, he saw a name he had not seen for some time.

"Ali?" he said, blinking at his display before reading the contents of the message. "It can't be. I haven't heard from that quest line in months. Maybe it's on a delayed timer to progress matters."

In any case, the previous quest had been a profitable one, so he figured that continuing the story line was a good idea. He swept up the last of the dust on his shop's newly polished floor and gave the display case for his unique items a quick shine before closing up and making his way to Taft for use of their teleportation plaza.

The seventh floor had not changed any since his last visit, which was both surprising and unsurprising. The layout of Aincrad never changed, and yet it had been so long that it felt like it should have by now. He made his way to the Drunken Crane, spotting his contact immediately.

"My friend!" called out the cinnamon skinned NPC. Shield greeted him as warmly as one could greet something that wasn't technically alive, shaking his hand.

"You wished to speak with me?" Shield inquired, releasing the firm grasp of the non-player. 

Edited April 16, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

"Indeed I did," replied Ali, taking a moment to look left and right. This seemed a silly gesture, as they were in an inn in broad daylight, but the NPC apparently was programmed to treat the meeting as secretive. "Have you heard? They say that those bandits have tamed a legendary being, a three headed chimera of a goat, bear and lion. They captured it from the other side of Nimbus, high up the mountain." he says with a disbelieving tone. "Can you check it out for me? Maybe slay it if you can and bring back some proof? You did a great job with those bandits I doubt you'll have a hard time with a little beast like that."

At the mention of "proof," Shield's ears perked up a little. In certain games, such items could actually be useful to the player, forcing them into difficult decisions, but so far he had not known SAO to pose such dilemmas  to players.

[Shield 0]

Regardless, Shield nodded in agreement, accepting the quest as the window popped up in front of him. Ali went on for a while, talking about how wonderful it had been to spend time with his brother now that he had been saved from the bandits by Shield in the months prior. However, he seemed quite content to prattle on with or without Shield's participation. Without a further word to the overly friendly NPC, he turned and left the inn, making a direct route along the plotted course to the quest destination.

The quest was already more pleasant than the one before it, not requiring him to spend yet more time stumbling around through sand dunes in order to find the hideout.

Spoiler

ID# 82251 results: Loot: 9 + 3 item + 1 skill + 1 skill item = 14 - No Materials (0 total)

Swapping Gear:
- Seeking Aura, - Finder's Keeper, + Bloody Hell, + Pain Drinker

As the thought of the hidedout came to mind, Shield decided to err on the side of caution and switch to his combat gear. He knew his opponents well enough to know that they were not above ambushing him.

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

Stats: 

ID# 82254 results:

 Battle: 9 - Hit thief 1! - 3 dmg + 1 - 43 mit = 1 dmg - Bleed 24

ID# 82255 results:

 Battle: 3 + 2 = 5 - Miss

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 161/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 2: HP: 186/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 3: HP: 186/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

As luck would have it, just like on the first night, Shield managed to catch sight of them before they noticed him. Three of them were gathered around the entrance of a cave, sitting around a fire. He knew that their inattentiveness wouldn't last for long, so his time to strike was quickly disappearing. He took off from the edge of the stony clearing, the thieves seeing him and scrambling for their weapons.

They only just managed to draw their daggers as he struck the first of them across the face. Red pixels showered across his vision as the cowled figure was laid out on the stony ground, he and his allies all failing to connect to their target.

"I don't have to play tank today," he growled. "That means I can focus on pounding you into the dirt without wasting time yelling at you. You should feel privileged, gentlemen."

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82258 results:

 Battle: 8 - Hit thief 2! - 3 dmg -- Bleed - 24 dmg

ID# 82259 results:

 Battle: 6 + 2 = 8, Hit! - 5 x 1 x 9 = 45 dmg - 124 dmg = 1 x 3 = 3 dmg, Thorns - 28 dmg

 Craft: 2 - Infinite

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 109/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9 - Bleed [ended]
Thief 2: HP: 133/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9 - Bleed [1/2]
Thief 3: HP: 158/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

The first rogue came up swinging, but not before Shield had knocked the second across the face and sent him stumbling in a similar shower of red particle effects. One after another, the sneaks jabbed their knives into his body, each triggering the effects of his armor. They clutched at their hands, each of the offended appendages glowing with red welts of Shield's thorns.

The first one that he had struck was just beginning to close up his wounds, the damage he has sustained taking him down to nearly half of his beginning health.

I doubt the rumors are true then. If that's all it took for these weaklings to be dropped so low by someone who does so little damage, then they would be out of their leagues with the kind of creature Ali mentioned.

Sizing him up, the rogues attempted to sneak their way in closer, looking for holes in a defense that hurt them back, seemingly at random.

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82263 results:

 Battle: 3

ID# 82264 results:

 Battle: 5 + 2 + 2 = 9 - Hit! - 3 x 9 = 27 dmg - 124 mit = 1 dmg x 3 = 3 dmg (insignificant after regen and BH)

 Craft: 4 - Tri Pierce

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 81/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 2: HP: 81/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9 - Bleed [ended]
Thief 3: HP: 130/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

Not wanting to lose any steps, he kept pressing his advantage, positioning himself to corner the last remaining unstruck thief. The rogue studied him carefully, backing away in response to his posturing. By the time Shield was ready to strike, all it took as a simple duck and roll and the rogue was well out of reach.

The others though, had been shadowing Shield, keeping close and preparing to strike. As soon as the third was out of the way, they launched their knives forward, landing three quick strikes each. The dodging rogue came up from his roll and mimicked their attacks. It also mimicked the damage that the first two had taken from their attacks. This put the first two into the beginnings of their yellow health bars.

"You know," Shield mused aloud, "I've fought dozens of you cretins. Yet, for some reason, you three have been by far the easiest to take down. I'm going to make short work of you three."

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82265 results:

 Battle: 5 - Miss

ID# 82266 results:

 Battle: 1 - Miss

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 81/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 2: HP: 81/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 3: HP: 130/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

After their health bars began to drop one at a time into the yellow, the rogues seemed to change up their tactics. They switched the grip of their knives to a defensive back-hand position, dancing back just outside of Shield's attack radius. He cursed under his breath. He had seen this before with thieves before, and it meant a long fight if he couldn't draw them out or catch them off guard.

He leaped forward, slicing at the healthiest of the three, but before he had landed the space was no longer occupied. His axe cut through nothing and three very tentative jabs failed to make a solid connection with his body. He had hoped that this being a higher level quest might mean thieves that were more bold and aggressive, but so far, aside from the initial shock, this did not seem to be the case.

"Tch. Cowards," he groused, giving each of them a dirty look as he took steps towards them to probe their defenses.

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82267 results:

 Battle: 2

ID# 82268 results:

 Battle: 9 + 2 = 11 - Hit! - 5 x 1 x 11 = 55 dmg - 124 - 1 x 3 = 3 dmg, Bleed - 24 (Insignificant after regen and BH)

 Craft: 3 - Infinite

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 81/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 2: HP: 81/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 3: HP: 130/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

He charged again, beginning to regret signing up for anything that had the word "thief"attached to it.

"I am getting... completely sick... of you cowards... just dodging back... and not... really fighting me!"

With each little phrase, he sent another swipe with his blade towards the rogue who he had so far failed to connect with. Each time, the target dodged back and out of the way. Finally, as he caught his foot and stumbled, the rogues pounced, leaping onto him and lancing their weapons deep into his back. He could see red pixels trailing out from behind him, and as they scrambled away, he saw the blood drop icon appear in his display.

"And what do you think you've accomplished here?" he spat. "Do you think your underhanded tactics have won you any ground?"

His health gauge was indeed slightly lower, but he kept an eye on it.

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82270 results:

 Battle: 10 - Hit thief 3! - 3 dmg + 2 - 43 mit = 1 dmg, Bleed - 24 dmg

ID# 82271 results:

 Battle: 6 + 2 = 8 - Hit! - 5 x 1 x 9 = 45 dmg - 124 - 1 x 3 = 3 dmg, Bleed [ending]

 Craft: 3 - Infinite

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 53/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 2: HP: 53/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 3: HP: 77/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

As Shield stood and regarded them, the entirety of the damage they had dealt him evaporated, They froze, sure that they had managed something at least significant, when in reality, their strongest attacks had proven futile. In their hesitation, Shield pounced, knocking the healthiest of the three thieves over and plunging his axe into the side of the sneak's head. It was difficult to say where all of the pixels were coming from, but in the wake of his attack, it was safe to say that both he and his target were bleeding.

In retaliation, or maybe just out of fear, all three of them struck out at him with reckless abandon, sending as many attacks into his bulk as they could. With each slice and stab, a little more of their health bars drained away until the two weaker rogues had fallen into the red and even the healthiest was in the yellow.

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82279 results:

 Battle: 3

ID# 82280 results:

 Battle: 10 + 2 = 12 - Hit! - 2 x 4 x 11 = 88 dmg - 124 - 1 x 3 = 3 dmg, Bleed - 24 (Insignificant after regen and BH)

 Craft: 10

 MOB: 1 - Cross Edge

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 53/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 2: HP: 53/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 3: HP: 53/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

Their brazenness only mounted as they neared death. While they had once been cautious in the face of death, they saw that this could bring them no victory. Shield lunged, but his weapon sung through the air and threw up sparks against the stony ground where it hit. Meanwhile, a more ferocious assault befell him than he had ever seen at the hand of thieves. His vision was full of knives, and then after that, with pixelated blood. He knew they must have struck critical hits, and what's more, this attack seemed even more potent than the one before.

That being said, and knowing that Shield had taken hits from a more powerful combo, his health remained exactly the same as it had the last time they bled him. he straightened back up, glancing around at all of them.

"Oh no," he simpered. "That wasn't supposed to be your trump card, was it? Because if it was, and if you really hit as hard as you could have with it... then I'm afraid this fight is already decided."

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82281 results:

 Battle: 2 - Miss

ID# 82282 results:

 Battle: 3 + 2 (savvy 2) - 5 - miss / 7 Hit! - Thief 1 Hit! - Damage insignificant - 1 dmg, Thorns - 28

 Craft: 12 - Shadow Stitch

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 25/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 2: HP: 53/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 3: HP: 53/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

They remained as silent as ever, which did not surprise Shield. It was only in the tricky quest, <Escape> that he had heard them speak, and they were less thieves than bandits, which in the end was all the same to him, but he supposed there was likely some distinction to be made. He took another step and swiped an uppercut at the first rogue, who easily dodged back and out of the way, bringing the butt of his dagger across Shield's face for insignificant damage, despite dealing a little bit to himself in the process.

"I feel like every time we get to this point I try to reason with you, and every time diplomacy fails, if it can be called that," Shield sighed, looking around from one read health bar to the next. "I guess I need to face the fact that you're only brainless mobs with no sense of self or pride."

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82283 results:

 Battle: 9 - Hit thief 2! - 3 dmg + 1 = 4 - 43 mit = 1, Bleed 24

ID# 82284 results:

 Battle: 1 - Miss

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: 25/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 2: HP: 28/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9
Thief 3: HP: 53/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

Despite their caution, Shield had begun to account for their algorithm. They couldn't let him leave, but they also couldn't be too aggressive or they would risk overextending themselves. Even when he managed to deal some damage, it was little bits at a time. That being said, he was going to have to draw them out. He took a step back. Then he took another. The rogues, their programming confused, seemed to react as if they had the advantage with their foe backing away.

He took one more step, crouching on his back leg before springing forward. he caught the thief in the neck with his axe, triggering yet another shower of red to spray into the air around them. The programming went haywire. Confused attacks knifed through the air in all directions, their originators now knowing whether to threat the situation offensively or defensively. Meanwhile, he had succeeded at putting two of the three of them one thorns proc away from death.

Just a little more luck...

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82285 results:

 Battle: 1

ID# 82286 results:

 Battle: 4 + 2 - Hit! - Damage insignificant, Thorns - 28

 Craft: 3 - Infinite

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Thief 1: HP: -3/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9 [Dead]
Thief 2: HP: -24/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9 [Dead]
Thief 3: HP: 25/186 | Mit: 43 | Acc: 2 | Sav: 2 | Bleed 24 (8+) | DMG: 9

• Infinite - 5x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 1-3]
• Tri Pierce - 3x1*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 4-8]
• Cross Edge - 2x4*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 1-5]
• Armor Pierce - 1x1*(Basic Damage) & Stun / [On a successful hit, CD roll 9-10, MD roll 6-10]
• Shadow Stitch - 3x2*(Basic Damage) / [On a successful hit, CD roll 11-12]

While only one rogue remained truly out of immediate danger of death, Shield decided to throw caution to the wind and return to the offensive. Their confusion still not settled, even as his attack missed, they each retaliated without caution, and before Shield could properly register what had happened, he was surrounded by a sea of shattering blue polygons of light. As they dissipated into the air, Shield found himself face to face with the only remaining thief.

"You put up a good fight, but this is over," he growled, slowly advancing on the computer generated entity whose health was now too far into the read for any hopes of recovery. "If you were a human, I'd give you the choice of whether to settle this with civility, but not only are you modeled after a spineless, cowardly creature with no sense of civility, but you're not even a person. You're just code, programmed to stand in my way. Well, at least have the decency to stand strong, because like it or not - know it or not - this is your last stand."

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82288 results:

 Battle: 2 - Miss

ID# 82289 results:

 Battle: 8 - Hit - It procs my thorns. It's dead. I'm down like... 1 HP, that will recover before I take my next attack. Let it go. Hey, why are you still even reading this?

Craft: 3 - Wimpy attack that doesn't stun. Whatever. Who cares.

Shield took one last swing only to see the nimble hands of the rogue slip past his guard and cut with its knife along the inside of Shield's wrist. Against a living body, it would have been an impressive and possibly deadly strike for the recipient, but here, it was the other way around. Like his comrades before him, he bust into fragmented light and then was gone, leaving Shield by himself.

His health nearly at full and his energy stores not even in danger of running out before the end of things, he pressed on, wandering through the entrance, making sure not to misstep and trigger any traps along the way. Like the wide away in the desert, the halls of the cavern twisted and turned, bringing him deeper underground with each step until he found himself in a small common area. There was a card table, several decks of mangled playing cards, a few animal bones, and a tattered tapestry along one side of the room. Other than that, it was a dead end.

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

Swapping gear:

- Pain Drinker, - Bloody Hell, + Seeking Aura, + Finder's Keeper

ID# 82291 results: Loot: 10 + 3 item + 3 skill + 1 skill item = 15 - Manticore found!

Shield recognized that this might be a matter of finding the right way to advance, especially considering that the last den of thieves he infiltrated had its share of hidden nooks. Banishing his combat items, he swapped in his seeking items and proceeded to poke around the room, nudging the edge of the table, moving the chairs, trying to find any hidden switches. It was only then that he remembered where the last hidden passage was hidden.

"They wouldn't... Not twice in a row..." Shield said to himself, stepping over to the tapestry. Moving the fabric aside, he felt cool air against his hand. "Of course they would. Because rogues are always exactly the same in this game."He stepped into the tunnel that the tapestry concealed, trying to let his eyes adjust to the near inky blackness of the passage. Before long, there came a glow up ahead. It wasn't consistent, and it wasn't exactly steady when it showed itself, but it seemed to be coming from straight ahead regardless.

Edited April 15, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82296 results: Loot: 16 - +1 material (1 total)

Swapping back to combat gear. - 4 LD, + 54 regen, + 24 bld + 2 dmg

Before long, he found that there was indeed a steady light ahead, just much dimmer than whatever other light he saw on occasion.

"Is that it? The beast?" 

He quickened his pace, eventually finding his way to the edge of an iron grate that seemed to serve as a gate. There, in a little cell lit by torches along the surrounding walls, was a great mishmash of a beats. A mass of fur and wings and spines and an eerily human head.

If this is what I'm in for, then this fight might actually be interesting.

Carefully, he lifted the latch on the door, swinging the grate inward. The creature was busy clawing at the floor and had yet to notice his arrival. if he played his cards right, he might even get the drop on it. He crept his way along the floor, his axe in hand, slowly raising it above his head to prepare to strike.

Edited April 15, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82298 results:

 Battle: 10 - Hit! - 3 dmg + 2 = 5 dmg - 50 mit = 1 dmg, Bleed - 24

ID# 82299 results:

 Battle: 1 - Miss

 MOB: 3 + 3 = 6 - Hit! - 65 dmg - 124 Mit - 24 (min),  Thorns - 28, Burn - 24 dmg (insignificant after BH and Regen)

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Stats: HP: 594/647 | MIT 50 | ACC 3 | EVA 2 | DMG 65 - 24 BRN (All normal hits) | PHS 24

Abilities:

Double attack: BD and MD attacks, Fire Breath: BD/MD (8+) - AoE 40 DMG + 24 BRN - 2 turns (If both trigger, combines into 80 normal damage (mitigatable). 

Note: Total maximum damage 65 - 124 mit = 24 min x 2 = 48 + 24 BRN = 72 - 54 Regen - 30 BH = 0 dmg
All damage from boss is insignificant. Future posts will be shorthand to show only relevant combat data

As he stepped nearer, he became aware that with the hard, stone floor, sneaking beyond a certain point was going to be impossible. He was going to have to charge in to get the drop. Gritting his teeth he kicked hard off of the ground. The eerie face of the creature looked up just in time to see Shield's axe bury itself right between its eyes. Bloody pixels spurted from its face as Shield wrenched his axe free. One claw swiped and missed in its blind retaliatory rage, but the sweeping spined tail did not.

It caught him in the ribs, knocking him sidelong, but more from its size than anything else. The actual damage attached to the attack was barely a fraction of what he knew he would recover. He scrambled back to his feet as flames fumed out of the creature's mouth.

"Well, that explains the bright lights I was seeing before," he murmured to himself.

Edited April 15, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82301 results:

 Battle: 8 - 2 = 6 - Hit! 1 dmg, Bleed - 24 (reset)

ID# 82302 results:

 Battle: 5 + 3 - Hit! - 65 dmg - 124 Mit - 24 (min),  Thorns - 28

 MOB: 9 + 3 - Hit! - 40 dmg - 124 Mit - 24 (min),  Burn - 24 (reset)

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Stats: HP: 541/647 | MIT 50 | ACC 3 | EVA 2 | DMG 65 - 24 BRN (All normal hits) | PHS 24

Abilities:

Double attack: BD and MD attacks, Fire Breath: BD/MD (8+) - AoE 40 DMG + 24 BRN - 2 turns (If both trigger, combines into 80 normal damage (mitigatable). 

He leaned his shoulders forward and rushed in once again, not wanting to allow the creature time to get its bearings. He struck the creature in the shoulder, sending out yet another burst of pixels. Right around this time, he noticed that he had a status effect of his own. A little flame icon had appeared in his HUD. However, his health bar was keeping pace with the damage he took. The manticore swept its wing across Shield's face, knocking him away before a glow issued from the back of its throat.

Heat boiled through the air just before a jet of flames arced out and caught Shield in the chest, turning his armor a bright, cherry red where it struck. As it cooled, he double checked his health, and sure enough, his recovery rate was still outpacing the worst that this foe had to offer.He looked at the remaining hit points on the manticore and frowned. 

Edited April 15, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82303 results:

 Battle: 4 - Miss

ID# 82304 results:

 Battle: 10 - Hit!

 MOB: 10 - Hit!

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Stats: HP: 541/647 | MIT 50 | ACC 3 | EVA 2 | DMG 65 - 24 BRN (All normal hits) | PHS 24

Abilities:

Double attack: BD and MD attacks, Fire Breath: BD/MD (8+) - AoE 40 DMG + 24 BRN - 2 turns (If both trigger, combines into 80 normal damage (mitigatable). 

"Well, this fight may be a sure thing, but it's not going to be a quick thing," he groaned, tightening his grip on the handle of his axe.

Swinging high, he attempted to keep triggering further bleed effects, hoping to milk the extra damage for as long as possible, but unfortunately, the manticore's claws both had similar ideas. The weapons all met in the air, binding together. The long, razor sharp teeth, which Shield suspected had more bark than actual bite, glinted in the torch light, and the thing opened its shark-like mouth to let out a foul-breathed roar.

It was like a lion's call, if lions had human vocal cords. Although it challenged Shield's own volume, it did not have the same ferocity as the howling tank.

"You'll have to do a lot better than that to shake me," he growled, fighting to free his weapon from the duel clawed grip of the manticore.

Edited April 15, 2017 by Shield

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82305 results:

 Battle: 1 - Miss

ID# 82306 results:

 Battle: 1 - Miss

 MOB: 10 - Hit!

[H:0] Shield - HP: 880/880: EN: 88/88 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 124 | BH:30 | THN: 28 | BH: 30 | RGN: 54

Stats: HP: 541/647 | MIT 50 | ACC 3 | EVA 2 | DMG 65 - 24 BRN (All normal hits) | PHS 24

Abilities:

Double attack: BD and MD attacks, Fire Breath: BD/MD (8+) - AoE 40 DMG + 24 BRN - 2 turns (If both trigger, combines into 80 normal damage (mitigatable). 

Try as Shield might, he wasn't quite able to pull his axe free, despite wrenching with all of his strength.

"You're so lucky I'm not a DPS build," he muttered to himself.

As he spoke, the familiar glow resurfaced at the back of the creature's throat. Shield cursed, giving one last unsuccessful tug before taking the fiery blast full in the face, unable to move from the spot without potentially losing his weapon. While immune to the damage itself, the sensation was still incredibly uncomfortable. It sucked the wind out of him, like being forced to stare down a hot hair dryer, and he choked on his empty airways.

When the flames subsided, he gasped, filling his lungs once again. While in SAO, his virtual lungs may be inconsequential, but he still did not much like the feeling of not being able to breathe.

"Remind me to never take one of those to the face again," he noted to himself.

Edited April 15, 2017 by Shield