[PP-NK-F10] <<Wail of the Banshee>>

[Teion 0]

Teion walked along the side of the long dining table opposite Shield. If it weren't for the visible dirt clinging to the tattered cloth, the woman would have absently run her fingertips across it as she walked. Opting to keep her hands to herself, Teion gave a quick glance to the candelabra as it lit up, her eyes flickering around in caution shortly afterward. "Mm," Teion mumbled an acknowledgement to Shield as he spoke, casting the chair he gestured to a look of suspicion. The blacksmith tentatively pulled the seat out, wincing slightly at the dull sound of scraping wood that echoed through the room.

As Teion took her seat, and she expected Shield to follow suit, the party wouldn't have been in their chairs for longer than a few seconds before the faint sound of rattling chains echoed around the room. Before Teion had a moment to process the noise or locate its source, the woman was startled by a pair of skeletal arms swinging around her torso. Teion gave a small yelp of surprise before struggling against the figure holding her firmly against her seat. Despite the scythe in her grip at her lap, the woman's arms were pinned to her sides to prevent her from both moving and attacking. An identical monster, an <<Undead Guardian Zombie>> as Cardinal had labeled it, had appeared behind the brunette at the same time, attempting to subdue both players at once. Only moments passed before another wail would pierce the dusty air of the mansion, the loudest and closest they had heard since discovering the building. Unable to shield her ears, Teion simply struggled against the zombie's grip, growling in frustration at the piercing screech of what she assumed was the banshee herself.

A chilling wind blew through the banquet hall, extinguishing the flames of the candelabra. Another set of double doors, past the end of the dining table, swung open with incredible force. In the doorway, staring the players down with an empty expression, a woman labeled the <<Banshee>> hovered above the ground, her torn, white dress growing transparent at the edges. Beside her stood two identical <<Undead Guardian Zombies>>, leaving the players well outnumbered.

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

Action: Parry vs Banshee

+1 Hate [Mask]

Roll ID: 83107

 MOB: 9

Zombies: 9 - Hit! - 120 dmg + 1 = 121 - 134 mit = 1 dmg x 4 = 4 dmg
Banshee: 9 - Hit! (PHS) - 200 dmg + 1 = 201 /2 (parry) = 100 - 50 mit (block -  unphaseable) = 50 dmg

[H:1] Shield - HP: 1040/1094: EP: 94/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:0] @Teion

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 40/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 40/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 40/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 40/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 250/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

As the trap was sprung, Shield put his feet up on the table and pushed back, toppling his chair backwards onto the guardian behind him. He rolled back and up onto his feet, pulling down the Manticore Mask. Immediately, the imposing visage drew the attention of every foe on the battlefield, five sets of hollow eyes each focusing on him.

Good. Follow me closely, everyone. No need to worry about the lady with the axe over there...

He stopped just short of the Banshee, holding up his axe and shield in defense. The brokers had warned him of some pretty nasty damage that she could put out, so he wanted to test the waters first. Welcoming the challenge of the mask, the small swarm of zombies and the Banshee gathered around, each swinging with an intense hatred that seemed to burn in their nonexistent eyes. While the undead minions behind him did little to nothing, the Banshee managed to claw her way past his axe with her elongated, blade-like fingers and tore at his shield, slashing him across the chest with one powerful stroke.

His health dropped a little, though not nearly as much as if he had not been defending himself to the best of his ability. He made careful note. The Banshee was not to be trifled with, though once her minions were laid to rest, he could focus on her a little more easily.

Edited April 25, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

Within seconds, Shield had not only managed to free himself from the zombie's grasp, but also garnered the attention of the remaining monsters in the room. As the creature restraining her was distracted by the man's actions, Teion pushed her shoulders forward to break its grasp. She stood from the chair hastily, knocking it to the floor in the process. The zombie behind the woman paid her no mind, shambling over to the tank to attempt to damage the man alongside the other undead creatures.

Teion gave the battlefield a quick assessment before deciding to take out the guards. With their health pool, she assumed a mid-level sword art would be enough to wipe them out. The blacksmith tightened her grip only to realize how empty it was. 'What? Where-- She gave a frantic look to the floor around her, wasting too much time to locate her precious weapon. As its color didn't leave it standing out from their bleak surroundings, the sound of metal dragging against wood caught her attention. She spotted her scythe sliding rhythmically against the floor, as if being pulled towards the Banshee by some kind of invisible tether. The woman's cobalt eyes burned with frustration as they traveled up to meet the ghostly figure. The banshee, drawing back from her disappointing attack against the brunette, simply turned her head towards Teion with a taunting smile.

'Dammit!' She clenched her jaw, quickly moving to reach her weapon before it had gotten within reach of the Banshee. The woman nearly had to yank the weapon from the monster's ethereal grip, the resistance in general catching her off guard. Holding her weapon close to her chest, Teion gave the Banshee a final glare before turning her attention back to the group of zombies.

Spoiler

Action: Trample Act (x6) with Charge against 4 Zombies

• ID#: 83114
  • BD: 1 - Critical Fail!

[H:1] @Shield - HP: 1040/1094: EP: 94/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:0] Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 50/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 40/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 40/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 40/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 40/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 250/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

 

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

+54 HP x 5 - Regen, +30 HP - BH

Action: Parrying Banshee

ID# 83153 results:

 MOB: 7 + 1 = 8 - Hit!

Zombies - 120 dmg - 134 mit = 1 dmg, Thorns - 14 dmg, Flame Aura - 16 dmg

Banshee - 200 dmg / 2 parry = 100 dmg - 134 mit = 1 dmg, Thorns - 14 dmg, Flame Aura - 16 dmg

[H:2] Shield - HP: 1094/1094: EP: 93/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:0] @Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 50/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 220/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

Shield had little time to pay the struggle between woman and, well... dead woman any mind. There were a hailstorm of fists raining down on him, and in the midst of it all, there was one pair of hands in particular that he needed to watch for. Even through his weapon and his shield, the monstrous she-devil had done enough damage to register on his health gauge. From the number crunching he had done, there weren't many front liners who could claim the same. She may have just been lucky, but he could not afford that risk.

He held out his axe, shrugging off as many of the secondary attacks as he could, spotting the claws just as they were about to land. He swiped both his shield and weapon across his body, knocking as much of the damage away from him as he could, but two long talons had slipped past his defenses, still managing to leave a deep gash along his chest. His attacker, however, had not been so fortunate as her first strike, nor had her minions. Not only was the damage next to nonexistent, the offensive defense that Shield wore finally managed to trigger.

Little glowing gashes and small fires had broken out all around him, decorating every fist and claw as they each sought to end him. Though the fires were quickly extinguished and the scratches quickly closed, the health bar of the Banshee had dropped from full to nearly full, and those of her guardians had dropped from full to nearly dead.

"This fight is about to get a lot simpler!" he shouted over the chorus of shrieks and moaning undead that filled the banquet hall.

Edited April 26, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

The banshee showed no difficulty in splitting her attention between the two players. Once Teion had reclaimed her weapon, the creature turned to Shield to slip her ghostly claws past his defenses. The violet-haired woman scowled before Shield's voice met her ears. Her eyes flickered to the zombie minions as they were punished for their inconsequential attacks, their health plummeting from the damage caused by his armor. Despite her lingering irritation, Teion gave a slight smirk at the sight. Perhaps she should switch her focus instead.

Teion set her sights on her new target just as the undead woman drew back from a noticeably weaker attack. Not wanting to waste any more time, she gripped her scythe tightly and dashed in to close the gap between them. She brought the blade across her body in order to slice clean through the woman. In response, however, the banshee simply smiled at the blacksmith. Her ghostly body shimmered a moment just before the weapon would have made contact with her side, and the blade traveled through her body as if Teion had just taken a swing at thin air. "Tch." The woman scoffed, brow furrowed as she pulled back slightly in frustration at the failed attack. Her eyes darted to the health bar hovering in the air beside the banshee, confirming that she hadn't lost a single point before looking back to her target with a scowl.

"So much emotion hiding inside... So much destruction." For the first time in her appearance, the spectral woman opened her mouth to speak, the taunting words leaving her with an airy malice.

Spoiler

 

Action: Screw Dimension (x13) against Banshee

• ID#: 83156
  • BD: 5 - Fail! 

[H:2] @Shield - HP: 1040/1094: EP: 94/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:1] Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 49/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 250/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

 

 

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

+54 HP x 5 - Regen, + 30 HP - Battle Healing

ID# 83194 results:

 Action: Parry Banshee

 MOB: 10 - Hit!

Zombies - 120 dmg + 2 = 122 dmg - 134 mit = 1 dmg x 4 = 4 dmg

Banshee - 200 dmg + 2 = 202 dmg / 2 parry = 101 - 50 mit (block) = 51 dmg, Paralyze!

[H:3] Shield - HP: 1039/1094: EP: 94/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:1] @Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 50/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5- PARA - 1 turn

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 220/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

Apparently, Shield's assessment of the situation had done its work to jinx them, or perhaps Cardinal was listening and just wasn't content to let anything be so easy. As he put his hands up in defense, the hail of fists around him intensified once again.

Oh, hell! They're bypassing the thorns again!

Sure enough, as he watched the health bars around him, not one of them budged. The Banshee, not content to merely mock Teion and flout Shield's defenses, not only managed to sink her claws through his axe and shield once again, but took this moment to unleash her special ability. Her mouth gaped like a nutcracker, distending down further than a jaw should be allowed, and she let loose an unearthly wail. Shield twisted his axe instinctively so that he could shield himself with the breadth of the head.

A shock wave arced out from her mouth, his weapon's head cutting a swath out of it exactly the width of his body, which the rest of it washed through the room, striking Teion in the process.

Edited April 26, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

Teion stifled a low growl at the banshee's words, gripping the handle of her weapon tightly while she tried to think of a way to attack. Ever since she picked up her accuracy bonuses, the woman wasn't used to missing her attacks. Paired with the banshee's remarks, the blacksmith was beginning to lose her patience. She gave Shield a quick sideways glance, seeing that the man was in no danger with his health practically at full. The brunette's build was impressive, she had to admit--even without a support player or potions, he barely had a dent in his health after several critical strikes did their worst against him.

The woman tried to calm herself. 'You're fine, Thea. Just get through this fight, the quest will be over, and you can leave this creepy prison-mansion.' She told herself, trying to ignore the thought of passing through that dark passage again. The banshee lurched forward to strike Shield once more, but before Teion could take the opportunity to strike the creature let out an ear-piecing wail. "Augh!" Teion stopped in her tracks. If any sound could be heard over the banshee's cry, the blacksmith's weapon clanging to the ground would echo against the walls. Teion fell to a knee, palms pressed against her ears in an attempt to block out the sound. If her vision wasn't blurring and her mind wasn't growing cloudy from the aftermath of the attack, Teion would almost be grateful she didn't feel any pain from something she only assumed would have permanently damaged her hearing in the real world.

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

+54 HP x 5 - Regen, +30 BH

Action: Parry Banshee

ID# 83211 results:

 MOB: 4 + 1 = 5 - Miss

[H:3] Shield - HP: 1094/1094: EP: 94/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:1] @Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 50/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5- PARA - END

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 220/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

Although Shield had not lost his ability to move in the wake of the Banshee's wail, the force of her voice has still shaken him. He stumbled back a pace, his axe and shield still extended in defense. As he stepped back, he unintentionally placed his shield between himself and the zombie guardians. Their clamoring hands struggling to find something to attack.

Great. I just made it harder for them to kill themselves.

While in a fair fight the odds of being hit by Shield's thorns were less than fifty fifty, he was sure that by now they would have hit him again without landing critical blows. He was especially disappointed by the Banshee, who was apparently a quite potent enemy, and yet had only managed to attack in such a way as to trigger his defenses once.

Someday, when I get out of here, I'm going to have a chat with whoever designed this quest.

Edited April 26, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

The uncomfortable feeling that overloaded her senses began to subside, and Teion blinked a few times as her vision became clear again. With a shake of her head, she looked over to Shield who appeared largely unaffected by the attack--health at full, and besides the annoyance of the zombies' continued attacks he seemed as though he could potentially stand there for hours.

Unfortunately, he may very well have to. Teion reached forward to feel the handle of her scythe, taking it back in both hands once her fingertips grazed the cold metal. She pushed herself back up to her feet, glancing between the zombies, Shield, and the banshee. With the zombies still at low health and doing practically nothing to the tank, the banshee still took priority. The last thing they needed was another of those ghastly wails from the creature.

The violet-haired woman steadied herself before moving forward, hesitating slightly to ensure the dizzy feeling didn't overtake her. The banshee's last swipe towards Shield missed its mark, but instead of lingering on it the spectral woman turned her glowing, pupil-less eyes to Teion. The blacksmith flinched, suddenly unsure if her blade would be able to strike the banshee if it was focused on her, much like her previous attempt. The monster seemed well aware of her frustration, giving Teion a haunting smile. "It will be the end of you, I can assure." The banshee whispered out. In response, Teion took another couple of wordless strides toward the creature, raising her blade high before bringing it down across her body. Where the weapon would have sliced through the woman, her ghostly body shimmered once more, allowing Teion's attack to pass through without effect. The blacksmith grit her teeth while the banshee let out a small chuckle.

Spoiler

Action: Screw Dimension (x13) against Banshee

• ID#: 83213
  • BD: 2 - Fail! 

[H:2] @Shield - HP: 1094/1094: EP: 94/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:1] Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 49/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 230/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

 

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

Action: Parry Banshee

ID# 83218 results:

 MOB: 3

[H:4] Shield - HP: 1094/1094: EP: 91/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:1] @Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 49/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5- PARA - END

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 220/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

With the way this fight was developing, there did not seem to be an end in sight. While it was true that Shield's health was holding steady, so too was the Banshee's and all of her minions, at least for the moment. As rotten as their luck had been so far, he had seen worse. He would just rather not have a repeat of that fight. True, he had not been in danger then, and true his body in SAO did not tire the same way his physical body would, but mentally it was exhausting to keep pace in battle.

Shield narrowed his eyes, holding out his axe yet again to defend himself from the threat of the ethereal claws of the floating apparition. Like before, her claws reached out for him, but they failed to find solid purchase. His axe and shield swatted both away harmlessly. Meanwhile, the zombies had shuffled their way back over to him. Despite this, they seemed too unintelligent to go around his defenses, choosing instead to target his defenses rather than his weaknesses.

"Well, this isn't getting us anywhere," Shield sighed, glaring around at the still standing foes, especially frustrated at the fresh green bar of the Banshee. "Curse her evasion."

Edited April 27, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

The banshee appeared to dismiss Teion, turning her attention back to the tank while her undead minions shambled over to him as well to continue their unimpressive attacks. The girl clenched her jaw, unsure at this point if she was more frustrated with her inability to damage the ghostly woman or her target's flippant attitude. When the banshee turned her back to the blacksmith, Teion swiftly twisted the handle of her weapon, spinning the pointed edge towards the ceiling. While the metal blade glowed a bright sky blue, she put all her strength into pulling it through the air in an upward strike. As the monster reached out to strike the brunette, Teion's scythe trailed along her back, leaving a bright red gash. As her health bar began to drastically drop, the banshee let out a screech, though not nearly as powerful as her previous attack, that caused the purple-haired woman to wince. "Finally." She growled under her breath, taking a tentative step back.

Spoiler

Action: Screw Dimension (x13) against Banshee

• ID#: 83235
  • BD: 6 - Success!
    • (3 Base) + (5 Skill) + (6 Equipment) = (14 Damage) x (13 Sword Art) = 182 DMG 

[H:2] @Shield - HP: 1094/1094: EP: 94/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:1] Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 38/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 10/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15

<Banshee> HP: 38/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

 

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 83239 results:

 Battle: 9 - 2 = 7 - Hit! - 1 dmg + 1 = 2 dmg 

 MOB: 7 + 1 = 8 - Hit!

Zombies - 120 dmg - 134 mit = 1 dmg x 4 = 4 dmg, Thorns - 14 dmg, Flame Aura - 16 dmg

Banshee - 200 dmg - 134 mit = 66 dmg, Thorns - 14 dmg, Flame Aura - 16 dmg

[H:7] Shield - HP: 1024/1094: EP: 91/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16[H:1]
[H:2] @Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 38/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: -20/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 [DEAD]
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: -20/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 [DEAD]
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: -20/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 [DEAD]
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: -20/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 [DEAD]

<Banshee> HP: 6/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

The health bear of the Banshee had sunk to a point where Shield was a little surprised to see that it had even stopped. From the speed it dropped, he was sure it was going to go straight to zero. Still, this was a marked improvement over what they had seen in the battle thus far. Victory being one step closer, Shield decided to take the initiative and switch to the offensive, gripping the handle of his axe and swinging it forward. It caught the banshee in the head, dealing next to no damage despite the precision of the strike.

Still, with her health in shambles, the assembled minions on the verge of death, and a pitifully weak weapon protruding from the middle of her forehead, the apparition had had her fill. She shrieked again, though not in the focused, dangerous manner as before. This was just blind anger. She tore her head away from the axe and three herself at Shield, tearing at his chest and neck with her claws-like fingers. In surprise, the warrior slacked his defense, letting his shield drift to the side. With the new opening, the zombie guardians and their multitude of clammy hands pulled Shield's arms away from his body and set about attacking him directly. As each one struck, they individually turned a bright white and shattered into fractals of pale blue light, vanishing with the last of their health.

The ghostly field boss, her own hands now covered front and back with scrapes and scratches, was nearly at her death. She scratched at her long hair, acting as if to rip out tufts of the stuff as her once proud defenses evaporated around her.

Edited April 27, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

The zombies had fallen, and the banshee was not taking the turn of battle well. Teion winced once more as she had let out another screeching wail of frustration and anguish. The blacksmith almost expected the boss to go into a frenzy and start swinging her dagger-like claws all around her. Instead, she cycled back into her same routine of trying desperately to damage Shield.

Teion brought the blade of her weapon to her side, preparing to swing in across her body and slice the last of the banshee's health away. Just as she tried to use the momentum to carry her weapon across her target, the banshee recoiled back and managed to dodge the attack. The action surprised the violet-haired woman; if anything, she would have expected the monster's smugness to persist as she would fade away to evade her attacks. Perhaps her fighting behavior did change, though more panicked than the wildness Teion had expected.

Spoiler

Action: Basic Attack against Banshee

• ID#: 83252
  • BD: 4 - Fail!

[H:2] @Shield - HP: 1024/1094: EP: 91/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:1] Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 38/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead

<Banshee> HP: 6/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

 

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

+54 HP x 5 - Regen, +30 HP - Battle Healing

Swapping Gear
-Manticore Mask

ID# 83254 results:

 MOB: 4 + 1 = 5 - Miss

[H:7] Shield - HP: 1094/1094: EP: 91/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 28
[H:1] @Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 38/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead

<Banshee> HP: 6/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+)
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

Even with the pitifully low health that the banshee had left, Shield would be incapable of finishing her off in one go, and if her incorporeal and wily antics kept putting her out of harm's way when Teion took her time to attack, the best way to deal with her would be to put more lethal steel in the air for her to have to avoid. He quickly swapped through his menus, banishing his mask so that he could equip his Bloody Hell axe.

In the mean time, the ghostly woman was not done trying to exact revenge for her humiliation. She swiped at Shield, but in her anguish and frustration, and amid having to avoid Teion's offensive, she slipped, her claws clanging loudly off of his shield. It was pathetic the state that she had fallen into, but she was clearly desperate to cling to whatever hollow life was left to her.

"I know you're trying, but this creature here is getting to be a little pitiful," Shield said, gesturing to the pathetic wailing of the once proud banshee. "Put her out of her misery..."

He meant no insult to Teion's combat abilities. It was a frustrating task dealing with evasive enemies. Still, this matter needed wrapping up.

Edited April 27, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

If an outside observer had thought that Teion had any remaining patience in this battle, not only would they be incorrect, but they would soon be able to tell without a doubt that she hadn't a thread of patience left in her. As the banshee wriggled and writhed between their attacks and her own, trying in vain to survive and take down her attackers, the purple-haired blacksmith brought her blade up over her head. With a single movement, the banshee barely had time to turn and face the woman before the scythe came down to slice her in twain.

With a final howl, the banshee's health bar depleted completely and seconds later she had shattered into thousands of shards of light. The blacksmith wrenched her blade from the wooden floor plank that it had been lodged into, holding the weapon in front of her once she'd managed to get it free. A scowl still rested upon her face, though she had no words to accompany it.

Spoiler

Action: Basic Attack against Banshee

• ID#: 83264
  • BD: 10 - Critical Success!
    • (3 Base) + (2 Critical) + (5 Skill) + (6 Equipment) = 16 DMG

[H:2] @Shield - HP: 1094/1094: EP: 91/96 | DMG: 1 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 134 | RGN: 54 | BH:30 | THN: 14 | FLA: 16
[H:1] Teion - HP: 520/520 EP: 39/52 | DMG: 14 | ACC: 2 | REC: 1 | LD: 5

<Undead Guardian Zombie 1> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 2> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 3> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead
<Undead Guardian Zombie 4> HP: 0/40 | DMG: 120 | MIT: 15 - Dead

<Banshee> HP: 0/250 | DMG: 200 | EVA: 2 | PHS: 100% (9+) - Dead
-Banshee's Screech: On a natural roll of 10 she will add a scream to her attack that will paralyze all players present for 1 turn.

 

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

Swapping gear:
- Pain Drinker (-54 Regen), + Finder's Keeper (+1 skill rank: search & detect), +Seeking Aura (+3 LD)

ID# 83266 results: Loot: 5 + 3 item + 1 skill + 1 skill item = 10 - No Material (2 total)

The congratulatory notification sprang to life in front of both himself and the violet haired woman opposite him. She did not seem eager to make eye contact, and he didn't blame her. That fight had not been pretty, and he would be frustrated in her place too. He closed out of the window and the loot page, opening up menus of his own to swap out his shield for his seeking items.

Words were hardly necessary. He turned towards the direction they had come from, knowing she'd follow when she was ready to do so. He replayed the scene in his head as he made his way back. He had never had to make such heavy use of his Parry skill. Granted, he got it so that he could make use of it, and in certain situations it made the difference between situations being untankable and being mildly challenging. Still, he got the feeling that as his skill tree plateaued, he would be seeing fights like this one more and more often.

@Teion

Edited April 27, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

If she wasn't still in such a sour mood, she would have thought it a bit odd that Shield turned back toward the doorway without a word. Then again, she barely knew the man, and traveling in silence wasn't unusual for them. The woman let out a steady breath through her nose, thankful that the battle was finally over and they could head back to the city. It would have been so much easier if she had a couple of teleport crystals on her.

'Guess we can just look for anything worthwhile on our way out...' She tried to think of something positive about having to stay in the decrepit mansion any longer than they already had. Shield was nearly at the double doors on the other side of the room, so Teion would finally sheathe her weapon behind her and follow after the man. Her anger was beginning to subside, although she was still mentally kicking herself for her lackluster performance. Hindsight had her wondering if she should invest in more accuracy and which of her stats could be swapped out, if any. 'I've got some skill points saved up, so maybe there's something...' She started thinking of her options.

On her way across the banquet hall, a wooden bowl holding colorful fruit caught her eye. The display had remained undisturbed on the long table despite their battle, and as Teion took a moment to inspect it Cardinal informed her that a single apple atop the rest of the objects could be used as a crafting material. She gave a small shrug, ignoring the odd fact that only one of the items would be useful, but grabbed the item and dismissed it to her inventory before continuing on to the exit.

@Shield

Material Gathering:

Spoiler

• ID#: 83284
  • LD: 18 + (2 Skill) + (3 Equipment) = 23 - Success!
     
• Teion: (4) T1 crafting materials

 

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 83287 results: Loot: 4 + 3 item + 1 skill + 1 skill item = 9 - No Material (2 total)

@Teion

Shield passed through the first set of great doors leading back to the once grand foyer, or to be more accurate, the foyer that had been designed to look as if it was once great. He doubted if it had ever actually looked warm and welcoming. He was reminded of the nature of the place as a series of game elements by the fact that the cobwebs had all reformed to block their path. He sighed, using the mundane axe in his hand to set about clearing them out.

I'd better take my time to find a material here. If Teion was trying to act like the dark passage didn't bother her, she wasn't doing a very good job. Still, it's the quickest way to get back to the old woman and our rewa-

Shield paused as he played out the quest so far in his mind.

"Teion?" he said tentatively. "Did that banshee look... familiar to you?"

Edited April 27, 2017 by Shield

[Teion 0]

"Huh?" Teion had caught up to the man when he spoke up, giving the back of his head a faint look of puzzlement. The blacksmith opened her mouth to ask what he was talking about, but stopped herself before any sound left her. She took a moment to consider his question, thinking back to the banshee's appearance. Picturing the ghostly woman in her mind, Teion did her best to ignore the feeling of contempt that the creature's visage would normally cause her. "Mm..." She let out a mumble to fill the silence, signaling that she was carefully considering his words. She wasn't sure what he meant by 'familiar'. The banshee certainly didn't remind her of any player she'd ever encountered, and there didn't seem to be any important features that came to mind.

She wracked her brain for a few long moments after he had first posed the question before the memory of the old woman outside of Tartarus returned to her. Though she had been partially hidden behind her tattered clothing, Teion recalled a few other features. Long, unkempt black hair, the painful shriek that had first drawn their attention to the NPC...

"No way..." She breathed out in disbelief, moments before irritation clawed its way back to the surface. "Tch, figures." She mumbled. "What kind of quest would actually give that much?" She let out a puff of air, not expecting an answer.

@Shield

Material Gathering:

Spoiler

• ID#: 83295
  • LD: 6 + (2 Skill) + (3 Equipment) = 11 - Fail!
     
• Teion: (4) T1 crafting materials

 

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 83309 results: Loot: 7 + 3 item + 1 skill + 1 skill item = 12 - No Material (2 total)

Shield nodded as @Teion voiced her confirmation to his suspicions, letting out a sigh and opening up his menus to pull out the mushroom he'd found in the dark passageway before. His earring came to life, shedding a dim, golden light in the semi lit entryway.

"Don't be too upset with yourself," he said with a shrug. "There are quests like that out there. They're few and far between, but they exist. Come on."

He slashed the rest of the way to the stair case, following the path he had taken through the cobwebby mess. Before he could reach the edge though, the floor that had once proven at least somewhat reliable, gave way, grumbling all the way back to where Teion stood and taking her as well. The two players fell into what was actually a smooth, almost water-slide-like chute, apparently designed as a means to confound, as after a few twists and turns, it dumped them out of a false window right in front of the prison.

Shield landed first, a little too flustered by the whole experience to think to move before Teion was spit out right on top of him. She landed across his stomach, forcing him to utter a loud "oof," curling from the impact before flattening back out again.

"Let's get out of here," he wheezed. "This quest sucks."

 

[Quest Rewards]

- All -

4 SP (2 quest reward, 2 thread length)

400 Col (400 x 2 - thread length/ 2 number of players)

Bottled Banshee Scream: A Potion that when used on Weapon adds Paralyze to it for the duration of the battle: If you rolled a 9 -10 Enemy is paralyzed on their next turn.

 

- Shield -

2 T1 Materials

 

- Teion -

4 T1 Materials

Edited April 27, 2017 by Shield