[PP - F21] A Helping Hand <<Nature's Treasure>> (Shield)

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo looked over at Shield once again. She couldn't quite tell what he was doing, but it seemed that he had found another chest. She didn't know what else in this area would catch her eye. It seemed that unless it was a basic resource or possibly powerful loot, the higher level players held no interest in it. It suddenly dawned on Neo why most of the shops she had visited tended to be empty. Most of the players that were fighting now had been for a long time and were already decked out in the best gear that they could find. That meant they didn't need any more crafted for them. There certainly wasn't that many newer players like herself coming in. Maybe they made one purchase, but most just died out or made it to the point that they don't need new gear for a long time to come.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102441

LD: 7 + 2 = 9 - No Mats found

Total: 21x T3 Mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

Using Golden Key

Opening Chest:

ID# 102442

LD:9+7=16

CD:3

3,600 Col, 8 T3 Materials, 2 T3 Rare Consumables, 1 T3 Perfect Armor/Shield

Totals:
Col: 14,100
T3 Materials: 66
Rare T3 Materials: 6 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

From his kneeling position, Shield reached back and unhooked the clasp that held his key ring onto his belt. He had to snake his arm down through the gap in the stone in order to reach the lock with his key, but he managed it. He heard rather than saw the key vanish and the lid of the chest open. He could barely even see the display and had to blindly tap the option to collect its contents. "Sure hope there aren't secretly cursed items in chests now," he crumbled to himself.

As he straightened up and sat upright, he looked through the loot list in his inventory. While nothing had surged in any shocking way, almost everything except weapons seemed to have increased in number. "That's a little more like it. That makes up a little bit for the small haul before." Either way, he couldn't be that angry. He had yet to find a chest that came out as a loss, even when using the most expensive key to open it.

Edited July 9, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

As Neo saw Shield reach into some crevasse in the wall, she got up and began to look for more ingredients of her own. THough it was nice of shield to help in her gathering efforts, she didn't want to be a dead weight to anyone. She stumbled across a couple more mushrooms, and knelt down to grab them as well. They seemed a bit more bland than some of the ones she had collected prior, but they usually meant they were safer. Very rarely was am organism trying to blend into its surroundings poisonous. Though in a death game, it was possible for one to go completely overboard on defense. She wondered if there was a player like that on the front lines. All defense with little to no offense. She didn't see how it would be terribly useful, but she imagined that if it was there it must have some potency. Most games with tough fights did assign a role to a tank.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102443

LD: 14 + 2 = 16 - Found 2x T3 Mats

Total: 23x T3 Mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

ID# 102444 results: Craft: 10 - 3 Materials

Totals:
Col: 14,100
T3 Materials: 71
Rare T3 Materials: 6 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

With his itch for chest searching momentarily scratched, Shield returned to the side of the lake and resumed his usual fishing spot. He was not hopeful. The quality and frequency of catching did not seem to be improving. However, no sooner had he cast out his line than a massive fish surged up out of the depths of the otherwise tranquil lake and caught the lure midair.

He had a few moments to dig in his heels before the fish a had a chance to begin pulling. This gave him a chance to get a head start on the tug of war battle. He fought the behemoth back to shore and watched as it fell apart into its three cuts of fish. "Well, that turned around quickly." He sighed and sat himself back down in the same little spot, ready to cast again. "I just hope the luck keeps up."

Edited July 9, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

As Neo continued to ponder about the viability of various builds, she didn't see Shield go back to his fishing. She did however notice the line cast out and quickly snatched up by a fish. Neo enjoyed pondering about that fish. Did it have any sort of story to it before it got caught? She knew that it was still just a program, but was it spawned moments before the catch or had it been in the lake the whole time. Was its only purpose to be caught, or was there some other reason for it to be there. Even if it was only there for the players, could they possibly use the fish in some other way they hadn't figured out yet? The questions swirled around in Neo's mind, wanting to be answered. She let them be for now, there was no need to answer them right away. She would still be in this game where these fish were for some time to come. No matter how hard she pushed herself, there was still over 75 floors to go.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102445

LD: 1 + 2 = 3 - No Mats found

Total: 23x T3 Mats found

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

ID# 102446 results: Craft: 7 - 2 Materials

Totals:
Col: 14,100
T3 Materials: 73
Rare T3 Materials: 6 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

Shield threw out his line. Unlike the time before, this throw actually made it to the water. He sat back, hopefully to be able to enjoy a moment of quiet. It was nice to have a little calm a moment ago.

Then again, a quiet moment is hardly a profitable moment. I can't let myself get too complacent. Rest is valuable, but...

He pulled in the line and cast it back out again, not content to just let the bobber bob uselessly. It wasn't long before his pole bent under the force of a fresh bite. Shield pulled against it, reeling in the slack. He pulled the flapping fish up onto the shore, watching as it seized up and gave way to the two items which he stored with the others. He took a quick look at their loot. "We're definitely doing alright for ourselves. I've had better takes, but not many."

Edited July 9, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

As Shield commented about how much they had gotten, Neo went and found herself another ingredient. Though it was yet another mushroom, they seemed to change to fit the item she was attempting to make without a problem. Though maybe that's why some of her crafts magically failed. Neo wasn't sure what was considered a good haul or a bad haul. She had barely been on a gathering trip, if you could even call it that.There was very little that she actually did, just walk a ways out into the first floor and then come all the way back. Of course, that was how she got to be able to cook in the first place, so it wasn't completely worthless. To her, it was just another step. Though this amount of gathering was a very, very large step for her to be taking. She had never seen this much loot in her entire time playing the game.

Spoiler

Roll ID; #102463

LD: 12 + 2 = 14 - Found 1x T3 Mat

Total: 24x T3 Mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

 ID# 102464 results: Craft: 10 - 3 Materials

Totals:
Col: 14,100
T3 Materials: 77
Rare T3 Materials: 6 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

Shield tossed his line out again, continuing the steady pattern of reeling and casting, trawling the waters to either lure fish, or at the very least to eventually trigger whatever automated response that leads to a catch. It was impossible to say which it was. On a particularly long cast, he felt a hard jerk on his line as soon as it landed, and he hunkered down on the shore for the fight to come.

Leaning back against his line, he pulled and then reeled, making progress little by little towards the shore. It was not by any means the hardest catch he had made yet today, but it kept him on his toes for sure, compensating for changes in direction as the fish fought from one side to the other. Finally, he pulled it up and out of the water, getting up to gather the ingredients. He let out a sigh and returned to his seat.

Edited July 9, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo decided it was high time that she took a break from all of her gathering, opting to just stare out into the water some more. Though it was still mesmerizing, the ripples Shield had created broke the hypnotic effect it had had on her earlier. Neo peered into it, thinking about how she could progress the fastest. There was likely more quests she had yet to cover, and some might give some extra bonuses. The problem was that she didn't know where to find these quests. There were some that she looked at the preview window for and they were really high level for her. And though she might be able to take them on, the permanent death in this game had made her very cautious of what to go for. Just another layer of realism that this game decided to add on. If it wasn't so effective, Neo would probably mock the game for attempting to have the mechanic, especially in an MMO.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102518

LD: 1 + 2 = 3 - No Mats found

Total: 24x T3 Mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

ID# 102527 results: Craft: 2 - Nothing

Totals:
Col: 14,100
T3 Materials: 77
Rare T3 Materials: 6 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

Shield's reel continued to alternate between the high pitched wind of being cast and the lower clicks of being slowly cranked back in to shore. For now, his efforts were not showing any results, but he continued none the less. Neo seemed to have decided to take a break, sitting beside the water's edge once again. It was not a problem to have silence, though it did eliminate one possible means by which to pass the time. Still, she seemed pensive about something.

"Looks like your mind is wandering," he said, returning his own gaze to the underground lake before them, now much calmer without the thrashing of fish. Only the small ripples from his line disturbed the reflective surface. "I'm sure you're quite accustomed to it, but is it difficult at times being stuck without a means to openly communicate? While I don't always deem it necessary, I wouldn't much like being stuck without the option myself."

Edited July 9, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

As soon as Shield mentioned her mind wandering, Neo snapped back into reality. She quickly got up and began to look for more materials as he continued to talk. She found a couple more ingredients as she nodded to Shield. There were often miscommunications, especially if she didn't have someone familiar with her gestures to help out. But she learned to live with it. She sent a message over to Shield once again for more details.

Quote

To be honest, not talking seems to help eliminate a lot of the fluff that others like to talk about. People realize that there is no need to talk about trivial things when I give quick responses back. I know that for most people not giving back a proper response is rude, but when it's about all I can ever give people understand and it ends up helping. I can also let people talk about what they need to, there's no chance for me to really trample over their words. It means that I can make sure they are done without as much of an awkward pause. It's a little hard to explain, but it just feels better for me.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102532

LD: 20 -  2x T3 Mats found

Total: 26x T3 mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

ID# 102568 results: Craft: 9 - 3 Materials

Totals:
Col: 14,100
T3 Materials: 82
Rare T3 Materials: 6 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

The answer made sense, more or less, though Shield still could not fathom the preference to not speak in those situations, but regardless, it was not his worry how Neo made her way. She seemed contented enough. He shrugged and returned to his fishing.

As he cast out his line again, there was a long pause. Expecting another fruitless return, he began to reel, but as soon as he did, something pulled back, and hard. His shoulders held fast, though the line threatened to pull him forward on the ground. His heels found stone and gripped as best they could. With a heave, he began the long and arduous process of securing the thrashing fish on land. It put up a fight, struggling from one side to the other, but each time it changed tack and swam to the other side, Shield fought it closer to shore. Soon, it lay flopping on the shore and with a shiver, it gave up and melted away into its raw materials.

Edited July 10, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

As Neo went around to gather more materials, she watched shield reel in yet another catch. It was quite amazing how well he was able to fish. Of course, that was likely in part due to how much buffing he had on him. Neo knew that if she was going out for a high level gathering she wouldn't want to leave without some good buffs. They certainly seemed to be helping Neo and she was barely buffed up at all. Shield was gathering on a whole other level. After grabbing the next two materials she could find, she came back over to shield. Though she knew he enjoyed the silence, he also had a penchant to ask questions. She didn't want to shut him down from that option, and made it clear she was open to any other questions she might have as many did when coming across someone like her.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102570

LD: 17 + 2 = 19 - Found 2x T3 Mats

Total: 28x T3 Mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

ID# 102571 results: Craft: 12, Loot: 4+12=16 - Chest Found!

Totals:
Col: 14,100
T3 Materials: 84
Rare T3 Materials: 6 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

With Neo seated by him once again, he settled back in and resumed his routine. The next cast did not result in any thing pulling on his line, but not for the first time this trip, as he went to reel in, his fishing pole gave way, bending under the tension of a fresh snag. Shield was up and on his feet very quickly, using the power of his legs to assist. This was a much safer move with a chest than with a strong fish, since a chest wasn't going to pull him off his feet.

Before long, with lots of bumping and scraping along the uneven lake bottom, a new chest rose up out of the water, sliding to the edge with the last few tugs of Shield's fishing rod. He made his way down to the water's edge and grabbed the nearby handle, hauling the chest up and free of the water.

Edited July 10, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo watched as Shield stood up to reel yet another chest. He certainly was getting these at quite the fast pace. Neo went around to look for more of her own materials once again. And though she wasn't going as fast as Shield, she felt like she was keeping a good pace for her own level. There wasn't as much profit in just gathering as there was fishing. Especially when the fish were biting like this. Neo wondered though if the fish would still be biting at the same rate if the two of them both went fishing instead of just one. She supposed it would all deal with the way the mechanics worked. If it was more realism, it would probably be a gradually stocking body of water that you would fish in. Though based on how shield was getting some of his catches, Neo surmised taht it was likely just spawning the fish either as the line was cast or the line hit the water.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102574

LD: 16 + 2 = 18 -2x T3 Mats

Total: 30x T3 Mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

Using Golden Key

Opening Chest:

ID# 102575

LD:3+7=10

CD:10

1,800 Col, 3 T3 Materials, 2 T3 Rare Consumables

Totals:
Col: 15,900
T3 Materials: 89
Rare T3 Consumables: 8 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b] [102575a] [102575b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

The chest count was continuing to mount. However, Shield did not trust his luck with the contents. While his last trip had been overflowing with chests, the chests themselves were hardly overflowing with valuables. He took out another key and held the golden metal trinket to the lock. It vanished and the lid opened slightly. The list of contents that materialized in the air was short. He frowned, not even needing to read it to know what was likely in store.

"Well, again, can't all be winners," he sighed, collecting the decent though hardly exciting trove that the chest held. The window and the chest both vanished, though the later much more violently than the former. Settling himself back down onto the ground Shield retrieved his pole. "I suppose we've made a pretty profitable trip. I'm thinking I may make a few more casts before calling it a day. Any objections?"

Edited July 10, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo watched once again as Shield used one of his many keys to open up the chest. though he seemed disappointed in the chest's contents, Neo was still just happy that it wasn't a mimic. Even if they couldn't spawn, Neo was on guard. She didn't know how well she would be able to deal with one if a mimic did actually show up. She didn't have much gear to go off of and was worried that she would probably die in one or two hits to it. Of course, she could hope that Shield would cover for her, but being able to cover for a player completely without them getting a single hit would not be easy.

Mimics don't have AoEs do they, I would hope not. WOuldn't make much sense either. Maybe if the game was more magically inclined it might have a special ability but all we get are supernatural abilities.

As Shield talked about finding a couple more chests before leaving, Neo nodded her head in agreement. She hoped that they might get one really good score before heading back to the safe zone.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102579

LD: 5 + 2 = 7 - No Mats found

Total: 30x T3 Mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

ID# 102580 results: Craft: 12, Loot: 6+12=18 - Chest Found!

Totals:
Col: 15,900
T3 Materials: 89
Rare T3 Consumables: 8 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b] [102575a] [102575b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 1 [102388a]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c]

Shield cast his line out again and glanced over at Neo, but he was a little puzzled at her nod. "Oh, you do have an objection? What were-"

He went to reel in, but there came another snag. He tugged, and again he felt the familiar weight of a chest on his line. "Oh... well, I guess we're going for quantity rather than quality, but I suppose it's something." With a little chuckle, he stood back up, falling back into the same routine as he had only a minute ago, pulling with his arms and legs combined to bring the chest in to shore. "I feel like the same thing happened at the very end of my last trip up here, too. I went through almost all of the keys I had then, and I'm starting to run low now as well."

With his hand, he patted his hip where his keys hung on their iron ring. 

Edited July 10, 2018 by Shield

[Neopolitan 0]

Thinking that Shield was done with fishing for the time being, Neo was surprised to see that he cast his line out once more. Perhaps he wished for a final chance or maybe he just decided against it. Either way, Neo was surprised to hear that he managed to fish himself up yet another chest. She stood back once again, ready in case there was a mimic but not so close that she would become its first target. She feared the worse could happen, even with reassurance. She just wanted to be safe. She had finally found her courage to start making her way to the front lines and she didn't want a rogue chest to take that away from her in one fell swoop. It would quite honestly not be the best of ways for her to go, and with a high level player who's reputation she could tarnish nonetheless.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #102582

LD: 2 + 2 = 4 - No Mats found

Total: 30x T3 Mats

 

[Shield 0]

Quote

Fishing CD Results: [1-4: Nothing] [5-6: 1 Material] [7-8: 2 Materials] [9-10: 3 Materials] [11: 4 Materials] [12 + LD 1-14 - 4 Materials] [12 + LD 15+ - Treasure Chest

Using Golden Key

Opening Chest:

ID# 102584

LD:20+7=27

CD:10

6,000 Col, 12 T3 Materials, 2 T3 Perfect Consumables, 1 T3 Perfect Weapon, 1 T3 Perfect Armor/Shield

Totals:
Col: 21,900
T3 Materials: 101
Rare T3 Consumables: 8 [102395a] [102395b] [102429a] [102429b] [102442a] [102442b] [102575a] [102575b]
Perfect T3 Consumables: 3 [102388a] [102584a] [102584b]
Perfect T3 Weapons: 2 [102388b] [102388c] [102584c]
Perfect T3 Armor/Shield: 2 [102395c] [102442c] [102584d]

Shield pulled the chest the rest of the way out of the water, scraping it along the slick, gritty ground and letting it settle with a slam. He used one of his few remaining keys to open it, looking over the readout with a satisfied grin. "Much better," he said, dragging the corners of the window so Neo could see properly. "As far as I'm aware, this is about the biggest drop you can get out of a chest. Two perfect quality materials, a perfect armor, a perfect armor, and enough Col and crafting items to make this whole trip worth it all on its own."

He collected the contents and closed the display, turning his back on the chest just before it shattered. "Well, I think ending on a high note is perfectly reasonable. Let's head back then." He leaned down and picked up his fishing pole, squirreling it away in his inventory for later use. he was curious just how much loot that item had been responsible for finding, but he was at least certain that it was more than a lot of players had seen in their whole time in Aincrad.

Edited July 10, 2018 by Shield