[F01 - SP] <<Training Your Friend>>

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

• LEVEL: 12
• HP: 240 / ENERGY: 24
• EVA: 0 / MIT: 0 / ACC: 0 / DMG: 6
  LD BONUS: 3
•  
• SKILLS
• COMBAT
  » DISGUISE [EXTRA SKILL]
       ➥ FREE ACTION
       ➥ COOLDOWN: 3 TURNS
            ➥ +1 EVA UNTIL START OF YOUR NEXT TURN
   
  WEAPON SKILLS
  » TWO-HANDED WEAPONS R2
       ➥ +4 DMG WHEN TWO-HANDED WEAPON IS EQUIPPED
  
  ARMOR SKILLS
  » LIGHT ARMOR R1
       ➥ +5 MIT WHEN LIGHT ARMOR IS EQUIPPED
  
  SWORD ARTS
  » [X2 AOE] BLAST
       ➥ 2 ENERGY +2 PER EXTRA TARGET HIT CONSUMED ON USE
  » [X2] STRAIGHT
       ➥ 2 ENERGY CONSUMED ON USE
  » [X3] SCOOPED
       ➥ 3 ENERGY CONSUMED ON USE
  » [X4 STUN] LIGHTNING
       ➥ 7 ENERGY CONSUMED ON USE
  » [X4] CYCLONE
       ➥ 4 ENERGY CONSUMED ON USE

INVENTORY
TRINKETS
» [EQUIPPED] LUCK OF THE IRISH (RARE)
     ➥ RECOVERY
          ➥ REGAIN 1 ADDITIONAL EN ON NATURAL CD ROLLS OF 6+
     ➥ +1 LD

ARMOR
» [EQUIPPED] PANTALOOTS (RARE)
     ➥ +2 LD BONUS
 
WEAPONS
» [EQUIPPED] "MINOR OCULUS" - TWO-HANDED STRAIGHT SWORD (RARE)
     ➥ +1 DMG
     ➥ BLEED

BATTLE READY ITEMS
» T1 POTION OF UNCOMMON QUALITY (5)
     ➥ HEALS 40 HP

Today was the day they were going to do it. Having a familiar was cool and all, but they turned out to be pretty useless without the proper training. That was changing today.

Swine Bajesus had turned out to be the most enigmatic of companions. It was sassy, timid, and loving all wrapped up into one. Bahr hated to admit it, but he'd found himself growing quite attached to the bundle of pixels. He just hoped that his efforts to tame it wouldn't be in vain, and that it would turn out to be a worthwhile companion on the battlefield. Considering its origins, Bahr had no doubt this would turn out to be true.

First things first, they were going to start out the day just as Bahr had started out so many others - with some basic material gathering. Bahr had other interests to keep up with besides his little boar, and one of those interests was his new shop, which had taken off rather nicely.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119249
LD: 2+3=5

Material search failed.

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

As Bahr meandered through the fields on Floor One, he couldn't help but notice how absolutely unchallenged he felt by everything around him. The mobs here used to look at him as though he were fresh meat, a target they could abuse and slay with ease. Now, they either didn't take notice of him or scurried away hastily when he approached. He didn't want to overestimate his own strength, but it felt nice to finally walk around the first floor completely unhindered. He guessed that was just one of the perks of getting off of his butt and actually fighting stuff for a change. He wondered how he would fair on the higher floors, given his current level? Would he go to Floor Two and find himself gobsmacked at how powerful the mobs there were, just as he had when he first tried fighting mobs on this floor? He would have to venture out eventually and find out.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119251
LD: 5+3=8

Material search failed.

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Moseying along to one of his favorite material gathering spots, Bahr came across a stick that looked peculiar. There wasn't anything particularly remarkable about the stick, but it stuck out to Bahr nontheless. As he picked it up and examined it, he came to find that it was actually a rather common T1 Material. To think! He had been surrounded by these things since day one, and never once thought to pick on up. If he had, he would have had far more materials by now and would have stuck his arm through fewer holes. Not that he minded shoving his arms into holes, though. In fact, it was still one of his favorite activities. He looked around for a brief moment, but didn't see anymore sticks. Shrugging, he stuffed what he had found into his inventory and continued along. He still had plenty of ground to cover, and he would most certainly find more materials along the way.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119255
LD: 14+3=17

(1) T1 Material acquired

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Up ahead, bahr thought that he caught a glimpse of something. Inexplicably, he lost it. Then it appeared again. Then he lost it again. Ah, it was because it was just over that hill! The bobbing of his head had made his field of view shift ever so slightly, in a way that made it come into and out of sight. For most people, this would have been a no brainer. But this is Bahr we're talking about here. The dude once got upset because he wasn't getting any milk with his Fruit Loops, no matter how many times he tried or how much effort he put in. The issue was that he had been using a fork, and it took him five minutes to realize the solution to his quandary.

Oh, what was the thing he saw? Just another stick. He hastily scooped it up and stashed it into his inventory the second it was reachable, continuing along until he came across a nice clearing with a single, solitary tree.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119256
LD: 17+3=20

(1) T1 Material acquired

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

As he approached the tree, Bahr nudged his coat's inner pocket. After much provoking, the creature within finally stirred and poked its head out. Swine Bajesus had finally joined the party, and looked none too happy about it. As it attempted to bury itself back into its pocket, Bahr grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and plopped it onto the ground. Swine Bajesus looked dizzy, as well as furious.

"Don't give me that look. We need to do some training. You see those leaves that keep falling?"

Bahr gestured toward the leaves. Every now and then, one would detach itself from the tree and flutter gracefully to the ground, where it would pixelate and disappear on contact.

"Your job is to attack one of the leaves after it falls and make it pixelate before it hits the ground. This will be to improve your accuracy. You following me?"

The tiny boar blinked blankly at its owner before leaping into the air and roundhouse kicking one of the leaves that had fallen. When it landed, it patted its hooves together, satisfied with the outcome. Afterward, it promptly jumped back into his coat pocket.

"Well done! Go ahead and rest up. We'll do more training in a little bit."
 

Spoiler

ID: 119258
CD: 12

Training Familiar successful (1/3)

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Bahr didn't want to count his chickens before they hatched, but given his tiny comrade's display of superior accuracy just a moment before filled Bahr with confidence that he had made the right choice in selecting his partner. Whether the rest of the day went as well, Bahr didn't care. Swine Bajesus had already proven that it had the tenacity and skill to fulfill the role Bahr wanted for it. Even if they had to train from sun up to sun down, Bahr would stick by the little guy until he made it. He was proud of it.

Wow, imagine that. Proud of a bundle of pixels. Bahr had no idea he was capable of such emotions for inanimate objects. Perhaps it was an effect being stuck in the game for two years had had on him. He tried to keep the real world and this one differentiated, but after spending so long in one, does it not begin to become your "real world?"
 

Spoiler

ID: 119260
LD: 4+3=7

Material gathering failed

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Continuing along down one of his usual paths, Bahr noticed that he hadn't seen any useful materials in quite some time. Odd. Perhaps now would be a good time to sit down, take a rest, and commit to a flashback as an excuse to put some words out there to fill the quota. What do I mean by that, you ask? Don't worry, it's something only a narrator could understand.

Days like this reminded him of similar days he had experienced as a child with his friends. When the sky was clear, the atmosphere warm, and the breeze cool, Bahr and his friends would be outside nonstop. It was kind of weird to think about how all of that had changed as they got older. They got into MMOs and spent more and more time inside as opposed to outside. He couldn't even remember the last time they had all gone to explore a forrest or wander aimlessly downtown or at the mall. Then again, it was getting hard to remember details about much of anything beyond the confines of the game.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119266
LD: 1+3=4

Material gathering failed

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Yeah. Now that he was thinking about it, a lot of his memories were starting to go fuzzy. He had a general idea of what his mother's and father's faces looked like, but he was beginning to doubt the images of them that flashed through his mind when he thought about them. And what if their features had changed by now? No doubt they had aged at least a little bit during his time trapped in the game. Now that Bahr thought about it, his features may have changed a bit as well. Besides the obvious, y'know, malnutrition thing he was bound to have going on, he had reached his mid-twenties in the real world while he had been stuck in here. His facial features and bone structure had developed quite early, so it was possible that things hadn't changed much, but... what if he returned to the real world and didn't recognize who he saw in the mirror?
 

Spoiler

ID: 119271
LD: 20+3=23

(1) T1 Material acquired

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Bahr shook his head, trying not to think about it any longer than he had to. It was good to keep these sorts of things in mind, that way you had at least some sort of mental preparation if things did happen to play out that way. But dwelling on them - no good could ever come of it. Bahr had watched the psyche of more than just a few players fall into ruin after getting stuck on trivial things like that. Who cared what you looked like after the game was cleared? The important thing would be the fact that you made it.

Bahr couldn't wait to see his parents again, regardless of what they looked like now. He couldn't wait to see himself, either - even if he was pale, sickly and scruffy when he got out. Oh god, the beard! After two years it had to be down to his nipples by now! Oh man! Anyone who was visiting him was seeing him looking like a hobo! No, no, Bahr, play it cool. Don't get stuck on it. Don't fall into that trap.
 

Spoiler

ID: 
LD: 1+3=4

Material gathering failed

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

On the move again, it wasn't long before Bahr came upon another tree. He once again tapped his pocket, causing the creature inside to stir reluctantly. Without much protest, it leaped from his pocket on its own and sprawled out lazily in the grass.

"Alright, Swine Bajesus. You know the drill. Time to cut a leaf."

Swine Bajesus didn't so much as move.

"Hey! Are you listening to me!?"

Again, no movement. It seemed lethargic, having obviously been woken up from a nap much too short. It peeked its head up at once point, lazily swiping at a leaf and missing completely. It burst into pixels right in front of the slothish hog.

"Alright, fine. We'll try again at the next tree."

With that, Bahr picked up the tiny creature and stuffed it back into his inner coat pocket before continuing along down the path.

Spoiler

ID: 119280
CD: 2

Familiar training failed.

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Bahr hadn't exactly been paying attention to where he was going. He was still a little miffed by Swine Bajesus's most recent display of accuracy ineptitude. He supposed it wasn't exactly the swine's fault - it's not like it asked to go out for a day of training. It probably just wanted to chill in Bahr's coat pocket all day, where it was nice and warm and it didn't have to worry about doing work. 

Unfortunately for Bahr, being lost in thought and not paying attention to where he was going had never been a good combo. He tripped out of a tree root that had been sticking out of the ground, face planting into the dirt below. He grumbled as he stood up, looking at the root and then around for whatever tree it was attached to. But there was no tree! Angry at the poor map design, Bahr pulled and ripped at the root until he had successfully yanked it out of the ground. To his pleasant surprise, it turned out to be a useable crafting item, so he stuffed it away in his inventory.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119281
LD: 13+3=16

(1) T1 Material acquired.

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Bahr had had exceptional luck throughout the day in regards to material gathering. It was almost akin to the time he had spent in the garden with Kit. His face turned pale at the memory of it, and he adorned a mask of disgust as he remembered the kiss they had shared. How foolish that entire endeavor had been! It was weird to even think about it now, considering how obvious the discomfort they shared had been. Bahr shook his head, trying to relinquish his memory of the event and shake the red off of his face.

Once he had regained his composure, he noticed an all too familiar breed of butterfly wafting through. He snatched the creature out of the sky and promptly grabbed both wings, ripping it in two. This time, only one butterfly wing remained in his grasp, but it was still a usable crafting material. He stuffed it into his inventory and continued along.
 

Spoiler

ID: 
LD: 19+3=22

(1) T1 Material acquired

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

As his little adventure continued, Bahr started to dread the thought of his little companion not taking the training seriously. What if it continued to ignore his commands? Would he need to ditch it and find a new familiar? But he didn't want to do that. Indeed, he had grown attached to the little bugger in a way he had never imagined possible before. Having it in his pocket had filled him with a determination to protect it. He wasn't just looking out for himself anymore, now he had a pet to look after as well. And he was better for it. If he did need to look for a new familiar, what would he even look for? He couldn't see himself with anything else, given his history. Except, perhaps, a baby dragon. That would be freaking cool. Breathing fire and whatnot. But still... it wouldn't be the almighty Swine Bajesus.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119284
LD: 7+3=10

Material search failed.

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

What was a man? Was it his attitude who made him what he was? Or his actions? Was a mixture of the two?

What was it that made Bahr who he was? Was it his stubbornness, a seemingly inability to adjust to the viewpoint of others unless he was proved wrong beyond a shadow of a doubt? Was it the fact that he had flippantly killed his friend, unable to comprehend the consequences of his action? Or was it, perhaps, that time he managed to eat a five pound steak within an hour and get his picture on the wall of that restaurant he never visited again?

How was Bahr to determine which of these attitudes or action defined him? Did he get to pick and choose the ones he liked, so he could create the best image of himself in his head possible? Or was he supposed to focus on the negative, and either wallow in the despair it produced or strive to overcome his shortcomings?

Did you notice that every sentence in this post was a question?

Spoiler

ID: 119285
LD: 3+3=6

Material search failed.

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

It wasn't long before Bahr had stumbled upon yet another tree. And this one even had a hole he could shove his arm into. Marvelous. But first, he had more important matters to attend to. He poked his inner coat pocket again, and as though waiting for its cue, Swine Bajesus leapt from its well-tailored dwelling and stood defiantly in front of the tree.

"Woah, looks like you have a lot more pep in your step this time than last time.You ready to do this?"

Swine Bajesus looked back and Bahr and seemed to nod, however that was possible for a tiny boar. Without skipping a beat, it jumped as high into the air as it possibly could, karate chopping one of the leaves and causing it to bust into a small cloud of pixels in the middle of the air. Seemed it had been waiting to prove itself after its lackluster performance from earlier.

"Nice job! Get back here and take a quick rest. If you do well on the next one, I think we'll be done for the day."

Swine Bajesus was all too excited to reclaim its cloth throne, leaping straight back into Bahr's jacket without so much as a second thought.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119286
CD: 7

Familiar training successful. (2/3)

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Bahr was much happier with the boar's most recent performance. It looked like it was starting to take the training seriously. Had it perhaps sensed that he was considering finding a new partner if it kept being lazy? If that were the case, Bahr only hoped that it hadn't taken offense to it. After all, the boar had access to some pretty sensitive areas, if it felt like doing some damage to its owner. Then again, even if it did try anything, it's not like players could really feel any pain in here. 

Down the path, Bahr spotted another stick that looked like a suitable crafting ingredient. But as he picked it up, it unexpectedly combusted into a cloud of blue pixels. It seemed that not all sticks were suitable for crafting, which made sense, because Bahr wasn't even sure how a stick was supposed to help in the creation of armor anyways.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119287
LD: 5+3=8

Material search failed.

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Wait, Bahr had forgotten to stick his hand in the hole of that tree from earlier! He had considered going back for it, but after looking over his shoulder, he wasn't so sure that it would be worth it. After so many times out in the field, he had developed a route of sorts that took him past some popular spots for materials or good hunting grounds in a loop that led back to town around the time the sun started setting. Although, why was it that Bahr always went home when the sun set? The only difference was a slight accuracy deterioration, but if he was just training Swine Bajesus or gathering materials, why did that matter to him? These were the sorts of mundane questions Bahr asked himself while trying to fill the word quota, tirelessly continuing on despite whatever boredom he felt. He knew that the true prize was the light at the end of the tunnel and the interactions he had with those along the way.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119288
LD: 5+3=8

Material search failed.

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

It didn't matter if he went back, anyways. It wasn't like he wouldn't have the opportunity to collect more stuff if he just continued forward. He would just have to take note of that tree and make sure to stick his hand inside of it the next time he came around. Come to think of it, shoving his arm in places was almost beginning to seem like some sort of weird compulsion. Not of the perverted kind, mind you. It was just something that Bahr felt compelled to do whenever he had the opportunity.

Like the rabbit hole coming up, for instance. Bahr could have ignored it and continued down along the path. He didn't need to shove his arm in there. But he wanted to. No, he had to. And it paid off! Not but a few seconds later, he retrieved his appendage from the hole and found that it had grasped onto a T1 Material of some sort. What kind, you may ask? Well, that was a secret. You would have had to have been there.
 

Spoiler

ID: 
LD: 16+3=19

(1) T1 Material acquired

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Bahr wondered how much longer he would be able to tolerate slumming it on the bottom floor before he absolutely had to move on. He was trying his best to compete all of the quests that were available on Floor One before pressing on, but he was finding it harder and harder to keep himself interested with each passing day. Who cared if he delivered package X to target Z? Who cared if he defeated monster Q? None of it seemed to matter, and all of it seemed extremely patronizing and boring. 

Even this quest, he had come to realize. Why did he need to train a creature that, presumably, was able to fight before he picked it up? Was the quest just designed to make him burn time and stretch out the length of the gameplay? You would think that Kayaba would have considered how pointless all of that seemed, considering how he had rigged the game. Although, considering the implications and time invested into a project like this, he probably had.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119290
LD: 10+3=13

Material search failed

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Once again, it was time to train Swine Bajesus. As soon as he reached the tree, the tiny pig had already leapt out of his hidey hole, as though waiting for its time to shine. Without even waiting for the instruction of Bahr, it jumped into the air and attempted to roundhouse kick one of the leaves. Unfortunately, it missed the mark by a hair, clumsily falling on its tummy before it could correct itself.

"Haha woooww. Okay buddy, good effort. Don't let it get you down. You'll get it on the next one, right?"

Swine Bajesus scrambled to its feet and nodded at its owner enthusiastically.

"Alright then, get back in here. We'll try again at the next tree, no pressure. I'll be here to help you every step of the way."

Looking pleased with Bahr's response, Swine Bajesus scurried up his leg, across his belly, and back into the pocket from whence it came.
 

Spoiler

ID: 119291
CD: 6

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Bahr