F03/SP <<Search for the Hoya>>

[Oscar 0]

Spoiler

STATS

LEVEL - 24
HP - 480
EN - 48
DMG - 9
ACC - 2
MIT - 23
EVA - 3

SKILLS

NON-COMBAT

PASSIVE
»  FAMILIAR MASTERY: ACCURATE RANK 2

HOUSING SKILLS
» RESTED: -1 Energy cost for the first two expenditures in a thread
» HARD-WORKING: +2 EXP per crafting attempt, +1 crafting attempt
» TASTY: Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast.
» RELAXED: Increases HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts
» ANGLER: +1 material gained when fishing
» ADVANCED TRAINING: +2 SP to a thread. Limit one use per month.
» FILLING: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.

COMBAT SKILLS
» 

EXTRA SKILLS
►Concentration
Active: Free action
Cooldown: 3 Turns
Effect: Gain +1 ACC until the start of your next turn (must delcare use in roll purpose).
Description: After having fought yourself, and spared the summoned incarnation, you have learnt to focus in times of need, improving accuracy for a brief moment.
Possible to obtain after completing the quest <<The Gemini>>

►Survival
Cost: 3 SP
Passive
Effect: Increases out of combat health regeneration to (15 * Tier) per post. Grants immunity to most damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.
Description: After braving the harsh sands of the desert, harsh environmental hazards no longer affect you.
Unlocked after completing the quest <<The Traveler>>

WEAPON SKILLS
» CURVED SWORD MASTERY RANK 1
     ➥ +1 DMG
» KATANA MASTERY RANK 5
     ➥ +7 DMG
 
ARMOR SKILLS
» LIGHT ARMOR MASTERY RANK 1
     ➥ +5 MIT

SWORD ARTS
Rank 1
» [x1 AoE] Tsumuji Guruma (1 Energy +2 per target hit) - A simple sword art that spins the user on their heel to slash in every direction.
» [x2 Stun] Ukifune (5 Energy) - Knocks the opponent high into the air.
» [x2] Han'ei (2 energy) - Two fast swings with the length of the katana blade

Rank 2
» [x3] Hi Ougi (3 Energy) - Upward, downward, then thrusting combo.
» [x4] Tsuji Kaze (4 Energy) - A straight, long-ranged drawing strike.

Rank 3
» [x5] Wa Shu (5 Energy) - A fast combo of slices that ends with a vertical chop.
» [x6] Gen Getsu (6 Energy) - A half-circle that moves irregularly.
» [x6 Stun] Ra Setsu (9 Energy) - A horizontal slash with a stunning punch after, then another slash.

Rank 4
» [x7] Zekkai (7 Energy) - A simple skill in a concept that draws the user's blade across the target's body to deal great damage.
» [x8] Haku Senpu (8 Energy) - A vast whirlwind of strikes that cause the wind to spin around the user, knocking over the target.

Rank 5
» [x15]San Ge (15 Energy) - Multiple fast slices, which is concluded with a powerful vertical chop.
» [x11 Stun] Iai (14Energy) - A high-tier sword art that draws the blade from its scabbard and slashes in one rapid motion.
» [x8 AoE] Amatsu no Homura (8 Energy +2 per target hit) - Two warm up slices, then three rapid but extremely powerful spinning cuts.

EQUIPMENT

WEAPONS
» [EQUIPPED]<<BLOODY HOWL>> - KATANA (T1- PERFECT)
     ➥ BLEED
     ➥ BLEED
     ➥ DMG

ARMOR
» [EQUIPPED] << LIBRARIUM OVERCOAT >> (T1 PERFECT)
     ➥ +1 EVA
     ➥ +1 EVA
     ➥ +1 EVA

» [EQUIPPED] << AZURE TIGHTS >> (T1 PERFECT)
     ➥ +9 MIT
     ➥ +9 MIT
     ➥ +1 SAVVY

FAMILIAR
» Leeroy & Jenkins - Familiar Mastery: Accurate Rank 2

 

INVENTORY

TOOLS
>> CUSTOM AMBITION TOOL (+1 CRAFT EXP)
>> <<HESTIA'S FLAME>> (+1 CD)

VANITY ITEMS

BATTLE READY ITEMS
>>  3 HEALING POTIONS

QUEST-SPECIFIC ITEMS
>> SPYGLASS

ITEMS/JUNK
>>  5 UNCOMMON T1 HEALING POTION
>> UNIDENTIFIED RARE WEAPON ID: 123565
>> 2x UNIDENTIFIED PERFECT WEAPON ID: 121755, 123588
>> 2x UNIDENTIFIED T2 RARE ARMOR ID: 123455, 123567
>> 2x UNIDENTIFIED T2 RARE TRINKET ID: 123448, 123565
>> UNIDENTIFIED T2 RARE CONSUMABLE ID: 123455
>> 3x UNIDENTIFIED T1 UNCOMMON CONSUMABLE ID: 123496, 123563, 123592
>> BEGINNER DUNGEON MAP
>> INTERMEDIATE DUNGEON MAP
>> ADVANCED DUNGEON MAP
>>  2x NEGATION DOG
>>  ULTRA PROSPEROUS HOT DOG
>>  CHILI DOG WITH CHILI FRIES
>>  STEEL-INFUSED HOT DOG
>>  2x YUI'S GRACE
>>  4x HEARTY MEAL
>>  BURNING EDGE POTION
>>  MONKEY'S AGILITY

EQUIPMENT
» << ARMOR OF THORNS >> (T1 PERFECT)
     ➥ +9 THORNS
     ➥ +9 THORNS
     ➥ +1 REGEN
» <<NAJARALA>> - KATANA (T1- PERFECT)
     ➥ PARALYTIC VENOM (OFFENSE)
     ➥ KEEN
     ➥ DMG
» <<GLOVES OF CAERUS>> - CLOTHING (T1 - PERFECT)
     ➥ +3 LOOT DIE

The Major once said that a man had to, on occasion, man up. There were three major times when a man really needed to be a man. First was when his child was born. This was non-negotiable. Your life stops being about you and becomes all about that child. Second was when you bought your first house. Even if you’d never held a hammer before in your life, it was time to drop everything and learn how to take care of the place where you lay your head. And, finally, a man needed to man up when he wanted to court a woman. No games, no pining. Just direct, true romance.

The Major would be quite disappointed to see how Oscar pined over Cordelia.

For one thing, he was a grown man. Schoolyard crushes lent their way over to creepy around the time he went into middle school. It simply wasn’t cute to crush on someone in adulthood. It led one to do crazy, stalker-ish things that would get them in a lot of trouble. Whereas if a man was direct with what he was feeling, then he would, at worst, ruin a friendship for a few months. As he walked around his manor, mulling things over, he accidentally shattered a Yui's Grace. He swore. He'd have to use that now.

YUI'S GRACE CONSUMED

Edited September 10, 2019 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

So, Oscar needed to man up and do something about the emotions raging in his chest. But what? The game had a marriage system. That was an idea! A catastrophically horrible one with absolutely no merit, but an idea nonetheless. But perhaps there was another way… He was just asking for a date. It was a simple thing. But he also had standards. You didn’t ask a beautiful woman on a date with nothing to offer her. He’d lavish gifts upon her if he thought for a minute it would get him anywhere. But he couldn’t offer her anything but food. Empty pockets did not lend well towards getting a date, in Aincrad or the real world. There had to be another way. Something he could do. He paced the foyer of his manor, racking his brain for ideas. If he couldn’t buy her anything and his food wouldn’t do the trick. Then perhaps he could try earning something.

[Oscar 0]

And then it hit him. There was a quest on Floor 3 called <<The Search for the Hoya>>. He’d heard of it a while back, but it seemed like a lot of effort for such a meaningless bauble at the time. But now, that bauble had meaning. A shapeshifting piece of jewelry that he could use to convey just how he felt to Cordelia? It was perfect. He grabbed his sword and whistled sharply, calling his familiar to heel. With the gang gathered together, Oscar was off. He headed out towards Deepedge at a quick pace, Leeroy and Jenkins scarcely able to keep up with him. This was such a great idea. He could get a quest out of the way and try to woo Cordelia all at the same time. Two birds, one stone! Of course, there was always the chance she could refuse. It would probably ruin their friendship for the foreseeable future. But that was a risk he was willing to take.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar arrived in Deepedge with a spring to his step. Everything seemed more vibrant. More alive. The hustle and bustle of the streets seemed to be louder and more raucous. There was something about the world now that he’d resolved to so something about all of his pining that just made everything seem more awesome. Perhaps it was because he was in a good mood. Or perhaps it was because he had finally obtained for himself an outlet for all of his pent-up affections. Either way, Oscar wasn’t complaining. He hadn’t felt this good since right after he finished <<Calming the Soul>>. Not to say that he felt bad. Just, not good. At the very least, he wasn’t depressed anymore. He stepped onto the Teleportation Platform with his familiar following shortly thereafter. In a flash of light, Oscar was gone, whisked away to Floor 3 and, by extension, his prize.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar manifested again upon the stone Teleportation Platform in the idyllic village of Delilah. He looked around the small hamlet, a grin stretching across his face. It was such a quaint little spot. Calm and serene. The creak of the mill could be heard upon the wind, grinding wheat into flour for all of the townsfolk. The players who lived here seemed to be peace-loving, content to wile away their hours with a simple life in a simple village. Oscar didn't want to disturb them, but he needed directions. So, he approached the first player he saw. It was a fiery-haired man wearing a straw hat. His face was adorned with stubble, as if he had forgotten to shave. He knew that it had been like that for the past two years. His beard, like his avatar, frozen in time. He looked healthy and had a warmth to his smile. He regarded Oscar with a nod as he whittled a piece of wood with a small dagger. He shot Oscar a knowing look, as if he'd been asked the question Oscar was going to ask him many times over the years.

[Oscar 0]

"Lookin' fer the Forest o' Waverin' Mists, are ye?" He spoke with a thick Irish accent. This wasn't Oscar's first time encountering someone with an Irish accent, but he certainly didn't expect to find someone playing this game. At least not out of the blue. Oscar nodded and replied, "Yeah, I'm lookin' for the Forest. Got a girl I'm lookin' to win over." He spoke with his thick New England drawl. His voice had a twang to it, although his tone was calm. Nevertheless, the man's eyes widened in surprise. "Oi! Are ye from Boston?! Me too! My da' brought me over when I was younger. I miss that danged city." Another Bostonian? Here? It must be his lucky day. Oscar interpreted that as a good sign. Perhaps this meant that things wouldn't go so horribly wrong like he was afraid they would. It wasn't every day you met a Bostonian Irishman. It was like sighting a unicorn.

[Oscar 0]

"I can't believe it! You're from Boston!"

The man nodded and put down his whittling to extend his hand. "Name's Jason. Jason O'Hoolihan. Though you can call me... um... Swagmaster here." Oscar stifled a laugh and shoot Jason's hand. "Oscar. Oscar Lugos. But you can call me Oscar." Jason invited him to sit, and he did. The two of them spoke for hours about what it was they did in the real world. Jason was a construction worker with a young son and a daughter on the way. That's why he wasn't risking it to try and be a Frontliner or anything. He had three very good reasons to get home to his family. He swore up and down that once he got out of here, he would swear off Full-Dives forever. Oscar doubted he would even need to do that. The government would step in and ban it, if they hadn't already. And much like everything else, the American government would bite off more than they could chew and it would blow up in their faces.

[Oscar 0]

It was beginning to get late and Oscar had spent most of his day shooting the breeze with Jason. It was far too late to go looking for the Hoya. Oscar looked up at the sky and frowned. Jason must've caught this because he let out a heavy sigh and pointed to the northwest. "Forest is tha' way, Oscar. The girl you're looking to woo must be pretty special if you're willin' to brave that Gods-forsaken labyrinth for a trinket." Oscar smiled faintly and closed his eyes. After a while, he opened his eyes and nodded. "She definitely is." Jason hopped up from his seat and shot a warning glance at Oscar. "Well I'll tell ya right now that you won't be goin' there tonight. Come stay at my cottage. I must confess, it gets a little lonely at night here. I'm still hoping to wake up next to my wife every morning." When he put it like that, Oscar didn't have it in him to refuse.

[Oscar 0]

The two of them retired to Jason's cottage and the man started rummaging through his pantry to find something to make for them. Oscar shooed him aside and deftly flipped a knife in his hands. He opened his menu and began to craft. Four large, raw slabs of steak manifested on the cutting board. Oscar snapped his fingers and a peppercorn grinder appeared in a flash of light. He seasoned the meat with the pepper, and then salt, and then began mincing garlic that he then added to a pan that had been sitting on the heat for sometime. After sauteing the garlic, he added some onions to the affair. Once they were golden brown and caramelized, Oscar placed each of the pieces of meat into the smoking pan. The hiss of the flesh searing in the hot iron skillet filled the air as a puff of smoke billowed from the pan. The cottage was immediately filled with the ambient heat from the kitchen, but Oscar didn't seem to mind.

[Oscar 0]

As the steaks seared, Oscar deftly chopped up some mixed vegetables and added them to another skillet with some vinegar, salt, and pepper. Then, he placed the steaks in the oven so that they could finish cooking, taking the time to melt some butter to baste them with the slurry of onion, garlic, and fat from time to time. Once everything was prepared, Oscar tossed two steaks to his familiar and then placed two dishes in front of Jacob and another on the table for himself. Jason took one look at the food and exclaimed, "Ye gods man! Where did ye learn to cook like that?!" Oscar smiled as he sat down, pointing a pair of finger guns at Jason as he said, "Rank 7 cook." At that, the two of them tucked in. The room was silent outside of the sounds of their lips smacking or Jason, very audibly shouting about how this was the best thing he'd eaten in a year. How his wife couldn't even make steaks like that. It made Oscar a little uncomfortable.

[Oscar 0]

Instead of sleeping, after dinner the two of them talked well into the night. They talked about their pasts, their traumas, their futures. It was refreshing to see someone with hopes and dreams that hadn't completely let go of them after being stuck in the game for so long. As the sun peeked over the horizon, Jason was just beginning to get tired. Oscar, on the other hand, was still ready to go. He did have something he wanted to do very desperately, after all. "Alright Jason. I'm gonna head out. It's been real fun, but I still got a heart to win." Jason sleepily nodded and wave Oscar farewell. He seemed to be too tired to say anything else. Oscar would make a point to come back here and visit the man later. It wasn't often one made a friend they had so much in common with. It was something to be cherished, that was for sure. Oscar left the cottage and headed out, walking northwest towards the forest.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar, in his infinite wisdom, hadn't come up with a plan to deal with the fact that this was a literal labyrinth of a forest. Even his minimap was all screwy from being here. He'd been attacked by wolves, spiders, wolf spiders, spider wolves, and even a very angry spider bear. But he didn't let any of that stop him. He had his eyes on the prize and by golly he would have it. The mist gave way, revealing a clearing. In that clearing was a tomb. Oscar walked closer and read the inscription aloud. "Here lies King Minos, may he find peace in death." As the final word fell from Oscar's lips, he heard a loud rumbling sound from behind him. He turned to see two massive hulking Minotaurs. Their mighty broadaxes leveled with Oscar. He had intruded upon their territory and disturbed the rest of the one they were charged with protecting. Oscar swore and drew his blade, making ready to fight. He'd so hoped that he wouldn't have to do this.

[Oscar 0]

Spoiler

COMBAT ENCOUNTER
Hoya Minotaur1
45 HP
30 DMG

Hoya Minotaur2
45 HP
30 DMG

The Minotaurs certainly looked tough, but Oscar knew for a fact that this was a low-level quest. He made two warm-up slices and whipped his blade around his body three times in rapid succession. His sword cleaved right through the minotaurs, axes and all. They shattered like glass and scattered like dust in the wind. Oscar sheathed his blade and turned back to the tomb. As he did so, a glowing white light coalesced above it. It swelled and pulsed, as if something was manifesting out of thin air. The display was so bright that Oscar had to avert his eyes to keep himself from going blind by staring at the sun for too long. When it finally faded, Oscar turned to see a plain gold pendant floating above the tomb. The Hoya of Minos! It was finally his. Oscar would tentatively approach the tomb and, very carefully, reach out and pluck the pendant from the air.

Spoiler

Oscar HP 480 | EN 37 | DMG 9 | ACC 2  | EVA3 | MIT 23 | ID:

[c]Amatsu no Homura to Hoya Minotaur1 ID:123673 BD:6+3 Deal 72 DMG. Hoya Minotaur1 dies.
[c]Amatsu no Homura to Hoya Minotaur1 ID:123674 BD:4+3 Deal 72 DMG. Hoya Minotaur2 dies.

Edited September 10, 2019 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

As his hand wrapped around the pendant, it began to glow once more. He could feel its shape changing in his hand. He knew exactly what he wanted to sum up how he saw Cordelia. When the light faded, Oscar opened his hand to see a small diamond snowflake attached to a silver chain laying in his palm. Oscar knew precisely what the significance of the shape was. He added the Hoya to his inventory and began to make his way out of the Labyrinth. Even though he would have to brave the same trials to get back that he did to get here, he wore a smile on his face. For once, everything was beginning to fall together. He whistled as he walked back through the maze, his Cerberus following along behind him. They had had enough of an adventure for one day. It was time to head back home with heads held high.

[Oscar 0]

As he thought, Oscar ran into the same enemies once more on his way out. The spiders and the wolves. The wolf spiders and the spider wolf. And even the very angry bear spider. Or spider bear. Honestly, the enemies were a blur. They got cut down before they could even land a hit because Oscar was way too high of a level for this area. Unfortunately, he got turned around and had to deal with them all a third time before he found the proper heading to get out of the forest. Once he had the Forest of Wavering Mist in his rearview, Oscar headed back towards Delilah. He wanted to show the Hoya to Jason before heading back home for the evening. He imagined his new friend would get a kick out of seeing the pendant. Oscar had found out that most of the adventurers didn't have the decency to show the man who guided them what their Hoya looked like when and if they returned. That was just bad manners.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar knocked on Jason's door and was greeted with a friendly face. His eyes lit up as Oscar held up the Hoya for him to see. "That's beautiful man, who's the lucky lady?" Oscar smiled and told him all about Cordelia. As Oscar spoke, Jason went pensive. Oscar noticed this and tilted his head to the side as if to ask "what's up?" Jason chuckled and shook his head. "Ye talk about this girl like I used to talk about my wife is all. It had me nostalgic." A tear rolled down Jason's cheek as a smile stretched across his face. "Thank ye, Oscar."

"For what?"

Jason shook his head as more tears rolled down his face. "For reminding me what I'm hanging on for." Jason rushed forward and wrapped Oscar in a hug. Oscar didn't fight as the man clung to him, wetting his shirt with hot tears. Oscar merely patted his back and let him cry. There was a fourth occasion when you needed to man up, according to the Major.

When another man just needs a shoulder to cry on.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar hung out with Jason for a bit longer when he stopped crying. He extended formal invitations to both his shop on Floor One and his home on Floor Seven. There was even a promise of more steak, should he want it. Jason's eyes lit up at the offer of steak and the previous sorrow was instantly gone. The two conversed until the sun began to set and Oscar needed to be heading back towards home. Oscar left with promises to visit to tell Jason how everything went with Cordelia. He was more confident about it now that he had someone standing behind him. It was almost as if he couldn't let Jason down more than he couldn't let himself down. He was happy to have been of help to the lonely man and was happy to have a new friend. Adventures weren't all about beasts and treasure. Sometimes they were about meeting new people and making new friends.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar headed towards the Teleportation Platform with the Hoya in his pocket and his familiar hot on his heels. Both of them were starving. They hadn't eaten in over a day. Leeroy & Jenkins knew that home meant steak and steak meant sleep. That was all they needed to know to bolt out in front of Oscar and bark loudly, as if urging him to move fast. Oscar chuckled and shook his head as he picked up the pace. His feet clacked against the stone dias. "Deepedge," came his confident cry. The sigil carved upon the stone began to glow. Moments later, Oscar disappeared in a flash of light. He materialized upon the Teleportation Platform in Deepedge. Sounds of the bustling settlement assaulted his ears. It was a far cry from Delilah back down on Floor 3, that much was for sure. He loved the hustle and bustle of the city, but at the same time it was good to have some peace and quiet to relax and unwind.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar headed back towards his home, meandering through the streets of Deepedge until he got to the gate. The sun had all but disappeared over the horizon. Oscar wasn't enthused about making the trek back home under the cover of darkness, but he made his bed. Now he had to lie in it. It wasn't a very pleasant journey, all things considered. Oscar tripped and smacked his face into the ground more than a few times. He had really taken sunlight guiding his path for granted. With a sore face and body, Oscar strolled up to his front door and unlocked it. His familiar zipped inside and made a beeline for the kitchen. The sudden rush caused Oscar to swear in shock and then chuckle. Someone was certainly excited. He shook his head and flipped on the light, illuminating his foyer. Then, he stepped inside and locked the door behind him. It was good to be home.

[Oscar 0]

After feeding himself and his familiar with steaks and veggies, Oscar took the time to wash up before heading upstairs for the night. His body ached, not just from the rough journey home. He did go a couple days without sleep, after all. But it was all worth it. He held up the Hoya, gazing at its polygonal form. The light refracted off of the diamond, bathing his headboard in small fractals of prismatic light. His thumb passed over the inscription engraved into the back of the diamond. It was hard to read unless you were up close as Oscar was. It was a message sent from his heart that, in his mind, only two people in the world had the right to read. His lips parted as he spoke, reading aloud the inscription for the first time in the privacy of his own home.

Unique and beautiful like a snowflake, strong like diamond. - With love, Oscar.