[F1-PP] A Lesson from the Leader (First Lessons)

[Raidou 1]

Raidou reluctantly found his way into the starting city, keeping as best to out of sight as he could given the flamboyant red hue of his robe giving his position away at a few turns. The quest board was a place he had frequented prior, doing earning a living quite a number of times before the system made a more beneficial way to yield materials. Halting at the foot of the board and tapping it open, Raidou scrolled through the quest listings and located the one he was after 'First Lessons'. It was a trivial task to be sure, but it served as a medium to test the compatibility of his team. If they couldn't work in tandem on such a simple job then they would be ostracized from more threatening ones, Raidou had to be sure they could get along when it mattered most.

A tap of the quest as it highlights and kicks back: [Quest Accepted!] Raidou waits the rest that was contacted to follow him on this journey, as even he had to test the compatibility he had with the group and was subject to the same test.

Spoiler

Raidou, The Red Wanderer:

Level: 27

HP: 540/540

En: 54/54

Weapon: The Black Star - Genesis [1HSS] (T1/Perfect): Paralyze 1 (9-10), Taunt (+1 Hatred from Attacks/Howls, +2 on Focused), Vampiric [Offensive] 1 (Recover 10% of Total HP on 9-10)

Armor: Swordsman's Bracer [Heavy] (T1/Perfect): +27 Damage Mitigation

Misc: Onyx Spectacles [Trinket] (T1/Perfect): +3 Loot Dice

Skills:

1 Handed Straight Sword: Rank 1

Parry: Obtained

Gatherer: Obtained

Searching: Rank 5 (GM)

Concentration [Extra]: +1 Accuracy on next attack, 3 turn cooldown

Battle Ready Inventory:

Golem's Strength*5

Golem's Strength*5 (8 more in reserve)

Self-Heal Recovery Potion*4

Teleport Crystal*1

Red Wanderer's Robe [Light] (T1/Perfect): +3 Evasion

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by Raidou

[Gaius 0]

Gaius remembered this nonsense and was not eager to do this again, however, he would do it and follow the orders he was given. Last time he was convinced there was more underneath the job he was given, and assumed he would be paired with others but not sure who. The familiar sight of the large tan brick fencing that surrounded the beginning town, ablaze with green players skittering through the streets per usual as they darted in and out of the doors that found a place on the ring of buildings. The city was always alive like this, especially at the start of a day as it were now, the star that took hold above burning bright and casting light down in a glare across the pavement. A few minutes of walking through the pathways leads Gaius to the center fountain from the warp gate, having already ate his morning breakfast that should hold him over for an hour or two his eyes find Raidou who awaits him at the board. "I am working with you today, alright." Gaius wasn't sure how to address the circumstances but did so to the best of his ability.

Spoiler

Gaius, The Sweeping Typhoon

Level: 8

HP: 160/160

EN: 16/16

Weapon: Dragoon's Keening [2HA.S.] (T1/Rare) +2 Accuracy

Armor: Dragoon's Plate [Heavy] (T1/Perfect) 1 Mitigation, 2 Heavy Momentum

Misc: Boar Hide Belt [Trinket] (T1/Perfect) [+3 Loot Dice]

Damage: 5

Accuracy: +2

Mitigation: 9

Loot Dice: +3

Heavy Momentum: After a missed attack next following attack gains +2 Base Damage

Skills:

2H Assault Spear: Rank 2

Disguise [Extra]: +1 Eva this turn, Cooldown 3 turns

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by Gaius

[Simmone 0]

Wrapping up a deal with a prospective contact, Simmone makes a note to say her goodbyes to Moro and Maru: "I'll be back soon girls, I have something to attend to." who wave exuberantly at their mistress. It takes her a few moments to make her way through the city toward the fountain. Just as busy as Simmone had come to expect, her kind of place with so much potential coin skittering around making purchases the very thought filled her with excitement.

Reaching the fountain she saw the vibrant red of Raidou's robe and the familiar buffoon from before. Gaius and Raidou seemed to be awaiting her arrival, she hoped they had not been awaiting her too long as she had an appearance to uphold as she spoke with a silver tongue: "With you two then, Will there be another?" Simmone asked half knowing the answer, and also intrigued at the concept of working with Raidou first hand for once as she was eager to see him in action.

Spoiler

Simmone, The Black Cat

Level: 7

HP: 140/140

EN: 14/14

Weapon: Ornate Quicksilver Rapier [Rapier] (T1/Rare) Bleed 1 (12 Unmitigated Damage per round for 2 rounds on NBD 9-10), Keen (+1 BD after successful attack on the following attack.)

Armor: Embrace of the Lotus [L.A.] (T1/Perfect): Evasion 1, Recovery 2

Misc: Gilded Lotus [T1/Perfect/Trinket] (+3 Loot Dice)

Damage: 2

Accuracy: +3

Keen: +1 BD after landing a strike, for the next attack

Recovery 2: Recover 2 EN on CD-6+

Evasion: 1

Bleed: 12 Unmitigateable damage each round for 2 rounds (9-10)

Skills:

1H Rapier: Rank 1

Concentration [Extra]: +1 Accuracy on Next Attack, 3 turn cool down

Battle Ready Inv:

Cat's Gaze [Trinket] (T1/Perfect) +3 Accuracy

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by Simmone

[Shiina 0]

A feeling she may have overslept as she roars out of the inn she was staying, fluttering out of a stack of used parchment littered with music notes in her wake as she runs. The paper finds its way down the stairs with stairs from the patrons in the center of the building, Shiina having half of her armor on her person once she reaches the foot of the descending steps. Shoving her foot into a metal boot with a heaving motion, she looks to see a bunch of eyes focused on her and her alone. Shouting out to the room "What!?" with puffed up cheeks, the crowd chuckles to her dismay. Storming toward the double doors that made up the entry of the tavern, she heads out to see Raidou and the bunch sitting in front of the quest board that lay just outside it. "I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting too long! I stayed up late making music and..." the words trailed into silence, leaving the excuse to die with a sheet of paper still strapped to her face.

Spoiler

Shiina, Resonant Valkyrie:

Level: 5

HP: 100/100

EN: 10/10

Equipment:

Armor: Wings of the Valkyrie - Origin [Heavy Armor] (T1/Perfect) +27 Miti

Misc: Sapphire Hair Clips [Trinket] (T1/Perfect) +3 LD

Damage Mitigation: 27

Loot Dice: +3

Skills:

First Aid: Rank 1

Concentration [Extra]: +1 Accuracy on next attack, Cool down 3 turns

Battle Ready Inv:

N/a

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by Shiina

[Raidou 1]

Raidou moved to Shiina's side and removed the sheet of paper from her mouth, a subtle tear from her lips and handing it to her. Sliding his HUD opening with a sharp cut through the windows Raidou fires off party invites to the lot with a reply "And that is everyone, let us get a move on while it is early and we can see clearly." Each player receives the same notifications seconds apart before Raidou snaps the quest log open and clicks share with a precision navigating the windows in the rapid sliding of the screens. Raidou started following the nav pointer straight where it leads, as to not waste daylight and was sure the rest would make their respective way to the same once they had time to interpret what had transpired.

Zackariah was hard at work behind alembics and the like, the gear was marginal at best compared to Raidou's own. However, it was sufficent to perform the task that the NPC would have the party do Raidou was sure. "Hail, you've come to take my job then?" Zackariah spoke as Raidou gave a subtle nod in response. "Alright then, gather me 5 materials and we will get to work."

With this phrase the other 3 party members' quest would update them to the same stage, Raidou leaving the building and exiting the city to get started.

ID# 137666 results: Craft: 6, Loot: 3+(5/3)=11, Success!

[Gatherer Activated!] +2 Bonus Materials

3*T1 [Quest] Materials Obtained!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 3

The quest tracker updated in fury as Raidou knocks the required materials down by half for his mission, this was his domain after all as he harvested 3 green herbs with relative ease.

Edited March 13, 2020 by Raidou

[Gaius 0]

Raidou's hand moved about in a frenzy, giving Gaius first a party invites and then a quest share invite merely seconds apart from one another. It was like a conductor orchestrating a symphony, Gaius was a bit taken aback at the speed he tore through his HUD. Accepting both as Raidou had already passed just out of sight behind one of the twists toward their objectives, Gaius shouts "Hey wait up!" Looking to Simmone and Shiina "Dudes crazy fast come on." Waving a hand to the others as to not be left to far behind, managing to round the corner as the guy in red was exiting the threshold.

Geez dude slow down a bit

Gaius thought as Raidou broke out the walls and toward where he had done this quest with Kasumi and the rest, they were already at this part. The same part he was dreading. Heading out of the walls and looking back to the girls hoping they could keep up he found himself a space near Raidou's side and attempting to gather some materials of his own.

ID# 137667 results: Loot: 6+3=9, Failure!

as he easily ripped 3 herbs from the ground. "Holy crap dude, how are you doing that?" Gaius remarked remembering how difficult this was before and still proved to be, and Raidou was making it look like a child's play.

Edited March 13, 2020 by Gaius

[Simmone 0]

The notifications came in shots fired off one after another, her attention shifting down to accept them as they popped up. When her eyes returned back from her HUD Raidou was missing, as if he vanished. Her head turns to Gaius and Shiina as Gaius shouts something and starts to run around a corner. "Well then, I guess we are off then?" Simmone says to Shiina and started to walk behind where Gaius had run off to, assuming that he was following Raidou. Moments after Raidou slides past with rapid but subtle footfalls, Gaius now in tow behind him. This was very deliberately sped up it seems, Raidou must have done this before Simmone was sure. "Come on Shiina, let's not fall too far behind," Simmone spoke to the girl before following behind the males.

Taking her place amongst the others, Simmone assumed this was what they needed and picked one from the ground. Her head twists up to see Gaius failing one and Raidou dropping three to the ground with ease. She felt outmatched, that boy was very good at this and it was clear she had to learn his methods.

ID# 137668 results: Loot: 20+3=23, Success!

1*T1 [Quest] Materials Obtained!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 1

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by Simmone

[Shiina 0]

The group seemed to split off in a fray, Shiina was left still standing there half-awake with a grumble from the girl "Wait up guys!" followed with a sneeze. Simmone still a bit ahead of Shiina spoke back at her:

"Come on Shiina, let's not fall too far behind,"

Simmone was still within eyesight, Shiina paid her a nod and sped her feet into a run to catch up to the rest. Raidou and Gaius were clearly lording over a patch of green plants that were a bit different from the grass that surrounded it. Simmone picks one as Gaius doesn't, the whole scene reminding Shiina of her earning a living. A quick dart of her eyes to the sky, looking for storm clouds on the horizon hoping that it wouldn't be a repeat of then. Dropping to her butt, Shiina starts to mill about in the patch with the others.

ID# 137669 results: Loot: 6+3=9, Failure!

Edited March 13, 2020 by Shiina

[Raidou 1]

Raidou was glad, it seemed the others had found the way and followed behind him. The fact was this should be easy enough to do and Raidou would not wish to waste too much of the day on this task as he had other matters to attend to as well. Simmone manages to pick one herb, Raidou making a mental tally of the state of the encounter leaving the others needing 5 and Simmone 4.

Let's see how strong their resolves are when things seem difficult.

Raidou thinks to himself with an eye split between his gathering and what the others were doing in the meantime. It seems that the section Raidou was in was now picked clean, yielding little for him to claim. Taking a quick step away from this foot by foot section of the mental grid he had painted, Raidou moves to the next hoping to have better luck elsewhere.

ID# 137670 results: Craft: 11, Loot: 1+(5/3)=9, Failure!

Edited March 13, 2020 by Raidou

[Gaius 0]

Raidou moves over after a few seconds of milling about where he was seeming to abandon that area, Gaius found himself studying his actions to mimic his yield and figure out the reasoning. "Why move? Does it make a difference?" Gaius asked truly confused by this whole gathering thing, trying his best to understand what Raidou was doing. Taking a step to the side and moving away from where he failed Gaius picks one and successfully obtains a quest material. Even more, convinced of the method, Gaius exclaims "No S***" as the parroting of Raidou's action actually works in his favor, beginning to understand how this whole thing worked.

A flash of green energy as the item find its way into Gaius's inventory, updating the quest state accordingly as it does. Gaius keeps working where he was, taking a silent note to move every time he found one that failed to stick.

ID# 137671 results: Loot: 16+3=19, Success!

1*T1 Material Obtained!

Total T1 Materials: 1

Edited March 19, 2020 by Gaius

[Simmone 0]

Simmone was having some success, but not to the same magnitude Raidou had. Gaius seemed intent on watching what Raidou was doing, and following the same method managed another piece of a plant from the earth. Simmone couldn't help but watch like a child watching a parent she shot Gaius a remark "Would you look at that! It is kind of adorable Gaius." she said with a goading grin. It was playful banter nothing more, accentuated by the fact she could not her self from attempting the same.

With a pull of some strings, the soil gave way to one of her own updating her tracker according to the extraction. With the grin that had claimed her mouth still plastered on her face, she knew she had taken another step toward completion of this task. Placing the unit denoted as a quest material into her bag, her attentions shift back to the dirt and soil. This filth was beneath her but she had to start somewhere.

ID# 137668 results: Loot: 20+3=23, Success!

1*T1 [Quest] Materials Obtained!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 1

Edited March 14, 2020 by Simmone

[Shiina 0]

The others seemed hard at work picking funky looking plants from the ground. "Weird that's what this mission is about." Shiina looked on a bit puzzled, and with a shrug of her shoulders decided to join them in this strange symphony of snapping roots. Gaius was seeming to parrot Raidou and to her amazement, the boy in red seemed to be making quite the pile of the junk. "How are you so good at this stuff, book boy?" Shiina queried in an earnest interest, moving to his right and milling around in the tufts of green. Retrieving one of her own with a tug that scattered some dark brown soot about in front of the girl, scattering it off with the two-handed pull she had performed Shiina looks back to the group with a nervous giggle "Got it..." before rolling it in her hand to clear it off and adding it to her inventory.

ID# 137669 results: Loot: 6+3=9, Failure!

Edited March 21, 2020 by Shiina

[Raidou 1]

It seemed as though the others had started their own retrievals, feeling a bit uneasy with all the eyes that followed his hands as they moved. The stares felt like daggers piercing his skin, he could almost feel their gaze. Shaking his head and trying to squash this rising emotion with a grit of his teeth and a focus down to the plants that offered him comfort, this was a bit overwhelming still. However, Raidou found solace in an echoing word that bounced through his skull:

This must be done...

It reverberated in a constant loop behind his eyes, like a mantra to keep his sanity.

Gaius riddled him with a query at his methods. Shiina moved up next to him and earnestly asked the nomad how he was performing so well. Simmone said something that came off muffled as if spoken underwater. Raidou took a deep breath, trying to snap himself back to reality.

Then he spoke, with his glare to the floor he spoke "If you move, you increase your odds. The plants cannot share all the nutrients in the soil, so you are bound to only find so many that are worth keeping given they feed off each other." Raidou told Gaius before his peripheral turned to Shiina, not looking at the girl directly but rather out of the corner of his eye. "Practice, I do this whenever I have a free moment as it helps me clear my thoughts."

ID# 137748 results: Loot: 18+(5/3)=26, Success!

1*T1 [Quest] Materials Obtained!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 4

 

Edited March 14, 2020 by Raidou

[Gaius 0]

A quick glare shot at Simmone as she takes her place amongst the others, paying him a smile that Gaius couldn't help but to reflect back at her in a playful shout at the woman "Shut your face, I am learning don't pretend your not looking either sweetheart."

Such a soft and subtle response almost alludes Gaius completely who is focusing intently on the task at hand. The words do find his ears though and Gaius cannot help to listen before a reply finds its way from his stomach "Huh, you don't say. When you put it that way it does sort of make sense." Gaius keeping the tufts beneath him on his new perch above a new section of the stuff starts to work them as before. The patch responds accordingly, allowing Gaius to retract another from its surface with an easy extraction of matter from the dirt and dust causing a slight displacement of both.

ID# 137757 results: Loot: 20+3=23, Success!

1*T1 Material Obtained!

Total T1 Materials: 2

Edited March 19, 2020 by Gaius

[Simmone 0]

Gaius seems to joke with Simmone back, which she was hoping he wouldn't take the interaction the opposite way and see it as an insult. "Alright, you have gotten me. It still is rather funny on how literal your shadowing of him is though." Simmone says before her attentions shift back on this trivial task hoping to put an end to this quest, eager to keep the momentum forward and finish this sooner rather than later. The foliage, however, seems to be devoid of anything of use, a few minutes of milling about in it proves the point. Collecting herself from her compromised position and returning to her heels, Simmone takes a step away putting some distance between her and the prior area. "Let's see exactly what this does shall we?" Simmone drops the sound from her face, a slight bit of spice from the waste of time as she intends to gather here.

ID# 138127 results: Loot: 4+3=7, Failure!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 1

Edited March 19, 2020 by Simmone

[Shiina 0]

The others seemed busy enough, tearing away at the patch with little loss in focus. Simmone fails where Gaius succeeds which Shiina had not perceived that Gaius would be capable of such a thing, given their interaction during his earning a living as a reckless crazy person. The pair seemed to bicker and Shiina couldn't help but chuckle as they fired shots between one another. Raidou was paying her closer inspection and explaining himself, Shiina listens intently before she replies to the guy "Practice huh, you and your complicated thoughts book boy. How much have you done this?" Shiina queried earnestly a bit bored by the whole ordeal they were expected to perform but would do so more or less. While speaking toward Raidou she does her best to keep at the task, and even though she wasn't paying much attention manages to harvest another of the leafy green plant.

ID# 138194 results: Loot: 18+3=21, Success!

1*T1 [Quest] Materials Obtained!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 1

Edited March 21, 2020 by Shiina

[Raidou 1]

Raidou keeps at the harvesting, assuming he was nearing completion as Shiina continues to question his activity. "I have done this quite a number of times to be sure." Raidou replies with the words falling from his mouth a bit tough to portray to the girl, but despite his difficulty still manages to hold the conversation. Pulling free two more in rapid succession, only one seems to have the [quest] tag as Raidou's quest updates according to the completion of this segment. Looking to the others he responds "And that is the end of mine."

Patting his hands together to clear what was littered on his hands and standing to leave what remained to the others, choosing to scout a bit and see what else may lie outside the standard location. He would keep an eye on the others should they need his help, but chose to leave the task for them to complete as to not meddle too deeply in how the task played out.

ID# 138195 results: Craft: 5, Loot: 9+(5/3)=17, Success!

[Gatherer Activated!] +1 Bonus Materials

1*T1 [Quest] Materials Obtained!

1*T1 Material Obtained!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 5 Complete!

Total T1 Materials: 1

Edited March 19, 2020 by Raidou

[Gaius 0]

Raidou stands and starts to wander off, having completed his part of the quest in quite the hastened speed. Gaius can't help but notice how fast the guy tore through this, a bit miffed he was still stuck here doing this crap while Raidou got to head off. Gaius struggled a bit but managed to separate himself from his discomfort, Raidou had earned his escape where he had not. It did, however, light a new fire in his stomach, more emboldened it an attempt at matching his capability.

"I can do that too!" Gaius exclaimed as he reached for another plant. He, however, manages to only destroy the one he reaches for, crushing the frail root in his grasp in attempts to prove himself. Shattering with an audible sound to the failure, Gaius hangs his head in shame. It seemed as though a lack of patience added no speed to this task.

ID# 138196 results: Loot: 3+3=6, Failure!

Total T1 Materials: 2

Edited March 19, 2020 by Gaius

[Simmone 0]

The first wrapping up in record time, the leader leaves them to what remained. Simmone watches on as Gaius quickly snatches a herb up, destroying it in the process and cannot help but chuckle with the interaction he had with the ground. "Don't you know that haste makes waste dear." Simmone matched words with more laughter, softly goading Gaius with a subtle grin. She was behind as of yet, her mind could not help but notice she was falling behind the others but wasn't out of this yet. Her hands begin to peruse the patch she had moved to, scanning them for one to pick from the rough. But none of what was here spoke to her, it was very clear she was not a gardener. A bit of impatience started to boil in her breast, struggling to take her own phrase to heart with the failure that had transpired.

ID# 138197 results: Loot: 2+3=5, Failure!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 1

Edited March 19, 2020 by Simmone

[Shiina 0]

With an answer to her question Raidou seems to pick up and leave, Shiina confused until she realizes he must be done already. "Jeez dude, how do you do this so crazy stupid fast?" Shiina exclaimed as he took to the surrounding area, leaving her to what was left. Her face puffs up a bit, a tad jealous that he was finished with this while she had to keep doing it. When it came to gathering materials she was not that lucky, but it seemed that the others were having just as crappy luck as she was. Turning to face Simmone and Gaius "He's done already!" Shiina fired off again, looking for their input on the affair.

Not wanting to fall too far behind Shiina tries her best to speed it up, but does nothing more than squash a couple in failed withdraws from the grass. Scattering data around like confetti Shiina can't help but be a bit discouraged.

ID# 138198 results: Loot: 2+3=5, Failure!

Total T1 [Quest] Materials: 1

Edited March 21, 2020 by Shiina