Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 #1 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Freyd had heard how plentiful the loot was on the twenty first floor, but had been too busy to investigate until now. Firm Anima's progression was accelerating, and they would need additional resources in order to maintain their ascension. He could also use the extra loot to keep practicing his merchant skills. Finding a few unique items had emboldened him to collect more items and keep working his way up to maximum rank. So here he was, sitting in the glowing underdark caverns of this alleged land of plenty. This wasn't a quest. It was a pure, unmitigated loot and scoot run. Gripping Forgiven Disobedience tightly in his hands, a predatory grin spread across his face. He began his descent into the nearby bastion of dark elves he had already located, and loosened his shoulders in preparation for the coming battle. His blade sang out against the oppression of the surrounding darkness. This was going to be fun. Spoiler Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows Level: 37 HP: 760/760 EN: 74/74 Stats: Damage: 19 Mitigation: 68 Evasion: 3 Accuracy: 4 KEEN:1 HLY:2 BLD:12 LD +3 Prosperity 3 Equipped Gear: Weapon: Forgiven Disobedience (T1-2HSS, ACC 1, HOLY 1, BLD 1) Armor: Skirmisher's Garb (T2-LA, MIT 2, EVA 1) Misc: Assassin's Cowl (T2-Trinket, ACC 2, KEEN 1) Skills: 2H Straight Sword [Rank 5] Light Armor [Rank 3] Extra Skills: Disguise Familiar Mastery: Fighter 3 Survival Mods: Precision Finesse - Rank 3 LA Athletics Battle Ready Inventory: Starter Healing Potion (50 hp)*3 Teleport Crystals*2 Turkish March *2 Eine Kleine Nachtmusik*5 Super-Duper Snake Sauce*2 Housing Buffs: Rested: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down) Hard Working: +2 EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day Filling: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. Item Stash: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot Relaxed: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Col Stash: +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests Multipurpose: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll Guild Hall Buffs: Lucrative: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters receive +1 crafting attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters receive +2 crafting attempts per day. Col Deposit: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests. Scents of the Wild: n/a Wedding Ring: n/a Spoiler Freyd Consumes: T2 | Super Lucky Matcha Mochi: +3 LD T2 | Super Armor Tonkatsu Ramen: +[30] MIT http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19019-r7-f04-cook-pk-accessible/?do=findComment&comment=614509 Liquor of Light: +3 DMG [153442-1] http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19383-f01-r10alchemist-cintamani-open/?do=findComment&comment=614543 Prosperity +3: 148922 Evasion +2: 149385-2 http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19490-dessertmealsnackfeast-cooking/?do=findComment&comment=618752 Protein 1 [ID159101] Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #2 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) The dark elves of the Sundered Spire had been making a name for themselves throughout Aincrad for some time. They were even known to operate beyond the subterranean caverns of their native floor. Sometimes they recruiting proxies and other agents to act in their name. More rarely, they actually traveled to other floors themselves. The only restriction seemed to be that they were still limited to floors where their stats fell within acceptable parameters. The bigger question was: how were they doing it? Freyd intended to find out. Having located an isolated camp belonging to the tribe, it was time to scour it for answers. The guards at the rear gate were the first to experience his assault. All were caught off guard by his brazen charge from the shadows, and equally staggered by the ferocity of his attacks. There were too many here for him to linger in any one place, or risk them raising an alarm. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:62/74 (-12) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 4 + 4 = 8 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #1. Stunned. BD: 5 + 4 = 9 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #2. Stunned. BD: 6 + 4 = 10 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #3. Stunned. BD: 6 + 4 = 10 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #4. Stunned. Dark Elf #1 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #2 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #3 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #4 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Edited July 30, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #3 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Three of the four guards fell swiftly before him. The last one dodged away quickly and sought to close the portcullis gate by pulling the emergency lever in the guard post. A menacing pool of pure darkness waited within and intercepted his attempt to sound the alarm. Pinned between Freyd and Persi, the elf attempted to cry out in alarm, only to receive a lightning quick bite to the neck from Persi that left him gasping and confused. He tried clumsily to stab at Freyd with his rapier only to have it batted away with a bent tip. Such a light weight weapon fared poorly against a parry from Forgiven Disobedience's heavy white blade. Watching the elf begin to panic, Freyd simply lifted a black-gloved finger to his lips. "Shhhhh... we'll be in and out. I promise." The rest of the Sundered Spire's contingent remained completely unaware that their defenses had been compromised. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:49/74 (-14 +1)| DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 2 + 4 = 6 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #1. Killed. BD: 1 (miss). BD: 3 + 4 = 7 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #3. Killed. BD: 4 + 4 = 8 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #4. Killed. MOB: 3 - 3 = 0 (miss) Dark Elf #2 misses Freyd. Dark Elf #1 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #2 | HP: 218/370 | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #3 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #4 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Loot: 11803*Col 7*T3 Materials T3 Perfect Armor/Shield 162038a T3 Perfect Trinket #162038b Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #4 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Another quick flurry of exchanged blows later, and the last dark elf was down. Freyd collected their loot, noting the increased yield from the floor bonus combined with the consumables he'd brought with him. 'Gaming the system indeed,' he thought to himself. It was very obvious why players favoured this area for loot and grinding runs. Could this also be what has given rise to the Sundered Spire? It was a connection with potentially explosive connotations. Mobs within the system operated within a narrow set of programming parameters. If they could adapt to trends in player activities, who knew what else they might be able to achieve? The prospects were potentially terrifying. A cursory scan of the camp revealed several temporary structures in a ring of outbuildings, with a larger communal tent structure in the center - likely a mess hall or other sort of common area. Freyd's best bet was to empty out the ring of smaller structures as quickly as he could before any alarm was raised. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:40/74 (-9 +1)| DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Finesse 3) BD: 2 + 4 = 6 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #4. Killed. Dark Elf #2 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Loot: 4477*Col 1*T3 Materials T3 Uncommon Consumable #162039a Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #5 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Slicing silently through the cloth at the rear of the first pavilion, Freyd snuck inside to find four more dark elves busy at cards. The shortest of the lot seemed to be having to most success, which wasn't overly surprising, given that Freyd could see an entire array of extra aces pinned to the underside of the table and readily accessibly for use. Rushing the table before they could react, he slammed it upward with a swift kick, the two elves on the far side both catching it with their faces. A quick pivot and pull slammed his blade's pommel into the third elf in the forehead and sent him sprawling to the ground, entangled in his own chair. A rack of nearby weapons clattered down on top of him, several sharp and pointy bits adding their own brand of injury to his circumstance. The last, dark elf, now dubbed 'Lucky', got a great sword in the gut for his troubles. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:28/74 (-12) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 8 + 4 = 12 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #5. Stunned. BD: 7 + 4 = 11 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #6. Stunned. BD: 10 + 4 = 14 (Crit +2, Holy +2, Bld 12). Freyd deals (184 +12 bld = 196) damage to Dark Elf #7. Stunned. BD: 8 + 4 = 12 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #8. Stunned. Dark Elf #5 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #6 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #7 | HP: 174/370 (370-196) | DMG: 111. Bld 12 (1/2) Dark Elf #8 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #6 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) A whirling spin cleanly separated 'Lucky's' head from the rest of his body and converted into a downward stab in Freyd's masterful hands, sealing the fate of the one beneath the crowd of fallen weapons. The other two had drawn their weapons and were struggling with how to get close enough to stab their assailant without leaving the cover and safety of their barrier table. The one on the left lunged forward only to be cut down by a vicious swipe from the bleached blade. The other ducked down just in time to see the top third of the table get sheared clean off by Freyd's blade. "Come on, pal. Let's not make this any more difficult than necessary." Freyd's generous offer was not well received. "Are you insane? Do you know what happens to those who challenge the Sundered Spire? "Nope." He replied, his white sword charging with holy power. "Shall we find out?" Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:13/74 (-16 +1) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 5 + 4 = 9 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #5. Killed. BD: 1 (miss) BD: 9 + 4 = 13 (Crit +1, Holy +2, Bld 12). Freyd deals (264 +12 bld = 276) damage to Dark Elf #7. Killed. BD: 5 + 4 = 9 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #8. Killed. MOB: 2 - 3 = -1 (miss). Dark Elf #6 misses Freyd. Dark Elf #5 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #6 | HP: 218/370 | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #7 | HP: 0/370 (174-276) | DMG: 111. Bld 12 (1/2) Dark Elf #8 | HP: 0/370 (218-218) | DMG: 111 Loot: 13431*Col 9*T3 Materials T3 Rare Trinket #162053a T3 Uncommon Consumable #162054a T3 Rare Trinket #162055a Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #7 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) The first tent exploded with holy light as the last defiant dark elf's limp corpse was launched from its front flap. He disintegrated mid-air as he was sent hurtling through the camp, his pixelated ashed scattering themselves all over the ground. So much for subtlety. A group of half-asleep sentinels lounging in the central pavilion were suddenly very much awake, albeit also confused. Barking orders as they claimed their weapons, they were still emerging from their stupor when Freyd wandered out of the tent, only to have its purplish-grey tarp fabric partially collapse behind him. He pulled Forgiven Disobedience upright before him in mock salute as the dark elves rallied together, their dull mithral shields locked side by side for greater protection. Freyd simply smiled as he continued to advance. "Perfect! Thank you so much. I couldn't have asked for a more predictable reaction." A pair of brilliant blue eyes flared open in the manifold shadows between the guards and their protection. Spoiler Freyd , The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:5/74 (-9 +1) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 10 + 4 = 14 (Crit +2, Holy +2, Bld 12). Freyd deals (276 +12 bld = 288) damage to Dark Elf #6. Killed. Dark Elf #6 | HP: 0/370 (218-288) | DMG: 111 Loot: 4477*Col 1*T3 Materials T3 Rare Weapon #162057a T3 Uncommon Consumable #162057b Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #8 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) "I don't suppose that any of you would be so kind as to spare be any more trouble and tell me what the banners over the next ridge are marshaling to accomplish?" The four elves looked at each other, frowning as they tried to determine whether he was seriously asking, and also how he knew about the gathering of the clans. "You'll find out soon enough, user." That caught Freyd's attention. 'User' - spat out with the same vitriol that the programs in Tron reserved for human players who had entered their world. What if the NPCs and MOB started to organize with the same intentions? "Seriously," Freyd taunted, leaning on his sword as he glared at the speaker in disbelief. "That's the best, hackneyed response you can come up with? You have a virtual army at your back, I'm alone and surrounded and you hit me with cliches!? You guys make terrible villains, you know that?" Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #9 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) "We know what's going on above us, User," replied another elf. "Your people were foolish to think we would ignore it." The first speaker cuffed his partner on the back of the helm for having revealed their intentions. "Don't you know how to keep your big trap shut!? Honestly, what is wrong with you?" The two mobs were really going at each other. Freyd leaned casually against his blade, which he'd planted in the ground at his feet, completely content to let them hash this out while he watched his energy bar refill. It was really quite generous of them to do his work for him, though that bit about a potential assault against... he looked up. Shit. Floor twenty two had the Tanabata festival going on. If they struck there while most players were in casual mode... "Sorry guys, but I need to cut this short. I can't let you go through with your poorly-conceived, if allegedly dastardly plans." Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #10 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Persi read her queue perfectly, lashing out in a frenzied cloud of flaying claws and darkness. The dark elves shed their shield, wondering what foul witchcraft had befallen them. Freyd seized his opening, cutting through their fractured defenses. They instantly gave ground and fell into disarray. A series of blinding slashes and thrusts scattered them like a bowling ball crashing into four perfectly-placed pins. Their recovery was slow and gave him more than enough time to whittle down their health bars. Persi was running rampant between them, adding to the mayhem and ravaging them unseen. "What the hell is going on!?" one of them cried out, unable to grasp what was actually happening. "You're fighting against a mongoose. You're not supposed to get what's going on." A swift boot to the head sent the elf tumbling back head over heels, landing unceremoniously on his backside. All four elves struggled to clamber back to their feet after Freyd's devastating initial attacks. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:62/74 (-12) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 9 + 4 = 13 (crit +1, holy +2, bld 12). Freyd deals (176 + 12 bld = 188) damage to Dark Elf #9. Stunned. BD: 7 + 4 = 11 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #10. Stunned. BD: 10 + 4 = 14 (crit +2, holy +2, bld 12). Freyd deals (184 + 12 bld = 196) damage to Dark Elf #11. Stunned. BD: 5 + 4 = 9 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #12. Stunned. Dark Elf #5 | HP: 182/370 (370-188) | DMG: 111 (12 Bleed 1/2) Dark Elf #6 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #7 | HP: 174/370 (370-196) | DMG: 111 (12 Bleed 1/2) Dark Elf #8 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #11 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) "Rush him!" called the one who seemed to be their unofficial leader. Angel song rang out from the centre of the camp as Forgiven Disobedience flared repeatedly. When the motes cleared, nothing remained of his enemies. Free to search the contents of the main table. It was true. Their forces were preparing for an attack on Coral, up on floor twenty-two, but there was no indication of how they intended to reach it. More of Cardinal's shenanigans, in all likelihood. The fiendish program had a perverse obsession with ruining any positive or redeeming exchange players might have within the confines of its Machiavellian machinations. Spoil sport. He needed to disrupt their operations as much as he could, then bring this intel up to Coral and organize a defense. Snatching the available intel, he scanned and stored as much as he could. Turning to make his escape, he found his way blocked by another patrol. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:46/74 (-16) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 7 + 4 = 11 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #9. Killed. BD: 10 + 4 = 14 (crit +2, holy +2, bld 12). Freyd deals (276 + 12 bld = 288) damage to Dark Elf #10. Killed. BD: 7 + 4 = 11 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #11. Killed. BD: 9 + 4 = 13 (crit +1, holy +2, bld 12). Freyd deals (264 + 12 bld = 276) damage to Dark Elf #12. Killed. Dark Elf #5 | HP: 0/370 (182-228-12) | DMG: 111 (12 Bleed 2/2) Dark Elf #6 | HP: 0/370 (218-288) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #7 | HP: 0/370 (174-228-12) | DMG: 111 (12 Bleed 2/2) Dark Elf #8 | HP: 0/370 (218-276) | DMG: 111 Loot: 15466*Col 10*T3 Materials T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #162076a T3 Perfect Consumable #162076b T3 Perfect Consumable #162076c T3 Perfect Consumable #162077a T3 Rare Trinket #162077b T3 Uncommon Consumable #162078a T3 Rare Weapon #162079a T3 Uncommon Consumable #162079b Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #12 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Attracted by all of the commotion, another batch of dark elf guards arrived on scene only the be greeted by a barrage of light and darkness in the form of Persistence and Forgiven Disobedience. Freyd knew full well that maintaining initiative and momentum were key to winning any battle and pressed his enemies hard from the moment they engaged. They were not expecting this level of resistance or ferocity and were forced to give way to his assault, scattering any attempt to coordinate their actions against him. "Who is this devil?" cried one of the new guards. "Who cares! Cut him down, for the glory of the Spire!" replied another, right before Freyd hammered the butt of his sword hilt in his gut and folded him in half over himself. Scraping the white blade on the mineral-rich stone surface upon which they were standing sent a shower of sparks flying into the faces of the other two, who cried out in pain and alarm in surprise and at the burning brightness. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:34/74 (-12) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 2 + 4 = 6 (hit). . Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #13. Stunned. BD: 9 + 4 = 13 (crit +1, holy +2, bld 12). Freyd deals (176 + 12 bld = 188) damage to Dark Elf #14. Stunned. BD: 8 + 4 = 12 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #15. Stunned. BD: 9 + 4 = 13 (crit +1, holy +2, bld 12). Freyd deals (176 + 12 bld = 188) damage to Dark Elf #16. Stunned. Dark Elf #13 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #14 | HP: 182/370 (370-188) | DMG: 111 (12 Bleed 1/2) Dark Elf #15 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #16 | HP: 182/370 (370-188) | DMG: 111 (12 Bleed 1/2) Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #13 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) "He's taken the plans!" called out the female in the group, her braided purplish-white hair standing in sharp contrast to her dark skin and clothing. "We can't let him get away!" "Sorry gang, but that's exactly what's about to happen." Freyd's taunt had precisely the intended effect, his foes charging him with reckless abandon in desperation to prevent that from happening. Two of them fell by the same crossward cut, while he parried the third and promptly cut off his sword arm with his riposte. Only the purple-haired woman remained. She was breathing heavily from the exertions of battle and several large iridescent gashes across her body. They hadn't managed a single scratch on Freyd, so far. "I don't suppose that you'd be open to surrender?" Freyd asked, mulling over whether what's he'd do if she actually accepted. "Not a chance, villain!" she spat back. "Villain? Really? That's a bit rich from a group getting ready to try and execute a massacre, isn't it?" Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:21/74 (-14 +1) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 8 + 4 = 12 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #13. Killed. BD: 1 (miss) BD: 6 + 4 = 10 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #15. Killed. BD: 4 + 4 = 8 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #16. Killed. Dark Elf #13 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #14 | HP: 170/370 (182-12) | DMG: 111 (12 Bleed 2/2) Dark Elf #15 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #16 | HP: 0/370 (182-228-12) | DMG: 111 (12 Bleed 2/2) Loot: 10989*Col 9*T3 Materials T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #162095a T3 Perfect Weapon #162095b T3 Rare Trinket #162096a T3 Rare Consumable #162097a T3 Rare Armor/Shield162097b Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #14 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) "Massacre?! You want to speak of massacres? How many of my kin do you think have fallen since your people arrived?" The venom in her voice spoke with surprising passion and awareness. Could the mobs actually remember their defeats, or be aware of their fallen fellows? He'd never observed this kind of memory in an NPC before, but the game had already run for so long. Who knew what the prolonged effects of operating a complex system AI could have, especially under these conditions. There is was again; the notion of AI growing in self-awareness. Kayaba clearly had his own intentions for SAO, but what if Cardinal was developing its own? It ran everything here, from the underlying fundamentals of the base code to the more complex interactions of the mobs and NPCs. Its hand was in everything, and it received a colossal volume of feedback. "I'm sorry that you remember that. I truly am." Freyd brought his sword down and dispersed her essence in a cloud of brilliant white motes. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:12/74 (-9 +1) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Finesse 3) BD: 3 + 4 = 7 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #14. Killed. Dark Elf #14 | HP: 0/370 (170-228) | DMG: 111 Loot: 3663*Col 3*T3 Materials T3 Rare Consumable #162099a T3 Rare Weapon162099b Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #15 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Freyd left the camp burdened with even greater concerns than he had first come to investigate. Most of the monsters he had encountered during his adventures throughout Aincrad were very simplistic. There were very rare exceptions. Billy, the merchant trainer who also turned out to be Hermes, immediately came to mind. But that exchange seemed to be driven more by Cardinal's direct interference. Billy 'himself' wasn't actually a bad guy. He just had a few serious character flaws. It made him seem more human. The red ninja he'd encountered during his early trials in the Town of Beginnings was another such puppet. More recently, he had encountered a series of autonomous learning mobs, like Kumatetsu in the Scent of the Wild, who garnered power at the expense of, or by consuming, their own kin. What if certain algorithms within the system were gaining some modicum of self-awareness? It would be a twofold game-changer: first for all the players still trapped in the game, but also for the world at large. Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #16 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) If Cardinal and its minions were capable of achieving self-awareness independently, what would it mean if they continued to cooperate? What if they worked together to defeat the players? Everyone here was keenly aware that players were a finite resource. Everyone one that fell meant one less person to help defeat their digital overlords. Many had already fallen. Many more were simply casual gamers without the will or desire to fight the necessary battles. He had counted himself among them, not long ago. It gave Freyd some small degree of comfort to find that others were emerging from the more placid throng to take up the fight, like @Elora. More were needed if they were to have any chance at victory, and they needed to get stronger quickly. This line of thinking made him more confident than ever of his decision to join Firm Anima. Too many of the other major guilds - the only real formal player organizations in the game - seemed stagnant. Perhaps they had simply grown tired and numb to constant, endless warfare. Fatigue was certainly real. "Damn," he said aloud, to himself. "It really does look like the rest of us are going to need to step up more, and fast." His gloved hands clenched with determination. He had to reach Coral before anything worse happened. Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #17 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Word must have gotten back to the Sundered Spire that their plans had been compromised. The path back to the teleportation gate was now crawling with heavily armed patrols, keen on finding a lone and wayward agent. Freyd took to side tunnels and caverns, leveraging the vertical plane to sneak by them, but there were too many. "There! On the giant mushroom! Get him!" A whole squad of warriors had spotted him and were now giving chase. Freyd ran as fast as he could, but there were too many. Picking his targets carefully, he ambushed a smaller section of the troops and unleashed his fury with surgical focus. Dropping low and choosing a clearing obscured from view, he lashed out at a group of guards. The vegetation around them would also muffle the sounds of battle. This was going to boil down to carefully practiced and refined skill, plus a considerable element of luck. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:62/74 (-12) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 7 + 4 = 11 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #17. Stunned. BD: 8 + 4 = 12 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #18. Stunned. BD: 9 + 4 = 13 (crit +1, holy +2, bld 12). Freyd deals (176 + 12 bld = 188) damage to Dark Elf #19. Stunned. BD: 4 + 4 = 8 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #17. Stunned. Dark Elf #17 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #18 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #19 | HP: 182/370 (370-188) | DMG: 111 (12 bleed 1/2) Dark Elf #20 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #18 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) They never even had a chance to scream before Freyd had cut all of them down. It was nice to have fortune on his side for a change. "Thanks Billy. You're a fickle bastard, but I'll take it however and whenever I can." He was sure that Billy would approve. Such were the ways of business and fortune. You played the hand you were dealt. Sneaking through the thick, fungal foliage, Freyd was able to slowly and steadily make his way over to the outskirts of Tomoika. The mining town wasn't much to look at but it was a safe zone and offered him his best way off this floor. "The labyrinth? Maybe that's how they plan to get to the upper level? With its guardian long-since defeated, that might be the easiest way for them to head upward, and it could dodge the safe zones depending on where it emerged." That would have to be his next destination. Sending a quick message to Quip and Dingo to go warn Coral of what he'd found, he focused on the problem at hand. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:47/74 (-16 +1) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 9 + 4 = 13 (crit +1, holy +2, bld 12). Freyd deals (264 + 12 bld = 276) damage to Dark Elf #17. Killed BD: 3 + 4 = 7 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #18. Killed. BD: 2 + 4 = 6 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #19. Killed. BD: 6 + 4 = 10 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #20. Killed. Dark Elf #17 | HP: 0/370 (218-276) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #18 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #19 | HP: 0/370 (182-228-12) | DMG: 111 (12 bleed 2/2) Dark Elf #20 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Loot: 14652*Col 12*T3 Materials T3 Rare Trinket #162111a T3 Perfect Consumable #162112a T3 Rare Trinket #162112b T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #162113a T3 Perfect Weapon #162113b Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #19 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) "Nice try, fool! Did you really believe we wouldn't be watching every angle? Our eyes are every... OOF!" Freyd had tried to circumvent the final line of Spire sentries by climbing up one of the gigantic mushrooms that hung close to the walls of Tomoika. Even the upper reaches were guarded apparently. Lacking the patience or courtesy to let another arrogant drow ramble on about his cleverness or the natural superiority of his people over blah, blah, blah, Freyd just punched him in the face, then set to hacking and slashing his compatriots to pieces. His clothes were slick with goo from crawling through the slime-infested fungal forest, which made standing on these mushrooms even trickier. It also made him a bit harder to hit as their scimitars struggled to find purchase. These were the last bunch in his way and he meant to clear his path forward as quickly as possible. The elves backed away when they saw the extent of his determination, but it wouldn't save them. Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:35/74 (-12) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 8 + 4 = 12 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #21. Stunned. BD: 6 + 4 = 10 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #22. Stunned. BD: 2 + 4 = 6 (hit.) Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #23. Stunned. BD: 4 + 4 = 8 (hit). Freyd deals 152 damage to Dark Elf #24. Stunned. Dark Elf #21 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #22 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #23 | HP: 2182/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #24 | HP: 218/370 (370-152) | DMG: 111 Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 30, 2020 Author #20 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) One by one, their limp bodies slid off the mushroom cap until only the loud mouth remained. "You were saying?" Freyd taunted. A grimace and snarl were his only replies. The elf was clearly evaluating a short and poor selection of options. A mad smile started to creep across his face and deliberately threw himself backward to slide down the edge of the cap. "Awwww... dammit!" If the elf somehow survived the fall, he could summon half the local sentries and guarantee that Freyd's escape would fail. Lacking other options, he leaned back and slid down the face of the cap himself, his slick clothing reducing any friction as he picked up speed. The dark elf scout landed in a mushy patch of glowing moss and fungus that prevented any injury. He thought his solution rather clever until he looked up to see a slimy sword-wielding maniac bearing down at him, point first. *SQUELCH* Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:760/760 | EN:35/74 (-12) | DMG:19 | MIT:78 | EVA:3 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 | LD 3 (Rested, Finesse 3) BD: 6 + 4 = 10 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #21. Killed BD: 3 + 4 = 7 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #22. Killed BD: 9 + 4 = 13 (hit.) Freyd deals (264 + 12 bleed = 276) damage to Dark Elf #23. Killed BD: 8 + 4 = 12 (hit). Freyd deals 228 damage to Dark Elf #24. Killed Dark Elf #21 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #22 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #23 | HP: 0/370 (218-276) | DMG: 111 Dark Elf #24 | HP: 0/370 (218-228) | DMG: 111 Loot: 17501*Col 12*T3 Materials T3 Perfect Trinket #162122a T3 Uncommon Consumable #162123a T3 Rare Trinket #162124a T3 Rare Trinket #162125a Edited July 31, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows Link to post Share on other sites
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