[PP-16] Boaty McFishFace (Fighting Fish SoW3)

[Freyd 0]

[Begins immediately after completion of SoW2 on floor 10]

Freyd recovered the image from Raidou, wistfully returning it to his storage.  The kids' plight had touched him enough to go running after them without hesitation.  Quaestor had only to mention that they had run off and he ran off like some sort of hero.  That was the very last thing Freyd had ever considered of himself.  Feeling any pain for Maeve's lost soul felt like borrowing someone else's grief.  They had never met.  But he'd lived their experience of the loss, which was bad enough.  His face recovered its inscrutable mask and the tension in his stance eased as he returned to his normal, desensitized state.

"And I laid still like the dead within this crypt for far too long before finally stirring myself from torpor.  I'll be glad to go down with ice and focus in my veins, rather than simply succumbing, if the time ever comes."

The mists that had been scattered by the force of their attacks during their recent battle with the Leech Lich and its minions was slowly starting to close in once more.  Red eyes watched the wanderers flaring anger from beneath their darkened sanctuary.  There was more at play inside the man than he liked to let on.  Freyd was sure of that now and wondered what had triggered such a response?  The photo?  Everyone had a past.

"We should move on.  There are other tasks left undone."   And there always would be.  He would make absolutely certain of that.

@Raidou

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows
Level: 42
HP: 860/860
EN: 84/84

Stats:
Damage: 22
Mitigation: 28
Evasion: 3
Accuracy: 5
KEEN:1
HLY:2
BLD:12

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 4]
Searching [Rank 1]

Extra Skills:
Disguise
Familiar Mastery: Fighter 3
Survival

Mods:
Precision
Finesse - Rank 3
LA Athletics
Ferocity

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

Freyd Consumes:

Yue’s Grace (+1 SP for thread)
Armageddon Juice (+3 DMG) – 161688
Red Velvet Meringue (+2 EVA) – 162627
Assortment of Fuzzy-Looking Meatballs (Protein 2) – 159102 (+1 Filling)
Pixie Sticks (ACC 1) - 162340
 

Edited August 6, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

[Raidou 1]

Paying Freyd's recollection with nothing more than an agreeing nod, reigning in his own whirling emotions for some kids he had never met. The sentiment he shared as he would much rather go down swinging and already accepted the fate that as a tank he would more than likely be the first to fall when things became difficult. With this revelation of how similiar he was beginning to see Freyd was, the quest updates on the right of his screen to the next quest they would need to undertake. "Agreed, lets move up and keep the gears in motion." Raidou remarks softly sheathing his sword and heading for this floors settlement: Tartarus. Taking the helm along the ring of the lake, Freyd was not one to dawdle it seemed so he had not to pause and check if he was behind him. For he knew that the whisper was just as driven as he.

Raidou Consumes: Titan's Strength (+3 Base), Lemon Lavender Bar (+3 Eva/Kitchen'd)

Raidou | HP:1390/1390 | EN:136/136 | DMG:21 | MIT:106 | EVA:7 | ACC:3 | BH:69

Spoiler

Raidou, Firm Anima's Vanguard Captain
Level: 68
HP: 1390/1390
EN: 136/136

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 106
Evasion: 6
Accuracy: 3
BH:69

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Auric Sol - Corona [T3/Perfect/2HSS]: Damage 3
Armor: Tactician's Gaze - Ogma [T1/Perfect/Trinket]: +3 Accuracy
Misc: Red Wanderer's Robe [T1/Perfect/L.A] +3 Evasion

Skills:
Gatherer [Obtained]
Two Handed Straight Sword [Rank 5]
Extended Mod Limit R2 [Obtained]
Parry [Obtained]
Howl [Obtained]
Battle Healing [Rank 5]
Fighting Spirit [Obtained]
Light Armor [Rank 5]
Searching [Rank 5]

Extra Skills:
Concentration
Familiar Mastery: Protector

Mods:
Vengeful Riposte
Focused Howl
Finesse Rank 3
Athletics
Sprint and Acrobatics
Emergency Recovery
Detect

Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystal*1
<<Darkness Salve>>*2
Eye of Midas - Larceny [T1/Perfect/Trinket]: +3 Prosperity
Dracbane [T2/Perfect/2HSS]: V.O 1, ACC 1, BLD 1
Round of Beef (T3/Rare/Snack): Vitality 2*3

Housing Buffs:
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.
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

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.

 

[Freyd 0]

He was content to skulk in the shadows as Raidou took the lead.  It really was where he felt most comfortable.  Having watched Yuki and now Raidou serve in the role, he had no aspirations to be a tank.  His function was better suited to the versatile - a jack of all trades - adaptable to any circumstance.  What a range he had already encountered.  Where most fancied the swift and deadly bite of a dagger, Freyd loved the notion of a big-ass angry sword blazing to life and biting at his foes from the darkness.  He'd never admit it, and might even realize it, but It was about the visceral thrill of the reveal - the moment where stealth, intrigue and subtlety ended, and what came next felt righteous.  It overwhelmed him when it happened, so unaccustomed was he to dealing with such raw emotions.

Something of that same surge had been floating behind Raidou's eyes.  Freyd was sure of it, at least in his own mind.  It was just more data, and tucked away appropriately for future consideration.

"It looks like we'll be heading to floor sixteen next."  The statement gave away nothing of the roaring analytical engine at work within his mind, as usual.

[Raidou 1]

The path toward Tartarus felt rather empty as if the mobs of the floor were making effort to avoid conflict with the pairing after what had transpired, which made the journey that much more manageable. It suited the wanderer well, for he had not the time to waste trashing monsters that had no beneficial gain for his motives. The town was equivalently empty, more than likely due to a mixture of difficulty and low value kept players both high and low from frequenting the settlement. Stepping up to platform, Raidou scans and catches a hint of a flicker he suspected was Freyd. "Floor 16, Zugaikotsushima" he shouts as the ring under his feet bursts on command, bending reality and within a blink, he ascends. The first thing his senses receive the scent of water and rotting wood, followed by the sounds of unknown fauna screeching somewhere off in the distance.

[Freyd 0]

"Huh," Freyd whispered, taking in the view.  "Don't think I've been to this particular floor before.  It looks like fire and water, waiting to dance with each other at a moment's notice, while the sky watches and laughs, wouldn't you agree Bob?"  The portal guardian didn't respond.  They never did, but it hadn't stopped him from rambling quixotically to them from time to time.  It was fantastic stress relief, and instantly crafted a public persona as a total loon.  That suited him just fine.  People ignore the fools, usually to their own detriment.  He really needed to pick up a cosmetic skin that could be applied to his existing garb to make it look more like a harlequin.  The potential uses and benefits were nearly limitless.  Maybe I should practice doing that with Disguise, he mused to himself.

Raidou had already found his bearing and was making ready to depart.  "Sorry Bob.  Nice chatting.  Gotta run."  He pat the guard on the pauldron and swaggered down off the platform with a light bounce and swagger in his step.  Maybe it was the sea air, but he felt considerably more at ease here than the floor they had just left.

Edited August 8, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

[Raidou 1]

He manages only a few of the words Freyd offers the gate and its controller, mostly muffled by the activation of the gate. Opening his quest log as he lands, his eyes adjusting to the change in lighting given this floor had a sun. His eyes scanned the description, removing a black book from his pocket and comparing the coordinate data and the vague information with what he had purchased. It lined up sort of but what he paid for which made finding it easier. Muttering as he read it "Large health pool, low defense but above average mobility, size makes attacks more likely to hit, fished at a rate of 25%..." Raidou paused at the last, he hadn't fished since Shield. Closing his book up and sliding it into his robe pocket, he turns back as Freyd passes through. "We are fishing, hope you like fighting the toughest enemy of your life." Raidou smirks with a recall of what had transpired.

[Freyd 0]

"Wait... what?"  His shoulder sank as his eyes rolled towards the sky, knowing that he was virtually guaranteed to end up getting soaked.  Fate had it in for him - or more likely Cardinal - but the end result was that he invariably ended up embarrassing himself in the most spectacular ways possible.  His pattern of misfortune defied the odds by a wide margin, on that particular count.

'Right.  Yeah... okay.  Let's do this.  Haven't really fished yet, unless you count that bit with Ol'Pete on the first floor."  Gods, that felt like a lifetime ago now, and he had gotten soak during that incident, though he had only himself to blame for it.

Raidou's use of a notebook had not gone unnoticed.  He often kept important records and analysis in the same manner.  It wasn't necessary any more secure than the cipher he used for his UI-based records, as Cardinal could just as likely hack anything in this world, regardless of media.  It was a more... human touch.  Strange that they both shared the habit.

"I suppose we'll need rods, lure and other related paraphernalia."  He made his way to a nearby merchant on the dock to obtain the required supplies.

[Raidou 1]

Joining the operations captain they get adequate albeit standard quality tackle and lines, and after an exchange of coin manage to secure a trip across the lake. Hopping into the boat and laying the box and the rod against the side as the NPC climbs into the back, Raidou takes a seat and removes the frames from his nose. He'd much rather stay on land, his mobility was rather hindered in such a small 'raft' by comparison but he supposed he had no choice in the matter. Wiping the lenses on his robe, taking notice of a stain that had been placed upon it via floor 10's rather odd interior. Looks as though he'd need to get it cleaned again, which was typical at all the strange locals he frequented on daily. It was not unheard of for it to pick up all sorts of liquids and smells from his travels.

[Freyd 0]

"Why the glasses?"  Freyd asked, once they were out in open water.  "I doubt that your eyesight would actually require them here.  There must be some other story, as you never seem to be without them."   It put him at an unusual degree of ease that he and Raidou could hold their conversations without requiring constant eye contact, leaving the balance of his awareness free to busy itself with vigilance and other duties.   His hands worked to assemble and prepare their fishing gear as his eyes scanned the depths and horizon for anything of interest.  Most of it he was able to accomplish by feel alone, remarkably avoiding sticking himself in the process.

The clear blue sky improved visibility through the water, which could prove useful when the time came.  Pulling his hood back as he worked, he accepted that it would only work against him out here in the open.  

[Raidou 1]

Placing the lenses back to his face, as he drew his own line as he was instructed by Shield some time ago. "It is just an anchor, it helps remind me that I don't belong here. I wear them in reality and it feels unnatural to not wear them here, although they do not function the same I feel them necessary." Raidou comments as he removes an orange herb pulling a leaf from it and potion vial from his pocket carefully filled with sand, the same sand from floor 22 with the smell of citrus to the hook. Tying the line around the neck of it he uses it to force the line to sink into the lake as the reel screams with it attached. Eventually, the line stops spooling, obviously landing at the seafloor Raidou twists it slightly to mimic low hanging fruit to what they were after in hopes of goading a response.

ID# 164216 results: Craft: 6, Failed!

Edited August 8, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

Watching Raidou meticulously prepare his rod and lure, Freyd didn't bother.  He relied on a simpler logic: that the sheer, unmitigated hatred he knew the random number generator held in special reserved for him would guarantee an unfortunate result.  Casting the rod blindly behind him, he didn't bother reeling it in or even looking to see where it had landed in the lake.  Raidou raised an eyebrow at him, but Freyd raised a single finger requesting patience and gave him a reassuring look.  He just knew that Murphy's Law would be manipulated to apply, and so it was.  There was no tug on the rod or reel.  Instead, the colossal form of Moretsuna quietly broke the water's surface like a submarine and rose to tower over him.

"He's directly behind me, isn't he?"  Freyd asked flatly.  He sighed, knowing the answer full well and feeling two angry black eyes, each the size of a dinner plate, glaring silently down at his back.

Spoiler

 

Edited August 9, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

[Raidou 1]

Watching on as Freyd uses his own rather obtuse method of casting his line into the water, a bit skeptical at his approach until it proves fruitful. Fiddling with the lenses on his face trying to put what had just transpired to some semblance of order, he had no answers. "Yes, Yes it is. Perhaps we are done fishing." Raidou comments rather plainly as Freyd offers a sharp exhale, they pause for a moment making no sudden movements. It would be on Freyd to whip around and make the first move, the vanguard captain would follow his approach. But in this instance, it seemed as though waiting until the exact moment may be ideal, they were on a tiny boat and the monster in question had not realized that they knew about its presence yet. Like a T-rex, it appeared that it may not see them if they did not move.

[Freyd 0]

Freyd whirled suddenly, slashing outward with his sword, and fell about two inches short of making contact.  His eyes widen, realizing his error as his legs became tangled in the rod now stuck between his legs.  Tumbling awkwardly to the deck of their tiny ship, he landed with an ignoble thud.  Oh, dear god.  Again? Seriously!?

Trying to get a greatsword to cut finishing line wrapping up your own legs while bobbing around in a dingy while a gigantic fish monster tries to eat you was not at all how he'd wanted or expected today to go, but it seemed to be par for his personal course.  He looked up at Raidou, who was upside down from his perspective, his hood falling back and exposing his face.  He rolled his eyes, shaking his head at his performance.  "Just not my day, today, I guess."

Glancing down at Moretsuna, he nodded toward the beast.  "Would you mind getting started?  I'll be there in a second."

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:860/860 | EN:83/84 | DMG:22 | MIT:28 | EVA:3 | ACC:5 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 (Rested 1/2)

BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Moretsuna.

(0,0) Moretsuna: HP 500/500 | DMG 100 | MIT 25 | ACC 2 | EVA 1

Drown: On a CD of 10+, «Mōretsuna» will drag down the player instead of attack, unless they roll a 10+ on the LD their turn. If the player fails, they will be brought into the water, where they will take 50 unmitigatable damage every turn until they return to the dock or boat, which takes a turn to do.
Splash: On an attack roll of a natural 9-10, along with their basic attack, «Mōretsuna» will splash water onto the player, bringing them to their knees and paralyzing them their next turn.
Struggle: On an attack roll of natural 1, the creature will flail and hit each player for 50 unmitigable damage, but also deal 50 unmitigatable damage to himself.
 

 

Edited August 9, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

[Raidou 1]

Watching Freyd flail about for a moment before falling, tangled in the fishing line like a tied up turkey. He was at least clear of the massive bass however as the swordsman shifts his weight and rips his weapon free, backhanding the creature hard with the blade. It tears a screaming red line across its face in a red trail as its knocked from the boat. It sways as the water is displaced, rocking it around as Raidou kneels and uses his blade to destroy the pole with one quick tear. "Back to it we don't have long." Raidou comments with a smile, paying no disrespect to his fellow captain and helping him to his feet. The water begins to swell, as the hit creature was making another round back to face them. Waves and bubbles form upon the lakes surface as it was rapidly approaching the small vessel they were now fighting upon.

ID# 164541 results: Battle: 5+3-1=7, Hit 273-25=248 damage to Moretsuna

ID# 164542 results: MOB: 7+2-7=2, Missed vs. Raidou!

Players:
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:860/860 | EN:84/84 | DMG:22 | MIT:28 | EVA:3 | ACC:5 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 (Rested 1/2)
Raidou | HP:1390/1390 | EN:126/136 | DMG:21 | MIT:106 | EVA:7 | ACC:3 | BH:69

Mobs:
(0,3) Moretsuna: HP 252/500 | DMG 100 | MIT 25 | ACC 2 | EVA 1

Edited August 9, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

Quickly regaining his footing, Freyd took a running start and leaped onto the massive fish's slick back, plunging his white blade through its hefty scales and using his own bodyweight to add to the depth and severity of the gash he'd cut into its side.  Just as he'd planned, it reacted with a swish of its enormous tail, which he rode to propel himself back to their tiny vessel, sliding along the gunnels as he slowed back to a standing position beside his fellow captain.

"There.  That was more like it."  He nodded to the red wanderer, indicating that it was his go, while he focused on keeping the ship as steady as possible by using a wide stance.  Moretsuna's death throes produced such an immense wake as it thrashed in the waters next to them that there was a very real of them overturning.  Freyd's sole focus was on countering those effects while the giant beast dispersed into the waves and stillness returned to their surroundings.

Spoiler

Players:
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:860/860 | EN:76/84 (-9 +1)| DMG:22 | MIT:28 | EVA:3 | ACC:5 | KEEN:1 | HLY:2 | BLD:12 (Rested 2/2)
Raidou | HP:1390/1390 | EN:126/136 | DMG:21 | MIT:106 | EVA:7 | ACC:3 | BH:69

BD: 8 + 5 -1 = 12 (hit).  Freyd deals (286 - 25 = 261) damage to Moretsuna.

Mobs:
(1,3) Moretsuna: HP 0/500 | DMG 100 | MIT 25 | ACC 2 | EVA 1 (252-261)

Edited August 9, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

[Raidou 1]

The beast looks as though it was still alive but as it submerges itself under the waves, a pop is heard like a deep water charge. Raidou looks to Freyd and offers a shrug as the quest completes on the side of both of their HUD's. "I suppose we are done here." he comments looking to the NPC who begins to row them back to shore as a response. A quick and decisive end to showing not only his but Freyd's growth was gaining momentum. He knew it was only a matter of time before Freyd had stats comparable to his own, for he had a similar mindset that would lobotomize difficulty completely as he had. Silence washes over the vessel as only the movement in the waves becomes white noise as they spent the time toward the docks, it was rather fitting that the journey took longer than the actual fight.

[Freyd 0]

"These statues will come in handy, when we can finally use them."   Summoning a crumpled note covered in limestone dust from his inventory, Freyd shook off a few larger bits of stone and unfurled his note, resting his chin on his fist as he reviewed its contents.

"The next one looks like it should be exciting.  I'll need to check in at the Guilt Vault to see if we have any LD gear laying around.  Based on my crib sheet, I could actually afford to swap out my hood for it."  His eyes rolled up and to the sides.  "Shame, that.  I've started to grow attached to the look.  It's probably better than that cassock that I used to wear, like back when I first met you, Eruda and Kiluia."  He shook his head, denying how little time had passed.

"Word is that Kil's made it to 50th level.  Good for him.  Now the real fun begins."

[Raidou 1]

Raidou looks off the side of the boat into the deep green water, seemingly lost in thought before he offers a response without averting his gaze. "Agreed, there isn't a lot of information on them but from what I could gather is they are powerful once you have the set." He then leans down and brushes his right hand into the lake, trying his best to wash the stinking citrus smell from his fingertips. "I had noticed the change in attire, I find your current to be more fitting. Curious still, but I am not one to pry into one's affairs." spoken as he leans back into the vessel, listening to his companion without direct eye contact. "Kiluia has finally breached the threshold, its a whole new world of possibilities once you cross that line." Raidou comments with experience laden on his tongue, for it was true but he was hesitant to state if it was either good or bad.

[Freyd 0]

Unspoken words often convey the most truth.  It was an old axiom that he'd heard somewhere in his youth, but it seemed apt.  Things change, indeed.  He had, in more ways than he could ever have considered possible.  Likewise, he once considered those on the front lines as legendary defenders of Aincrad's imprisoned players.  As he met more of them, he came to realize that they were people like any others, save perhaps with better stat blocks.  Living through the evolution himself had opened up many more questions, but also granted perspective.

Freyd watched Raidou as he dipped his hands in the water.  "What was that stuff, anyway?  I didn't get a chance to ask you before the battle?  Marinade, perhaps?"

Small talk was shunted to a secondary functional node in his mind, normally reserved for platitudes, cliches, dad jokes and other similar trivia.  Read between the words.  Could part of Raidou be frightened by the significance of his own ascension to the upper echelons?  His rise was practically meteoric.  That could ruffle a few well-feathered and aged egos.  I don't imagine that many elder players are too welcoming of change and new blood, even if the stat blocks meet the required thresholds.  Kiluia was in for a hard time.  Yuki had likely already run headlong into the same.

Freyd lowered his gaze, out of respect.  He'd have to face his own opinions on the subject soon enough, and wouldn't want to be gawked at while he did so.

Edited August 10, 2020 by Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

[Raidou 1]

As Freyd inquired about the plant he had chosen to affix to his hook, he elaborates a bit "Its tangerine dream, I coined it that for simplicity. Its the major component in pheromone mixtures for luring familiars. It seems to make excellent bait but it the smell is...strong." putting the plant away, a quiet overtakes the vessel. Raidou got a feeling as though he might have been too misleading as the exchange of words fell to silence, hoping to rectify his potential misstep he offers his insights. "Don't get me wrong, having this kind of skills at your disposal makes movements across the floors easier. But there is a competitive atmosphere mixed with the very real possibility of death, it's a strange bag one that I choose to take no part in. I will play my part and continue to aid those around me, I will not be foolish enough to allow my ego to stop me from doing what is right. I imagine that Kiluia will do the same as would you."

Quest Complete:

Freyd:
3,200 Col (200 Thread Closure, 3000 Quest Reward)
5*SP (1 Thread Closure, 1 Event Bonus, 2 Quest Reward, 1 Graced)
Mōretsuna Statue: [Unique/Uncommon]: +50 Max HP

 

Raidou:
4*SP (1 Thread Closure, 1 Event Bonus, 2 Quest Reward)
Mōretsuna Statue: [Unique/Uncommon]: +50 Max HP

Simmone (Guild Treasurer):
3,200 Col (200 Thread Closure, 3000 Quest Reward)

Edited August 10, 2020 by Raidou