[PP | F3] Tongue and Cheek <<Dragon Hunter Anthology - Dragon Hunt 3: the Opal Hatchling>>

[Katoka 0]

It hadn't been long since the group's last dragon hunt, but the short rest and cup of coffee had helped Katoka regain her energy. She stood up from the bench she sat at and stretched a bit, trying to loosen her fake virtual muscles that she knew weren't actually tight. It made her feel better though. Checking her intel again she knew this hatchling was going to mix things up by adding some summoned helpers to aid it. While this shouldn't be much of an issue, it would slow down their pace just a bit. Thankfully this dragon was the only one that did this as far as she could tell.

"They should be back before too long, how long does it take to get pastries?" she said aloud. Elora and herself had convinced Freyd to get them some treats after the last encounter had pranked them so hard, Elora tagged along to make sure he got their orders right. "I just want my cream cheese muffin." the blonde sighed, slumping back onto the bench.

Katoka | HP:440/440 | EN:44/44 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2

Spoiler

Name: Katoka
Level: 22
HP: 440/440
EN: 44/44

Stats:
Damage: 10
Evasion: 1
Accuracy: 2
LD:1
BLD:12
REC:2

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Mumyou Sandanzuki (T1/Perfect/Katana) | BLD 1, DMG 2
Armor: Shinsengumi Yukata (T1/Perfect/Light Armor) | REC 2, EVA 1
Misc: Rabbit's Foot (T1/Perfect/Trinket) | ACC 2, LD 1

Skills:
Curved Sword [Rank 1]
Katana [Rank 5]

Extra Skills:

Mods:
Katana Finesse

Battle Ready Inventory:
Starter Healing Potions*3
Sand Armor Potion - +27 MIT (no stacking)*1

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)
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
Basic Training: +1 SP to a thread. Limit one use per month [1/1]

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:

Wedding Ring:

@Elora @Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

Edited September 21, 2020 by Katoka

[Elora 0]

Should I get a donut or a muffin...Wait, but there are also apple fritters! Elora stood in front of the bakery display, nervously shifting her weight between legs as she darted around, coming to abrupt stops before each new option. I don't know that I really feel like something as sweet as a donut. Plus, you get more for your money with a muffin because it isn't missing a huge chunk from its center. The apple fritters are even larger, but they just have such a weird tang to them. 

It seemed like the longer she took to analyze the potential emotional and financial payoff of each pastry, the more uncertain she became about making a decision. What is Freyd getting? I can probably just have the same thing as him. She turned to study the shadowy player, only to realize that he was staring at her, watching in amuzement as she struggled to make up her mind. 

"Dammit, why do you have to look at me like that, Freyd! It only makes me more nervous!" Elora spun on her heels and pointed to the next appetizing morsel she could spot, "I'll take that one, please!", she to directed to the baker behind the counter. "The raspberry scone? A good choice!", he said with a jolly chuckle as he handed her the item. Oh...those are...dried raspberries...I thought they were chocolate chips... 

"And for you, sir?" Well, it's too late to speak up now. She would rather pick out the parts that she didn't like than continue to make Katoka wait for them to get back.

 

 

Elora | HP:460/460 | EN:46/46 | DMG:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1

Spoiler

Name: Elora
Level: 23
HP: 460/460
EN: 46/46

Stats:
Damage: 8
Evasion: 1
Accuracy: 1
L.M.:2
KEEN:1

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Unnamed Starting Weapon (T1 Rare 2HAS, ACC 1, DMG 1)
Armor: Auspicious Gi (T1 Rare Light Armor, LM 2)
Misc: Justicar's Vambraces (T1 Rare Trinket, ACC 1, KEEN 1

Skills:
2H Assault Spear [Rank 5]

Extra Skills:

Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
Requires Dimensional Backpack
Requires Extended Weight Limit 1
Requires Extended Weight Limit 2
Requires Extended Weight Limit 3

Housing Buffs:

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:

Wedding Ring:

Edited September 21, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

Freyd held up a simple cardboard box.

"Your assistant helped me out about twenty minutes ago," he said, cheerfully taunting Elora for her indecision.  His subtle manner struck again.  She hadn't even noticed.  Waiting patiently, he entertained himself by watching the traffic, and listening to bits of conversation that drifted their way.  After the length of time they'd spent hunting for her familiar, everything else seemed to pale by comparison.  

"Does this mean we can go now?"  His boots made an audible schlurping sound as he lifted them from the wooden floor, sticky from the sugar of all the assorted confectionaries the recent morning mopping, combined with how long he'd been standing in the same spot.

***

They were just rounding the corner to the area where Katoka was waiting as he reached into the box he'd been carrying and pulled out a chocolate chip scone - the very same that Elora had sought, not realizing that he'd ordered the last of them while she was browsing.  Teeth barely sunken into the tender pastry, he caught a glimpse of her fuming glare.

"Mwaht?  Yoo wnnt smm?"

 

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1150/1150 | EN:112/112 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:2 | Abs.ACC | BH:46

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows
Level: 56
HP: 1150/1150
EN: 112/112

Stats:
Damage: 19
Mitigation: 79
Evasion: 2
Accuracy: 4
BH:46
KEEN:2

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Grave Injustice (T3-2HSS, ACC 1, KEEN 1, Abs.Acc)
Armor: Skirmisher's Garb [T3 LA, MIT 2, EVA 1]
Misc: Assassin's Cowl (T2-Trinket, ACC 2, KEEN 1)

Skills:
2H Straight Sword [Rank 5]
Light Armor [Rank 5]
Searching [Rank 3]
Battle Healing [Rank 4]
Parry [Obtained]

Extra Skills:
Disguise
Familiar Mastery: Fighter 3
Survival
Meditation

Mods:
Precision
Finesse - Rank 3
LA Athletics
Ferocity
LA Sprint and Acrobatics

Battle Ready Inventory:
Starter Healing Potion (50 hp)*3
Teleport Crystals*2
Crystal of Support (30*tier) hp to party*1
Missing You*2
Concentrated Joy (T3 Vitality 2)*1

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

 

[Katoka 0]

As she finally saw the two approaching Katoka let out a relieved sigh, she wasn't sure if they had gotten lost or worse, finally realized they didn't like her. Her anxiety began to flare up briefly before Freyd offered her a scone, attempting to talk with his mouth full. Her eyes sparked and her stomach growled, "Yes please, it looks so good too." she happily took the pastry, cookie? What category did scones actually fall under? Her mind began to wander as she happily munched on the sweet treat.

"What did you end up getting Elora?" she asked after finishing her pastry and snapping back to reality. She looked to the green haired girl seeing she too had a scone, "Nice! Looks like a scone kind of day huh?" she laughed and started walking towards the town exit.

"Let's get a move on then if we're all done. I want to knock out this third dragon before the day ends." she flexed with both arms putting on a goofy face.

[Elora 0]

"Nice! Looks like a scone kind of day huh?"

"Haha, yeaaah...", trailed off Elora with a not-so-well-disguised disingenuous chuckle. She proceeded to take quick bites from her pastry so as to get all of it down her throat before she had the chance to taste it. Still, the residual bitterness of the dried berries left her mouth feeling dry, like her cheeks were sucking in from aversion to the aftertaste. There, I powered through it and they have no idea that I actually wanted to eat something else!, she thought with a lack of awareness to how emotive her expressions of disgust really were. 

Elora shuttered and shook off the sensation, returning her focus to their next objective: killing the third dragon. "Dammit!", she exclaimed as a realization crossed her mind, "I should have saved some for bait to use on the dragon!" Whether or not it would have proven to be an effective strategy, Elora felt foolish for passing up the opportunity to put her mistake to good use. 

[Freyd 0]

"Dragons eat pastries?"  Freyd's frown suggested that he'd overthought her meaning, or missed it completely.  He shrugged and moved on, leading them into the wilds and smiling a little at Katoka's flex.  "Actually, from everything I heard and saw during the battle at Cratered Lake, you both represented yourselves and the guild quite well.  I heard tales of heroic exploits about both of you afterwards."  Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Freyd walked alongside them with disarming ease.  The usual tight-wound spring in his spine seemed to have been dialed back by a few twists, through there was no obvious reason why.

"Tell me, where do each of you see yourselves in the guild as you continue to advance?  What is it you want to accomplish?"  Purpose had been on his mind a lot lately.  He was hoping that some conversation would help prod his own thoughts along.  Both of them had been around long enough to give it some consideration.

[Katoka 0]

The blonde blushed slightly, had they really done that well the the trebuchet? "I mean, all I did was cut down some guys and then crawled inside a giant war machine to cut it apart from the inside. No big deal." she waved her hand in front of her dismissing the thought of being any sort of hero this early on.

"What is it you want to accomplish?" This question hit Katoka hard. She missed a step for a moment but quickly regained her pace. What did she want? What was her end goal? Of course everyone wanted to get the hell out of this game but what did she want? Probably the same thing she set out to do when she left the Town of Beginnings for the first time.

"Normalcy." she said in a monotone voice as if she was deep in thought. "I want to live, not rot away like my actual body is. I've already started to get there. I'm fighting, getting stronger. Hell I have a house now. A house!" she gestured wildly in the air. "Next maybe someone to go home to." she said softly.

"As for in the guild? I want to help for once, not be the one being helped. If that means getting out on the frontlines or picking up a profession to craft stuff, I can do whatever." she let out a sigh, "I don't even know what I want to do for a profession. What do we even need? I feel like we have one of everything at this point."

Realizing she had begun to rant she turned a bright pink and pulled her scarf up over her mouth, "I'm sorry, I might have gone off a bit there."

[Elora 0]

Elora seemed to get a bounce in her step the moment Freyd mentioned their great feats against the Trebuchet. "Yeah? I did do some pretty awesome stuff that day! We were able to cripple that trebuchet in no time once I cleared an opening through the soldiers protecting it!", she hesitated for a moment before adding, "What are you talking about, Katoka? Don't sell yourself short like that. I know you contributed more to taking it down!" Even if she didn't do as much as me, she shouldn't just pretend like it was nothing. 

Her pace seemed to slow as Freyd posed the next set of questions, and she was glad that Katoka had taken the initiative to answer them first. The more the girl spoke, the harder time Elora had trying to concentrate on what she was explaining. It felt like her mind was caught in a state of limbo where her attention was split between trying to understand Katoka's situation and simultaneously prepare to answer in the wake of her response. It was like that excrutiating feeling that crept up during classes when you knew that teacher would call on you to speak next. 

"I'm sorry, I might have gone off a bit there." 

Honestly, Elora wished she'd gone on more. Her response had been brief enough that it wouldn't warrant moving on to another topic. Even worse, the two players seemed to be anticipating her contribution to the conversation.

She didn't feel ready.

"Umm...", she began by awkwardly lifting a gloved hand to scratch at the side of her head, "I don't know, I guess I just want to fit in somehow" She struggled to search for any supplementary reasoning, but nothing came to her mind quickly enough to reinforce the answer that she had already given. Instead, the crude truth of her intensions for joining Firm Anima hung in the air, unprotected by any arbitrary ambition or petty excuse that she would have normally hid behind. The reality was that she hadn't joined with any purpose in mind, and that during her time with the guild, Elora hadn't made any decisions about which direction she should take to help other members the most. 

"I mean, there's more to it than that..." The defense was hardly enough to disguise her admission at this point.

 

@Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

 

[Freyd 0]

"What do we even need? I feel like we have one of everything at this point."  Katoka had asked a fair question.  

"I suppose that depends on which 'we' you mean.  Firm Anima is one of the larger guilds, at this point, which is a bit daunting.  That said, we're mostly geared for crafting.  Even against the Spire, it felt a lot like we'd unleashed the sweat shop on those mobs and let the guild gaggle vent during an extended lunch break."  He laughed, remembering some of the more ridiculous scenes from the battlefield, shaking his head at the nonsense some players pulled - himself included.

As they approached the woodlands that hosted the quartz dragon's lair, two lanky elves stepped out of the foliage ahead and called for them to halt.  A male and female, they were both slightly shorter than Elora and giving her hesitant looks as she travelled with two other such individuals.  Neither had ever encountered an elven player before.  The male engaged first.

"Greetings, kin-sister.  What bring you to these woods with such an odd escort?  Or are they your prisoners?"

"It doesn't matter," the female interrupted. "These are sacred woods and none are permitted to enter.  Now, with all due respect, off with ya!"  She waved them away some an imperious gesture.

[Katoka 0]

Katoka's hand gripped her sword tight as she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She recognized the two humanoids as they stepped out of the woods, their pointed ears and clothing looked exactly like the the people she had seen outside Horunka. She whispered to Freyd as they spoke to Elora, "Wait, these are elves? Do they uh, show up on any other floors besides this one?"

She wasn't sure what to do, they weren't hostile at the moment and seemed to be convinced their companion was one of them. This seemed like a prime moment to strike, taking a deep breath the samurai began to bend her knees ever so slightly until she was in a fighting stance. She launched herself forward like she had done back in the caves with Vie and Hisa. One second she was with the party and the next she was behind the elf with her sword drawn. She didn't feel as fast as she had then, but she still managed land a hit on the male elf.

"Damn." she cursed as she realized her strike wasn't quite what she'd intended, "I really need to practice more." The elf cried out in pain and Katoka saw a dragon emerge from the bushes just ahead of her. It cried out in what she assumed was elven to the two and they readied their weapons, though she was certain they would have drawn their weapons regardless of what the scaly bastard had said.

"Now is the time guys! I might have pissed them off a smidge!"

Spoiler

Zekkai (5 EN)

Katoka ID#: 169028 BD: 7 | 10 x 5 = 50 Dragon Cultist 1: 50 - 25 MIT = 25 DMG

Katoka takes -14 damage from thorns.

[1/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 1 | HP: 25/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14
[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 2 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14
-------

Katoka | HP:426/440 | EN:39/44 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2
Elora | HP:460/460 | EN:46/46 | DMG:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1150/1150 | EN:112/112 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:2 | Abs.ACC | BH:46

 

Edited September 26, 2020 by Katoka

[Elora 0]

  ♪  Challengers Approaching: Kinsey and Kinsly  ♪  

 

"Salutations my fellow, elves,...my elvenbloods,...my ele-vations!" Keep digging that grave deeper, thought Elora to herself as she struggled to address them with the proper greeting. "D-don't mind that one! She's just a little uncultured" She wrapped an arm around Katoka's shoulders and hoped that the blonde would pick up on her cues of trying to be deceptive. "Trust me, I don't wish anything more than to worship our dragon...overlord...", she trailed off, sounding less and less convinced of the performance she was putting on. 

Of course, her intentions didn't matter at this point, because the pair of elves were already upset from being attacked. Kinsey barked at the woman wielding the katana, "Oh yeah? You think that you can just flex on us like that and not have to face the wrath of our -- "

"MUUUSIC", announced Kinsly as if it was a war cry. The male elf suddenly spun a lute over his shoulder and into his hands to begin strumming ferociously. His female companion coordinated with him to reveal a formidably funky accordion, "Get ready to face your demise as we praise some ambiguous attributes of our Great Leader!!"

I guess she's probably referring to the dragon. Jesus, this feels like the Scott Pilgrim movie.

The duo did high leg kicks toward them in rhythm with the music. "F-freyd, what do I do?!", she cried turning toward him to ask for advice, "I feel like I should attack them or something, but their dancing is so damn intimidating! Like, how can I even compete with that?!"

 

@Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

Edited September 26, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

Freyd just stood where he was, his face a mixture of amusement at Katoka's rabid aggression and Elora's... whatever the fuck that was.   Both had chosen unorthodox actions.  Katoka clearly hadn't read the quest description, or she would have realized that the cultists they were meant to fight were spawned by the dragon.  She had basically assaulted the window dressing.  They'd now have to fight two more cultists, when the actual time came.  

Elora... he just shook his head, concealing it in his black gloved hand.  What the hell was she thinking?

"What the hell are you thinking?  You can't beat these mobs in a dance-off!?  Besides, I'm not holding a Hadron Enforcer and  Katoka is not Rocket Raccoon!"  Perhaps not, but the little blue samurai she was delivering a pretty solid imitation of Drax at the moment.  The two elves, highly engaged in their strange, dervish-like dance, broke off, one heading for Katoka, and the other challenging Freyd.  A single, sudden swipe from his sword parted his would-be assailants head before it could pose any threat.  Katoka had started this and would have to deal with her own.

@Katoka

Katoka | HP:401/440 | EN:39/44 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2
Elora | HP:460/460 | EN:46/46 | DMG:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1136/1150 | EN:111/112 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:2 | Abs.ACC | BH:46

[1/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 1 | HP: 25/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14
[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 2 | HP: 0/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14 (50-51)

Cyclone (x4): 4 EN - (Rested, Finesse 3) = 1 EN

ID 169149 BD: 4 + 4 + 1 = 9 (hit).  Freyd deals (4*19=76-25=51) damage to Elven Dragon Cultist.  Freyd takes 14 thorns damage.

ID 169150 MD: 7 - 1 = 6 (hit).  Elven Dragon Cultist #1 deals 35 damage to Katoka.

[Katoka 0]

♫ Dance Off Boss Battle: Start! ♫

"Sorry!" Katoka called out, "I panicked!" she turned her attention to the Mariachi Elf man before her. "You sir, are odd and I hate to do this to you." she once again attacked the elf and cleaved him clean in two, his instrument falling to the ground and shattering along with the halves of his body. Of course this caused the dragon to react, calling out in elvish to summon two more cultists from the woods around them. They too seemed ready for battle, both with weapons and music. Suddenly music seemed to come from all around as the elves prepared themselves. "Aw hell, is it dance off time?"

Katoka sheathed her blade and began to shuffle a but back and forth to the beat before she went down on her hands, spinning her legs around and rolling to her back. The samurai had begun to breakdance as more elves seemed to emerge from the woods to watch, the rest of the crowd didn't seem as hostile while she performed. Once she had returned to her feet she reached over to Elora and tagged her, "Your turn! Make sure you attack the dragon first though or we'll be dancing all damn day!"

 

Spoiler

Zekkai (5 EN)

Katoka ID#: 169170 BD: 6 | 10 x 5 = 50 Dragon Cultist 1: 50 - 25 MIT = 25 DMG

Katoka takes -14 damage from thorns.

[1/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 1 | HP: 0/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14

Ghidorah - the Opal Hatchling calls for two more Dragon Cultists

-----

Katoka | HP:387/440 | EN:35/44 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2
Elora | HP:460/460 | EN:46/46 | DMG:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1136/1150 | EN:111/112 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:2 | Abs.ACC | BH:46

 

Edited September 26, 2020 by Katoka

[Elora 0]

Before Katoka could even say the word, Elora was on her way to taking down the dragon. Her feet seemed to maneuver swiftly in rhythm with the music as she twirled around scattered saplings and hopped across mossy rocks. Once she was close enough, she set her eyes on the dragon and --

"EEEEAAP"

A shrill note grated against the woman's ears as Katoka slayed the second elf, causing him to suddenly scrape the high strings of his instrument. The horrible cacophony caused Elora to fumble her attack and miss the dragon completely. She cussed beneath her breath before looking over her shoulder and catching sight of the little samurai busting moves out on the battlefield. Well damn, that's impressive!

An assemble of elves began to pour out from the woodworks and congregate around the players, chanting and clapping enthusiastically as they sent two more elven musicians out to represent them: Maraca Malachi and Tambourine Terry. Elora laughed nervously about the energy created by the crowd. She was expecting to have an audience during this duel. "Leave it to me, I'll get a hit on that dragon next round", she nodded in reassurance to both herself and Katoka. After all, fighting is really just like a dance with higher stakes, isn't it? She looked over to Freyd after a defense of their shenanigans had been properly prepared, "This'll help us learn how to maneuver and time our footwork with our swings. A-and maybe help with performance anxiety?" It seemed like she was half-explaining, half-speculating how the environment of their exercise could serve as beneficial training.

 

Spoiler

Elora Attacks with "Dimension Stampede"

Elora ID#: 169225 BD:2 Miss Ghidorah: 215HP - 0 = 215HP

-----

Katoka | HP:387/440 | EN:35/44 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2
Elora | HP:460/460 | EN:44/46 | DMG:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1136/1150 | EN:111/112 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:2 | Abs.ACC | BH:46

-----

[0/0/0] Ghidorah - the Opal Hatchling | HP: 215 | MIT: 40 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | DMG: 70 | Thorns: 14

[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 3 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14

[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 4 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14

 

Edited September 27, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

Freyd watched the scene unfolding before him, thinking: 'Oh dear god... what fresh hell have I entered now?'  Sword in hand, he was about to massacre every mob in sight until he saw the ecstatic expressions on Elora and Katoka's faces.  It seemed insane.  Were they actually enjoying themselves in this?  The sheer absurdity was mind-boggling, but maybe that was the point.  Maybe this was his lesson to learn today: trusting in his companions.

Dancing and music were hardly 'his things', but it seemed worthwhile to observe and learn something about what it meant to others.  The reaction of the surrounding elves, for example, was especially strange.  The quest couldn't possibly be designed this way, could it?  Or maybe Cardinal was taking his queues from their initiative?  Wouldn't that be interesting?  Fading back into the shadows, Freyd watched as his fellows tried to gyrate and spin their way to victory.  

Let's see how this plays out...

[Katoka 0]

The combination of music, crowd, and dancing was sending Katoka back. She began to remember the classes she took in the real world in order to give her a boost in confidence and help with her anxiety. Dance was something that she wasn't the best at in the beginning, but after a few years she was at least moderate at best. Switching to hip hop/breakdancing had been a more recent thing in order to make things more fun for her.

Felling the boost from this ridiculous event happening Katoka assumed a new position, queuing up a much stronger sword art for he dragon. With her hips bopping along she rushed in, weaving in between the two Cultists until she was in front on the dragon. The light of her sword art whipping around as she slashed and cut at the beast added an almost neon effect to the music. Despite the dragon's scales dealing her damage as she attacked, it was minimal compared to the chunk she tore from it's health.

"You're up partner!" she called to Elora, a huge grin splayed across her face.

Spoiler

Katoka ID#: 169235 BD: 10 CRITICAL HIT |  12 x 15 = 180 DMG Ghidorah: 180 - 40 MIT = 140 DMG

Katoka inflicts BLEED on Ghidorah! 12 DMG x 2 turns!

Katoka takes -14 damage from thorns.

----

Katoka | HP:373/440 | EN:21/44 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2
Elora | HP:460/460 | EN:44/46 | DMG:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1136/1150 | EN:111/112 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:2 | Abs.ACC | BH:46

-----

[1/0/0] Ghidorah - the Opal Hatchling | HP: 75/215 | MIT: 40 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | DMG: 70 | Thorns: 14 [Bleed: 0/2]

[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 3 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14

[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 4 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14

 

Edited September 27, 2020 by Katoka

[Elora 0]

Elora watched in awe as Katoka flowed through the enemies like water, then struck the dragon with a powerful attack. Fluorescent colors sprayed through the air like dancers twirling their glow sticks at a rave. 

"You're up partner!"

Had she spaced out? Katoka's dancing was captivating to the point that Elora had lost track of time. "Sorry, I wasn't paying enough attention. I'm on it!" The elven chanting grew angrier and more discordant as the ferocity of rattling maracas and shaking tambourines seemed to swell. Their clamoring did nothing but fuel Elora's drive finish the beast. I am a mighty warrior, she thought in a sort of pep-talk to herself. Dashing forward, her weight shuffled between her legs as she hopped from side to side until she neared the dragon. Locking her right leg, she pivoted her hips and and swayed to the rhythm as the rest of her body carried her spear across the length of the dragon's scaly belly. Its point gauged its thick skin from one end to the other until it eventually erupted in flames to mark its defeat. 

"Freyd, would you do the honors?", she asked soon after with a nod toward the pair of elven performers.

 

@Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

Spoiler

Elora Attacks with "Dimension Stampede"

Elora ID#: 169236 BD:3 + 2LM + 1ACC = 6 Hit Ghidorah: 75HP - 120 = 0HP

Elora takes 14DMG from Ghidorah's thorns.

----

Katoka | HP:373/440 | EN:21/44 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2
Elora | HP: 446/460 | EN:43/46 | DMG:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1136/1150 | EN:111/112 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:2 | Abs.ACC | BH:46

-----

[1/1/0] Ghidorah - the Opal Hatchling | HP: 75/215 | MIT: 40 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | DMG: 70 | Thorns: 14

[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 3 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14

[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 4 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14

 

Edited October 1, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

The music stopped rather suddenly when Elora pierced the dragon's heart and popped it like an over-inflated balloon.  Taking his queue, Freyd pushed off the tree trunk against which he had been leaning and walked through stunned crowd.  He patted Katoka and Elora gently on the shoulders as he passed.  "Great job, team!"

Coming to stand before the two remaining cultists, he placed his black-clad fists on his hips and cocked his head.  "So, unfortunately, this means that you two are the last standing requirements of this quest, and, while regrettable, the system does not allow me to accept your surrender.  I'd offer it if I could."  The two elves glanced sideways at each other.  Did he just apologize for telling them he had to kill them?

*SLICE*

His sword manifesting in his hands, all it took was a single cross-ward slash and both mobs burst into shards.  The rest of the elves stepped back, not certain how to react to such a display.

"Come on, ladies.  I think we're done here."

Spoiler

Freyd heals 14 HP from Battle Healing.

Tempest (x8 AoE Stun, +4 from hits): 12 EN - (rested, finesse 3) = 8 EN

ID: 169669, BD: 8 + 4 + 1 = 13 (hit).  Freyd deals (19*8 = 152 - 25 Mit = 127) damage to Elven Dragon Cultist #3.
ID: 169670, BD: 3 + 4 + 1 = 8 (hit).  Freyd deals (19*8 = 152 - 25 Mit = 127) damage to Elven Dragon Cultist #4.

Freyd takes 28 thorns damage.

Katoka | HP:373/440 | EN:21/44 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2
Elora | HP: 446/460 | EN:43/46 | DMG:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1122/1150 (+14, -28) | EN:103/112 (-8) | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:2 | Abs.ACC | BH:46

-----

[1/1/0] Ghidorah - the Opal Hatchling | HP: 75/215 | MIT: 40 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | DMG: 70 | Thorns: 14

[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 3 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14 (50 - 152 = dead)

[0/0/0] Elven Dragon Cultist 4 | HP: 50/50 | MIT: 25 | DMG: 35 | Thorns: 14 (50 - 152 = dead)

 

[Katoka 0]

The samurai returned her sword to it's home on her hip and bowed to her fallen enemies, then picked up the dropped item before turning to her companions. "Man, that was a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be." she grinned at Elora, "Nice job finishing the dragon off. I think we're really starting to work well together."

Katoka was feeling good, she felt strong and capable. She was with two friends that had her back. Hell they had sped though these first three dragon quest with no issues at all. At the pace they were working at she was certain they could level up while making the level requirements for the rest of the quest, at least for most of them.

"So, I don't know about you guys but I could use a break here soon. Maybe a quick bath or hot spring dip, my muscles are feeling a bit sore. You want to join me Elora?" the blonde asked as she stretched a bit.

[Elora 0]

"Man, that was a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be." Elora nodded and returned the smile. While this battle was more physically-demanding than those previous, she had, much to her surprise, enjoyed dancing beside Katoka as they fought. There was something about the music that helped Elora hone her focus and become truly immersed in the expression of her actions and the intention behind each attack. In the future, I should probably try to be as mindful of my movements as I was today. 

"Yeah, a hot spring sounds amazing", she confirmed to Katoka with a sigh of contentment. 

"Those peasants killed Ghidorah and The Galavants before they could debut at the Humming Bard Inn and get their big break!", proclaimed a lanky elf with an accusatory gesture.

"KILL THEM!!", ordered his equally feisty but far stouter companion.

"Well, uhhhh, it sounds like the Elves are getting pretty angry let's get out of here before they --trytochaseus -- Sh*t, RUN!!", screamed Elora as the three of them began to run away from the hoard of super-fans. 

 

Thread Summary:

Each player receives:

3 SP (1 page + 1 event + 1 quest)

Katoka gets additional + 1 SP for using Slime Farm

350 col

<Ghidorah’s Opal> [Vanity Quest Item] : 1 of 9

Edited October 2, 2020 by Elora