[F19-PP] That's a big ass rock (SoW4)

[Raidou 1]

As the raft drew upon the shore, it beckons the same silence that the pair had become accustomed. Words need not be shared between them, for it was trivial outside the conveying of information. Like a well oiled machine, Raidou was first from the raft as the remnants of the last quest had scratched itself from his HUD. In its wake an updated one, one that remarked loosely to floor 19. Adjusting his signature frames and turning 90 to traverse the old wood dock that anchored the vessel, Raidou burned a path through softened steps toward Zugaikotsushima: A paltry little hamlet of sticks and twine.

The day had begun to wane, but it spoke to the players determination. For most a retire, to these a repressed exhaustion. For Raidou it was simply out of intrigue, and the possibility that it may do someone harm should it remain mobile. Although they would respawn, for a short period they would be gone and that would be enough.

Raidou Consumes: Titan's Strength (+3 Base), Lemon Berry Palmiers (+4 LD/Filled), Filled Pork Tenderloin (+135 Max HP), One Charge of Gold Star Sticker (+1 LD for a thread, 2 charges remaining), Well Done Steak (+2 Base, -30 Mitigation)

Spoiler

Raidou, The Red Wanderer
Level: 73
HP: 1625/1625
EN: 146/146

Stats:
Damage: 23
Mitigation: 76
Accuracy: 3
BH:81
LD:8

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Auric Sol - Corona [T3/Perfect/2HSS]: Damage 3
Armor: Tactician's Gaze - Ogma [T1/Perfect/Trinket]: +3 Accuracy
Misc: Onyx Spectacles [T1/Perfect/Trinket]: +3 Loot Dice

Skills:
Gatherer [Obtained]
Two Handed Straight Sword [Rank 5]
Extended Mod Limit R3 [Obtained]
Parry [Obtained]
Howl [Obtained]
Battle Healing [Rank 5]
Fighting Spirit [Obtained]
Light Armor [Rank 5]
Searching [Rank 5]
Charge [Rank 3]

Extra Skills:
Concentration
Familiar Mastery: Protector

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

Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystal*1
Mass Heal Crystal*5
Empty Slot
Pillar Fragment [Unique/Nightvision Mod]
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.

Edited September 22, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

Having stowed his armor in favour of greater mobility, Freyd had already prepared as best he could for the goliath beast they would hunt next.  A true colossus, this would be an endurance trial of a different type.  Shadowing Raidou's movements, he was already scouring reports on the beasts latest movements.  The vanity armor he had donned resembled something between combat fatigues and a sci-fi flight suit, all of it in a mottled, dusty grey.

"We're going to have our work cut out for us on the next one."  He never bothered wasting his or Raidou's time on small talk.  Neither of them required it.  Expanding his HUD, he was already scouring the image and data for vulnerabilities.  Flagging several, he passed the information on to his fellow captain and sorted through his assorted readied items.  "You may want to lose the shades for this one, unless you intend to blind yourself.  Also, it'll be a long way for them to fall."

 

Freyd consumes: Titan's Strength (DMG 3) [160778]; Jackpot Pretzel (LD 3 +1 filled) [163929]; Max Level Courage (+135 HP) [166171]; Assortment of Fuzzy-Looking Meatballs (Protein 2) [163930]

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:114/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows
Level: 57
HP: 1170/1170
EN: 114/114

Stats:
Damage: 19 + 3 + 2 = 24
Mitigation: 0
Evasion: 2
Accuracy: 4
BH:46
KEEN:1
HLY:6
BLD:36

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Grief's Harbinger (T3-2HSS, ACC 1, HOLY 1, BLD 1)
Armor: Wayfinder (T3-Trinket, LD 3)
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.
 

 

[Raidou 1]

Folding the lenses and returning them to the red robe he normally wore, a flash of blue brought it away. It was foreign being outside something he hardly was ever seen without. Underneath was a rather standard looking although an almost tactical array of fasteners in leather, cloth, and a carefully crafted plated left gauntlet to the shoulder. It looked almost military, with its cross-section upon the back that linked the top to the pants and the metal to his appendage. In black something close to Freyd. You'd assume he was stealth based, including the almost stereotypical fingerless gloves.

"Right..."

"Although probably safer than around some other entities." he spoke honestly, finding himself almost changed by the missing garment. "I assume it would travel where it could fit." Raidou remarked as he stepped to the plate, allowing the gate to begin to glow. "Floor 19, Ralberg" spoken that casts a cyan ring in a quick sweep around him, a moment later. He was gone.

[Freyd 0]

Materializing just behind the wanderer, his red waning, Freyd surveyed their immediate surroundings.  Ralberg was surprisingly prosperous urban centre at the edge of floor 19, well-appointed with shops, vendors and amenities.  He couldn't recall having visited the place before, but made a mental note to return and take stock of any noteworthy vendors.  Built up against a wide gash-like ravine, the place felt strangely precarious, despite looking so well-established.  Looking down to the floor below also reminded him of their battle against Skalaugh in the cratered lake.

"The guild fared well in the recent battles against the Sundered Spire.  They should be proud.  Many of them have grown since they first joined. Things have also been so busy, that I don't think I've yet met half of them."  It was a rare series of compliments, but well-earned.  "I intend to keep up the pressure on the surviving Spire members.  This will have dealt them a blow, but not defeated them outright."   A quick gesture suggested the optimal travel route to reach a crossing over the ravine. 

[Raidou 1]

A pause to process, a plain response on the softened tongue. "Agreed, I could not help but see the lessons learned. They saw what it means to see this world from our perspective. Firm Anima is stronger for it. In time, it should become instantly second nature. A coat of arms to which they will all offer aid." Raidou would smile somewhere between nefarious and happy to his statement regarding the Mobs that had learned confidence and memory. "I know you will, you'll have all the tools at your disposal and I am not religious. But I have faith in truth, which is what your capable of."

He'd look into the perched cliff, although it was a struggle the village somehow managed to remain from falling in. "Fitting..."

He'd begin to walk as a puff of red showing a seething rage beneath his steps, hidden under calm demeanor "The sunderd spire have bitten off more than they can chew, forgot to see the state of the board before moving the pieces. Firm Anima is already three steps ahead."

[Freyd 0]

"I've already sourced the locations of nearly a dozen hideouts, but they will be well-guarded.  We'd need all of the senior members to strike at them, and out attention is presently scattered.  For now, let us gather our strength and... properly place the pieces."  Chess analogies were always appreciated.  It was very much the way that Freyd perceived the world, laying plans within plans, each supported by a dozen contingencies.  The primary threads of this particular weave were coming together nicely, but much work still remained.  

"The main City is ruined, but many of the structures remain intact.  It must wander the periphery.  The tracks should be impossible to miss."  He switched gears back to the subject of the Spire.  "We still know very little about their leadership.  I strongly doubt that Skalaugh was in charge.  He simply kept the pawns in line.  Much of their back row pieces likely remain undisclosed.  I'm digging.  Setsuna is hunting.  Katsumi is doing... whatever the hell it is she does.  We'll find them."

[Raidou 1]

Raidou would pay Freyd's analogy nothing more than a nod, for it was accurate and without pride. He'd look to the landscape, mirroring his fellow captain's perceptions and listening to his theory and pull upon where the foe they sought may hide. "Agreed, large may have combat advantage. But remaining unseen and keeping mobile is not one of those." He looked as a tinge of green overtook his orange iris, his Tracking skill failing. "Seems like some sort of block has been placed, looks like cardinal wants standard perceptions alone. Curious trying to hide a mountain..."

He'd begin to traverse and keep the conversation, neither of them needed stealth and likely nothing on this floor that would attack would be met with any respect. "No words ever truer spoken, Skalaugh was nothing more than a beast on a leash. Shaving away from their forces like an onion, each layer revealing something fresh. Or..." He'd look to Freyd "We simply break it in half, I will play the part of what they cannot ignore. While you and O&I find the heart. Kasumi..." he'd pause at the notion, realizing that the girl had been still acting on his behalf so feverishly that the introduction had slipped. "Is my cousin, I've been having her build maps and wet her feet. She's too kind and needs to forget that peaceful nature when it comes to dealing with her foes. Perhaps you can be that guide, a bleeding heart has no place upon a battlefield. She will be far more lethal than Setsuna if you succeed, she's trained in the bladed fist."

The last words of that phrase stung deep but were spoken none the less.

ID# 169034 results: Loot: 3+5+4+3+1=16? Success?

Edited September 24, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

"Understood."  Nothing else needed to be said.  He'd find Kasumi and take her under his wing.  Hopefully, her ego wouldn't shatter into a thousand pieces in the process.  He wasn't all that good at the soft touch when it came to fragile personalities.  Recent experiences with Mari had taught him that much.  But, if Raidou trusted him to try, he'd make the attempt.  How often was one told: 'Here's my cousin.  She's squeamish.  Make her deadly.'  Mission accepted.  The ground suddenly thrummed its agreement, causing the two captains to lock eyes and find suitable shelter while they scoured the horizon.

"There," Freyd stated, motioning to one hill moving slowly behind another.  It was undeniably their target.  We should approach it from opposite sides to improve our chances.  I'll head over to that blind, over there.  When it passes between us, we go.  Their plan settled, Freyd darted low and fast to his declared staging point.

The colossus eventually shambled towards them, passing exactly where they had predicted.  Freyd darted up its massive form, looking for a useful angle of attack.

[Raidou 1]

Spotted by his cohort, seems the damnable mass although the cardinal did not want them to seek it out was more than visible. Raidou an ex info broker and Freyd the lead of an intel group, how did expect to hide? Kneeling low his stance widens. The fellow captain took the helm at one end, while Raidou steals away to the other. A rumble underneath their feet as it drew near, a glance through the trees as a rotted out log is crushed under its mass.

The wanderer looks to ally, a silent nod for he was as ready as Freyd was. The trap was sprung, and with a sudden rip of himself over the stone was met with an aerial proc of sprint. It fired him forward like a bullet, latching on with both hands. On its massive right arm, as it continued forward, he'd take the more precarious position as most would expect.

Raidou Climbs Right Arm [1/2]

Players:
Raidou | HP:1625/1625 | EN:146/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:114/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:1000/1000 | DMG:23 | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [1/3]

Edited September 24, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

A running start and Oscar-worthy leap gave Freyd a generous start, but the creature's sheer size was impressive.  It would take some time to reach a vulnerable point and start to strike it down.  The Colossus didn't even seem to register their presence.  Why would it?  The things was friggin huge, and they but gnats compared by size alone - gnats with very sharp swords.  It would learn that soon enough.  

Clinging to the thing's rocky skin as the wind blasted around him, Freyd climbed upward with determination, well aware that his companion would be giving no less than 100% on the opposite.  He couldn't match Raidou in all things, but was confident that he could finally contribute on more even footing.  They were doing this as equals, not as guild leader and minion - not that the red wanderer had ever treated as such.  It was more that he had a growing sense of accomplishment, and gratitude for his colleague's faith.  It was good to have friends you could count on.

Freyd climbs Left Arm [1/2]

Freyd's Grip Strength Check: ID# 169269 results: Loot: 10+7=17

Players:
Raidou | HP:1625/1625 | EN:146/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:114/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | LD:7 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:1000/1000 | DMG:23 | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [2/3]

[Raidou 1]

The swordman sunk fingers in deep, through the cliff face in living stone hard enough that it cuts the tips of his fingers. The system recovers this tiny amount of damage, the wanderer exploiting his own skillset for an advantage which was typical. It began to shake, feeling something but unwavering in its travel. His removed right hand glows blue, martial arts kicking in as he plunges it deep into the stone. An anchor, and for most he'd look to see if they were still attached. But not Freyd, he had faith in his comrade's ability. He knew Freyd would keep a clear head, and that he need not worry on his account. A sense of focus unheard of, as he rips his hand free and uses the hole he had made to jump high and reach for his blade. A single bright yellow light, expecting that in a mirror would be Freyd's all the same.

Raidou Climbs Right Arm [2/2] [Reached]
Right Arm Weak Point [0/3]
Raidou's Grip Strength Check: ID# 169075 results: Loot: 9+8=17 (Success)
Colossus Shakes: ID# 169074 results: Loot: 4

Players:
Raidou | HP:1625/1625 | EN:146/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:114/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:1000/1000 | DMG: 250 UNMIT (GRIP FAILURE) | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [0/3]

Edited September 28, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

Freyd clambered with remarkable speed up the Colossus' rocky form.  All that time spent wandering the caves and tunnels of floor 21 had surely helped him develop some basic skill in spelunking, which was paying dividends at the moment.  Thunder rumbled from the giant's far side.  He hoped that Raidou was fine, but there was no time or practical means of checking.  They both had jobs to do, and distractions would cost precious time.  If this walking mountain were to notice either of them, they would end up having a very bad day.

This was the spot!  Bracing himself against the mountain's hip, he leapt as its towering arm swung past him,  catching a fresh handhold just above the wrist and spotting the vulnerable point: a fissure in the rock where the hand met the wrist.  There was also a slight discoloration between the two.  Perhaps they were different materials?  Geology wasn't really his strong suit.

Freyd Climbs Left Arm [2/2] [Reached]

Freyd's Grip Strength Check: ID# 169153 results: Loot: 15+7=22 (Success)

[roll scrapped due to sequence screwup]

Players:
Raidou | HP:1625/1625 | EN:146/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:114/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:1000/1000 | DMG: 250 UNMIT (GRIP FAILURE) | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [1/3]

[Raidou 1]

Airborne Raidou rips clean his blade, brandishing it in yellow as he reverses the grip. Quickly scanning for a soft spot or anything that was a dead give away, his gaze fixates on the obvious one. A glowing soft spot, like a painted target saying Its right here, Hit here in a cartoonish fashion. The nomad could not help but see the lack of common sense it was to visibly draw attention to such a weakness. But it deters him not, dropping the point of his blade in deep as he clenches his teeth. The swordsman uses his left, slamming it in and creating his own handhold to a spray of stone. A twist of his shoulders shows his intentions: He'd press and drive the weapon clean through, pushing his stamina to its limits as he attempts to push a metal rod through solid stone through strength and determination alone.

ID# 169154 results: Battle: 9, Minor Critical (+1 Base) using Galaxy Destroyer [x13] dealing 24*13=312-50=262, -10 EN [Finesse 3]

Right Arm Weak Point [1/3]
Raidou's Grip Strength Check: ID# 169270 results: Loot: 3+8=11

Players:
Raidou | HP:1625/1625 | EN:136/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:114/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:738/1000 | DMG: 250 UNMIT (GRIP FAILURE) | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [2/3]

Edited September 28, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

Freyd clung from the massive granite arm, thinking about how best to do the most damage.  A smile slowly spread across his face as he came to realize that he'd faced this scenario before.  "Hey, Persi.  Looks like the Boulder has a bigger, badder older cousin.  Care to knock it down a few notches, just like you did before?  Mongoose styles."  Swinging his dark blade to help get her started, the blue-eyed shadow crept out from under his clothes and dashed like some sort of water jet cutter, running mad circles around the weakened fissure.  The stone ground down as a steady cloud of powdered rock and dust trailed behind the vast, swaying appendage.  It shook suddenly, lurching upward as if it had noticed the itch and decided to swat away the irritant.  Freyd hung on for dear life, laughing like a maniac while Persi continued to wear down the mountain.

 

ID# 169156 results: Battle: 5+4+2 = 11 (hit), using Galaxy Destroyer [x13] dealing 24*13=312-50=262, -9 EN [Rested, Finesse 3]

Left Arm Weak Point [1/3]

Colossus Shakes: ID# 1690157 results: Loot: 15
Freyd's Grip Strength Check: ID# 169158 results: Loot: 11+7=18 (Success)

Players:
Raidou | HP:1625/1625 | EN:136/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:105/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:476/1000 | DMG: 250 UNMIT (GRIP FAILURE) | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [3/3]

[Raidou 1]

The beast seemed to tremble as if it could feel them latched on to its form, a sudden jostle causes Raidou's anchoring handhold to break and fall away. The swordsman feels his hands slide and scrape, aiming for something to keep himself stable. But his fingers attach to nothing but air, and with it, he drops. Slamming back first, a cough before a large shadow of a foot looms above him. On reflex a black cable springs from his shoulder and digs into the earth on his left, ripping him on a reel out of a surely crushing footfall. Raidou rolls and spins upright, sliding while hunched. He eyes the beast and catches but a glimpse of Freyd still latched on. A small grin takes his mouth as he looks and sees that Auric Sol still lay implanted in the arm of the traveling mountain. This was hardly over, a flare of blue as concentration kicks in.

Raidou takes no action!

Right Arm Weak Point [1/3]
Failure! Raidou receives 250 Unmitigated Damage!

Players:
Raidou | HP:1375/1625 | EN:137/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:105/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:476/1000 | DMG: 250 UNMIT (GRIP FAILURE) | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [0/3]

Edited September 28, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

"Keep it up!" 

Persi continued to grind, her tiny shadowed forms winding itself around the creature's wrist with increasing speed and ferocity, spraying gravel-sized pieces of the Colossus in all directions.  Freyd hacked into it from above as best he could, but his left arm was needed to keep him from suffering the same fate as Raidou.  He'd barely spotted the impact crater and accompanying mushroom cloud that marked his fellow captain's forceful disembarkation from the far side of the titan.  

Driving Grief's Harbinger into the growing gap caused a brilliant flash of white light to flare while fissures spread in all directions from the point of impact, far along the immense creature's form.  It wouldn't be long now, and Persistence was paying off once again.  If they could hold on just a short while longer, this fight was in the bag.

*CRACK*

A massive split expanded the existing fissure, and was sure to have drawn attention from the beast as a significant chunk of its arm broke off and fell crashing to the ground below.

 

Left Arm Weak Point [2/3]

Freyd's Grip Strength Check: ID# 169273 results: Loot: 14+7=21

ID# 169161 results: Battle: 9 (Crit +1, Holy 6), using Galaxy Destroyer [x13] dealing 31*13=403-50=353, -9 EN [Rested, Finesse 3]

36 Bleed (1/2)

Players:
Raidou | HP:1375/1625 | EN:137/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:96/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:37/1000 | DMG: 250 UNMIT (GRIP FAILURE) | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [1/3]

[Raidou 1]

Raidou recovers 81 HP via Battle Healing

Rushing back to where his gold colored sword was planted, he caught but a glimpse of the small mammal that had proven invaluable in one of the prior legs of this quest chain. "Such power..." Raidou comments in a murmur in regards to the pitch colored mongoose. before leaping and latching on himself as to play his part in all this, his goal was an obvious one. Pressing his fingers deep and finding the lines between the stone, he'd do what he could to ascend. There was something off, as if the mountain was slowing down. Could it be that Persi had struck something vital digging into its core like a lathe? Whatever the culprit maybe it was apparent that this was just about over. It's sluggish movements make scaling it far easier, allowing the climb much larger bounds. A very simple endeavor this quest had proven to be. 

Raidou Climbs Right Arm [1/2]
Right Arm Weak Point [1/3]
Raidou's Grip Strength Check: ID# 169270 results: ID# 169271 results: Craft: 3, Loot: 10+8=18
Colossus Shakes: ID# 169272 results: Craft: 3, Loot: 17

Players:
Raidou | HP:1456/1625 | EN:138/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:96/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:37/1000 | DMG: 250 UNMIT (GRIP FAILURE) | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [2/3]

Edited September 28, 2020 by Raidou

[Freyd 0]

Another fracture, followed by another spray of splintered rock.  Freyd could hardly see Persi, so far into the behemoth's stony skin had she gone.  Great rending tears and shards of the beast's form shattered and sundered all around him as the Colossus' might was broken.  Such was the power of players in Aincrad - to lay low the unthinkable, and endure.  Just as Raidou would rise from an unimaginable fall, Freyd clung by mere fingertips to lay low a lumbering mountain-of-a-thing.  Timing would be crucial.  His window of opportunity was closing.  The titan was now aware of their presence, lifting the limb to which he cleaved high overhead.  Freyd saw its eyes - immense orbs of red-streaked obsidian glaring directly at him.  Now.

Plunging weapon deep into the crevasse carved by his familiar, a blast of wind pulsed outward as a thunderclap unleased their final blow.  The giant thing's arm snapped off and immediately began to fall, taking Freyd with it.  A fist the size of a fortress collapsed into the face of the Colossus, cratering it under its own weight.  The rest of its towering form peeled open like an overripe banana, splaying rocks the size of pebbles to transport trucks outward like a giant rippling wave made of rock.  Two diminutive falling shadows were swallowed by the rain of shattered shards that followed, as the surrounding landscape was instantaneously converted into a massive bowl-shaped impact crater with debris strewn outward over hundreds of feet.  The sound was deafening.  

It took several minutes for the thick dust-choked cloud to clear even enough to see more than a few feet.  Raidou eventually found Freyd and Persi sitting on one of the thing's immense eyeballs, the now grey-clad man clutching his sides and laughing hysterically as he watches his shadowy familiar carving her tally directly onto the obsidian face:

'Persi 2, Rocks 0'

Left Arm Weak Point [3/3]

ID# 169176 results: Battle: 4 + 4 + 2 = 10 (hit), using Galaxy Destroyer [x13] dealing 24*13=312-50=268, -9 EN [Finesse 3, Turn Recovery]]

36 Bleed (2/2)

Players:
Raidou | HP:1456/1625 | EN:138/146 | DMG:23 | MIT:76 | EVA:1 | ACC:3 | LD:8 | BH:81
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1305/1305 | EN:87/114 | DMG:24 | MIT:0 | EVA:1 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BH:46

Mob:
Colossus | HP:37/1000 | DMG: 250 UNMIT (GRIP FAILURE) | MIT:50 | EVA:-2 | SHAKE [3/3] (37 - 268)

[Raidou 1]

The titan in stone began to peel away in sections, the cohesion that held it together disturbed. Its slowing was a facet and tell that was becoming rather well known as lumps of what composed it fell free and rolled. The piece Raidou had attached to simply dropped off, standing upon it he ripped his sword free in a spray and stared on as it simply unwound. Spinning the bright metal solarite blade to its scabbard in the same show, as usual, he'd find Freyd around the mass that once was their opponent as some of the smaller pieces took to flickering blue fanfare on the winds. It was Persi again that had felled the beast, in memory of the first titan done in by her tiny mittens. A twisted smile from infectious laughter brought from Freyd, the wanderer had but one single inquiry. "What are you feeding that mongoose?"

[Freyd 0]

When the absurdity of their situation finally simmered to a point where he felt he could speak again, Freyd gave Persi a quick 'thumbs up'.  It was an equal relief to see Raidou relatively unscathed.

"Actually, she has a fondness for ether, and apparently also field bosses."  He started chuckling again, causing small puffs of dust to shed from his clothes in random directions as his back and shoulders rolled, trying to contain it.  "Ahhh... that was fun."  Summoning a quick progression tracker, Freyd's expression turned to surprise as he realized how quickly he and Raidou were clearing their way through the quest chain.  "Wow... only two left?"  He wiped away more of the caked on stone dust from his face, looking a little bit like one of the heroes at the end of the original Ghostbusters movie, except with Colossus flakes instead of marshmallow.

"So, shall we get on with it?"  His wry smile returned.

***

Thread Summary:

Each players receives:

5 SP (1 page, +1 event, +3 quest)

5,200 col

Tanos Statue: A small statue [Uncommon Item] that can be placed in a home, proving that you defeated the Colossal Titan. When used, it gives +15 Mitigation for a thread. When touched, it can give off the smell of the 19th floor's plains, the vastness that comes with them and the smell of winds carried miles from all around, and from the nearby mountains. The low winds come and go throughout a person's ears can be heard, but not felt. It can also be taken to group gathering to give an atmosphere.