[PP | F4] Diamonds Are A Dragon's Best Friend <<Dragon Hunter Anthology - Dragon Hunt 4: the Diamond Hatchling>>

[Katoka 0]

Katoka sat drinking a hot cup of coffee by the warmth of the fire in the Javalanche Brewery, a coffee shop in the settlement of Snowfrost on the fourth floor. After their previous dragon encounter, they were chased from the forest by the elven groupies until they managed to make back to the safety of town, from there they split up for a while. Herself and Elora taking a much needed trip to the 22nd floor to make use of the hot springs, and Freyd off to do whatever it is that shadowy cowl wearing dorks do.

After some bathing and a lot of soaking, the two women jumped back down to the fourth floor to meet back up with Freyd as they had agreed on. The two however didn't realize it was going to be as cold as it was off the bat. They managed to slip into the coffee shop to warm back up by the fire and with some drinks.

"We should have stayed in the hot spring Elora. It's too cold here right now." the blonde shivered and sipped her brew. "Where is Freyd, how long does it take to dry clean a cowl anyways?"

Katoka | HP:460/460 | EN:46/46 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2

Spoiler

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

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
Spyglass (2/3)*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

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 @Haine

Edited October 3, 2020 by Katoka

[Elora 0]

"I don't know, he probably dries it in some obscure artisanal way", replied Elora with a playful scoff, "I bet that instead of using a lint roller he even prefers to pick out any debris in his clothing with a pair of tweezers. To each their own I guess" She took a sip out of her still warm cup of Irish Breakfast tea. At least, that's what she imagined it was. SAO didn't offer much in the way of variety for drinks, as most beverages centered around Japanese culture. So instead, she was only able to purchase a plain black tea during their brief visit to The Cafe de Plateau on their way to the current establishment. There was however, a discernible difference between this tea leaf juice and the glorious breakfast teas she had come to love. It was a distinction that only the most discernible highlanders could detect in their semi-conscious morning states. 

Elora blinked and returned her focus to the present moment. How had her mind gone on such a tangent while they were waiting for their company to arrive? She shifted her gaze away from the steep and back to Katoka, "I agree. This place feels way too freezing compared to the climates of the other floors. I hope this quest doesn't take too long. I hardly feel prepared to handle the cold exposure" 

 

Elora | HP:480/480 | EN:48/48 | DMG:9 | MIT:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1

Spoiler

Name: Elora
Level: 24
HP: 480/480
EN: 48/48

Stats:
Damage: 9
Mitigation: 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]
Light Armor [Rank 2]

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 October 6, 2020 by Elora

[Haine 0]

"Which number are we even on...-"

Haine squinted at her quest map like an old woman whose vision failed her. It was then that a message pinged through from a fellow comrade that she found clarification. "Oh yeah, we're that far along with this?" She stabbed the cinnamon roll on her lap and held it up to her lips. She inhaled deeply, the aroma of cinnamon and and warmth enveloping her. She closed her eyes and sighed in content. Warm and comforting with a mug of piping hot coffee, just how she preferred regardless of the weather. Food was food, she could break a sweat in ninety degree weather, so long as she came prepared. A fan across the room blew cool air to temper the heat outside and from the coffee she drank.

Oh well, she took a gander and crushed her teleport crystal for the wintry settlement. The cold air was much appreciated after the drink she downed. She waited for the other's message of confirmation and wandered about. She was lost as could be. 

 

Quote

To: Freyd

From: Haine

Where's this rendezvous at? I'm ready to roll.

Spoiler

Name: Haine
Level: 68
HP: 1390/1390
EN: 136/136

Stats:
Damage: 19
Mitigation: 79
Evasion: 1
Accuracy: 4
BH:69
PHASE:1
KEEN:1
BLD:36

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Phase, Keen, Bleed
Armor: Mitigation 2, Evasion 1
Misc: Accuracy 3

Skills:
Two Handed Assault Spear [Rank 5]
Light Armor [Rank 5]
Fishing [Obtained]
Searching [Rank 1]
First Aid [Rank 5]
Extended Mod Limit Rank 3 [Obtained]
Battle Healing [Rank 5]
Energize [Obtained]

Extra Skills:
Familiar: Fighter 3

Mods:
Finesse Rank 3
Ferocity
Precision
Athletics
Purify
Barrier Rank 2
Field Medic


Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystal*1
Requires Extended Weight Limit 1
Requires Extended Weight Limit 2
Requires Extended Weight Limit 3
Obtained via Item Stash (Housing)

Housing Buffs:
Rested: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
Working: +2 EXP per crafting attempt
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.
Angler: +1 material gained when fishing
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:

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by Haine

[Freyd 0]

"Haine!?  How the heck did you get lost?  You literally live on this floor!"  Freyd laughed while still shaking his head at the bluenette.  They finished rounding the corner to the appointed rendezvous with Katoka and Elora.  His cowl was pristine in its magnificent darkness; not a spot of lint, dust or stain to be found anywhere upon its matte woolen surface.  As was typically the case, it was in the extended and covering position, scowling at any that would mock its mischievous and insidious grandeur.  One does not mock the cowl, lest it loose it cowl-ey venom upon ye... or something.  Freyd, for his part, was still feeling the after-effects of the massive culinary melee that he and Haine had only recently completed.

"Hey ladies," he called ahead to his companions.  Noticing Elora's shivering, he could help but ask.  "Need my cloak again, Elora, or should we wait until you fall through the ice first?"  The grin upon his face was pure Cheshire.

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1290/1290 | EN:141/141 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:4 | BH:64

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows
Level: 63
HP: 1290/1290
EN: 141/141

Stats:
Damage: 19
Mitigation: 79
Evasion: 2
Accuracy: 4
BH:64
KEEN:1
HLY:6
FLN:6
LD:4

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Samael's Pride (T3-2HSS, ACC 1, HOLY 1, FLN 1)
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 5]
Parry [Obtained]
Energist [Obtained]
Charge [Rank 2]

Extra Skills:
Disguise
Familiar Mastery: Fighter 3
Survival
Meditation

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

Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystals*5
Concentrated Joy (T3 Vitality 2)*3
Missing You (Instant T3 HP Recovery)*2
Fruit-Infused Tea (T3 HP Recovery)*5
Imugi's Inspiration (T3 Mass HP Recovery)*5
Mega-Duper... Sauce (Antidote 3)*5
Grave Injustice (T3-2HSS, ACC 1, Keen 1, Abs. ACC)*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
Tasty: Turn 2 identical food items into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed.
Relaxed: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Skylight (Searching): +1 Rank to the Searching skill.
Angler: +1 material gained when fishing
Multipurpose: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
Decor [Potted Tanabata Bamboo Tree]: This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.

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]

Katoka grinned and nudged Elora with her elbow, "Borrow his cloak huh? What have you two been up to?"

She turned her attention to the tall blue haired woman, "It's good to see you again Haine, it's been a while now." she smiled and stood up, "I take it the matter you attended to was escorting Haine through the past few quests. And dry cleaning your immaculate cowl?"

She laughed, this feeling of being with friends and joking around. This was something she wished she could keep frozen in time. This quest wasn't going to be difficult, and she was certain n one would die. But there was always that feeling in the back of her mind, the dread that one wrong move would lead to her or her friend's deaths. So these moments? They were precious to her. More precious than most of her memories from back in the real world.

[Elora 0]

"Haha, very funny", retorted Elora to Freyd with a smirk, "I'll have you know that I winterized my cloak in preparation for this mission, although, not anything else..." Her eyes darted off to the side, regarding Haine as she took another sip of tea. "Hey, nice to see you again. Don't know if you remember me from the Tanabata Festival" I sure hope not "I'm Elora", she added just in case. To be honest, she wouldn't have been able to recall the woman's name if Katoka hadn't brought it up. That wouldn't stop her from pretending she'd remembered it all these weeks. For some reason, she was able to remember Vie --

Wait. Vie. Is that THAT Vie? I'm pretty sure that's the name of the girl the blue-haired guy was asking Katoka about. Elora seemed to zone out as she cupped her tea, eyebrows furrowing and lids narrowing as she underwent a series of mental gymnastics to come to the realization. I mean...I guess I could maybe see that working. They're around the same height and both have...short hair...? 

 

@Haine

[Haine 0]

She jumped at the sound of something just behind her and whipped around. The voice belonged to none other than Freyd, who was poking fun at her. "Hey! This side of town is uncharted territory." She laughed it off and trailed behind him. The other would be her guide now. The rendezvous point turned out to be a quaint, cozy coffee shop. Beside her ankle, the fluffy cub trotted faithfully. The bluenette stepped inside, a wave of warmth enveloping her like a cozy blanket. Much needed reprieve from the cold.

Two heads of vibrant hair turned towards the two. Haine gushed, instantaneously. Elora, with her vibrant green hair and soft, feathery features, she was half tempted to squish her cheeks. Then beside her stood Katoka, with bouncy blonde locks and blue eyes. She seemed shortest among them all, though not by much. As Freyd approached the girls, she noted his height in comparison to hers. It was all but comical.  She approached them and clasped her hands together.

"It's been like weeks. Been hectic, couldn't catch you all." She pulled an empty chair from the neighboring table and settled down. She nodded in acknowledgement to both and faced Elora. "I remember. Freyd told me a lot about your adventures." She faced Katoka and chuckled. "I've gotta hear about this dance battle from the legends themselves!"

Edited October 7, 2020 by Haine

[Freyd 0]

Freyd smiled and kept walking past the table where his... friends... were sitting.  It was an unusual thought, but not unwelcome.  Fetching pitchers of recently boiled water and fresh coffee, he refilled their drinks for them, or provided fresh ones as was warranted and requested.  A platter of pastries somehow found its way over to their table as well, along with a small selection of cheeses, croissants and preserves.  Freyd actually froze for a moment as he realized what he was doing.  He never did... whatever this was.  Looking up into the faces of his three companions, the casual significance of the scene struck him strongly.  He wasn't really sure when it had occurred, but things had somehow changed.  His smile receded as he remembered another recent and weighty conversation.  Settling into a chair slightly more withdrawn from the table, he sank deeply into it and concealed himself behind a steaming mug, content to listen to their banter while he pondered more burdensome thoughts.

[Katoka 0]

Katoka laughed and told Haine the tale of their dance battle against the elven dragon cultists, "Once we get to a less public area I can show you some of the moves I did to really throw them off." She accepted the drink from Freyd and watched him slink away and somehow hide in the shadows of a well lit place. She smirked but kept herself in the current conversation, trying to nudge Elora into join in when she could. The blonde knew she had trouble making friends with other women sometimes, but she knew that Haine was good people.

"Congrats on your engagement by the way Haine, have you decided on a dress yet?" Katoka asked while picking apart a croissant and eating it piece by piece, "If you don't have a dress code for the wedding yet can I suggest no cowls?" she playfully tossed a piece of the bread at Freyd.

[Elora 0]

Elora wasn't sure when would be an appropriate time to contribute to the discussion, so she took after Freyd in silent observation. Engagement?, thought Elora as the topic arose, Oh yeah, people can get married in this game, can't they? Frilly aspirational stuff like weddings weren't normally things that she took to discussing, but seeing as how this may have been her only chance to chime into the conversation, she decided to give it a shot. "You're getting married, huh? Well, that's exciting. Who's the lucky man?", she could hardly get the sentence out without grimacing at the phrasing of her own words. "I guess the nice thing about having an online wedding is that cost probably isn't as big of a concern" Elora didn't know whether or not that was true, she just needed something to follow-up with so that she didn't sound uninterested in Haine's happenings. Still, she resorted to taking another sip of her tea, lest she dig herself into an even deeper grave by continuing the ice-breaker conversation. 

[Haine 0]

"I'm counting on it." Her appetite was quenched from the grand eatery at noon. She did not wish for more, so instead she removed a flask of water to drink. "Oh yeah? That'll be great. Maybe we can throw a shindig between us," she jested, with a heart laugh. She twisted the cap off the flask and took a swig.

The mention of the engagement brought a light to her eyes. The event had been fresh at mind, suspending her on cloud nine. Her expression turned bashful as she glanced down at her lap, towards the ornate ring on her finger. "Ahh, not yet, I don't think I'll be able to pick just one. I might need some help." She brushed her bangs back and turned to Elora. "Kiluia," she added, softly. "Everything came as a surprise, but I'm happy with where it's goin.'" She drummed her fingertips on her thighs.

Edited October 11, 2020 by Haine

[Freyd 0]

"So, he finally did it, did he?"  Freyd smiled from his slouched position, sipping from his drink and sucking through his teeth afterwards for neglecting to remember how hot it was.  He dismissed it back to his inventory for later consumption.  "Why not fill us in on the details while we walk to our destination?  Sound good?"  

It wasn't that he didn't want or care to know the details, but Freyd had already been enlisted to assist, in his own way.  There was also something about Haine's response to the who thing that didn't sit quite right, though he couldn't put his finger on it.  Something seemed off, and had his O&I senses going twitchy.  This wasn't the place to ask, and he'd avoided it previously as he and Haine had never been especially close.  Their recent experiences crashing through content to help form this group may have changed that.

"Nothing too fancy this time, just don't get caught by its breath attack or Katoka will be rubbing you down at the springs for the rest of the day."  He flashed the blue samurai a wink as he spoke the words.

[Katoka 0]

"Right!" Katoka hopped up and downed the last of her drink, "I almost forgot why we all gathered here today." she stopped for a moment, "No wedding pun intended. Let's head out!" as they walked the blonde blushed at Freyd's suggestion of the hot springs rub down and lightly jabbed him on the arm. "I'll have you know I give a wonderful massage." she huffed and crossed her arms.

"If you want someone to tag along while dress hunting Haine I'd be free, if you want to company that is." Katoka was no wedding dress expert, but having a second set of eyes for something as important as this would probably help the bluenette. She was certain though that she would look beautiful in any dress.

As the party trudged through the snow, Katoka pulled her scarf up over her face and mouth to block some of the cold. She walked a closer to Elora and grabbed hold of her arm, "Sorry, I hope you don't mind me stealing some of your warmth. I didn't realize it's be this cold." she shivered against her friend as they walked.

[Elora 0]

Kill, huh? Yeah, she could see that. The white-haired player was pretty charismatic, so she wasn't surprised to find out that he had charmed someone, especially if he'd combined his personality with his culinary skills in order to win her over. As they headed out to locate the dragon, her mind continued to wander and consider the concept of marriage within the game. Do people who get married here intend to stay together in the real world, or is it actually just a way of making due with the cards they've been dealt? Even worse...it could be that they've accepted the fact they won't be able to return to or even begin pursuing romantic relationships in the real world ever again...

The feeling of something brushing against her arm threw Elora out of her thinking. She looked down to see Katoka clutching it as the samurai shivered and struggled to retreat from the cold. "I-It's fine--", stammered Elora through her jaw which had been tensed from a brisk breeze. She can't be -- no, that wouldn't make sense. Quickly turning away to avoid engaging in a prolonged stare, Elora hoped that Katoka hadn't caught sight the sudden blush that consumed her face. "Just don't slip or you're going to pull me down with you--" Thankfully, her skin had already turned a rosy pink from being exposed to the cold, leaving the reaction to make little visible difference to her features.

She kept her knees stiff and her sights forward, determined to remain upright as their party crossed a lengthy sheet of ice occupying a narrow ravine that carved between the slopes of two snow-covered mountains. The glacier was so transparent that, with the occasional glance downwards, Elora could make out the forms of various hydrophytes, crustaceans, and the occasional carcass of a drowned character beneath its surface. Suspended like statues that served as eternal monuments to their unfortunate demise, each contained a haunting expression of what was felt seconds before their passing. Whether or not they were an exercise in world-building or the remains of fellow players was something that she preferred not to think about. "I don't know if the dragon's attack is all we have to worry about...", the woman muttered beneath her breath.

 

[Haine 0]

She giggled in light of Katoka's pun and all the good wishes received. A soft "For sure" followed her response to Freyd. It warmed her to know that the blonde was willing to help with dress hunting. "Yes, of course! I'll need all the help I can get." The more, the merrier, after all. A decision for what would be her big day couldn't be made lightly. As for the wedding, Haine had her own qualms, namely those of insecurity and uncertainty within herself. The what-if's and the realization of time moving forward was a frightening change, even more so without the important figures in her life present. It was a new chapter in life, a symbolism of love and hope. Time was not to be taken granted in a world ever-evolving. With the couple on the front lines, the woman feared for their future. Should anything happen to them, they would have these memories to hold onto.

A step out the door and an instant wave of frigid air chilled her skin. The woman wrapped her scarf taut around her nose, a buffer from the inclement weather. She kept quiet for most of the trek up the ice caps, mind wandering in thought. Her gaze fixed idly on the polar bear pouncing through the snow, ecstatic in his element. Moist snout shoveled the snow, bits flying onto the women in front. A soft smile graced her lips as she watched the bear in all his innocence. It was ample distraction until they neared the summit.

Glaciers framed the edges of the wintry scape, translucent and hosting the corpses of both human and mammal. A chill ran up her spine. Was it from the cold or the foreshadowing of what remained ahead? A bit of both. "Well, it does look cool," Haine mused, aloud. "Kinda like the Ice Age! Or somethin'."

Edited October 15, 2020 by Haine

[Freyd 0]

Freyd's pace slowed as they approached familiar ground.  He'd traveled to this area once before and recognized an isolated path between snow-covered pines that led to the start of painful memories.  He paused.  The ladies huddled together for warmth and kept on walking, their jovial tones struck a stark contrast to the isolated loneliness that stood along a nearby lake's edge, just beyond the low, ice-encrusted ridge whereupon his gaze was set.  There, beside a series of carefully crafted stone monuments, could be found a small yet lovely home, become a dwelling of ever-shattering sorrows.  His jaw set firmly, as if doing so might smother regrets.  The others would soon notice his absence.  He followed in their absence, walking in their snow-imprinted footsteps like any good shadow should.  Beneath his cowl, red-tinged eyes stared harshly at those marking, leading invariably forward.  Such was the set of his mind as well. 

Drawing a deep, brisk breath, Freyd picked up the pace to rejoin the rest of the group.  The cold washed over him without finding purchase.  It could not stick to itself.

Vanity Tag: @Mari

[Katoka 0]

As the group made their way across the ice, Katoka began to get nervous seeing the bodies frozen beneath her and held onto Elora a bit tighter. She made sure not to loose her footing so she didn't drag her friend down with her. The path seemed to bee well worn despite the snow and ice that had built up on it as time passed, it was probably just programmed to stay more traversable than the area around it. Rounding a large snow mound the party arrived at an almost circular indentation in the ground, it was surrounded by gathering snow and large glaciers that made the area very den like.

"I don't think I've seen an area more suited for a boss fight in my life." she said as she saw various boulders, long dead trees, and mounds of bones that any wayward adventurer could use for cover. Letting go of Elora's arm she looked around at her guildmates, "Well, any last words before we all become cute popsicles?"

[Elora 0]

"No kidding", Elora agreed with Katoka's observation, "As for last words -- I don't know" She turned her attention to address each of them with a respective and rather improvised farewell. "Congratulations on your wedding and sacrifice all of your independence to please someone else, learn to express your emotions through song or sculpting or -- something, and find a way to channel your anxiety into thermal energy so that you don't freeze in these kinds of conditions" 

Keeping with the spirit of what she thought to be an elegant departure, she ran a few meters forward, then slid across the ice, tipping the ends of her spear to keep balance as she maneuvered toward the dragon's lair. Elora's spear sliced the little wyvern as it scampered out of its cave. The momentum behind her swing carried the rest of her body into a twirl until she planted her staff into the ground and spun around it, causing her gliding to eventually come to a stop.

Wow, that went a lot more smoothly than I was expecting.

 

Spoiler

Elora Attacks with "Dimension Stampede" [x15] Dimension Stampede (17 Energy) - An attack with four fast stabs, only to be concluded by a jumping slam from above.  

Elora ID#: 173452 BD:7 + 3ACC = 10 Hit Icefyre: 250HP - 135 - 50 MIT = 165HP

----

Elora | HP:480/480 | EN:31/48 | DMG:9 | MIT:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Haine [Insert stats here]
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1290/1290 | EN:141/141 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:4 | BH:64
Katoka | HP:460/460 | EN:46/46 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2

-----

[1/0/0/0] Icefyre: The Diamond Hatchling | HP: 165/250 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | DMG: 75

Abilities: <<Tiny Ice Breath>> : On a roll of 9 - 10 (naturally), this boss will breath ice on your character and immediately be frozen in place for a turn removing your evasion properties.

Edited October 19, 2020 by Elora

[Haine 0]

Haine shivered at the harsh winds pelting her skin. The soothing warmth of her coffee had long left, leaving the woman with a mild sense of discomfort. She wound her coat tighter around her sides and trudged in the snow. An impending sound of something in the distance signaled their arrival up the summit, the point of battle looming. By reflex, Haine withdrew her glaive. For what felt like years, she'd trained herself into this natural instinct. The others conversation provided ample background noise to mute the sounds of the howling wind.

The green haired woman, reminiscent of a valkyrie with her pointy ears, turned towards her. Were those words one of warning or blessing? An awkward laugh followed. "Why thank you, I'll see to that then." she added on a dime. Further up the trek, they arrived at what looked like a dragon's lair. Shrouded in mystery, it beckoned her closer.

What came out was yet another hatchling. Beady eyes and dwarfed in form, it was as if the being were taunting her humanity. Corner of her mouth pulled taut as she charged her blade. She wouldn't fall for the dragon's cute tactics. With a swift stab, she sliced clean through its scaly chest. A shrill shriek later, the majestic form crumbled to shards.

Haine dusted her hands and turned to the party. "Nice one, but I'm beat. Been a long day, y'know?" She flicked her wrist, stowing the blade away. "I'm gonna play card games and snooze. If you're all interested, the more the merrier!" Three people was enough for most card games, but a bigger group made it all the more exciting.

Spoiler

ID: 174064 | BD: 6+4-1=9 [ HIT ] | 19*15=285 DMG

Elora | HP:480/480 | EN:31/48 | DMG:9 | MIT:8 | EVA:1 | ACC:1 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1
Haine | HP:1390/1390 | EN: 136/136 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 4 | BH:69 | PHASE:1 | KEEN:1 | BLD:36
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1290/1290 | EN:141/141 | DMG:19 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | KEEN:1 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:4 | BH:64
Katoka | HP:460/460 | EN:46/46 | DMG:10 | EVA:1 | ACC:2 | LD:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2

-----

[1/0/0/0] Icefyre: The Diamond Hatchling | HP: 0/250 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | DMG: 75

Abilities: <<Tiny Ice Breath>> : On a roll of 9 - 10 (naturally), this boss will breath ice on your character and immediately be frozen in place for a turn removing your evasion properties.

 

 

[Freyd 0]

Freyd watched the creatures eyes as it descended from the icy haven to challenge the group of players.  It was a poor tactical decision.  The dragon might have played for time, had it hidden from them, or at least forced them to try and enter its compact cluster of cold caves where their weapons and sword arts might at least be restricted.  Walking out into the open, before such an array of players, was to welcome death.  He watched impassively as Haine, still wrapped up in banter, strode forward.  Her gleaming glaive swung without guilt 

'Do they realize what they are becoming?'  He wondered, looking down at the sword in his own hands.  'Or what they have already become?'  Freyd's eyes mirrored the cold as they wandered across the faces of his three companions, admiring their growing process and wondering at the cost.  He blinked. It was the only admission of emotion that he could allow himself.  This was meant to keep them alive - keep them safe.

"Well done," he said, forcing a minor smile,  "but I think we can and should probably keep pushing forward before another break."  Turning away from them to look into the distance, he seemed to be expecting something, then turned and started walking back to town.

***

Thread Summary:

Haine, Elora, Katoka and Freyd receive:

4 SP (1 page, +1 Event, +2 Quest)

275 col (700+400/4)

<Icefyre’s Diamond> [Vanity Quest Item]

Edited October 21, 2020 by Raidou
Approved via Raidou