[SP-23] Trolling the Trolls <<Ugzeke The Mighty>>

[Freyd 0]

He was back in Kalanaes, and heading out into the Underdark once again.  The trolls had been getting uppity again of late and bounties were being offered to thin their numbers.  There would be just enough time to squeeze in one last run before he had to head off to face the Shadow.  Gear set and blade in hand, the Whisper passed quietly over the city walls, preferring not to have his comings and going reported by those who took interest in such things.  Information brokers could make a small fortunate on such tidbits, and he needed to watch his back a bit more closely these days. 

The underground landscape and topography was becoming too familiar for his liking.  He'd spent too much time down here lately.  It was probably one of the best places to practice facing off against shadows and other bumpy, night-type things.  A little last minute training exercise also couldn't hurt.  

***

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1530/1530 | EN:165/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd Consumes

Spoiler

Warbucks Wedges (Prosperity 3) [170300]
Jackpot Pretzel (LD 3+1) [170296] +1 filled
Fiery Dragon Roll: Mitigation +3 (T3) 160133-2
Well-Done Steak: Protein +2: 170488-3
Queen’s Honey (DMG 3)
http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/20252-f2-pp-buzz-off-pecan-sandy-return-of-the-queen/?do=findComment&comment=627030

 

Freyd Stats:

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows
Level: 75
HP: 1530/1530
EN: 165/165

Stats:
Damage: 20 (+3+2)
Mitigation: 79 (+45-30)
Evasion: 2
Accuracy: 4
BH:76
VAMP OFF:153
HLY:6
FLN:6
LD:5 (+4)

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Samael's Pride (T3-2HSS, VO 1, HOLY 1, FLN 1)
Armor: Skirmisher's Garb (T3 LA, MIT 2, EVA 1)
Misc: Night Shades (T3-Trinket, ACC 3)

Skills:
2H Straight Sword [Rank 5]
Light Armor [Rank 5]
Searching [Rank 4]
Battle Healing [Rank 5]
Parry [Obtained]
Energist [Obtained]
Charge [Rank 5]
Extended Mod Limit R3 [Obtained]
Hiding [Rank 3]

Extra Skills:
Disguise
Familiar Mastery: Fighter 3
Survival
Meditation

Mods:
Precision
Finesse - Rank 3
LA Athletics
Ferocity
LA Sprint and Acrobatics
Night Vision
Vengeful Riposte

Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystals*5
Gungnir Shard: Haniel's Modesty (T3 Perfect HP Rec [Instant]*5
Flash of Rejuvenation (Mass HP Rec [Instant] (+30*Tier HP)*5
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
Delicious: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 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
Advanced Training: +2 SP to a thread. Limit one use per month [0/1]
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:
Kumatetsu Statue: +1 Base Damage for a thread

Wedding Ring:

 

[Freyd 0]

The troll caverns he sought were in the western abyss, a series of deep, dank caverns than ran to the farthest depths of the floor.  The locals joked that it was because the trolls were just too dumb to figure out how to climb back out.  Freyd imagined that it was more an exercise in laziness - they were content to wait until everything eventually sank down to where they could most easily corner it, kill it and probably try to eat it.

Ugzeke was his primary target, but there were other, smaller and weaker trolls said to be wandering the area in packs.  If they were ever organized, they could cause substantial damage to the small outposts and camps scattered throughout these caverns.  He wasn't being altruistic.  Rampaging trolls weren't exactly good for speedy travel conditions.  Thinning out the herd and getting paid for it was also appealing.  Recent spikes in activity were depleting his stocks and he wanted to help contribute some more materials back to the guild vault.

Freyd activates Vengeful Riposte (-5 EN)

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1530/1530 | EN:160/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76 | VENGEFUL

[Freyd 0]

Ugzeke was surprisingly easy to find.  The troll wandered aimlessly through the lower caverns smashing anything he found like some sort of grand whack-a-mole adventure.  A goofy grin was permanently plastered on this immense face, a thick line of drool pooling in his protruding lower jaw and drizzling down his chin to be absorbed by his black scraggly beard.  

Not bothering to waste any time, Freyd charged at him from behind, slamming his sword in the wide, thick hide between his shoulder blades and driving its deep.  The massive figure flopped forward, falling face-first into the rocky ground and with yell fed from both pain and surprise.  With surprising speed and guile, Ugzeke rolled and sought to slam Freyd against the cavern wall, but the effort backfired as the Whisper tore his blade out, leaving another nasty gash in the troll's flesh.

"Nice try, big guy," he taunted, "but it's not quite that easy."

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1529/1530 | EN:151/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76 | VENGEFUL

Freyd activates charge.

Galaxy Destroyer (x13): 13 EN - (Rested, Finesse 3) = 9 EN.

ID #176199 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Holy +6, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (13*37=481-35=446) damage to Ugzeke.

ID #176200 | MD: 10 (Crit +2).  CD 10. ( Ugzeke Smash! procs).  Ugzeke deals (175*0.5=87-94=1) damage to Freyd.

Vengeful procs.  Stun negated.  Ugzeke suffers (87-35=52) damage.

Ugzeke: HP 1,002/1,500 | DMG 200 | MIT 35 | ACC: 2

Ugzeke Smash!: On a CD roll of 10+, Ugzeke uses his large wooden club and smashes it on top of the player with the most hate, dealing 175 Damage and Stunning the player.

Ugzeke Mad!: When Ugzeke loses half of his health, his body overheats, his skin taking on more of a red color. His damage raises to 250, but loses 2 Accuracy

Ugzeke Confused?: If Ugzeke rolls a CD of 3 or below, he has no action, despite his roll as he has difficulty seeing his enemies, and thinks that they are just stone

 

[Freyd 0]

Dashing across the dark cavern floor, Freyd dodged Ugzeke's repeated slams before wheeling and charging back at him for another series of deep slashing cuts.  The harder he hit, the more the troll's skin seethed and then actually started to glow with vibrant red rage until it hit critical mass.  A massive roar shattered stone and caused stalactites to break and rain down all over the area.  Freyd sought shelter by sliding beneath his enemy's feet, receiving a swift kick for his effort.  The blow sent him sprawling out into the open cave floor and scrambling to dodge still-falling rock.

The troll grabbed one of the largest fallen stone cones and lifted it like a club, slapping it angrily against its other hand.  Ugzeke's bloodshot eyes promised much more pain to come as he roared again and broke into a run.  The ground shook and shuddered beneath his feet as he came towards Freyd, building the momentum of a massive, angry freight train.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1374/1530 | EN:143/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76 

Freyd recovers 1 HP from BH.

Vengeful Riposte restored in 2 round.  Parry restored in 1 round.

Galaxy Destroyer (x13): 13 EN - (Rested, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 8 EN.

ID #176201 | BD: 4+4=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (13*25=325-35=290) damage to Ugzeke.

Ugzeke Mad! procs.

ID #176202 | MD: 8 - 2 = 6 (hit).  CD 8 (no procs).  Ugzeke deals (250-94=156) damage to Freyd.

Ugzeke: HP 712/1,500 | DMG 200 (250) | MIT 35 | ACC: 2 (0)

Ugzeke Smash!: On a CD roll of 10+, Ugzeke uses his large wooden club and smashes it on top of the player with the most hate, dealing 175 Damage and Stunning the player.

Ugzeke Mad!: When Ugzeke loses half of his health, his body overheats, his skin taking on more of a red color. His damage raises to 250, but loses 2 Accuracy

Ugzeke Confused?: If Ugzeke rolls a CD of 3 or below, he has no action, despite his roll as he has difficulty seeing his enemies, and thinks that they are just stone

 

[Freyd 0]

Ugzeke's rage-fueled rampage struck up a choking dust cloud so thick that even he couldn't see through it.  Freyd's mask protected his sight from most of the flying debris and other irritants, allowing him to once again maneuver for a pass between the troll's legs. This time, he struck true.  Howls of fury, outrage, and pain of a nature that makes half of audiences cringe in movie theatres echoed all around.  The troll immediately dropped his new club and covered his injured tackle, as if dancing around like a bathroom-bound four year old was somehow going to turn this fight back in his favour.

Skidding to a stop a few dozen feet away, Freyd reset his stance and guard while waiting for the dust to clear and his enemy's form to re-emerge.

"One more good hit might do it," he told himself practically, analyzing as always.  "Maybe two more, on the outside."

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1530/1530 | EN:134/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd recovers 76 HP from BH.

Vengeful Riposte restored in 1 round.  Parry restored.

Galaxy Destroyer (x13): 13 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 9 EN.

ID #176203 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (13*33=429-35=394) damage to Ugzeke.

Vampiric (Off) procs, healing 80 HP.

ID #176204 | MD: 4-2=2 (miss).  CD 10 (missed. no proc).  Ugzeke misses Freyd.

Ugzeke: HP 318/1,500 | DMG 200 (250) | MIT 35 | ACC: 2 (0)

Ugzeke Smash!: On a CD roll of 10+, Ugzeke uses his large wooden club and smashes it on top of the player with the most hate, dealing 175 Damage and Stunning the player.

Ugzeke Mad!: When Ugzeke loses half of his health, his body overheats, his skin taking on more of a red color. His damage raises to 250, but loses 2 Accuracy

Ugzeke Confused?: If Ugzeke rolls a CD of 3 or below, he has no action, despite his roll as he has difficulty seeing his enemies, and thinks that they are just stone

 

[Freyd 0]

Ugzeke's head popped up, out of the cloud, looking exceptionally lost and confused, as if the lumbering hulk had somehow completely forgotten what was going on despite its rather significant injuries.  Freyd almost hesitated, as if about to wonder if this thing was somehow pulling a ruse.  Nope.  It was just that dumb.  Using the last of the setting dust as cover, he raced in and hacked away at every bit of hide and flesh he could reach, watching the troll's health bar steadily drop.  Hunks of digital mesh were fraying and falling from the lumbering thing before him and still it couldn't process what was going on.  It's miniscule brain had stalled, and that might simply be how this particular incarnation of itself would end.  It wasn't so bad, after all.  It had managed to squash all those cave spiders, and headbutt that ugly thing about the size and shape of itself hiding in that lake that one time.  Life had been good.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1530/1530 | EN:125/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76 

Vengeful Riposte restored.

Galaxy Destroyer (x13): 13 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 9 EN.

ID #176208 | BD: 3+4=7 (hit).  Freyd deals (13*25=325-35=290) damage to Ugzeke.

ID #176209 | MD: 8 (n/a).  CD 2 (missed. no proc).  Ugzeke misses Freyd.

Ugzeke: HP 28/1,500 | DMG 200 (250) | MIT 35 | ACC: 2 (0)

Ugzeke Smash!: On a CD roll of 10+, Ugzeke uses his large wooden club and smashes it on top of the player with the most hate, dealing 175 Damage and Stunning the player.

Ugzeke Mad!: When Ugzeke loses half of his health, his body overheats, his skin taking on more of a red color. His damage raises to 250, but loses 2 Accuracy

Ugzeke Confused?: If Ugzeke rolls a CD of 3 or below, he has no action, despite his roll as he has difficulty seeing his enemies, and thinks that they are just stone

 

[Freyd 0]

Freyd felt it a strange mercy to cut the field boss down.  That sort of sudden lack of awareness would be terrifying.  One of his aunts had suffered from dementia during her latter years.  It was a sad and terrible fate for any self-aware being to suffer.  Halting his attacks, he looked up at the troll.  It still hadn't figured out what was happening and scratched at its big head of scraggly head as it tried to wrap its tiny brain around simple details like where it was and how it got here.  

Standing there for a moment, Freyd realized that he couldn't just leave it like this.  Pressing the tip of his silver blade against the troll's sizable foot, he pushed just enough to pierce its mesh, then watched as the last few ticks of its health bar whittled away.  Ugzeke smiled an awkward, toothy grin as it finally noticed that he was even there.  He waved back, just as its health bar hit zero, and the troll vanished into a puffy crystalline cloud.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1530/1530 | EN:122/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76 

Astral Hell (x7): 7 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 3 EN.

ID #176220 | BD: 3+4=7 (hit).  Freyd deals (13*25=325-35=290) damage to Ugzeke.

Ugzeke: HP 0/1,500 | DMG 200 (250) | MIT 35 | ACC: 2 (0)

Ugzeke Smash!: On a CD roll of 10+, Ugzeke uses his large wooden club and smashes it on top of the player with the most hate, dealing 175 Damage and Stunning the player.

Ugzeke Mad!: When Ugzeke loses half of his health, his body overheats, his skin taking on more of a red color. His damage raises to 250, but loses 2 Accuracy

Ugzeke Confused?: If Ugzeke rolls a CD of 3 or below, he has no action, despite his roll as he has difficulty seeing his enemies, and thinks that they are just stone

 

[Freyd 0]

The quest pinged him with a completion message, but he still needed to get out of here.  The floor still rumbled after Ugzeke's body crumbled into a huge glittering cloud of dust.  

"More are coming," he muttered, feeling the steady, thrumming thuds of additional heavy footfalls.  They were getting closer.  Scrambling to higher ground, Freyd spotted four additional trolls closing on his location from different directions.  He needed to let them gather before making his attack, or they would encircle and trap him.  These creatures weren't particularly intelligent, but their brute strength was enough to warrant caution.

"Just a little closer..."

Two trolls collided with each other, not paying attention to where they were going.  That was all he needed.  Dropping down upon them, he swung wildly at everything within reach.  Yelps of surprise quickly followed as Samael's Pride bit deep into digital flesh.  One managed to clip him across the shoulder, but he avoided the brunt of the attack and managed to keep his going.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1399/1530 | EN:108/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd activates Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +6 for hits): 18 EN - (rested, Finesse 3) = 14 EN

ID #176228 | BD: 4+4-1=7 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (12*30=360) damage to Troll #1
ID #176229 | BD: 6+4-1=9 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*36=432) damage to Troll #2
ID #176230 | BD: 7+4-1=10 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*36=432) damage to Troll #3
ID #176231 | BD: 1 (miss)

ID #176228 | MD: 6-2=4 (miss)
ID #176229 | MD :2-2=0 (miss)
ID #176230 | MD: 8-2=6 (hit).  Troll #3 deals (225-94=131) damage to Freyd.
ID #176231 | MD: 4-2=2 (miss) 

Troll #1: HP 390/750 | DMG 225 (750-360)
Troll #2: HP 318/750 | DMG 225 (750-432)
Troll #3: HP 318/750 | DMG 225 (750-432)
Troll #4: HP 750/750 | DMG 225

 

[Freyd 0]

Like a desert dervish in the dark, Freyd carved his way through the gaggle of trolls around him.  One went down quickly while the rest pounded the entire surrounding area into dust.  Freyd waded through the cloud, striking at every giant shadowy limb he saw, certain that it would belong to one of his foes.  It didn't take long to get the trolls wailing on each other as much as they were trying to hit him.

A shadow in the darkness, the Whisper struck silently from below, hacking and slashing as he went.  The trolls yelped, cursed, roared and flailed ineffectually all around as they tried to recover and figure out what was actually happening.  It wasn't going well for them.  Their health bars continued to dip, mostly from Freyd's attacks,  helped along by their own wild swings.

'I haven't done this in too long,' he thought to himself, a narrow smile spreading across his face, just as another giant arm struck him blindly from behind.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1346/1530 | EN:95/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76 

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +6 for hits): 18 EN - (rested, Finesse 3, Turn recovery) = 13 EN

ID #176235 | BD: 8+4=7 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*31=372) damage to Troll #1
ID #176236 | BD: 6+4=9 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*31=372) damage to Troll #2
ID #176237 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Troll #3
ID #176238 | BD: 8+4=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*31=372) damage to Troll #4

ID #176235 | MD: 10 (Crit +2)  Troll #1 deals (226-94=132) damage to Freyd.
ID #176237 | MD: 2-2=0 (miss).  Troll #3 misses Freyd.
ID #176238 | MD: 6-2=4 (miss).  Troll #4 misses Freyd.

Troll #1: HP 18/750 | DMG 225 (390-372)
Troll #2: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (318-372)
Troll #3: HP 318/750 | DMG 225
Troll #4: HP 378/750 | DMG 225 (750-372)

Loot rolls

Troll #2: ID #177153 | LD 18+8=26 | CD 4

7875*Col
T3 Perfect Consumable #177153a
T3 Perfect Consumable #177153b
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177153c
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177153d
 

 

[Freyd 0]

Samael's Pride pulsed in his hands as he ran.  The blade was hungry.  He'd felt is hunger growing steadily since he'd applied that re-roll item to it after vanquishing Fenrir with those other players.  It gnawed at him ceaselessly, yet only seemed satisfied after the weapon's holy power activated.  What a strange contrast that was: that angelic light should emanate and sear his foe, yet also drain it of its vitality for his own benefit.  

Merely holding the blade was enough to feel the drive that went with the hunger.  It was similar to the dark impulses against which he once struggled internally.  That rage that could drive him to blind and unyielding violence.  He had come to terms with it, made it part of himself, and so learned to master it over time.  Without that experience, this draw might have overwhelmed him.  It definitely brought the red in his eyes more whenever he wielded the blade.

For now, it was enough to help him fell two more trolls as the last floundered about, trying to figure out what was happening.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1422/1530 | EN:81/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76 | VENGEFUL

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +6 for hits): 18 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn recovery) = 14 EN

ID #176353 | BD: 8+4=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*31=372) damage to Troll #1
ID #176358 | BD: 6+4=10 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*31=372) damage to Troll #3
ID #176359 | BD: 4+4=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (12*25=300) damage to Troll #4

ID #176359 | MD: 3-2=1 (miss).  Troll #4 misses Freyd.

Troll #1: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (18-372)
Troll #3: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (318-372)
Troll #4: HP 78/750 | DMG 225 (378-300)

Loot rolls

Troll #1: ID #177154 | LD 20+8=28 | CD 4

7875*Col
T3 Perfect Consumable #177154a
T3 Perfect Consumable #177154b
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177154c
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177154d

Troll #3: ID #177155 | LD 4+8=12 | CD 2

7875*Col
T3 Rare Trinket #177155a
 

 

[Freyd 0]

"STOP DA POKING!!!"  roared the last of the trolls, its flesh covered in vicious cuts and scars.  It swatted helplessly at the cloud of dust around it, sprinkled with motes from the shattered bodies of its companion.  Freyd watched it from a nearby rise.  The creature hadn't even realized that he had walked away from their battle to spend a minute studying its lumbering brutality.  

The trolls' greatest advantage was their strength, but they seemed genuinely unencumbered by the darkness and their tough skins and great size also enabled them to ignore the rigors of the terrain.  The thickness of their necks also carried one unexpected vulnerability: they couldn't actually look up very well.  That was all he needed.  Racing from his vantage into a full jump and lunge, he drove his blade into the last creature's back, watching it disintegrate before him.   

Already, he could hear more of the lumbering brutes on their way.  It seemed that leaving Ugzeke's cavern would be far more difficult than reaching it in the first place.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1498/1530 | EN:78/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76 | VENGEFUL

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Astral Hell (x7): 7 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn recovery) = 3 EN

ID #176361 | BD: 2+4=6 (hit).  Freyd deals (12*25=300) damage to Troll #4

Troll #4: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (78-300)

Loot rolls

Troll #4: ID #177156 | LD 9+8=17 | CD 3

4725*Col
4*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Consumable #177156a
T3 Rare Weapon #177156b
 

 

[Freyd 0]

Sure enough, another troupe of trolls wandered into the cavern, this time as a group.  Their dull black eyes seemed to be searching for a source to the racket that must surely have reached half the halls in the depths by now.  Freyd would be lucky if half of Ugzeke's extended family didn't come wandering in, driven by curiosity.  That would be his luck at work, and so he fully expected the possibility.  

Racing in hard from the side, he hit the group like a razor-sharp bowling ball, scattering the group and causing significant injury as he went.  Samael's Pride flared repeatedly, but the visibility of its power was muted by the ambient darkness. It was a small but appreciable convenience which he gladly put to use.  The trolls called out to each other in alarm, in their own guttural way, and simple random flailing was enough for them to land a few blows.  He really should have come better prepared, and cursed himself for traveling light on this run. 

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1267/1530 | EN:62/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd recoverd 32 HP from BH

Freyd activates Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +8 for hits): 20 EN - (rested, Finesse 3) = 16 EN

ID #176362 | BD: 5+4-1=8 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (12*30=360) damage to Troll #5
ID #176363 | BD: 6+4-1=9 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*36=432) damage to Troll #6
ID #176364 | BD: 8+4-1=11 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*36=432) damage to Troll #7
ID #176365 | BD: 7+4-1=10 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*36=432) damage to Troll #8

ID #176362 | MD: 9 (Crit +1)Troll #5 deals (226-94=132) damage to Freyd.
ID #176363 | MD :5-2=3 (miss).  Troll #6 misses Freyd.
ID #176364 | MD: 1 (miss).  Troll #7 misses Freyd.
ID #176365 | MD: 8-2=6 (hit) Troll #8 deals (225-94=131) damage to Freyd.

Troll #5: HP 390/750 | DMG 225 (750-360)
Troll #6: HP 318/750 | DMG 225 (750-432)
Troll #7: HP 318/750 | DMG 225 (750-432)
Troll #8: HP 318/750 | DMG 225 (750-432)

 

[Freyd 0]

Those last two hits had done it.  His Pride demanded satisfaction.  Lancing into his enemies, Freyd felt the blade's thirst drink its fill from them as two of the lumbering hulks fell prey to its cacophonic mixture of holy light and obliviating darkness.  For his part, the Whisper reveled in the carnage, barely feeling the counterblow that one of the trolls managed to successfully connect.

"Come on," he called out,  "You can hit harder than that!"

Part of him wondered where this bloodlust was coming from.  Had he loosened control too much?  Had the darkness within gained some portion of autonomy?  Could it be the blade?  It felt unbalanced by comparison to its previous iteration, and so did he while wielding it. 

One of the giant creatures tried to stomp on him and lost its leg at the knee for its trouble.  All it achieved was to shower him in the shards of its own death throes.  Freyd simply carved onward, clearing himself a gradual path to the exit.  

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1363/1530 | EN:47/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +8 for hits): 20 EN - (rested, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 15 EN

ID #176367 | BD: 8+4=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*31=372) damage to Troll #5
ID #176368 | BD: 7+4=11 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*31=372) damage to Troll #6
ID #176369 | BD: 4+4=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (12*25=300) damage to Troll #7
ID #176370 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (12*32=384) damage to Troll #8

Vampiric (Off) heals Freyd for 153 HP

ID #176367 | MD: 6-2=4 (miss).  Troll #5 misses Freyd.
ID #176369 | MD: 10 (Crit +2) Troll #7 deals (227-94=133) damage to Freyd.

Troll #5: HP 18/750 | DMG 225 (390-372)
Troll #6: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (318-372)
Troll #7: HP 18/750 | DMG 225 (318-300)
Troll #8: HP08/750 | DMG 225 (318-384)

Loot rolls

Troll #6: ID #177157 | LD 5+8=13 | CD 3

4725*Col
4*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Trinket #177157a

Troll #8: ID #177158 | LD 15+8=23 | CD 7

4725*Col
4*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177158a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177158b
T3 Perfect Weapon #177158c
 

 

[Freyd 0]

The last two trolls rounded on him as he made his way clear.

"YOU SOOOO GONNA GET IT!"  one called out, it's beady black eyes full of fury.

"YEAH!!!.... GET WHAA?" called its partner.

Freyd just grinned in return, then charged.  They were expecting a repeat of his previous attack pattern - strange that they suddenly start anticipating so late in the fray - but it was not to be the case.  Why waste energy on two foes that could be felled by lesser arts?  A series of rapid jabs and strikes laid both remaining trolls low before either could react.  Freyd stood between them, savouring the shower of shards that fell about him as they fell.  Maybe... maybe he would stick around a short while longer and see what else could be gleaned from this expedition.  The majority of the troll reinforcements had come from the north.  He would venture there shortly, but a brief reprieve was needed first.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1439/1530 | EN:39/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Tempest (x8 AoE, +4 for hits): 12 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 8 EN

ID #176367 | BD: 4+4=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (8*25=200) damage to Troll #5
ID #176369 | BD: 5+4=9 (hit).  Freyd deals (8*25=200) damage to Troll #7

Troll #5: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (18-200)
Troll #7: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (18-200)

Loot rolls

Troll #5: ID #177159 | LD 15+8=3 | CD 6

6300*Col
2*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177159a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177159b
T3 Perfect Weapon #177159c

Troll #7: ID #177160 | LD 3+8=11 | CD 2

6300*Col
2*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Trinket #177160a
 

 

[Freyd 0]

Finding a suitable nook and blind away from wandering and prying eyes, Freyd closed his eyes for a moment and let the boiling appetite inside lose steam.  He felt the pull of the sword in his hand, as if calling for him to seek out more foes to quench its infinite thirst.

"So, you're going to be like that, are you?"  He spoke to the sword as if it could somehow respond.  "If that's how it is now, then I'll simply have to compensate on my end.  We're not going into battle unbalanced.  Not again."  The thrumming pulse in his arm seemed to ebb at the statement.  The sword would know its master's will and bend to it.  There was no other option.  He would sooner cast it aside then let its hunger drive him.  

Resting his head back against the cave wall, he mulled over the coming battles, especially the coming conflict with the Shadow, or whatever else might be waiting for them in the floor boss challenge.  It was unfamiliar territory, and information was sparse.

rest 1/2 +45 HP

[Freyd 0]

He knew very little about what had actually occurred between the group that had faced the labyrinth guardian and its aftermath, save that it had been a stunningly close call.  That rumour alone was enough to put the entire front line on edge about the floor boss.  He and Raidou were expecting to join them, and possibly Kiluia and Haine as well.

Any opportunities to try and grind out a few more levels were probably already moot.  He'd managed to prepare better than he had actually hoped.  It would have to suffice.  Freyd's thoughts kept drifting to his discussions with his friend and guild leader.  Raidou's fatalism was infectious, it seemed.  Could it actually be possible that the red wanderer might fall?

"Anything is possible," he admitted to himself, aloud.  This included the possibility that he might have to assume a mantle he felt wholly unprepared to manage.  Raidou had turned to him because he felt he had the necessary will.  That was probably true, and it might get them through the immediate crisis, but Freyd was a strategist and tactician, not a diplomat. 

"But then, neither is Raidou..."  The realization dawned like an epiphany.  He didn't really need to lead - not in the authoritative sense.  Raidou never had, and Firm Anima still followed.  That was what the enigmatic man had meant about being an ideal. 

"Clever bastard."

That, he could do.

Vanity Tag: @Raidou 

rest 2/2 +45 HP

[Freyd 0]

Delving deeper into the troll caverns probably wasn't the smartest possible move, but the potential rewards were also tantalizing.  Freyd hadn't run a good grind in awhile and the coffers at Freyd Edges could stand for a refill.  Who knew how many more chances he might get before time ran out?  

Sneaking into a side tunnel, he found another group of the creatures sitting around a sizable fire, apparently roasting some large arachnid.  It was likely some kind of cave spider.  These tunnels were swarming with the things. Taking advantage of their distracted state and the fact that the fire would likely conceal his retreat into the darkness, Freyd charged through the troll's camp.  Cries of alarm sounded all around him as the slashed viciously at everything he could reach as he passed.  The trolls were quickly on their feet, but could find no evidence of him in the darkness and soon fell to bickering over who had seen what.  Within a minute, the brutes were arguing over who had stepped on whose toes, and had completely forgotten that he was even there.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1433/1530 | EN:149/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Freyd activates Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +8 for hits): 20 EN - (rested, Finesse 3) = 16 EN

ID #176473 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Holy +6, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (12*37=444) damage to Troll #9
ID #176474 | BD: 7+4-1=10 (hit, Fallen +6, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (12*36=432) damage to Troll #10
ID #176475 | BD: 3+4-1=6 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (12*30=360) damage to Troll #11
ID #176476 | BD: 8+4-1=11 (hit, Fallen +6, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (12*36=432) damage to Troll #12

ID #176473 | MD: 7-2=5 (miss).  Troll #9 misses Freyd.
ID #176474 | MD: 2-2=0 (miss).  Troll #10 misses Freyd.
ID #176475 | MD: 2-2=0 (miss).  Troll #11 misses Freyd.
ID #176476 | MD: 1 (miss).  Troll #12 misses Freyd.

Troll #9: HP 306/750 | DMG 225 (750-444)
Troll #10: HP 318/750 | DMG 225 (750-432)
Troll #11: HP 390/750 | DMG 225 (750-360)
Troll #12: HP 318/750 | DMG 225 (750-432)

 

[Freyd 0]

Amused by their infighting, Freyd made another dash through their camp, this time aiming to dislodge the skewer they were using to rotisserie their spider.  He succeeded, but also drew the trolls' ire and attention at the same time.

"'EY YOU!  WHATCHA THINKUN YA DOING DER?"  A giant club that looked like the entire stalk of one of the overgrown mushrooms that grew in the area suddenly slammed itself against Freyd's frame, sending him skidding sideways.  He was left exposed, but the entire batch of trolls was rather heavily wounded, save the one that had managed to him him.

"MORE MEAT FER SUPPA, THEN, EH?"  They licked their massive chops, seemingly oblivious to their own condition.  All the better for him.  

"Haven't you ever wondered what troll tastes like?" He asked them, garnering a bit of a confused pause.  "They say it's tough and chewy, but goes well with dunderheads."  He smiled beneath his cowl, knowing what was coming next.

"WASSA DUNDAHEAD?"

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1376/1530 | EN:134/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +8 for hits): 20 EN - (rested, Finesse 3, turn recovery) = 15 EN

ID #176477 | BD: 4+4=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (12*25=300) damage to Troll #9
ID #176478 | BD: 2+4=6 (hit).  Freyd deals (12*25=300) damage to Troll #10
ID #176479 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Troll #11
ID #176480 | BD: 3+4=7 (hit).  Freyd deals (12*25=300) damage to Troll #12

ID #176477 | MD: 5-2=3 (miss).  Troll #9 misses Freyd.
ID #176478 | MD: 2-2=0 (miss).  Troll #10 misses Freyd.
ID #176479 | MD: 6-2=4 (miss).  Troll #11 misses Freyd.
ID #176480 | MD: 10 (Crit +2).  Troll #11 deals (227-94=133) damage to Freyd.

Troll #9: HP 6/750 | DMG 225 (306-300)
Troll #10: HP 18/750 | DMG 225 (318-300)
Troll #11: HP 390/750 | DMG 225 
Troll #12: HP 18/750 | DMG 225 (318-300)

 

[Freyd 0]

"YOU ARE, YE STU... AHH GET'IT OFF!!!"  Dashing up the troll's leg, Freyd severed its head from its body and proceeded to leap from troll to troll unleashing death in a manner that would have made the vorpal bunny proud.  At least, that was the case until the last one whomped him in the gut with its mushroom club and flattened him against the far side of the cave wall.  

It might have mattered more if the Whisper's injuries weren't healing almost as quickly as they were received.  His sword had bitten deep into his enemies and sapped their strength to add back to his own.  Peeling himself off the wall, Freyd dusted his shoulders of debris and advanced on the sole remaining troll.

"Looks like you're the only dunderhead left," he said, taunting the creature.

It's eyes bulged out of its head, finally having processed the insult, albeit probably too late.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1398/1530 | EN:118/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +8 for hits): 20 EN - (Finesse 3, turn recovery) = 16 EN

ID #176481 | BD: 8+4=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (12*31=372) damage to Troll #9
ID #176482 | BD: 4+4=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (12*25=300) damage to Troll #10
ID #176483 | BD: 2+4=6 (hit).  Freyd deals (12*25=300) damage to Troll #11
ID #176484 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (12*32=384) damage to Troll #12

Vamp (off) restores 78 HP to Freyd.

ID #176483 | MD: 9 (Crit +1).  Troll #11 deals (226-94=132) damage to Freyd.

Troll #9: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (6-372)
Troll #10: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (18-300)
Troll #11: HP 90/750 | DMG 225 (390-300
Troll #12: HP 0/750 | DMG 225 (18-384)

Loot Rolls:

Troll #9 ID #177161 | LD 18+8=26 | CD 6

13387*Col
T3 Perfect Weapon #177161a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177161b
T3 Perfect Weapon #177161c

Troll #10 ID #177162 | LD 3+8=11 | CD 11

6300*Col
4*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Armor/Shield #177162a

Troll #11 ID #177163 | LD 16+8=24 | CD 4

7875*Col
T3 Perfect Trinket #177163a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177163b
 

 

[Freyd 0]

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!  MEANIE!!!"  The troll swung its club wide, catching the spit and firepit with its swipe.  Unintentional as it may have been, it proved to be an effective tactic.  Ash and roasted spider bits sprayed through the air showering Freyd and forcing him to abort his attack.  The troll leapt over its ruined cooking site and promptly slammed him right back into the same wall from which he had just extricated himself.

"OOF."  Even the pain suppression couldn't quite offset that particular hit, and he was left gasping for a moment before he could fold himself back out and regain his footing  The last troll stood silhouetted against the last embers left from its firepit as it closed the distance between them.  Both rivals glared at each other in the darkness, waiting for the other to make the first move, or more accurately: the first mistake.  It was soon proven to be the troll's turn.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1342/1530 | EN:117/165 | DMG:25 | MIT:94 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:153 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:9 | Prosp 3 | BH:76

Freyd recoverd 76 HP from BH

Astral Hell (x7): Miss (-2+1) = -1 EN

ID #176485 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Troll #11

ID #176485 | MD: 9 (Crit +1).  Troll #11 deals (226-94=132) damage to Freyd.

Troll #11: HP 90/750 | DMG 225