[PP-F1] <<The First Few Lessons are Free>> The Knight & The Herbalist

[Calcifer 0]

“How difficult can it be to gather a few herbs?" Calcifer placed her hands on her hips, speaking confidently to herself while gazing out over the vast fields of the first floor. Swinging her arms and taking wide strides forward, she set out from the Town of Beginnings to complete her first quest for Zachariah. It was supposed to teach her the importance of gathering materials out in the wild and crafting them into useful items like potions. Really, she wasn't too keen on the whole subject, but the quests she had been able to find that revolved around combat seemed... Well, she wouldn't say they were too challenging or intimidating for her. She just needed more training first, that was all! She couldn't possibly go out on a quest to slay some monsters without training and warming up first!

And what better way to start training than to get a lay of the land. Calcifer spent a good chunk of time trudging through the fields, past the forest, and eventually to the mountainous regions to the far north of the first floor. She ended up scanning the area around some steep hills, but wasn't seeing anything out of place. “Hmmm..." She mused to herself. “Is there really supposed to be a bunch of different herbs out here? I don't see anything..."

ID: 177354 | LD: 3 - Fail  [0/5 materials]

@Aquan

Edited November 13, 2020 by Calcifer

[Aquan 0]

"Well here I go.. Again." Aquarian muttered to himself and walked out into the woods. He had seen a lot of this floor so far. He had worked on a couple of quests, and even met some strangers while getting chased by the wild boar. All in all, he liked this floor because it was safe and it seemed easy for him to find materials. Thus, when he received the quest from Zachariah to find 5 materials and bring them back to craft, he felt like he had already done that.. because he had. "This quest seems very similar to the earning a living quest I worked on with Valentine a little while ago. That's strange, huh. I wonder why the game created two similar quests both to teach the players how to gather and craft. It would make sense if the tutorial just had you gathering materials instead of also crafting with them. Maybe this will be a bit different? I'm not positive as to how it could be, but there is a big chance that it is. Maybe we are suppose..." And he was lost in his own little world again, not really paying attention to much other than his thoughts.

After a moment he spotted a young girl, recognizing her as one of the people who were running from the boar. He walked over to her and offered a small wave. "Hello, not sure if you remember me. I saw you running from the small boar in the woods near here a bit ago? I'm Aquarian. Are you looking for materials too?" He cocked his head when he asked the question, idly reaching down and picking a material off of the ground and putting it into his inventory.

ID: 177355 LD: 13 + 1 = 14 [1 Material]

Mats: 1/5

Spoiler

Aquarian: 20 HP | 2 EN | 1 DMG |

Equipment:
Rare Tier 1 1HSS: Bleed, Paralyze

Skills:

Searching: Rank 1

@Calcifer

Edited November 9, 2020 by Aquan

[Calcifer 0]

“Hm? Oh!" Calcifer perked up when Aquan approached from the side. “Of course I remember you, Aquarian!" She beamed with a wide smile. She brought her heels together, lifted her right forearm in front of her stomach, and bent her torso forward into a bow. “Calcifer the Knight, at your service!"

Her smile dropped, turning into a dumbfounded expression when she watched Aquan reach down and pluck something up off the ground. “Wait--did you find something?" She frowned for just a moment, suppressing a pout, and then nodded. “Oh, but yes, I'm looking for materials! Herbs, specifically. I'm on a training quest in order to hone my skills in the wilderness." She explained with a newfound confidence. Or, perhaps it was the same confidence she always seemed to pull through to the surface every so often.

Calcifer turned her gaze back to the front of her, where she raised an arm to point out something a short distance ahead. “I had actually spotted that cave over there and was on my way to investigate it. If there's somewhere you're trying to get to, though, I'd also be more than happy to offer my services to escort you." She smiled.

ID: 177357 | LD: 8 - Fail  [0/5 materials]

Edited November 13, 2020 by Calcifer

[Aquan 0]

"Nice to meet you again, Calcifer the Knight." He nods and replicates the bow, but very awkwardly. He cocked his head in confusion at her surprise when he found a material component. "Yes I found something, this area is littered with items." He pauses to listen to what she is saying. "Skills in the wilderness? I did not know those existed. Do you just mean you're getting better at material gathering? Because I can understand that. So far I've had good luck with it, but no promises for how it will turn out in the future. Now I wonder if there could be a wilderness skill? I wonder what you could do it with, maybe track elusive monsters? Trap and hide better in the wilderness? Oh maybe.." His rambling slowly gets quiet as his words go mostly inwards as his thoughts.

When the mention of help and services, Aquarian snapped out of it. "Actually I'm doing something similar to what you're doing. I was given a quest to go hunting for materials to give it back to someone. Strangely it is the same as the Earning a Living quest, just with a different guy. Have you taken that quest?"

ID: 177392 LD: 5 + 1 = 6 [No Material]

Mats: 1/5

Edited November 10, 2020 by Aquan

[Calcifer 0]

“Yes, exactly!" Calcifer exclaimed with a grin, though she had to continue speaking to explain which part of Aquan's interpretation matched up to her thoughts. “You see, survival is key in this world. Despite the fact that a lot of territory has been uncovered, most of the land in any given area seems to be completely untamed." She nodded along with herself. “It's very important to learn how to survive in the wilderness. Harvesting natural resources, and defending yourself against aggressive creatures, for instance." Calcifer had crossed her arms over her chest part-way through her ramblings, and now nodded again to affirm herself.

Bringing a hand up to tap her forefinger thoughtfully against her chin, Calcifer mulled over his question. “Earning a Living...?" She echoed, and then shook her head. “Can't say that I have." She smiled widely when Aquan seemed to say that their intentions aligned, more or less. “Well then, I'd be happy to accompany you, sir Aquarian!" In a stroke of luck, something then caught her eye. Calcifer perked up and took a few steps aside to bend down and reach for a very average herb sticking out from the ground. She smirked proudly as she plucked it.

ID: 177734 | LD: 12 - Success  [1/5 materials]

Edited November 13, 2020 by Calcifer

[Aquan 0]

Aquarian was taken a back a little bit when Calcifer referred to him as "Sir Aquarian". He blinked and stood there for a moment, not positive how to respond. "I.. I'd be happy to have you with me, Madame Calcifer." He hoped his old-timey talk was good enough to pass for whatever this lady was going for.

The two of them began to search the woods for materials. He still felt himself getting pulled away from her every few moments to look at the flora and fauna around them. He began to make mental notes on the different varieties of leaves and trees that were apart of the forests. "I wonder if they have a deciduous or coniferous trees... The trees may not loose their leaves though, it would probably be taxing on the program to render all of those leaves. But if they did I wonder what color they would be... I ant to say red because of the shade of green, but I can't be too sure without seeing it in action... I wonder-" His words cut off as he turned to Calcifer. "Sorry, I tend to ramble." He shrugged, not really phased by it. The apology did not seem like he felt bad, but it was more of a reflexive apology. "Are you apart of any guilds yet Mrs. Knight?"

ID: 177737 LD: 6 + 1 = 7 [No Materials]

Mats: 1/5

Edited November 13, 2020 by Aquan

[Calcifer 0]

Calcifer's eyes hung on the cave mouth in the distance, nestled up against the steep hills to her right, but she tore herself away to follow after Aquan and venture back into the woods. He somehow seemed just a little more comfortable once they were under the shaded canopy of the tall trees. She looked around in semi-patient silence while Aquan went on about the plant-life around them in a quiet tone, and it seemed that both of them had hit a small lull in their gathering ability.

“You know a lot about plants, huh?" She didn't respond to the insincere apology, but instead followed up with a question. “Oh," She was presented with one herself, and Calcifer shook her head. “Nope, can't say that I am." She denied. “A guild..." She echoed, in a quieter tone to herself. She seemed to be giving the topic quite a bit of thought, but ended up frowning and pointing her eyes back to the ground to continue looking for any more materials that might be hiding ahead of their feet.

ID: 177739 | LD: 7 - Fail  [1/5 materials]

Edited November 13, 2020 by Calcifer

[Aquan 0]

"I know a lot about plants because that's what I've done my entire life. I was a nature researcher along with my parents before I entered the game. I was in the process of going to school for Botany before all of this," he gestured to the world, "What were you doing? I'm not sure how old you are or what you have done before this game. But as a knight I assume you are in your 20's with some combat training? Pretty lucky that you got put into a game where you can choose weapons like swords and also armor." He smiled and nodded, looking up into a cherry tree.

Aquan grabbed a low hanging branch and began climbing for a short while before plucking a cherry from the tree, it registering as a material in his inventory. He quickly hopped down and sighed, looking at the 2/5 marker on his quest line. "I am 40% of the way through my material gathering. How is yours going? I can try to give pointers but I do not believe I can give much in the terms of health. It says you have to find them yourself on the quest. I can't give nay to you unfortunately. Also, I'm in a guild if you want any information."

ID: 177741 LD: 16 + 1 = 17 [1 Material Gathered]

Mats: 2/5

Edited November 13, 2020 by Aquan

[Calcifer 0]

Calcifer listened to him earnestly, and she couldn't help the corners of her mouth from pulling up into a poorly-suppressed smile. Still, she kept her face hidden by looking away from the man while he reached for the fruit hanging from tree branches and knelt down beside the roots of another plant, being so lucky as to actually find a component that could be plucked away to her inventory. Calcifer's chest swelled with pride at his assumptions about her, and she wasn't about to correct him.

Only partially on purpose, she skipped over addressing any of his questions about her personal life and past. Instead, the latest thing he mentioned caught her interest and she echoed, “A guild?" She straightened up and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hmm... What is the purpose of a guild, exactly? I believe I have some experience with such things, but I can't say I know how they typically function here."

ID: 177743 | LD: 17 - Success  [2/5 materials]

Edited November 19, 2020 by Calcifer

[Aquan 0]

"Yes a guild. It is called Firm Anima. It is based primarily around benefits for those who are crafting. I'm going to set up a shop somewhere on the floors for the cooking profession so being able to have that connection is really beneficial towards me. However they don't do just crafting things. Valentine, someone I've started questing with, talks about how the high members in the guild assist and run quests and training with lower players in order to increase their level, and the guild's level. I plan on questing soon after I'm done with these quests and continuing them until I get to a point where I feel like I could do things on my own. That will definitely take a while, considering I am level one, but I can get there with just some more work. As a knight, I believe you would work well with a guild. While your level is not ideal for a knight, your prowess and ability show great potential." He takes a breath, realizing he just talked her ear off. "But. Don't take my word for it, I've been in the build for less than 2 weeks."

ID: 178225 LD: 4 + 1 = 5 [No Material]

Mats: 2/5

Edited November 20, 2020 by Aquan

[Calcifer 0]

Calcifer smiled when Aquan started speaking, ready to ask for confirmation of the fact that he was working to become a Cook. She waited, bent down to retrieve another herb from the forest floor, and waited a bit more. Soon, that window of conversational opportunity had come and gone. In fact, by the time Aquan had paused long enough to allow her a word in edgewise, Calcifer had lost track of any sort of contribution she might have provided to the many topics that he had covered already.

“Oh, right, well yes," Calcifer realized the forced silence that had fallen over them and mentally backtracked to the last thing she recalled. “Guilds can be an incredible boon, but..." She stopped to think for a moment, searching her words out, “it's not always easy to find those that share in your ideals, I suppose." She took advantage of the chance she'd been given to respond and continued with a frown, “I have no interest in dealing with the people who seek only profit, for example. If a guild wishes to challenge the Lich King Ner'Thuul himself, it should be to finally put an end to his rule of tyranny! To free the undead thralls that comprise his army! To protect the innocent people whose cities were next to be seized, not to line their pockets and pine for whatever treasures he has stashed away on his belt!" Calcifer had puffed out her chest, and when her emblazoned speech came to an end her shoulders drooped and she looked back to the grassy roots beside her feet. “I've dealt with too many people like that already." She tacked on dejectedly.

ID: 178231 | LD: 11 - Success  [3/5 materials]

Edited November 24, 2020 by Calcifer

[Aquan 0]

Aquan began listening to what Calcifer was saying about guilds and wanting to help people. He smiled a little bit during her conversation. She seemed to be fully committed to this life of servitude to her fellow man. "You do sound like a knight. I know there are guilds that focus on leveling other players, or clearing the floors. I know the floor boss battle is happening soon. I could see you on the front lines there eventually. The frontliners are primarily focused on saving us and getting us out of this game. While it is not fighting major quest lines and fending off liches, it is the main savior roll a person can choose in this game." He smiled and nodded, continuing to look around the area.

"What would you say your fighting style is? I'm not very accustom to fighting so it is strike, run away, repeat for me."

ID: 178650 LD: 6 + 1 = 7 [No Material]

2/5 Mats

Edited December 1, 2020 by Aquan

[Calcifer 0]

“You think so?" Calcifer wore a smile that quickly grew more confident the longer she reflected on his positive affirmations. She certainly didn't expect an answer to that question, but shifted her attention to his following topic about what it is the people calling themselves frontliners actually do. She didn't look at Aquan, instead focusing her sights on the area around them as they continued their leisurely pace.

Calcifer eventually frowned while she mulled over his words. 'Saving us' and 'getting us out', she wanted to roll her eyes and scoff at him. She nearly bit her tongue and chose to stay quiet on that specific subject. Aquarian was nice, and she didn't want to stomp all over his friendly intentions.

She welcomed another change of topic, and let out a thoughtful hum. “Well, I used to wield fire magic along with a sword style kind of like this one," She patted the basic straight sword that was sheathed at her hip. “but since I can't use magic anymore, I suppose I'll just be a regular knight! Heh," She chuckled and thought again. “I normally try to stand my ground. I'm not the best at being evasive, and I haven't decided if I want to try using a shield yet, so I suppose I have something like a dueling fighting style?" An upward inflection made it clear she was still getting used to combat in Aincrad.

ID: 179498 | LD: 13 - Success  [4/5 materials]

Edited December 4, 2020 by Calcifer

[Aquan 0]

Aquan's eyes wandered over the horizon as the pair walked along in the forest and searched for materials. He was thinking about his place in the fight to get out of the game. He knew he had a long way to go before he could help in any way to get all of them out of the game, but he did not know if he would even get there by the time they hit floor 100.

He watched as Calcifer got closer and closer to getting the materials that she needed, but Aquan was still stuck at 2 materials. "Could we possibly look in a different area? I am not finding much of anything over here." He began moving away from the general area that the two of them were looking in. "Do you think you will be able to duel much in this game? I know player vs. player duels exist, but I have not heard much about anyone doing those. Maybe you'll face some knights or other sword wielding creatures in the future? I believe there is a quest to face bandits, can't remember the name of it though."

ID: 179508 LD: 5 + 1 = 6 [ No Material ]

2/5 Mats

Edited December 4, 2020 by Aquan

[Calcifer 0]

“Oh, sure!" Calcifer straightened up again after kneeling to pick another herb that was hidden in the base of some shrubbery. That was the last one she needed, but true to her word, she was content with assisting Aquarian with the remainder of his task.

They veered their course and made their way past the edge of the forest. Mountain ranges stood tall in the distance, but there was a much greater distance between them than when they started their trek together. They came up to a clearing that was littered with wildflowers. Small fauna like rabbits and birds could be seen nearby, going about their business.

“Do you want to practice with me?" Calcifer asked. “I mean, we can try dueling and work on our combat ability." She explained with a smile. She reached across to her left hip and drew her sword from its sheath. She was facing forward into the clearing, and held it steady in front of her before slashing down and then pulling back to swing the blade across. Regardless of Aquan's answer, she seemed content to work on her form while he continued looking for materials.

ID: 179561 | LD: 18 - Success  [5/5 materials]

Edited December 4, 2020 by Calcifer

[Aquan 0]

The two began walking to a new area, and he started to feel a bit bad about wasting her time. He was not having the best luck with finding materials. If his count was correct, she was all set to go back to the quest giver and move on to whatever she needs to do, and unfortunately he was not. "Hey. S- Oh look a material." After they went to a new area, he immediately found a material and his worry about wasting her time vanished.

His worry returned in a new way when Calcifer mentioned that they could practice dueling out here. "D-Dueling? You want to spar? Now I don't have a lot of experience, or any, with fighting so I'm not sure how much of an opponent I would be. Maybe our fighting styles are too different to work for us dueling? Maybe we could find you a different partner that would work a bit better than I would. I'm sure someone would..." His external monologue went internal for a moment as his eyes looked around, hoping for another player. Calm down. His thoughts finally ended as he took a breath and looked at Calcifer. "Well... I guess we could. It would be good practice." He mumbled and pulled out his starting 1 Handed Straight Sword.