[SP-21] Oh, THOSE spiders... <<Nature's Treasure>>

[Freyd 0]

Having made his preparations, including a quick bit of last minute shopping, Freyd felt comfortable that his stock of supplies was back to where it should be.  Packing what he needed, the Whisper set off towards the central portal plaza in Angel's Point with a simple goal in mind: to find out why Oscar and Raidou were always going on about cave spiders on floor 21.  For the number of forays Freyd had made across that floor, he'd never encountered a single one, and was determine to find out whether his companions were simply messing with him.  If there was truth to it, it might be a profitable outing to restock the shelves of his own Edges and pad his bankroll for future purchases.

"Tomoika,"  he said softly, placing his hand upon the portal, and was instantly transported to the strange little mining town in the middle of this vast underground realm.  The intel he needed had already been gathered.  Taking in what he needed before leaving the comforts of the safe zone, he was soon on his way.

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:167/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Consumables:

Spoiler

Artisan Carrot Cake: Accuracy +2: 164276-1
Smores: Evasion 2: 171532
Fiery Dragon Roll: Mitigation +3 (T3): 160134,
Well-Done Steak: Protein +2: 174818-1
Liquor of Light: DMG 3: 168169-2
Jackpot Pretzel: LD 3: 170306
Max Level Courage: T3 OH 3: 170008
Warbucks Wedges: Prosperity 3: 170303
 

Stats:

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows
Level: 76
HP: 1550/1550 (+135)
EN: 167/167

Stats:
Damage: 20 (+3+3)
Mitigation: 79 (+45-45)
Evasion: 2 (+2)
Accuracy: 4 (+2)
BH:77 (+7)
VAMP OFF:155 (+13)
HLY:6
FLN:6
LD:5 (+3)
Prosperity: 0 (+3)

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
Quick Change

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: n/a

 

[Freyd 0]

It had taken far less effort than he'd expected to find the infested caverns, and thoroughly infested they were.  A plethora of cobwebs had been a pretty good hint that he was entering the right area, but he was wholly unprepared for the sheer number of the critters that existed in these darkened corners.  The tiniest of vibrations on the white, razor-like webbing had been enough to warn their sentries and set the first wave of giant, crawling arachnids upon him.

"So much for easing into it," he said to himself as the four furry spiders that had descended from the ceiling moved to encircle him with their massive, bloated bodies.  The sheer number of legs and limbs involved in this fight was going to be a problem.  Preferring to take the initiative, Freyd leapt high and cut the tethers they were using, sending them crashing awkwardly into the cavern floor.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:151/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd activated Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +8 for hits): 20 EN - (Rested 1/2, Finesse 3) = 16 EN

ID #177517 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Charge +5, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (39*12=468) damage to Cave Spider #1.
ID #177518 | BD: 4+6-1=9 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) damage to Cave Spider #2.
ID #177519 | BD: 2+6-1=7 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) damage to Cave Spider #3. 
ID #177520 | BD: 6+6-1=11 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (37*12=444) damage to Cave Spider #4.

ID #177517 | MD: 8-4=4 (miss).  Cave Spider #1 misses Freyd.
ID #177518 | MD: 7-4=3 (miss).  Cave Spider #2 misses Freyd.
ID #177519 | MD: 5-4=1 (miss).  Cave Spider #3 misses Freyd.
ID #177520 | MD: 3-4=-1 (miss).  Cave Spider #4 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #1: HP 292/760 | DMG 228 (760-468)
Cave Spider #2: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 (760-372)
Cave Spider #3: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 (760-372)
Cave Spider #4: HP 316/760 | DMG 228 (760-444)
 

 

[Freyd 0]

Wheeling himself back around using one of the cut strands, Freyd plunged down from above and used their own tactics against them.  The first spider was already speared and flattened before it could glean what was happening, two of the others were surprisingly quick and scattered in opposite directions.  He had no choice but to focus his effort on the only other one nearby, plunging his blade deep into its thorax.  The creature belched a sickly green ichor from its wounded chest as it tried to back away.  It was saved when one of its brethren re-engaged with the Whisper, piercing his side with a pair of wicked-looking pincers.

Freyd grimaced as he took note of the hit, but had been expecting to take hits and was simply thankful that there didn't appear to be any poison included in the effects.  A wild counterattack forced the offending spider to withdraw enough for him to reset his stance and make sound his footing.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1534/1685 | EN:140/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +4 for hits): 16 EN - (Rested 2/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 11 EN

ID #177521 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*12=408) damage to Cave Spider #1.
ID #177522 | BD: 1 (miss)..  Freyd misses Cave Spider #2.
ID #177523 | BD: 1 (miss)..  Freyd misses Cave Spider #3.
ID #177524 | BD: 2+6=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Cave Spider #4.

ID #177522 | MD: 10 (crit +2).  Cave Spider #2 deals (230-79=151) damage to Freyd.
ID #177523 | MD: 4-4=0 (miss).  Cave Spider #3 misses Freyd.
ID #177524 | MD: 7-4=3 (miss).  Cave Spider #4 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #1: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (292-408)
Cave Spider #2: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 
Cave Spider #3: HP 388/760 | DMG 228
Cave Spider #4: HP 4/760 | DMG 228 (316-312)
 

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #1 | ID #177792 | LD 19+8=27 | CD 12

7182*Col
3*T3 Materials
(21) Intermediate Dungeon Map #177792

[Freyd 0]

A quick pommel strike to the one that was already grievously wounded finished it off, leaving two more trying to fend him off.  Grabbing his blade at the mid-point, he charged one before the other could react, and speared it through up to the parry barbs.  There was a moment of concern as he heard the last spider skittering in his direction, his blade remaining firmly stuck in the fallen spider he had just impaled.  Fortunately, its corpse started disintegrated almost instantaneously and he was able to heave his blade free just in time to cleave through the four central eyes of the last remaining hostile.  It squealed and hissed, half-trying to cover the wound with its many legs while the balance scrambled to withdraw.  Freyd rushed forward, slashing off the claws from three of its legs to prevent its escape to the relative safety of the ceiling.  Now it was trapped with him.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:126/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd regains 84 HP from BH

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

ID #177525 | BD: 9 (crit +1, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (33*12=396) damage to Cave Spider #2.
ID #177526 | BD: 8 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=384) damage to Cave Spider #3.
ID #177527 | BD: 10 (crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*12=408) damage to Cave Spider #4.

Vampiric (Off) restores 168 HP to Freyd.

ID #177526 | MD: 1 (miss).  Cave Spider #3 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #2: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (388-396)
Cave Spider #3: HP 4/760 | DMG 228 (388-384)
Cave Spider #4: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (4-408)

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #2 | ID #177793 | LD 15+8=23 | CD 6

7182*Col
3*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177793a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177793b
T3 Perfect Weapon #177793c

Loot Cave Spider #4 | ID #177794 | LD 7+8=15 | CD 1

5586*Col
5*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Trinket #177794a

[Freyd 0]

A quick overhead slash split the thing asunder, splaying its legs out like it had just been flattened by a giant hammer.  It wheezed slightly and then burst into a cloud of brown motes as its health bar fell to nothing. 

"Good, one group down.  I wonder where the rest of them are at?  There are supposed to be a nearly infinite number of these creepy-crawlies down here."  Sparing a few moments to pull stray strands of webbing from his clothing, Freyd found the stuff impossible to deal with.  it clung to everything and threw off the tension and balance of any fabric to which it was adhered.  That was when he noticed the larger masses of webbing hanging all about the cavern: cocoons.  Additional skittering could be heard swarming through the tunnels now.

"Oh yeah," he grumbled, as he too felt the vibrations through the strands.  "I'd say this is the right place."

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:126/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Basic attack: -1 EN +1 EN Turn recovery

ID #177526 | BD: 8 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (26+6=32) damage to Cave Spider #3.

Cave Spider #3: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (4-32)
 

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #3 | ID #177795 | LD 6+8=14 | CD 4

8778*Col
1*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Trinket #177795a

[Freyd 0]

Another wave of spiders crested over the rise following instinct combined with the telltale shivers of their webs telling them that some other unfortunate soul had wandered into their territory.  They were about to pierce the last layer of strands that helped keep the kill chambers isolated from each other when something dark and fast came crashing through from the opposite direction.  Thinking themselves the hunters in this game, it came as an unexpected move to have prey so bold as to attack them first.

The gambit worked, and Freyd decimated the surprised spiders as he streaked suddenly from the darkness, slashing and cleaving away at the forest of fuzzy limbs before him, having to parry and dodge the retributive pincers that came at him in exchange.  Two of the beasts were bowled over and flattened against nearby rock faces, while a third collided with the last as it was launched by the force of Freyd's blows.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:110/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd activated Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +8 for hits): 20 EN - (Rested 1/2, Finesse 3) = 16 EN

ID #177530 | BD: 2+6-1=7 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) damage to Cave Spider #5. 
ID #177531 | BD: 4+6-1=9 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) damage to Cave Spider #6. 
ID #177532 | BD: 7+6-1=12 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (37*12=444) damage to Cave Spider #7. 
ID #177533 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Charge +5, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (38*12=456) damage to Cave Spider #8.

ID #177530 | MD: 6-4=2 (miss).  Cave Spider #5 misses Freyd.
ID #177531 | MD: 8-4=4 (miss).  Cave Spider #6 misses Freyd.
ID #177532 | MD: 3-4=-1 (miss).  Cave Spider #7 misses Freyd.
ID #177533 | MD: 7-4=3 (miss).  Cave Spider #8 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #5: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 (760-372)
Cave Spider #6: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 (760-372)
Cave Spider #7: HP 316/760 | DMG 228 (760-444)
Cave Spider #8: HP 304/760 | DMG 228 (760-456)

Note: Roll 177530 was intended for spider #5, but labeled #1 by mistake.  Roll was used above.
 

 

[Freyd 0]

Follow-through was the key.  He needed to maintain momentum lest they pin him down or trip him up with their plentiful webbing, which was already being sprayed about with wanton abandon.  

"Hey!  Quit it!" A quick slash sliced apart the strands in his path as he culled an arachnid on the left, then its pair on the right.  A third was left skittering about on crippled legs while the last fled to concealing shadows in the darkness.  Tracing the lines of glistening, translucent white cables, Freyd severed the nearest one, sending the receding spider crashing back down to the ground.  It wasn't as good as decapitation, but it kept the thing within reach and very much in the fight.    Its partner whimpered and stumbled, struggling to keep its digital mesh from falling apart as it fractured further with every movement.  Standing idle would be equally damning.  The thing knew its end was nigh.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:97/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +6 for hits): 18 EN - (Rested 2/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 13 EN

ID #177534 | BD: 8+6=14 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=388) damage to Cave Spider #5. 
ID #177535 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Cave Spider #6.
ID #177536 | BD: 5+6=11 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Cave Spider #7. 
ID #177537 | BD: 6+6=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=388) damage to Cave Spider #8. 

ID #177535 | MD: 1 (miss).  Cave Spider #6 misses Freyd.
ID #177536 | MD: 5-4=1 (miss).  Cave Spider #7 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #5: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (388-388)
Cave Spider #6: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 
Cave Spider #7: HP 4/760 | DMG 228 (316-312)
Cave Spider #8: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (304-388)

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #5 | ID #177796 | LD 13+8=21 | CD 9

9576*Col
5*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Trinket #177796a

Loot Cave Spider #8 | ID #177797 | LD 14+8=22 | CD 4

8778*Col
1*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177797a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177797b

[Freyd 0]

Little effort was required.  The whimpering spider was put out of its misery a moment later, then burst into the anticipated cloud of shards accompanied by a signal of reward.  Facing off against the final opponent in this wave, Freyd dodged left, changing the grip upon his blade as he did so and slicing upward to catch the remaining arachnid unexpectedly from below.  It wasn't a massive hit, but every strike wore it down and it was already looking rather haggard.    The beasts' riposte was quickly dodged, Freyd getting the hang of dancing on the layered webbing that clung to his boots and every stone surface in the surrounding caverns.  No wonder they laired here.  It was perfect for them.  Turning to pursue the relenting spider as it gave ground in hopes of escape, he harried it into a small nook from which the thing had no more hope.  Eight eyes reflected panicked despair as the Whisper closed in for the kill.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:85/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +4 for hits): 16 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 12 EN

ID #177539 | BD: 2+6=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Cave Spider #6. 
ID #177540 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*12=408) damage to Cave Spider #7.

ID #177539 | MD: 3-4=-1 (miss).  Cave Spider #6 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #6: HP 76/760 | DMG 228 (388-312)
Cave Spider #7: HP 4/760 | DMG 228 (4-408)

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #7 | ID #177798 | LD 6+8=14 | CD 6

8778*Col
1*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Weapon #177798a
T3 Uncommon Consumable #177798b

[Freyd 0]

Unwilling to waste his precious energy, Freyd laid the final spider low with a lesser sword art, collecting its blessings and adding them to a growing pile.  It would be useful later, he was certain.  More shadows moved farther down the web-filled cavern, suggesting that more unfriendlies were afoot - and of the sort with many feet.  Glancing about, Freyd quickly found a suitable spot to perch himself and wait for the next batch to rumble through so that he could ambush them.

There he waited, silent and still at the dark, suspecting that they would sense any vibration he might provide to lure them to him.  His plan was to do the opposite and turn their advantage against them.  Rock in hand, he waited, and would send it sailing to the far side of the tunnel as soon as necessary.  When they clustered about, thinking they had cornered their prey, he would pounce on them from behind.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:82/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

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

ID #177541 | BD: 4+6=10 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*7=182) damage to Cave Spider #6. 

Cave Spider #6: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (76-182)
 

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #6 | ID #177799 | LD 16+8=24 | CD 5

7182*Col
3*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177799a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177799b
T3 Perfect Weapon #177799c

[Freyd 0]

It worked perfectly.  

Another batch of spiders clamored into the section of the dark grey cavern he had claimed as his own and turned into an arachnid kill box.  Their fate was no different than the others, save perhaps a bit worse up front.  Racing into their midst from above, Freyd slammed into the middle two and clipped both of the ones on the outer edges with enough force to bowl them all over onto their backs.  Bleeding and battered, they chittered back and forth in a combination of anguish and shock, still trying to figure out what had the audacity to assault them in their own homes.

One caught a glimpse and reacted with enough wit to clamp down its mandibles on the passing Whisper, receiving a hefty pommel between its eight eyes before its prey receded back into the darkness.  Freyd shrugged off the wound, confident that he would recover quickly and focused on keeping himself moving.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1534/1685 | EN:66/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd activated Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +8 for hits): 20 EN - (Rested 1/2, Finesse 3) = 16 EN

ID #177543 | BD: 6+6-1=11 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (37*12=444) damage to Cave Spider #9
ID #177544 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Charge +5, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (39*12=468) damage to Cave Spider #10.
ID #177545 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Charge +5, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (39*12=468) damage to Cave Spider #11.
ID #177546 | BD: 3+6-1=8 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) damage to Cave Spider #12. 

ID #177543 | MD: 8-4=4 (miss).  Cave Spider #9 misses Freyd.
ID #177544 | MD: 5-4=1 (miss).  Cave Spider #10 misses Freyd.
ID #177545 | MD: 5-4=1 (miss).  Cave Spider #11 misses Freyd.
ID #177546 | MD: 10 (Crit +2).  Cave Spider #12 deals (230-79=151) damage to Freyd.

Cave Spider #9: HP 316/760 | DMG 228 (760-444)
Cave Spider #10: HP 292/760 | DMG 228 (760-468)
Cave Spider #11: HP 292/760 | DMG 228 (760-468)
Cave Spider #12: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 (760-372)
 

 

[Freyd 0]

Freyd was in his element, having found his groove and gleaned the combat tactics of his foe, he turned their would-be strengths against them.  Speed countered speed and his insights contradicted their familiarity with the ground.  Decimating their ranks with calculated strikes, he moved from one to the next, methodically cutting them down.  On their part, confusion reigned supreme as flashes of blinding light mixed with sundering darkness to consume them.  Within moments, nothing remained but a few bursts of shards and fading light, combined with a growing loot tally.  Things were going well.  

He also understood why this had become such a popular place to grind.  The mobs' numbers were seemingly endless.  There was little time to pondering their respawn rates before another group could be heard heading his way.  Returning to his perch, Freyd readied himself for another strike, giving pause to consider that the spiders might out-last his energy reserves.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1618/1685 | EN:50/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd regains 84 HP from BH.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +8 for hits): 20 EN - (Rested 2/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 16 EN

ID #177547 | BD: 8+6=14 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=388) damage to Cave Spider #9. 
ID #177548 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*12=408) damage to Cave Spider #10.
ID #177549 | BD: 7+6=13 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=388) damage to Cave Spider #11. 
ID #177550 | BD: 7+6=13 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=388) damage to Cave Spider #12. 

Cave Spider #9: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (316-388)
Cave Spider #10: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (292-408)
Cave Spider #11: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (292-388)
Cave Spider #12: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (388-388)

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #9 | ID #177800 | LD 2+8=10 | CD 5

7980*Col
3*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Trinket #177800a

Loot Cave Spider #10 | ID #177801 | LD 4+8=12 | CD 6

8778*Col
1*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Weapon #177801a
T3 Uncommon Consumable #177801b

Loot Cave Spider #11 | ID #177802 | LD 17+8=25 | CD 6

12768*Col
3*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Weapon #177802a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177802b
T3 Perfect Weapon #177802c

Loot Cave Spider #12 | ID #177803 | LD 14+8=22 | CD 2

8778*Col
1*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177803a
T3 Perfect Weapon #177803b

[Freyd 0]

Lather, rinse, repeat.  That's how it went, ideally.  And then there were these moments, where the plan just fell apart.  By chance or design, the next group through the gap had spread themselves more widely apart and were more wary of whatever fate had befallen their brethren.  Freyd still managed to carve into two of them, but the others scattered and dodged away from his blows.  Recovering from an overextended reach, he whirled just in time to feel one of the spider's spikey legs slash at his back.  It felt like a dull throb, thanks to the pain suppression algorithms maintained by the system, but any hit was worth notice and seemed to embolden the mobs. 

They soon had him surrounded and on the defensive.  Though still in good health, his energy reserves were dwindling.

"I really needed that hit, dammit."  Teeth clenched, Freyd paused to re-centre himself and prepare for the next clash.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1534/1685 | EN:38/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd activated Charge.

Freyd regains 84 HP from BH.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +4 for hits): 16 EN - (Rested 1/2, Finesse 3) = 12 EN

ID #177551 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Cave Spider #13.
ID #177552 | BD: 5+6-1=10 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) damage to Cave Spider #14. 
ID #177553 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Cave Spider #15.
ID #177554 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Charge +5, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (39*12=468) damage to Cave Spider #16.

ID #177551 | MD: 8-4=X (miss).  Cave Spider #13 misses Freyd.
ID #177552 | MD: 10 (crit +2).  Cave Spider #14 deals (230-79=151) damage to Freyd.
ID #177553 | MD: 1 (miss).  Cave Spider #15 misses Freyd.
ID #177554 | MD: 8-4=4 (miss).  Cave Spider #16 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #13: HP 760/760 | DMG 228 
Cave Spider #14: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 (760-372)
Cave Spider #15: HP 760/760 | DMG 228
Cave Spider #16: HP 292/760 | DMG 228 (760-468)
 

 

[Freyd 0]

Everything became a whirlwind scramble a moment later as the mutual staring contest ended and everyone went back to desperately trying to kill each other.  He needed to regain the initiative and his mobility, or this was going to end very, very badly.  Plunging his sword into the face of the first spider to get ambitious gave pause to the rest - long enough to go at the rest of them and cleave into their remaining health bars with solid effect.  But it might not be enough.  His energy was dipping into the red and there were too many of them still standing.

A few flurries of fuzzy pincer-legs later, they were roughly back where they'd started.  Freyd was a bit more tired.  The spider had lost one of their own, and this fight was becoming a thing of attrition.  Unfortunately, his options were few, and if he didn't catch a bit of better luck, things could get nasty.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1618/1685 | EN:25/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd regains 84 HP from BH.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +6 for hits): 18 EN - (Rested 2/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 13 EN

ID #177555 | BD: 2+6=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Cave Spider #13. 
ID #177556 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Cave Spider #14.
ID #177557 | BD: 7+6=13 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=388) damage to Cave Spider #15. 
ID #177558 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*12=408) damage to Cave Spider #16.

ID #177555 | MD: 4-4=0 (miss).  Cave Spider #13 misses Freyd.
ID #177556 | MD: 2-4=-2 (miss).  Cave Spider #14 misses Freyd.
ID #177557 | MD: 6-4=2 (miss).  Cave Spider #15 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #13: HP 448/760 | DMG 228 (760-312)
Cave Spider #14: HP 388/760 | DMG 228 
Cave Spider #15: HP 372/760 | DMG 228 (760-388)
Cave Spider #16: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (292-408)

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #16 | ID #177804 | LD 14+8=22 | CD 10

12768*Col
1*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Trinket #177804a

[Freyd 0]

Another lighting confrontation followed as both sides sought to gain advantage over the other, with mixed results.  More injured spiders, but none more fallen.  More gnashing of pincers and flailing of clawed legs, without making contact.  Slashing through a nearby stalagmite caused it to slide off its base and scatter the spiders, momentarily confusing them, but also pulling them too far apart to effectively finish them off.  The stone shattered as it rolled, clearing Freyd a path to shift his position and attempt to gain better ground, but the spiders' ability to climb to the ceiling tended to eliminate the benefits of high ground.  They could always go higher.  A few sliced legs taught them to be more careful about approaching him, but these creatures were never going to stop attacking.  He needed to take them down.

"Come on, already.  Jump into the kill box, you chittering bugs.  I've got more of your kind to get to and can't keep wasting time with you three."

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN:13/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd regains 84 HP from BH.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE +4 for hits): 16 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 12 EN

ID #177561 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Cave Spider #13.
ID #177562 | BD: 2+6=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Cave Spider #14. 
ID #177563 | BD: 4+6=10 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Cave Spider #15. 

ID #177561 | MD: 2-4=-2 (miss).  Cave Spider #13 misses Freyd.
ID #177562 | MD: 7-4=3 (miss).  Cave Spider #14 misses Freyd.
ID #177563 | MD: 6-4=2 (miss).  Cave Spider #15 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #13: HP 448/760 | DMG 228 
Cave Spider #14: HP 76/760 | DMG 228 (388-312)
Cave Spider #15: HP 60/760 | DMG 228 (372-312)

 

[Freyd 0]

Could bestial mobs understand speech?  Sometimes he thought that they might.  In this case, his little taunt was enough to cause two of the spiders to lunge, trying to use their collective, hairy, leggy mass to overwhelm him.  It didn't work, as attested by the fact they were now both little more than dust cascading past either side of the Whisper's shadowed form.  

"So, you're the clever one then, are you?"

The last spider merely stared at him with its unblinking eyes, and then he understood.  

"You've died before, haven't you?  Learned a few lessons about what happens when you just rush in?  Good for you."  The thing must have been infected by the Sundered Spire's taint at some point.  If it was smart enough to try and wait him out, he could have a real problem on his hands.  More spiders were bound to get here soon enough.  He couldn't just sit idle waiting for that to happen.  

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1535/1685 | EN: 3/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Tempest (x8 AoE +6 for hits): 14 EN - (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 10 EN

ID #177564 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freys misses Cave Spider #13.
ID #177566 | BD: 6+6=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (8*32=256) damage to Cave Spider #14.
ID #177565 | BD: 5+6=11 (hit).  Freyd deals (8*26=208) damage to Cave Spider #15.

ID #177564 | MD: 9 (crit +1).  Cave Spider #13 deals (229-79=150) damage to Freyd.

Cave Spider #13: HP 448/760 | DMG 228 
Cave Spider #14: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (76-256)
Cave Spider #15: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (60-208)

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #14 | ID #177805 | LD 2+8=10 | CD 2

8778*Col
1*T3 Materials
T3 Uncommon Consumable #177805a

Loot Cave Spider #15 | ID #177806 | LD 3+8=11 | CD 11

7182*Col
5*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Armor/Shield #177806a

[Freyd 0]

Time to rebalance the odds.

Facing off against his arachnid opponent, Freyd calmed himself to the point of utter stillness.  His blade held high above his head in a guard, he focused himself entirely on the act of breathing, the sounds of dripping water in the caverns around them, and the clicking clatter of the spider's spear-like feet as it shifted on the web-covered rocks.  It kept hesitating, afraid of what might happen if it made the wrong choice?  His two red eyes glared against eight from beneath his cowl.  

Let it wonder all it wants.  We will be resurgent.

Both equally cold.  Both plotting and scheming how best to reach their foe.  Both playing for time, but for different reasons.  A smile creased the Whisper's face as he sensed his energy reserves start to tick upwards.  The spider must have sensed it too, and lunged foward.

Too late.  My turn now.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1619/1685 | EN: 10/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd regains 84 HP from BH.

Freyd activates Meditation and regains 15 EN.  +1 Turn Recovery.

ID #177568 | MD: 5-4=1 (miss).  Cave Spider #13 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #13: HP 448/760 | DMG 228 
 

 

[Freyd 0]

The guarding blade crashed downward, dealing the suddenly desperate spider a nasty blow across the head, several one of its pincers and carving out a pair of its eyes in the process.  Its health bar took a nose-dive into the red as it scrambled backwards, pawing protectively at its own face - an odd sight.  Freyd followed, pressing his advantage. The spider moved quickly, but awkwardly backwards, trying to find shelter.  It couldn't see where it was going, though, and he had it trapped against the cave wall.  The tables had very quickly and decisively turned, all because he'd just taken a moment to stop and breath and think.  

So much for the benefits of endless, mindless rage.  This was a game of cunning and strategy.  Flailing blindly would eventually prove any player's undoing.  It could not be allowed in himself.

The beast whined.  Its voice was high pitched and screechy.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1619/1685 | EN: 10/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd regains 84 HP from BH.

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

ID #177569 | BD: 5+6=11 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*13=338) damage to Cave Spider #13. 

ID #177569 | MD: 4-4=0 (miss).  Cave Spider #13 misses Freyd.

Cave Spider #13: HP 110/760 | DMG 228 (448-338)

 

[Freyd 0]

Could he actually pity it?  He probably should, but then considered whether it would even consider such a thing for him if their roles were reversed and knew that it wouldn't.  It had to fall, hopefully not to return with any sense of awareness than a wiped and rebooted computer.

"It's time for darkness, my fuzzy, many-eyed friend.  I'm sorry."

If it somehow did retain a memory, a simple degree of courtesy could do no harm, and might actually open the door to better interactions at some point in the distant future.  Beyond that, it cost him nothing to do so, and he wouldn't let it deter him from his intended course of action.  Strange that courtesy to a dying fractal image might be thought of as anything other than superfluous, but such were the weird alterations that Aincrad could compel upon perception. 

When the spider was gone, true silence reigned in its absence.  There were no more to come, at least for now.

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1685/1685 | EN: 7/167 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:168 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP:  3 | BH:84

Freyd regains 84 HP from BH.

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

ID #177570 | BD: 5+6=11 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*7=182) damage to Cave Spider #13. 

Cave Spider #13: HP 0/760 | DMG 228 (110-182)
 

Loot Rolls:

Loot Cave Spider #13 | ID #177807 | LD 13+8=21 | CD 7

5586*Col
5*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #177807a
T3 Perfect Consumable #177807b
T3 Perfect Consumable #177807c

[Freyd 0]

Returning to his original blind, Freyd pondered what had just occurred.  To have actually run out of energy?  He'd come close before, but never actually hit the mark.  Had there been more mobs around, or more dangerous ones, this might have been a serious problem.  The spiders here were fierce enough to put up a good fight, and in large enough numbers, they would be a threat.  He was also quite sure that they would have field bosses and other champions lurking in their ranks, who could not be so easily dismissed.

And the loot!  Freyd struggled to argue against the merits of forays into these tunnels on the grounds of sheer material profit alone!  A quick survey of the wealth gathered in his minimal delve was impressive.  No wonder some of his fellow players favoured the spot.  Solo-target weapon wielders would struggle here, for sure, but theirs was not the grinding way.

Recover EN 1/2

[Freyd 0]

"Maybe just a little deeper?"  He said aloud.  Persi sauntered back into the view from the shadows, where she'd been devastating their enemies this entire time.  Prancing between webbing and ledges, she lapped at little pools of moisture that gathered below stalagtites.  They were often laden with minerals, but gathered so slowly that the sediment often had time to settle.  What was left was typically rich and flavourful, and probably toxic.  Freyd just shook his head and stretched his limbs while he planned a route deeper into the caverns.

Once his energy reserves had been given a chance to properly restore themselves, he set out again, as quietly as he could.  Going deeper into the nest was likely to rouse the spiders in greater numbers, not less.  Life was likely about to get very exciting.  Testing each step, with Persi at his side, he cut through the intervening layers of webbing and opened the way to new chambers that had not previously been explored.

Recovery EN 2/2