[SP-07] Echo of the Madrigal <<DHA:7>>

[Freyd 0]

"I'm telling you, Jeeves, I saw what I saw.  I've been over every explored floor in the castle, and I've never seen anything like this.  It was like being trapped in the walls of your own home, and just... frikkin weird."

The boy before him was nearly a foot shorter than Freyd, virtually consumed by an oversized and tattered brown leather trench coat.  Tufts of purple hair poked out from beneath a worn, matching fedora.  Aviator goggles completed his ensemble.  Time had also taken on new meaning in the game.  Players had lived years in here, regardless of whatever truth applied beyond their prison.  None of them were children anymore.

"I don't know what to tell you.  No one I've talked with has ever experienced anything like what you described."  Jeeves had an especially squeaky, grating voice that granted him the unenviable talent of annoying anyone who heard him speak.  This moment was no exception.

"At least one has, and I mean to find him."

The shorter male just shrugged.

"Look, you paid up front, but not for this.  If you're interested in taking out your next dragon while you're at it, check here."

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:191/191 | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95

Consumed:

Spoiler

Field Rations +2 (+120 HP) [http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19871-f13-merchant-freyd-edges-safe-zone/?do=findComment&comment=623998]
Creme Brulee | ACC 2 | 171544-1
Smores | EVA 2 | 171940
Berry Crumb Bar | LD3 | 172791
Mousse | Prosperity 3 | 173064
Breakfast Fry | Protein 2 | 172358 + Filled
Liquor of Light | DMG 3 | 173503
Mini Cheesecake | T3 MIT 3 | 177102
Toxic Venom | T2 ToxVen | 148612-1

Stats:

Spoiler

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows
Level: 88
HP: 1790/1790 (+120)
EN: 191/191

Stats:
Damage: 20 (+3+3)
Mitigation: 79 (+45-45)
Evasion: 2 (+2)
Accuracy: 4 (+2)
BH:89 (+6)
VAMP OFF:179 (+12)
HLY:6
FLN:6
LD:5 (+3)
(PROSP 3)
(TxVen 16)

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 5]
Martial Arts [Rank 5]
Quick Change [Obtained]

Extra Skills:
Disguise
Familiar Mastery: Fighter 3
Survival
Meditation

Active Mods:
Precision - 2HSS
Finesse - Rank 3
LA Athletics
Ferocity - 2HSS
LA Sprint and Acrobatics
Vanish
Vengeful Riposte
Surprise Attack (Assassin)

Inactive Mods:
Night Vision
Untraceable
Tracking

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]

"There's no worry on that part, I can find him myself, assuming that he survived.  Be ready with the next one.  This shouldn't take long."  Freyd turned and vanished from sight, swallowed by shadows as if he had never existed. 

Jeeves pulled his goggles down around his neck while fishing a relatively clean cloth from his pocket with his free hand.  He knew that the Whisper was baiting him with his strange tale about floors between floors.  If it was true, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.  News scoops were a major boon in the broker network.  Freyd would have known what he was giving him, and did so for free.  Given how effectively the man had negotiated down his original price on DHA, it was very unlikely that this was a simple mistake.

"What are you up to?"  He asked himself aloud, still squinting as if it would somehow help him glean the answer.  He felt compelled to investigate.

Enter Stealth (ID: 181887 | LD: 13+8=21)

[Freyd 0]

The walk from Nimbus to the area said to conceal the dragon's den wasn't especially far.  Freyd made his way there in less than an hour, even dodge a set of storm clouds and some pesky roadside bandits along the way.  Normally, he'd have taken the time to clear them out, but the raid was imminent.  He was running out of time to finish up as many quests as possible before joining the front lines, and this chain took a bit of dedicated focus to complete.  Connecting dots by the shortest possible routes, he meant to blitz the content for an extra boost before heading into his first floor boss fight.  Freyd rarely chose the sub-optimal path.

Draigoch had the misfortune of being out foraging for lunch when the Whisper fell on him from above.  The dragon received no warning and nearly lost a limb in the opening blow as the blade cut clean through and shattered the sun-warmed bit of charcoal-coloured granite upon which he had perched to peer at the fish passing in the creek below. 

Spoiler

Maintain Stealth (ID: #181888 | LD: 14+8=22)

Galaxy Destroyer (x13): 13 EN - (Rested 1/2, Finesse 3) = 9 EN

ID #181889 | BD: 4 (Autohit, Assassin +3).  Freyd deals (29*13=377-65=312) damage to Draigoch.

ID #181889 | MD: 3+2-4=1 (miss).  Draigoch misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:182/191 (191-9) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95

Draigoch | HP: 88/400 | DMG 115 | MIT: 65 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 (400-312)
<<Mini Avalanche>> : Whenever this rolls a 9 or 10, boulders will rain from the sky landing on your character dealing 60 unmitigatable damage to the player.

 

[Freyd 0]

Stones still skittered and splashed into the water as the black blade whirled around and overhead.  Its downward slash severed the beast's head before it could offer anything resembling resistance, which was all the Freyd had really expected from it.  And then his sword got stuck.  And so did Draigoch, mid-death proc.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!  Not ag-"

Both figures vanished instantly.  The dragon went on to wherever mobs go to run out their re-spawn timer, or whatever passed for Limbo in Aincrad's mythology.  Freyd pictured it as an endlessly looping hallway that pretended to be some sort of waiting room, but wasn't in portal time long enough himself to explore the thought before crashing into a familiar, cold, slick, stone-like surface lined with an orange cartesian grid.

"-ain!  Fuck."  He was back in the place between places he'd just tried tried describing to Jeeves, without much success.  For an information broker, Freyd found his deliberate denseness to be a poor false façade.  It annoyed his customers and made him look like an idiot, though there were benefits to being underestimated.  He'd used the same trick himself, from time to time.

Spoiler

Galaxy Destroyer (x13): 13 EN - (Rested 2/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 8 EN

ID #181890 | BD: 3+6-2=7 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*13=338-65=273) damage to Draigoch.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:174/191 (182-8) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95

Draigoch | HP: 0/400 | DMG 115 | MIT: 65 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 (88-273)
<<Mini Avalanche>> : Whenever this rolls a 9 or 10, boulders will rain from the sky landing on your character dealing 60 unmitigatable damage to the player.

 

[Freyd 0]

Active glitches were an immediate concern as a familiar crackling buzz filled the air and echoed of the stone floor, cross-vaulted ceilings and endless rows of supporting columns.  It was just as he'd seen it last time, except worse.  Maybe he was in a different area, but the level of damage on all of the visible surfaces was much worse than it had been during his last sojourn.  

Scrambling to his feet, Freyd took a cautious and defensive posture as he began exploring the immediate area.  Everything seemed like it had been.  The stone was of the same colour and texture, and the overall height and spacing of the vaults looked no different.  A hint of ozone wafted in the air.  That was new, and so was the clatter that seemed to be growing louder.  Stepping heel to toe as he moved slowly from column to column, Freyd expected a pack of glitches to fall on his out of nowhere and at any moment.

Freyd activates Vengeful Riposte (-5 EN)

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:169/191 (174-5) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3)

Use Intermediate Sub-Dungeon Map #167216

[Freyd 0]

His actual discovery was far more gruesome than he ever could have imagined.  A pack of the lesser glitches were hunched around something, gnawing and slavering away. These were the ones that looked like cobbled parts from other mobs grafted together over an incomplete, ghoulish-looking digital mesh vaguely humanoid in form. Their twisted bodies were no more appealing than the last group he'd encountered.  About to unleash his wrath on them, out of both principle and a sense of self-preservation, it was then that he saw the hand and slender fingers sticking out from beneath the pile, still twitching.

"GET OFF!" 

Fury boiled in his veins as he charged.  Rage-fueled flashes from his sword sent the abhorrent creatures flying in every direction, revealing one of the most terrible sights he had ever witnessed.  It was a woman, he thought, judging from the long, braided red hair, fair skin and slender build.  She looked to be in her early thirties but there was only so much left from which to guess.  Most of the skin on her avatar had already been chewed away, leaving deep orange gashes over every part of her.  Another moment and her health bar might have bottomed out.  Outlines of bluish-white matched the hideous claws and bite marks of her predators.  Only one eye remained, green and wild with panic, tears streaming down what little remained of her face.

"My god..."

Freyd had long ago abandoned his parents' faith, refusing to claim it as his own, but no other exclamation did justice to the scene laid out before him.  Something ripped and ached inside him, just from witnessing such horror.  Pangs were too new a concept to connect with the sensations he was feeling.  She was still alive and, until a moment ago, being devoured by creatures whose attacks neutralized the game's innate pain suppression.

Spoiler

Freyd activates Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +8 for hits): 20 EN (Rested 1/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery): 15 EN

ID #181891 | BD: 7+6-1=12 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (37*12=444) to Neo-Glitch #1.
ID #181892 | BD: 6+6-1=11 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (37*12=444) to Neo-Glitch #2.
ID #181893 | BD: 3+6-1=8 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) to Neo-Glitch #3.
ID #181894 | BD: 2+6-1=7 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) to Neo-Glitch #4.

ID #181891 | MD: 3-4=(-1).  Neo-Glitch #1 misses Freyd.
ID #181892 | MD: 1 (miss).  Neo-Glitch #2 misses Freyd.
ID #181893 | MD: 3-4=(-1).  Neo-Glitch #3 misses Freyd.
ID #181894 | MD: 8-4=4.  Neo-Glitch #4 misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:154/191 (169-15) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3)

Neo-Glitch #1: HP: 326/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (770-444)
Neo-Glitch #2: HP: 326/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (770-444)
Neo-Glitch #3: HP: 398/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (770-372)
Neo-Glitch #4: HP: 398/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (770-372)

 

[Freyd 0]

The glitches didn't appreciate their harvest being interrupted, or whatever they might choose to call it.  Nothing from the past or present interactions led him to believe that they were capable of anything more than an all-consuming drive to take for themselves - to absorb in some vain attempt to complete that which the game designers had not.  Scattered by his original onslaught, they regrouped and harried him from all sides, reaching for the prize denied to them.  They'd almost had her, whoever she was.  

"Hold on, lady!  I'll get rid of them and then we'll patch you up."  She managed a blink, but Freyd remained unconvinced that she was even lucid.  That much trauma would knock anyone for a spin.  It might be better for her if she were too out of it to feel what had happened.

The glitches were circling now, seeking an opening that he was determined to deny.  They'd come too close to claiming a fellow player.   Spinning slowly over her head was the standard green icon that marked he as such.

Spoiler

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +6 for hits): 20 EN (Rested 2/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery): 13 EN

ID #181896 | BD: 3+6=9 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Neo-Glitch #1.
ID #181897 | BD: 1 (miss).  Freyd misses Neo-Glitch #2.
ID #181898 | BD: 4+6=10 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Neo-Glitch #3.
ID #181899 | BD: 2+6=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312) damage to Neo-Glitch #4.

ID #181896 | MD: 4-4=0.  Neo-Glitch #1 misses Freyd.
ID #181897 | MD: 3-4=(-1).  Neo-Glitch #2 misses Freyd.
ID #181898 | MD: 3-4=(-1).  Neo-Glitch #3 misses Freyd.
ID #181899 | MD: 8-4=4.  Neo-Glitch #4 misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:143/191 (156-13) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3)

Neo-Glitch #1: HP: 14/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (326-312)
Neo-Glitch #2: HP: 326/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 
Neo-Glitch #3: HP: 86/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (398-312
Neo-Glitch #4: HP: 86/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (398-312)

 

[Freyd 0]

"If you can hear me," a quick turn and slash interrupted his attempt at conversation.  "If you can hear me, tell me your name.  Talk to me.  Stay conscious.   Do you have battle healing?  I have salves.  We just need a moment to apply them."  Her health bar was stable, but you couldn't really call being at less than three percent a 'good' thing.  

"Oh, the hell with it."  

Never the tanky type, Freyd moved to attack.  Expecting to whittle him down, the glitches were caught off guard.  A series of well-timed strikes cut them all down in quick succession, their patchwork bodies shattering into a kaleidoscope of pixel patterns, likely born from the various bits of mobs and players each had collected over time.  Behind him, the woman on the ground drew a ragged breath, and then just started screaming.  Freyd clenched his teeth and closed his eyes at the sound of it.  Wailing with unimaginable anguish, she had finally regained some fraction of awareness, only to be confronted by the horror of her fate.

Spoiler

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +8 for hits): 20 EN (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery): 16 EN

ID #181901 | BD: 6+6=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=384) damage to Neo-Glitch #1.
ID #181902 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (33*12=396) damage to Neo-Glitch #2.
ID #181903 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*12=408) damage to Neo-Glitch #3.
ID #181904 | BD:  9 (Crit +1, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (33*12=396) damage to Neo-Glitch #4.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:127/191 (143-16) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3)

Neo-Glitch #1: HP: 14/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (14-384)
Neo-Glitch #2: HP: 326/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (326-396)
Neo-Glitch #3: HP: 86/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (86-408)
Neo-Glitch #4: HP: 86/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (86-396)

Loot Rolls

Neo-Glitch #1 (ID #181906 | LD: 17+8=25, CD: 7)

10510*Col
4*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Weapon #181906a
T3 Perfect Weapon #181906b
T3 Perfect Weapon #181906c

Neo-Glitch #2 (ID #181907 | LD: 17+8=25, CD: 5)

10510*Col
4*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Weapon #181907a
T3 Perfect Weapon #181907b
T3 Perfect Weapon #181907c

Neo-Glitch #3 (ID #181908 | LD: 20+8=28, CD: 8)

13744*Col
T3 Perfect Weapon #181908a
T3 Perfect Weapon #181908b
T3 Perfect Weapon #181908c

Neo-Glitch #4 (ID #181909 | LD: 5+8=13, CD: 8)

6468*Col
2*T3 Materials
T3 Rare Weapon #181909a
T3 Uncommon Consumable #181909b
 

[Freyd 0]

"MIRIAM!!!"

The familiar, booming voice came from behind him, accompanied by the sizzling hum and crackle of more approaching glitches.  

"Wait... that sounds like-"

Freyd never got the chance to finish his thought before a large, meaty hand grabbed him by the collar and flung him ferociously away from the woman he'd just been trying to help.

"GET AWAY FROM HER YOU....Freyd?  FREYD!  FREYD?!  What the heck are YOU doing here?"

Quaestor wasn't often at a loss for words.  The Whisper might have appreciated the moment more if he hadn't just been tossed into a pair of ravenous glitching ghoul-thingies that were quite content to accept him as a meal substituted for their previous prey.  Twisting his wiry limbs out of their reach, a quick succession of pommel and elbow strikes forced them back enough for him to regain his footing, adding a few sword strikes for good measure.

"Miriam..."  Quaestor's quieted voice carried a tone Freyd had never heard him use before.

"Take care of her.  I'll deal with these two!  We'll catch up after."

Spoiler

Freyd activates Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +4 for hits): 16 EN (Rested 1/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery): 11 EN

ID #181920 | BD: 5+6=12 (hit, Charge +5).  Freyd deals (31*12=372) damage to Neo-Glitch #5.
ID #181921 | BD: 6+6=12 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (37*12=444) damage to Neo-Glitch #6.

ID #181920 | MD: 3-4=(-1) (miss).  Neo-Glitch #5 misses Freyd.
ID #181921 | MD: 3-4=(-1) (miss).  Neo-Glitch #6 misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:116/191 (127-11) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3)

Neo-Glitch #5: HP: 398/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (770-372)
Neo-Glitch #6: HP: 326/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (770-444)

 

[Freyd 0]

Catching only glimpses of his recently vanished friend tending to the wounded woman cradled in his bear-like arms, Freyd also realized that he was armed to the nines.  His gear was some of the best he'd ever seen, some of it verging on raid-quality stuff.  It bulged a little in a few places, probably from padding gained as a result of Quaestor's retirement, especially along the midsection.  But a hint of the man's former glory days still lingered about him.  Even more telling was the affectionate manner in which he held her, caressing her ruby-coloured hair.  Droplets fell from the big man's eyes as he spoke, clearly caught between a moment of overwhelming joy and sadness.

This was what he never spoke about; why he'd left the front lines.  It had something to do with her.  The sensation of Elora pressed against his side for warmth and safety immediately came to mind.  Their bond was clearly deeper.  A friend?  Maybe a relative?  

A wife, Freyd.  Look at her eye.  Note the difference and elation.  Those tears are those of unmatched relief and joy, and they flow despite her unimaginable pain.

He should have realized that himself, but Montjoy's role was to translate and explain these things.

Freyd kept the ravenous glitches at bay while Quaestor was reunited with the long lost love of his life, the woman he thought had died those many years ago.  He'd found the spark that had once given him meaning.

Take note, Freyd.  This is important.

Vanity Tag: @Elora

Spoiler

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

ID #181922 | BD: 6+6=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=384) damage to Neo-Glitch #5.
ID #181923 | BD: 6+6=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=384) damage to Neo-Glitch #6.

ID #181922 | MD: 1 (miss).  Neo-Glitch #5 misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:105/191 (116-11) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3)

Neo-Glitch #5: HP: 14/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (398-384)
Neo-Glitch #6: HP: 0/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (326-384)

Vanish triggers

Loot Rolls:

Neo-Glitch #6 (ID #181924 | LD: 11+8=19, CD: 8)

6468*Col
2*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield 181924a
T3 Perfect Trinket #181924b

[Freyd 0]

Two nearby columns suddenly dissolved, as if melted from within then spilling outward and reforming into two of the larger, golem-like glitches he'd fought last time he was here.  Freyd was too busy dispatching the last of Miriam's attackers to do more than call out a warning.  Watching as Quaestor said something to his beloved, he watched as a brass nd silver shield materialized on his arm, emblazoned with the crest of a falcon.  It was a motif he'd seen throughout the man's restaurant more than once, but had never been able to connect with anything.  Now it made sense.

"You're a tank!?  Quaestor, buddy.  You and I need to have a seriously long chat."  One of the greater glitches smashed its massive glowing fist into the ground next to his foot, erasing the surface and leaving only a small area of cratered mesh.

"You just keep them off my Miri, Freyd.  Do that, and I'll tell you anything you want to know."

Not that he needed it, but you could hardly put a greater source of motivation into the Whisper's sails.  Samael's Pride crackled with holy wrath as it dug deep into the twin monstrosities before them.

Spoiler

Freyd activates Vanish (-6 EN)

Stealth Roll: ID #181925 | LD: 14+8=22 (Success)

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

ID #181926 | BD: 6+6=12 (autohit, Assassin +3, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (35*12=420) damage to Neo-Glitch #5.
ID #181927 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Assassin +3, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (36*12=432-44=388) damage to Mega-Glitch #1.  
ID #181928 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Assassin +3, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (36*12=432-44=388) damage to Mega-Glitch #2.  

ID #181927 | MD: 2+1-4=(-1) (miss).  Mega-Glitch #1 misses Freyd.
ID #181928 | MD: 4+1-4=1 (miss).  Mega-Glitch #2 misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:86/191 (105-6-14) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Vanish (0/3)

Neo-Glitch #5: HP: 0/770 | DMG 264 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 (14-420)
Mega-Glitch #1: HP: 712/1100 | DMG 330 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | (1100-388)
Mega-Glitch #2: HP: 712/1100 | DMG 330 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | (1100-388)

Loot Rolls:

Neo-Glitch #5 (ID #181929 | LD: 13+8=21, CD: 2)

6468*Col
2*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Armor/Shield #181929a
T3 Perfect Weapon #181929b
 

[Freyd 0]

Another blazing flash of heavenly light followed Quaestor's promise as Freyd lopped off one of the offending creatures' arms.  The damned thing just picked it up and reattached it, which was really not cricket.  These things were massive, but also lumbering and slow.  As long as he had room to move, he'd be alright, and could keep them away from Miri and Quaestor.  

"Send me a party invite, so that we can link up!"

"Good call!"

The window popped up almost immediately, and closed just as quickly as he mashed his palm on the 'accept' button.  It was all that he could spare while dancing with these two brutes.  

"How did you end up here?!  It's actually my second visit to this lovely non-level.  Met some crazy player in an Godzilla outfit last time I fell in here.  Still not sure what happened to him."

Quaestor went dead silent before responding, and air of stunned amazement in his voice.

"You saw Typhon?!"

Spoiler

Freyd activates Charge.

Calamity Disaster (x12 AoE, +2 for hits): 14 EN (Finesse 3, Turn Recovery): 10 EN

ID #181931 | BD: 1 (miss). Freyd misses Mega-Glitch #1. 
ID #181932 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Charge +5, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (38*12=456-44=412) damage to Mega-Glitch #2.  TxVen refreshed.

ID #181931 | MD: 3+1-4=0 (miss).  Mega-Glitch #1 misses Freyd.
ID #181932 | MD: 1 (miss).  Mega-Glitch #2 misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:76/191 (86-10) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Vanish (1/3)

Mega-Glitch #1: HP: 712/1100 | DMG 330 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 
Mega-Glitch #2: HP: 300/1100 | DMG 330 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (712-412)

 

[Freyd 0]

"Was that his name?  I couldn't stop thinking of him as anything other 'Babykaiju', but I think that was what came up next to his health bar in my UI.  Why?  You know each other?"

Quaestor still seemed to be at a loss for words, as if circumstances were overloading the man's normally silver tongue.  

"Yeah.  You could say that.  He was one of the original members of the Madrigal."

He left it there while Freyd slipped beneath one of the crackling behemoth's massive arms, gutting it with a swift, piercing thrust.  Whirling, just as quickly, he slashed its partner across the torso, spraying a shorn layer of pixels across their field of battle.  The bluish sparks consumed the stone surface, eating away at it like acid wherever they touched.

"Did it just...?"

"Yeah.  They do that.  Cancels pain suppression too."

Freyd could feel Quaestor's head turn back to gaze at the condition of this wife.  He didn't need to see it to sense the pain that threatened to crush his friend's heart.

"We just need to kill one of the boss glitches.  They kinda rip a hole in the world when they die."

"Are you always involved in this kind of insanity?!"

"Pretty much, yeah."

Spoiler

Freyd activates Disguise (EVA +1)

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

ID #181933 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*12=408-44=364) damage to Mega-Glitch #1.  TxVen applied.
ID #181934 | BD: 5+6-1=10 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312-44=268) damage to Mega-Glitch #2.

ID #181933 | MD: 3+1-4=0 (miss).  Mega-Glitch #1 misses Freyd.
ID #181934 | MD: 1 (miss).  Mega-Glitch #2 misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:64/191 (76-12) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 (+1) | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Vanish (2/3) | Disguise (0/3)

Mega-Glitch #1: HP: 332/1100 | DMG 330 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | TxVen (16 (1/2) (712-364-16)
Mega-Glitch #2: HP: 32/1100 | DMG 330 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (300-268)

Loot Rolls:

Mega-Glitch #2 (ID #181935 | LD: 18+8=26, CD: 7)

17325*Col
2*T3 Materials
T3 Perfect Weapon #181935a
T3 Perfect Weapon #181935b
T3 Perfect Weapon #181935c

Note: Making corrections to damage throughout this thread after accidentally confusing Surprise Attack (Assassin) as +1*Hiding Rank damage instead of +1* tier.  Mega Glitch #2 dies on next post with revise posts.  Roll left here for roller integrity.

[Freyd 0]

"What's a Madrigal?"  The word wasn't familiar and didn't even ring the most remote bells.

"It was our guild, before things went pear-shaped during our last raid.  This was in the earliest days of SAO.  Miri, Jeeves, Typhon and I were its core, and the only frontliners, but we were a tight outfit.  The four of us knew each other from outside.  Miri and I were... are married.  It feels so good to change that tense.  Typhon was my best mate.  We hung together all the time.  Jeeves is Miri's baby brother." 

"Wait a second.  Jeeves?  The creepy little jawa dude with the aviator glasses and the fedora?!  You guys know each other?"

"Yeah.  That sounds like him.  He and I were the only two to make it out.  Jeeves is one of the smartest people I have ever known.  He joined the broker ranks, I think.  I... "  He gently patted Miri's matted hair while applying another salve.  So much of her body was riddled with wounds that it seemed impossible to know where to apply the curatives first.  "I just fell apart."

The last remaining glitch did the same, as Freyd's latest flurry dismembered it, causing it to slough into a giant piles of caustic pixels that ate a giant holes in the floor as it slowly disappeared.

Spoiler

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

ID #181936 | BD: 3+6-1=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*12=312-44=268) damage to Mega-Glitch #1.  

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

ID #182618 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*12=408-44=364) damage to Mega-Glitch #1. 
ID #182619 | BD: 7+6-1=12 (hit, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (32*12=384-44=340) damage to Mega-Glitch #2. 

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:52/191 (64-12) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 (+1) | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Vanish (3/3) | Disguise (1/3)

Mega-Glitch #1: HP: 0/1100 | DMG 330 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | TxVen (16 (2/2) (276-268-16)
Mega-Glitch #2: HP: 0/1100 | DMG 330 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (32-340)

Note: Original roll for Galaxy Destroyer voided and replaced with new rolls for Calamity Disaster, as Mega-Glitch 2 survived previous post.

Loot Rolls:

Mega-Glitch #1 (ID #181937 | LD: 14+8=22, CD: 10)

17325*Col
T3 Perfect Trinket #181937a
 

[Freyd 0]

The area was clear, though not likely for long. 

"I have extra salves, if you need them."  Freyd lingered back from Quaestor as he tended to his long-lost love.  He wouldn't dare place himself between them, or consider intruding on their moment, awkward as the setting might be.

"Thanks.  I brought plenty, though I've used more than expected already.  Where is this place?  I stumbled into it by accident after spotting Miri on my tracking mod.  It had been so long since I'd bothered to even check."  Tears flowed openly through the face plate of his helm.  Guilt at having dared to stop looking was devastating him.

"If it's any solace, I don't think she's been here that long, compared to what has passed in SAO.  Typhon seemed to think that he'd only been here about an hour.  If they both entered at the same time, there's a good chance that she hasn't been here that long, as least from her frame of reference."

A slender arm lifted weakly, nestling Quaestor's beard beneath the heavy steel bucket on his head.  Miri's eyes, both of them recovered and dawning with recognition, stared up at the man standing vigil over her.

"Quentin?"

***

rest 1/2

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:53/191 (+1) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Disguise (2/3)

[Freyd 0]

Feeling the odd man out, Freyd thought it best to grant them a moment of privacy.  This was between them, and not meant for his eyes and ears.  Vanishing into the shadows on the far side of one the remaining nearby columns, he allowed himself to dwell on the doubt that had been nagging at him from the outskirts of his mind.  What if Elora fell?  Were it anyone else, even Raidou, he would carry on.  That was his goal and purpose.  It was who and what he had chosen to be, but so much of that felt off kilter now.  The tether that linked him to humanity went through her.

You know what would happen, and it terrifies you.

Should I take comfort in the fact that, were it come to pass, I doubt that I could ever feel anything again?

To be human is to experience frailty and failure, Freyd, but it also carries the boons of friendship and capacity for love.

I know, Montjoy.  Thank you. 

Freyd closed his eyes, opening his heart as intertwined sobs of mixed agony and relief echoed from the far side of the stone.  There was a lesson here:  another dot to be connected to the whole of what it meant to be a person, warts and all.

Vanity Tag: @Elora  @Raidou

***

Rest 2/2

Freyd activates Hiding.  ID #181962 | LD: 2+8=10 (Success)

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:191/191 (refreshed) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Disguise (3/3)

 

[Freyd 0]

Something roared, suddenly, interrupting his friend's tender moment.

"FREYD!  Get over here.  I think the exit just found us!"

Darting around the far side of the column, the Whisper nearly tripped over his own feet in his haste.  Fortune, mixed the calming memories of his own first flutters of humanity at the Tanabata festival honed and saved his focus.  The glitch had burst from the ceiling, leaving only a melting shower of bluish pixels mixed with twisted orange mesh in its wake.  Miri was on her feet, though shaky and clinging to Quaestor's back to steady herself.  Her stats had been added to their group.

Smarmy Sadsaxx?!  Really? Admittedly, it had some originally.

Charging from the shadows, pulling the darkness with him as he moved, Freyd's slash bit deep into the twenty-foot digital sludge-monster, knocking its health bar down by a quarter in a single attack.  

"Keep its focus, Q!  Let your shadow do its job."  Despite being drained and apparently unarmed, Miri seemed to naturally take charge.

Spoiler

Maintain Stealth: ID #181963 | LD: 1+8+1*=10 (Success)

*Potted Tanabata Bamboo Tree amenity used (+1 LD to a combat roll, once per thread, can be added after roll)

Galaxy Destroyer (x13): 13 EN -(Rested 1/2, Finesse 3) = 9 EN

ID #181964 | BD: 6 (Autohit, Assassin +3, Fallen +6).  Freyd deals (35*13=455-110=345) damage to Big Daddy Glitch.

ID #181964 | MD: 2+2-4=0 (miss).  Big Daddy-Glitch misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:182/191 (191-9) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3)

Big Daddy-Glitch: HP: 1305/1650 | DMG 440 | MIT: 110 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 (1650-345)

• Critical (MD 9): Deals (484) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (242) DMG to every other player.
• Critical (MD 10): Deals (528) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (264) DMG to every other player.

 

[Freyd 0]

Without a word, Montjoy and Freyd separated as they passed behind the only other nearby column.  Two dark figures approached  the glitch from opposite sides, confusing it and delaying any attempted defense.  Freyd's Pride flared white with holy wrath as he made contact, as if imbued by Cardinal itself to dismiss the abomination that had loosed itself upon them.  Two attacks had left it hovering just a smidge over half of its health.  If they could keep the pressure on, this thing might actually fall quite quickly.

The titanic glitch roared again, loosing its frustration on its surroundings in the absence of being able to land any blows on the ravaging darkness swarming around it.  Stone melted at its touch, leaving great gouges and rents behind and carving up the endless halls of... wherever this was.

"Keep making it mad," Freyd called out.  "It needs to get pissed enough to rip us an opening out of here."

"That REALLY doesn't sound like a great plan," Quaestor replied.

"Sorry.  It's the only one I have!"

Spoiler

Freyd activates Charge.

Freyd activates Disguise.

Galaxy Destroyer (x13): 13 EN -(Rested 2/2, Finesse 3, Turn Recovery) = 8 EN

ID #181965 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Charge +5, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (38*13=494-110=384) damage to Big Daddy Glitch. TxVen applied.

ID #181965 | MD: 3+2-5=0 (miss).  Big Daddy-Glitch misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:174/191 (182-8) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 (+1) | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Disguise (0/3)

Big Daddy-Glitch: HP: 905/1650 | DMG 440 | MIT: 110 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 | TxVen 12 (1/2) (1305-384-16)

• Critical (MD 9): Deals (484) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (242) DMG to every other player.
• Critical (MD 10): Deals (528) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (264) DMG to every other player.

 

[Freyd 0]

Grabbing one of the two large support columns still standing nearby, the glitch heaved and shattered its connections to the floor and ceiling as it flung the balance directly at Quaestor.  The hulking chunk of digital debris smashed into thousands of motes of light as it crashed into Quaestor's shield.  Somehow, he didn't topple over, but slid back from the impact, losing contact with Miri, who tumbled away in the opposite direction.  Freyd was impressed by the speed and grace of the move, especially considering how she was looking a mere handful of minutes ago.

Choosing the direct approach, he lunged and stabbed the large creature in the back of the leg, provoking another roar and swat in his direction.  For a gnat, he seemed to sting it an awful lot, which was perfectly satisfying.  The glitch wheeled, pounding both boulder-sized hands into the ground and spraying a wave of rocky shrapnel in every direction.  Freyd had made it plenty mad, perhaps a bit more than intended, and had earned its undivided attention and wrath.

Spoiler

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

ID #181966 | BD: 4+6-2=8 (hit).  Freyd deals (26*13=312-110=202) damage to Big Daddy Glitch. 

ID #181966 | MD: 7+2-4=5 (miss).  Big Daddy-Glitch misses Freyd.

Freyd | HP:1910/1910 | EN:165/191 (174-9) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Disguise (1/3)

Big Daddy-Glitch: HP:  687/1650 | DMG 440 | MIT: 110 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 | TxVen 12 (2/2) (905-202-16)

• Critical (MD 9): Deals (484) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (242) DMG to every other player.
• Critical (MD 10): Deals (528) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (264) DMG to every other player.

 

[Freyd 0]

Surging forth with the sudden speed and power of a lighting bolt, the gigantic glitch slammed its entire body into Freyd, who just barely managed to raise his sword in defense.  The creature's electrified body crackled as it arced power between itself and all surrounding surfaces, seeming to stretch and rip out the ground where it had stood just a moment ago.  It's absence left a literal void in its wake, as digital reality broke down and sundered itself, just like last time.

Freyd, meanwhile, was holding on by the slimmest of margins, his blade blazing with so much divine brilliance that it was blinding him and everything else around.  To Quaestor and Miri, he looked like a small, dark figure with massive wings of white energy folded forward to contain a ravenous demon.  Somehow, he contained and turned back its tide, flinging the creature back with such force that it crashed into the ceiling and sent large sections of overhead masonry raining down all around them.  The very fabric of the place rippled at the clash of blows, which had likewise driven the Whisper to his knees.

Spoiler

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

ID #181967 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +6).  Freyd deals (34*13=442-110=332) damage to Big Daddy Glitch. 

ID #181967 | MD: 10 (Crit +2).  Big Daddy-Glitch deals (530*0.5=265-79=186) damage to Freyd.  Vengeful Riposte triggers.

Vengeful Riposte: Big Daddy Glitch takes (265-110=155) damage dealt to Big Daddy-Glitch.

Freyd | HP:1724/1910 (1910-186) | EN:156/191 (165-9) | DMG:26 | MIT:79 | EVA:4 | ACC:6 | VAMP OFF:191 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | TxVen 16/2 | LD:8 | PROSP 3 | BH:95 | VENGEFUL | Parry (--/2) | Vengeful Riposte (--/3) | Disguise (2/3)

Big Daddy-Glitch: HP:  200/1650 | DMG 440 | MIT: 110 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2  (687-332-155)

• Critical (MD 9): Deals (484) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (242) DMG to every other player.
• Critical (MD 10): Deals (528) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (264) DMG to every other player.