[F1-OP] What's This Game About, Anyway?

[Astreya 0]

Astreya frowned as she peered over the counter at a few different food items that were available for purchase.  In her recent attempts at actually going outside the safety of the city and doing a few quests, she actually had some extra Col that she could spend on food, which was nice.  It wasn't very often that she actually got to be a little extravagant with her purchases- usually she just did very basic simple ones and earned a little bit here and there, just enough to make it through each day.

But after just a few quests, she had this Col burning a hole in her pocket and she just had to spend it on something yummy.  It wasn't exactly the most ladylike thing, as she came away with several pieces of pie in a few various styles of fruit and fillings, but since she couldn't actually gain weight from eating any of this- why not?

The young woman found a seat at a semi-crowded little eating area just a stone's throw from the eatery.  She took a seat and then a bite of one of the pie slices, a pleased little sound coming from her as she did so.  But as she did, she paused slightly and set the rest of the pie down.  Here she was, newly Level 9, and she was just... enjoying some pie?  

"Man.  What is this game even about, anyway?" she asked aloud, heedless of whoever was around her.

 

 Full Stats:

Spoiler

 

	Astreya
Basics:	Skills:	Equipment:
HP: 180 Energy: 18 Damage: 7 Mitigation: 17 Thorns: 9	2H Straight Sword[Journeyman] Sword Arts: Spoiler [x2 AoE] Blast (2 Energy +2 per target hit) - A pair of horizontal sweeping strokes that hits multiple targets. [x2] Straight (2 Energy) - Begins with the player bending their knees before thrusting forward with a singular powerful strike covering the gap between you and your opponent. [x3] Scooped (3 Energy) - A three-hit sword art that employs varying over and under-cut motions. [x4 Stun] Lightning (7 Energy) - A combination of four slashes of varying angles aimed at a single target stunning them. [x4] Cyclone (4 Energy) - A multi-hit sword art that uses the user's heel as a pivot to spin violently, chaining together multiple hits. Heavy Armor[Novice] +8 MIT	Weapon: 2H Straight Sword [Damage] Armor: Battle Dress [Mitigation][Thorns] Items: Starter Healing Potion | 50HP | 3 T1 Health Potion | 40 HP | 5 T1 Damage Potion | 1 Damage | 1 T1 Overhealth Potion | 50 MaxHP | 1

 

 

 

[Plini 0]

"It's all about surviving, by helping the people up there clearing floor bosses or supporting them with what we the cowards can craft" he spoke behind her as he holds an beaker filled with a mix of green and red.

2 hours ago, before he sneaked behind Astreya

"Ok Plini I'm giving you clear instructions here" A woman the same height as him wearing some kind of of white coat and a long sword strapped behind her "don't go looking for trouble, remember you're an alchemist not a brave knight or brainless brute" she added. Plini turned his head, an annoyed face clearly seen "ok Orca cut the bullshit, I'll keep myself safe until you return" he replied. The girl laughed as she heard his reply which indicates that she is trying to annoy him "I'll hold on to that" she said before taking off. Now that he is alone, the first thing he can do is...

Back to present time...

"How's the food? you seem to have bought for an army" he told her. Plini opened his inventory and placed the beaker inside, meeting someone familiar is good enough reason to set aside his weird concoctions. "Mind if I sit here?" he asked but already seated himself and crossed his arms, his eyes on the pie she's eating "my babysitter just left me here so I don't know what to do aside from finishing my experiments."

 

Plini [Lvl. 8]	"I'd spend my solitude with you."
Hide contents notes [none] Plini | HP: 160/160 | EN: 16/16 | DMG: 3 | MIT: 9 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 3 | LD: 2 | Savvy: 2 equipped Destrezas [vanity weapon] Aegirian Polymer jacket EVA I | Savvy II Caenis Fist MIT I | Regen II Siesta Shirt [AUS] LD I | EVA II battle-ready inventory // skills   Hide contents One-Handed Curved Sword [R2] Searching [R1] data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs   Hide contents   data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

[Astreya 0]

At the sudden surprise from behind her, Astreya nearly choked on her pie, having not been expecting anyone to actually answer her.  She was just sort of venting to the cosmos, something she had a really bad habit of doing.  All the same, as she forcibly swallowed the food down, giving a small sound of slight pain as she did so. 

She managed to finish choking about the time he sat down, and the girl exhaled softly.  "The food's great actually," she responded with a grin, ignoring the slight tears in her eyes from the near-death incident she'd just had.  "And heck yeah I did.  I can eat all I want here and I don't even have to exercise it off- it's great," she responded with a wide grin, noting that his eyes were on the woman's food, and she gave a small snort as she slid the plate to the middle of the table.  "Have a piece or two," she offered, not minding the sharing, given that she had quested with this guy once before.

"Babysitter?" she asked, arching a brow, before she shook her head.  Maybe this was a kid player or something?  "Well I can sure try and keep you entertained... but what you were saying before- surviving, right?  Lasting long enough to get back to the real world?" she continued.  "I want to help out on the front lines but I'm not strong enough yet... granted I probably should've come to that decision a lot sooner than now."

[Plini 0]

"That's good to know, most people here enjoy food made by other players but I don't mind who made it, food is food." Plini pulled a plate slowly towards him and took a bite, it was good but still it reminded him of the cake sample he had back then. "I guess that's just the perks of being inside a virtual world, less anxiety about weight" he told her as he continued to take small bites of the pie.

"Yeah a babysitter, I met her when I did some beginner quests and now she acts like my safety is important." He wasn't sure if Astreya would understand it but it would be weird if someone didn't know the definition of a babysitter. He listened as the woman told him about her want to help the frontlines and for that to happen she has to grow stronger. It was also supposed to be a decision she had sooner "it's fine, people tend to take their time with things. I'd rather see you grow stronger while walking on the safe side than jump in danger just to get stronger faster considering how you want to help the frontlines."  Plini sliced off a tiny piece from the pie and scratched his head "I'm fine with a little entertainment though don't give me the acting ones, I find it repulsive" he told her. Plini was no fan of the drama he sees on television, it felt like those kind of shows can only crying.

"I kind of expecting you to be with Asmalin, Asterling, Astro- what was her name again?"

[Freyd 0]

Wandering unseen through the pristine streets of the Town of Beginnings, Freyd watched the bustle of daily life buzz all around and felt envious of the blind, banality of routine.  The time to make his final ascent had come. He'd be heading to the Settlement of the Iron Fist after making one last stop.  Marv deserved a final chat, and he needed a last chance to experience 'normalcy' before diving into the unknown.  A charcoal-coloured woolen cowl of exquisite craftsmanship sat limply around his shoulders, rarely removed, yet appropriate in this particular moment.  Freyd's guard was rarely lowered, but such a moment was required honesty and self-reflection before he charging once more unto the breach.  Red eyes looked more like ruddy brown in the open light of day and matched a mop of unruly mousy-brown hair to frame his plain and unremarkable face.  They gazed down at his shadow, which somehow seemed to gaze knowingly back without the benefit of the necessary organs.

'Are you planning to say goodbye?'  he heard it ask in his mind.

Montjoy, named after the arrogant and humbled French herald from Shakespeare's Henry the Fifth, held him in strange regard.  Freyd wasn't really sure what Montjoy was, though there were several obvious possibilities. Their exchanges began after he had killed his Gemini a second time: after it, or some twisted facsimile, wrenched itself from his digital innards.  It looked and acted like a Gemini, and even seemed to spawn them in the Forest of Memories where it first and painfully disgorged itself from his avatar.  More likely, it was a manifestation of his own inner demons, confronted but not wholly mastered by a pond on the sixth floor.  

Trauma-induced detachment, combined with an innate orbit on the edges of the autism spectrum produced a fragile something, barely someone, trapped behind a protective shell of logic and calculus.  Montjoy was born of the struggles endured by that fledgling soul to find its humanity.  Strange that it so often spoke as his conscience.  Freyd just accepted it, assuming it to be some figment of his own imagination come to challenge confusing or darker, persistent impulses.  He felt forever on the edge of some impending fall.

'Only to an old acquaintance.  It seems appropriate to end this road where it began.'

A patch of nondescript ground beyond his shadow summoned memories of a weapon fallen from the sky: Forgiven Disobedience.  How aptly-named the blade had been, to suddenly appear before him as he left the false safety of this place behind for the very first time.  It had been his first and faithful companion as he’d set forth, girded in some silly cassock that made everyone think he was some sort of priest.  Nothing felt farther from the truth.  

A steaming cup of coffee conjured itself in his raised hand, everything except the man’s head being but some instrument clad in black and honed for the field.  A strong scent of vanilla wafted in the vessel’s wake.

“What a journey it’s been, eh Marv?”

The question was directed towards one of the NPC soldiers who stood guard at the main gate leading to the somewhat domesticated wilds that lay beyond; The Boaring Fields, as some called them.  How many had perished in those pastures and grazing grounds?  The NPC, 'Marv', staunchly ignored his hail.  He always did.  Freyd had been performing this ritual since his earliest days, venting his innermost thoughts, fears and insights to the guard in pensive introspection.  Whether it was some form of confession or cathartic purge remained undecided.  Marv had never complained, which was enough.  In fact, he had never reacted in any manner whatsoever.

Two strangers sat in Freyd's usual spot on the bench and stack of crates at Marv’s side.  They looked like newbs, but there was something compelling about the two of them sitting there in their innocence, sharing a meager meal.  A pensive smile and disarming slope of his brows eased his features such that a miracle seemed to have occurred: an edgelord momentarily casting aside his edge.

"Sorry.  Would you mind if I joined you?"  A feint gesture with his cup pointed to an occupied crate at Marv's side.

Spoiler

Freyd
Level: 88
HP: 1790/1790
EN: 191/191

Stats:
Damage: 20
Mitigation: 79
Evasion: 2
Accuracy: 4
BH:89
VAMP OFF:179
HLY:6
FLN:6
LD:5

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]
Howl [Obtained]
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
Vengeful Riposte
Untraceable
Tracking

Inactive Mods:
Vanish
Surprise Attack (Assassin)
Night Vision
Focused Howl
Emergency Recovery
Bull Rush

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:

 

Edited March 27, 2021 by Freyd

[Astreya 0]

"Yeah I just kinda go to whatever shop looks like it has the best food for what I want that day," Astreya admitted, shrugging slightly in response to the man's words.  "Food is food and it's basically all delicious.  I guess that's another one of the benefits of being in a virtual world like this one too, right?" she asked, on the heels of his own commentary regarding the lack of concern about one's weight.  "Everyone just uses the crafting recipe so the food always turns out good, no matter what it is.  It doesn't really matter how good or bad you are at cooking in real life- you just follow the recipe the game gives you and then bamm- perfect pie every time," she spoke, a bit a wistful sadness in her tone, but for the most part, her usual cheerful demeanor shone through.

"Well duh, I know what a babysitter is.  I just wasn't sure why you had one," she spoke in response to him, giving him a small smirk.  "I guess that wouldn't be so bad though, having someone stronger than you to look out for you- if nothing else, it'd always be nice to be able to relax a bit if you've got someone stronger looking out for ya."  She didn't bring up Zack- she hadn't done so to anyone else, so she sure as heck wasn't going to start now.

"Acting?  Me?  No way.  I can sing pretty well- my mom taught me how when I was younger.  Not like, just the basics of singing or whatever," the young woman spoke, talking as much with her hands as she was with her mouth as she gestured this way and that with the pie she had on the fork.  "But like proper form and how to carry a tone and all that.  I was thinking about going on to do the Performer job here in the game, but like..." she trailed off, trying to formulate the thought in her head into words that didn't make her sound downright depressive.  

But she was saved from having to do so by another question from Plini and the girl grinned.  "Astralin?  I thought I'd caught her around here a couple of times but I haven't actually gotten to hang out with her since that thing with Griswold," she spoke, shaking her head.  "I should really try and track her down," she spoke, thinking for a moment to herself.  Was she pushing other people away at the chance to get stronger so she could get to the front lines?  So she could get out of this world?

Her lingering thoughts were shattered by a new voice that was speaking to 'Marv,' and the young woman paused, glancing past Plini to the man who was talking to the guard that she waved to each and every time she left the city... and the guard was just about as responsive to the new figure as he was to her.  She looked at him for a moment, arching a brow- she hadn't tried to actually talk to the guard, but she could see the fellow was pretty comfortable in doing so, and with that, she shrugged, spearing a piece of pie with her fork and shoving it into her mouth.

Right after that came the offer to join them and the young woman's eyes widened slightly and she gave a similar reaction to when Plini had snuck up on her- she gave a small choking sound before forcibly swallowing the too-large piece of pie in her mouth.  "Not at all- a friend of that guard is a friend of mine," the young woman beamed, gesturing toward the guard who had been named 'Marv' by this black-garbed stranger.  As Astreya actually looked the fellow over... he seemed pretty strong, actually...

[Plini 0]

Plini almost choked at the mention of food turning out good just by following the recipe "right, right, just follow the recipe" he made a nervous laugh and took a bite out of the pie. He can remember the vivid memories of him getting beaten by one of his sisters for ruining a simple cake. There was no in-between, he can make good meals but he can also burn down a house just by making one muffin.

"Someone stronger than me?" he thought hard for a second. It was true that Orca is strong, there's no way she can survive getting assaulted if she isn't but Plini somehow feel something weird about that strength. It felt like a vendetta. "If you're talking about combat strength then yes she is, I don't know about the other aspect though." Plini took another bite, he was getting used to eating sweets. It must've been a nice change of habit to eat something instead of tasting his poison and venoms and then watch his HP go down little by little with every small dosage he takes.

Astreya's mention of singing was enough for Plini to think that she'll be thinking about taking the- and right off the bat she mentioned it. "A performer sounds nice, they are quite rare in this place" he told her. "Oh Astralin, yeah the princess diaries girl."

A their conversation continued, Astreya's words were redirected to the other person who just arrived. Plini was into eating the pie that he didn't notice him. A player who looked quite strong not because of the looks but by how he carries himself as Plini sees it. "Sure we don't mind, Astreya's got pie for everyone" he told him.

[Freyd 0]

Sidling up in his usual spot, Freyd was pleased to hear that Marv had been making friends.  Giving the NPC the slightest of taps in the ribs with his elbow provoked no reaction whatsoever, yet Freyd still carried a wry smile as he winked to the guard from his periphery.  You old, sly dog.

"Oh, you know Marv too, do you?  That's fantastic!  He's such a popular fellow."  There was a hint of uncharacteristically jovial excitement in his voice, though neither Plini nor Astreya would have known how odd a sound it was to have come from Freyd.  His mood was more often in keeping with his garb: serious and drab, and meant for pragmatic business at all times.  But, that wasn't the case at the moment.  This was a rare moment, and he meant it to be memorable.  Slim, raised eyebrows signified his request to partake, as a few gentle taps summoned a tattered brown box with strange red writing and linework along the exterior.  

"Since we're sharing," he added, casually flipping open the lid to reveal an assortment of doughnuts.  "Marv and I don't usually do the dough, but this is a special occasion. I wanted to stop where I started before heading to the raid.  They'll be assembling soon."  HA wide eyed gesture towards the box implored them to partake.  "What are you two crazy kids up to?"  He whirled suddenly, cutting off unspoken words from the guard who seemed to be paying them no mind whatsoever.

"HUSH!  Marv!  Geez.  Let them talk!"  Stuffing a donut into his gob while waiting for pie permission, he gesticulated wildly for them to respond.

Edited March 31, 2021 by Freyd

[Astreya 0]

Astreya almost felt like Plini was thinking about something else when she mentioned 'strength.'  She didn't really think that there even was another kind of it, not in a game world.  What else would matter in this sort of place?  If you didn't have enough combat strength, then you couldn't make it anywhere higher up... although she supposed she'd been on the first level here in Aincrad for... how long?  Far too long, without any combat strength.  

She had opened her mouth then to comment, regarding if he meant some sort of 'mental fortitude' as opposed to any combat ability... when the new guy began to elbow the guard, who apparently had been named 'Marv' and spoke to the man as if he were actually present and accounted for, and not just an NPC.  Astreya watched him for a moment as he did so, as if expecting it to be turned into a joke of some kind.  It was weird, seeing the dark-garbed individual with such... genuine delight in his voice, but Astreya just gave him a small nod and smile, not sure what to say to that.

"Yeah, when I was roaming around some of the merchant areas earlier, I didn't see too many performer shops.  Granted maybe they're up on the higher floors?" she responded to Plini, thinking for a moment.  "You think I should keep a shop setup down here whenever I figure out how to do the profession thing?  There's a lot of people still down here," she murmured, mostly just curious on what others thought of what she should do, especially considering the fact that she wasn't really much of a gamer.

Her eyes lit up when the newcomer offered donuts, and she couldn't help but to grin slightly in response to his words on offering them- still referencing Marv as if he were partaking.  She was going to offer thanks when the man whirled onto the NPC, chastising him for actions undone, and the smile somewhat froze on her face.  

So, this was the 'mental fortitude' that Plini was mentioning before.  Astreya had stayed down here in this town with others who were too afraid of going up against the raids that led to the next floor.  So in that, she had been able to keep up some level of sanity through constant communication with others but she wondered if this guy... hadn't.  And had found conversation where he could.

In Marv.

But he had said something interesting to the young woman who smacked the table in her own excitement.  "Wait, wait.  Part of the main raid?" she asked.  "I'm trying to get there myself.  I've been loafing off down here in the Town of Beginnings for...way too long.  Like I was telling Plini here, I should have started awhile ago but...I figure that's the only way we can all get back to the real world, right?  If we all work together to clear the game?"

[Plini 0]

"I don't know Marv"  Plini told him "the only one I know here is Dr. Silence, she lets me use her spare room for my alchemy shop" he added. The newcomer already gave an impression of strength similar to Orca but it was different. Orca was handling assault to her well while this one... he is part of the Frontlines. He was however friendly enough to let someone named Marv join them, add some donuts and it was quite a time. He thought that things like this was rare and so, Plini turned his attention back to Astreya.

"Maybe, I hardly try to locate shops here, some are weird looking while others seem to work by referral" he said as he finished his slice of pie and slowly pulled one donut towards him. "I'd say set up a shop that is easily accessible no matter what floor you are, some players have no patience on finding one where they can buy all their survival necessities."

"Assembling soon?" Plini thought hard for a moment, he was sure that his current employer, Crozeph was part of it or rather- he looked like he is part of it. "Trying to unlock another floor? well I wish you good things along with Marv, it's better out than in here right?."

[Freyd 0]

"Huh." Freyd muttered questioningly as he pondered Astreya's musings on Performers.  "I know Shiina's a performer, but I've never been to her shop.  They're not a type of consumable that I frequently use.  I did buy some crystals once, somewhere, but the name escapes me.  It's been too long."   

Steam wafted from his cup as he paused for a pleasant sip, the taste and smell of vanilla soothing imagined tensions.

"Most players are good at finding what they need, in terms of goods, and a bit of advertising tends to go a long way.  My only suggestion would be to set yourself up in a safe zone.  A handful of shops setup in dangerous areas.  One or two that I've encountered even travel about.  They're useful, if in the right place at the right time, but not all that great for the merchant.  Plus, you know, PKers."  A grimace washed over his face as he used the term.  They were all too common these days.

"It's good of you both to help each other out.  That's important.  We're all going to need each other if we hope to get out of here.  As for the frontlines, I'm only heading there for the first time myself, and am not quite sure what to expect."  A shoulder shrug dismissed any semblance of hesitation or doubt.  "It'll be what it'll be, I guess."  

Freyd's head perked up as his mind caught up with the conversation.  

"Wait, you guys know Astralin?  She and I just had a really good snowball fight up on floor four."  A subtle grin turned the corner of his lips, only to be concealed behind another sip.  "Good times."

[Astreya 0]

"Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhh," Astreya spoke as she waved one mailed hand in the air as both Plini and Freyd began to talk about the ideas of shops as a whole and players being able to find their own gear and whatnot fairly easily.  The girl shook her head afterwards though, leaning back a little in her chair.  "See, I don't really know if I want to, like, bother getting and upgrading new gear and junk because I'll probably just replace it when I increase my level anyway, right?  So I might as well wait until I'm way up there first," she added, nodding.  "I mean, if that makes sense, I guess.  It seems like it should."

But she considered where to setup her own shop.  "Well I totally want to make sure that people who need it are able to get to it, so probably in a town right by one of the teleporters, if I can swing it.  That way no matter where someone is, they can always come in and visit," the girl spoke, grinning as she punched a fist up into the air.  "I'll be the best saleswoman this side of Aincrad!" she called out- although whether or not that was actually true yet remained to be seen.

"You gotta unlock it!  If we all work together, I'm sure it'll work out," Astreya beamed, both in relation to Plini's offer of good luck to Freyd, as well as the dark-garbed man's own thoughts on the ideas of wanting to get out of here.  If she could help somehow, she totally would, but there was absolutely no way that she'd be able to do that now.

Astreya had just finished taking a too-large bite of pie when Freyd mentioned Astralin and she nodded.  "Yep!  Plini and I and her and another girl all beat up that Dark Elf that Griswold needed help with," the girl spoke.  "Poor Dark Elf didn't last very long though.  He kinda got ganged up on.  BUT," she called out, holding up a finger.  "In our defense, he was being very weird and uncool."

[Plini 0]

"Well extra hands are always welcome to help out, I'd do the same for the frontlines too but not join the fight. I do at least want to provide items for boss whenever he goes out to scout or join the floor boss battles." He told Freyd, it was his goal for now and he wanted to see it happen soon. His shop was already done, all it takes was to gather the materials.

"What Astreya said" he added as Freyd asked them if they knew Astralin. "Princess-like, I don't know if that would do something about stats, and she kicked the elf in the balls right after the girls jumped on him." The elf was indeed weird, Plini was even the one who tried to draw first blood when they encountered him. "I'd rather not see elves with that kind of personality ever, I'm not even a girl but his confidence creeped me out."

[Freyd 0]

Freyd arched a single eyebrow, uncertain of what to make of their comments, but convinced that the dark elf in question had met a most unfortunate fate.

"Not all dark elves are like that.  I've met a few of the more decent sort."  The man seemed pensive for a moment, his right hand fetching a small stone of highly polished obsidian from his pocket, the symbol of a red tower glowing upon its side.  Though they caught but a glimpse of it, both Plini and Astreya noted a sliver of white, like a sword, plunged through the tower from top to bottom.  Freyd thought of the tragedies that had befallen Fonsa and Tythen.  Memories intruded of a feisty, orange-haired woman who still punished herself for ancient crimes - as she should, and so also earned repentance.  Red eyes rose and gazed upon them both, age and experience beyond their youth hidden behind them even as his darkened cowl seemed to draw in to obscure his features.  

"You both have quite the road ahead of you."  The words were both hopeful and ominous.  "I wish you an interesting journey."  The last of his coffee vanished in a single draught.

"Keep the rest Marv.  Share them, and make a few friends while you're at it.  You never know who you'll meet out there."

Looking at the pillar of the labyrinth in the distance, he trailed its rise up to the ceiling above, recalling all of the other floors that lay between.

"If we survive this, come find me afterwards.  I'll help you out, assuming I'm not entirely dead myself."  The weight was back on his shoulders and could no longer be avoided.  When had everything become so heavy?  A small smile was all he could muster to offer.

Vanity Tag: @Mari