[SP-23] Boomstick Trials

[Freyd 0]

Griswold had outdone himself, of course.  Freyd's fingers gripped the upgraded weapon  in their grasp, humming with a power unlike anything he had ever wielded in the past.  

"So, this is what the next level feels like."  There was no doubt or question in the matter.  Nothing like Samael' Pride had ever existed before, to his knowledge.  The raw potential exuded by the simple-looking staff was terrifying.  It had been deadly enough before.  Now?  

Unparalleled.  

"Exactly.  We need to test its capabilities on something suitable."  

The Whisper and his shadow looked upon each other, both thinking of the same large, lumbering target.

"Ugzeke," they said in unison.  Kalanaes wasn't far, or difficult to reach.  The field boss' path of travel was already well-known to him.  Death stick in hand, Freyd set himself upon the familiar path and focused on his objective.  Part of him was eager to see what could be achieved.  The smaller balance wondered what would happen when other players figured out what had been brought to bear, and turned it against each other.

***

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 124/124 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Consumes:

Spoiler

Crème Brûlée (Snack) | Accuracy 2 [172786]
Smores (Snack) | Evasion 2 [173650] + Filled
Liquor of Light (Potion) | Damage 3 [178121-2]
Divinity's Wait (Meal)| T4 Mitigation 3 [190681]
Viperion (Salve) | T3 Toxic Venom [178354]

Berry Crumb Bars (Snack) | LOOT DIE 3 [175337]
Mousse (Snack) | PROSPERITY 3 [173054]

Base Stats:

Spoiler

Freyd,
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 60
HP: 900/900
EN: 124/124

Stats:
Damage: 23 (+3)
Mitigation: 66 (+60)
Evasion: 1 (+2+1) 
Accuracy: 4 (+2)
Battle Healing: 45 
Loot Dice: 5 (+3)
(Prosperity 3)
FLN: 16
HLY: 16
(TXV 24/3)

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Samael's Pride (T4-WH, HOLY 2, FLN 2)
Armor: Skirmisher's Garb (T3 LA, MIT 2, EVA 1)
Misc: Night Shades (T3-Trinket, ACC 3)

Skills:
War Hammer R5
Light Armor R5
Searching R5
Battle Healing R5
Charge
Energist
Extended Weight Limit
Charge
Extended Mod Limit

Active Mods:
Large Pockets
Ferocity
Stamina
Meticulous
Resolve

Inactive Mods:

Active Extra Skills:
Disguise
Forgotten King’s Authority
Meditation
Brawler

Inactive Extra Skills:
Survival

Battle Ready Inventory:
15* Teleport Crystals    
15* Gungnir: T3 Perfect HP Rec [Instant] 
15* Mass HP Rec [Instant] (+30*Tier HP) 
5* Antidote 3   
15* Golden Key (+2LD to open chests) 
15* Spyglass (45/45)  
15* Glowstones 

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 CD/LD when fishing
Advanced Training: +10% Exp 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:
Tanos Statue: +25 MIT a thread

Wedding Ring:

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

Flying silently through the black of the underdark, the Whisper made not a sound upon approach.  The crashing impact of his weapon upon the back of the dim troll's skull revealed his presence and drove the giant figure face-first into the stone facade before him, crumpling an adjoining rock pillar and causing a shower of broken granite to cascade onto his battered form.  Ugzeke was still, too stunned to respond in any way, or just too stupid.  Leaping backwards with a twist of acrobatic flair, Freyd landed on the tips of his black-booted feet.  His motion might have been considered graceful and cat-like, save for the sheer force and brutality he'd just unleashed upon the unsuspecting mob.

Ugzeke hit hard, if he could manage to connect.  The key was to prevent that through careful control of the battlefield, combined with an unrelenting assault.  Both were specialties of his, and he put them to good use.  The staff had already delivered a more telling blow than it ever had before, and they were just getting started.

Spoiler

Post Action | Odin's Wrath (CD 0/4) (x18 AoE, 16 EN +2/hit): 18 EN - (Rested 1/2; Stamina) = 15 EN.  Charge (CD 0/3) (8 EN)
Free Action | Activate Grappling Familiar (CD 0/5)

ID #191506 | BD: 6+6-1+1=12 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +16).  DMG (18*47=846-160=686)

Ugzeke is stunned and takes no action.

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 101/124 (124-15-8) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 2414/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -1 STUNNED (3100-686)

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

The mountain of flash and hair pulled itself out of the spontaneous rockslide, somehow oblivious to the fact that it had just been smote.  Ugzeke blinked.  He did that a lot.  It was his most reliable precursor to attempting thought.  In this particular instance, the starter failed and he just stared at the imprint in the rock face, wondering where it had come from.  His addled mind simply couldn't process that he had made it, and furrowed every body part it could currently access, as if that might somehow assist in the thinking process.  Nothing happened.

From the rear, a much smaller shadow darted across the dimly lit cavern, unobserved amidst Ugzeke's smoke-inducing failure to fathom.  It cost him a kneecap, and he tumbled forward once more.  Giant hands tried to brace his fall, to no avail.  The troll's flailing only served to aggravate his own injuries while his mind processed the small army of shadows swarming all around.

It felt weird to think of such large black eyes as beady, but there was no spark of light or awareness in them.  Freyd suspended any sense of mercy and prepared to strike once more.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Odin's Wrath (CD 1/4)
Charge (CD 1/3)
Grappling Familiar (CD 1/5)

Post Action | Fling (CD 0/3)  (x16, 12 EN): 12 EN - (Rested 2/2; Stamina) = 9 EN. 
Free Action | Shades of the Gemini (CD 0/2); +1 DOTE

ID #191507 | BD: 2+6+1=9 (hit). DMG (16*26=416-160=256)

ID #191507 | MD: 10  (CD: 2.  Ugzeke is oblivious)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 96/124 (101+4-9) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 1 | EVA: 4 (+1) | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 2158/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -1 (2414-256)

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

Darkness harnessed around the weapon's shaft, even as the holy seal released containment on the void within.  There was a screech of vacuum as the arc of Freyd's swing disintegrated a wide swath of pixels from the giant's leg.  Ugzeke was still busy trying to figure out where the other little people had gone, Montjoy playing his usual tricks of distraction.  They worked all too well against a near-mindless target.  Leaping high and spinning in mid-air, Freyd severed a stalactite and sent it plummeting onto his enemy for good measure.  Despite the raw damage dealt, Ugzeke's health bar remained firmly and resiliently green. 

'At least my energy seems to be holding up better, this time around.'  Exhaustion had nearly claimed him when he'd first faced the field boss.  It was a lesson not worthy of repetition.  The stony spike impaled itself, deep into the troll's fleshy shoulder.  The monster roared, though more out of surprise than pain.  It was too thick for pain.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Odin's Wrath (CD 2/4)
Charge (CD 2/3)
Grappling Familiar (CD 2/5)
Fling (CD 1/3) 
Shades of the Gemini (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Ripple (CD 0/2)(x14, 12 EN): 12 EN - (Stamina) = 10 EN. 
Free Action | None

ID #191508 | BD: 6+6+1=13 (hit, Fallen +16).  DMG (14*42=588-160=426)

ID #191508 | MD: 5  (CD: 1.  Ugzeke is oblivious)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 90/124 (96+4-10) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 1 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 1732/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -1 (2158-426)

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

Lancing cross-wise, Samael's Pride clashed against bone and softer fleshy bits, soliciting outrage and fury.  Yanking the large chunk of stone out from his own shoulder, Ugzeke sent it sailing into the dark, albeit in the completely wrong direction.  Freyd bit back a quip, deciding to preserve whatever advantage remained to him from concealment.  The troll's health had just hit yellow. 

'Advantage gained,' he told himself as he slid silently down a nearby smooth section of stone, likely polished by the protracted passage of water.  Chess didn't seem to hold the right analogies for this game.  None did, really.  Ugzeke was a brute and fought as one.  Dodgeball came to mind as a better comparison, save that one side seemed to hit constantly while the other failed to realize that it had already been knocked out four times.  Drilling the troll's thick hide with another vicious blow, Freyd settled for delivery his message by repetitious barrage.  

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Odin's Wrath (CD 3/4)
Charge (CD 3/3)
Grappling Familiar (CD 3/5)
Fling (CD 2/3) 
Shades of the Gemini (CD 2/2)
Ripple (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Wallbreaker (x15 AoE, 14 EN +2/hit): 16 EN - (Stamina) = 14 EN. 
Free Action | None

ID #191509 | BD: 2+6+1=9 (hit).  DMG (15*26=390-160=230)

ID #191509 | MD: 1 (miss)  (CD 9: Ugzeke acts normally)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 80/124 (90+4-14) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 1 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 1502/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -1 (1732-230)

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

And then he slipped, of course, because that was how the universe worked.  Having intended to skirt the rim of a nearby ridge and run horizontally along its surface to strike at the mob from the far side, Freyd's scheme fell apart when a section of slick crystal ended up underfoot and sent him sliding downward along the ridge face.  There was no harm done, though he had to tumble and spin quickly to avoid Ugzeke's retort, targeting the source of scrambling noise.  It wasn't a particularly poignant in the battle, save to serve as a reminder that sometimes these things happen.  Regaining his footing, the Whisper split from his shadow once more to round and gain upper ground against his enemy again.  Ugzeke took the bait and smashed his tree-sized greatclub against a shifting shadow standing upon a distant outcrop that resembled the shape of a man, if you looked upon it from a certain point of view.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Odin's Wrath (CD 4/4)
Grappling Familiar (CD 4/5)
Fling (CD 3/3) 
Ripple (CD 2/2)
Wallbreaker (CD 1/3)

Post Action | Double or Nothing (CD 0/2) (x13 AoE, 11 EN +2/hit): 13 EN - (Stamina) = 11 EN.   Missed (2 EN)
Free Action | Shades of the Gemini (CD 0/2): Dote +1

ID #191510 | BD: 1 (miss)

ID #191510 | MD: 8 (CD 1; Ugzeke is oblivious)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 82/124 (80+4-2) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 2 | EVA: 4 (+1) | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 1502/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -1 

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

"Come on, big-guy.  Give me an opening."  His red eyes glimmered in the darkness, concealed by his cowl, even as Ugzeke did precisely that.  Raising its club to beat on a section of stone suffering from mistaken identity, the troll got its weapon stuck and knotted amongst a series of protruding stakes in the ceiling.

"Huh?"  Tugging only snared the tree in his hands more firmly in the stone and crystalline formations hanging like serrated teeth from the cavern's ceiling.  Ugzeke clearly thought that the ceiling was mocking him and redoubled his efforts at tugging.  The tree broke free, pulling down a shower of shrapnel upon him, even as Freyd charged and struck him from the opposite side.  Sheltered by the troll's massive form, the Whisper swept him foes' feet out from under him, knocking the miniature titan flat and just in time to be peppered by his own self-made avalanche.  

 

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Grappling Familiar (CD 5/5)
Wallbreaker (CD 2/3)
Double or Nothing (CD 1/2)
Shades of the Gemini (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Odin's Wrath (CD 0/4) (x18 AoE, 16 EN +2/hit): 18 EN - (Stamina) = 16 EN.  Charge (CD 0/3) (8 EN)
Free Action | None

ID #191511 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Charge +5, Holy +16).  DMG (18*48=864-160=704).  TXV applied.

ID #191511 | MD: 3+1-4=0 (miss) 

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 62/124 (82+4-16-8) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 2 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 774/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 | TXV 24 (1/3) (1502-704-24)

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

"That did the trick, I'd say."  In an instant, the troll's flesh darkened to a blood-boiling crimson colour.  His rage had taken over and he lashed out randomly in all directions.  Dancing between the thrashing of limbs and wooden trunk, Freyd struck every available point, shattering the boss' mesh with multiple impacts that turned his own violent actions against him.  Wherever Ugzeke struck, the blunt end of Freyd's staff countered and sundered his broken form.  The mob struggled to stand, and was eventually forced to drop his weapon completely, curling and cradling his battered knuckles even as he struggled to understand who or what was assailing him.  Instead, he raged and sent his anger aimlessly outward, howling loudly at nothing and sending echoes rippling into the distance.  

It won't be long, now.  Stand ready.

Freyd simply nodded.  He'd already picked his target and line up his approach.  There wasn't much left in this fight.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Wallbreaker (CD 3/3)
Double or Nothing (CD 2/2)
Shades of the Gemini (CD 2/2)
Odin's Wrath (CD 1/4)
Charge (CD 1/3)

Post Action | Ripple (CD 0/2) (x14, 12 EN): 12 EN - (Stamina) = 10 EN. 
Free Action | None

ID #191512 | BD: 6+6-2=10 (hit, Fallen +16).  DMG (14*42=588-160=428)

ID #191512 | MD: 5+1-4=2 (miss)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 56/124 (62+4-10) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 2 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 322/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 | TXV 24 (2/3) (774-428-24)

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

Vaulting into the air, once more, Freyd came crashing down squarely in the center of the thoroughly furious troll.  The impact of this staff and sword art, aided slightly by his own weight and momentum, drove Ugzeke toppling forward to his knees.  A snap shot to the left temple as he pass threw off the troll's aim enough to make useless his counterattack and left him curled into a very large, lumpy ball on the cavern floor, whimpering against the assault of shadows that had whittled him down the tiniest fraction of his once-impressive strength.  Freyd flicked off his compassion and resumed his assault.  There was a goal to be achieved here, and he wouldn't allow himself to be distracted by unworthy sympathies.  Cardinal would only abuse such weaknesses.

A twirled strike spun Ugzeke's neck to the side with a sound like a firecracker going off beside your ear.  Only a sliver of health remained.  

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Odin's Wrath (CD 2/4)
Charge (CD 2/3)
Ripple (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Fling (CD 0/3) (x16, 12 EN): 12 EN - (Stamina) = 10 EN. 
Free Action | Shades of the Gemini (CD 0/2); +1 Dote (3/3)

ID #191513 | BD: 5+6-2=9 (hit).  DMG (16*26=416-160=256)

ID #191513 | MD: 8+1-4=5 (miss)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 50/124 (56+4-10) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 (+1) | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 42/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 | TXV 24 (3/3) (322-256-24)

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

Freyd sauntered from the shadows, revealing himself to his enemy at last.  Raising the staff overhead like a massive spear, he made ready to smite the mob down, and in so doing committed the sin of pride.  The troll rolled unexpectedly, with vigor that should not have been possible in its depleted state.  Grabbing the slender dark man before him, Ugzeke flung him with all his might straight into a nearby cavern wall.  A small mushroom cloud of dust blew outward from the point of impact even as the section of stone above collapsed and rained down a shower of rocks ranging from pebbles to chunks matching the size of Ugzeke's bloated head.  

Coughing as he tried to clear the dust from his lungs, Freyd swatted at the air as he emerged, coated in fine brown powder but with surprisingly little injury.

"Huh, whaddaya know?  Turns out that skipping protein at breakfast does have some advantages."

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Odin's Wrath (CD 3/4)
Charge (CD 3/3)
Ripple (CD 2/2)
Fling (CD 1/3)
Shades of the Gemini (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Lift Asunder (CD 0/2) (x11, 9 EN): 9 EN - (Stamina) = 7 EN.   Miss (2 EN)
Free Action | None

ID #191514 | BD: 1 (miss)

ID #191514 | MD: 9 (Crit +1).  DMG (225-151=74).  vs. Freyd.  ACC -1 for two turns.

Freyd | HP: 826/900 | EN: 52/124 (50+4-2) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 (+1) | ACC: 6 | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 42/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

His head rang even as Monjoy's scowl taunted him through the still-settling cloud.

You really should know better, by now, than to let your guard down like that.

I thought he was down!  There's so little left in his health bar that he might as well be.

Ugzeke, meanwhile, had gathered up an armful of stones and was launching them in Freyd's direction.  His aim was off, but a luck shot might actually do some real damage, leaving him with no option but to drop and roll out of sight while he considered his options.  A single strike would suffice, but he had to get close enough to deliver it.  Too many skills were also still on cooldown.  Damn, he hated those things.

Skulking off into a nearby crevice, Freyd made his way along side the troll and simply waited.  He'd run out of rocks, eventually, and that would prove to be his end.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Freyd regains +45 HP from BH
Odin's Wrath (CD 4/4)
Fling (CD 2/3)
Shades of the Gemini (CD 2/2)
Lift Asunder (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Ripple (CD 0/2) (x14, 12 EN): 12 EN - (Stamina) = 10 EN.   Miss (2 EN)
Free Action | None

ID #191515 | BD: 1 (miss)

ID #191515 | MD: 7+1-4=4 (miss)

Freyd | HP: 871/900 (871+45) | EN: 54/124 (52+4-2) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 (-1) | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 42/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

Sensing his own health to be recovered, staff in hand, Freyd launched himself over the lip of the ditch where he had concealed himself and laid into Ugzeke's side.  One blow was enough.  The mob was already on his last legs and practically fell apart from the wind of his weapon's passing before the impact actually did him in.  A massive cloud of pixels materialized all around like someone had dropped a Mentos into minivan-sized container of soda and washed over him.  Fortunately, the fizz just disappeared an instant later.

The weapon worked, quite well in fact, but his luck still seemed to be as terrible as always.  He knew that it would spell his downfall, someday, but also that there was nothing to be done about it.  Maybe Cardinal was stacking the deck against him?  Or maybe fate had some unspoken grudge against him.  He'd succeeded despite both possibilities, and that was gratifying enough.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Fling (CD 3/3)
Lift Asunder (CD 2/2)
Ripple (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Double or Nothing (x13 AoE, 11 EN +2/hit): 13 EN - (Stamina) = 11 EN. 
Free Action | None

ID #191516 | BD: 5+5-2=8 (hit).  DMG (13*26=338-160=178)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 47/124 (54+4-11) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 (-1) | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Ugzeke | HP: 0/3100 | MIT: 160 | DMG: 300 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 (42-178)

<<Oblivious>>: Every turn, unless <<Ugzeke>> rolls CD 5+, he will remain oblivious to the enemy party and refuse to attack. This skill is disabled once <<Ugzeke>> becomes <<In Pain>>.
<<In Pain>>: Once <<Ugzeke’s>> health reaches 1200, he will become enraged as his skin turns red and he notices the party fully. His ACC is reduced to 1, but his EVA is increased to 2.
<<Smash>>: On an MD 9-10, his attack will hit the entire party for 225 DMG, lowering everyone’s ACC by 1 for two turns.
<<The Harder They Fall>>: Upon being hit with a Focus Sword Art, <<Ugzeke>> will falter and his next attack will have -2 ACC. This can only trigger every third turn.
<<Hard Hitter>>: <<Ugzeke’s>> attacks cannot be parried.

Loot Ugzeke: ID #191517 | LD: 7+8=15 | CD: 8

T3 Rare Weapon [191517a]
T3 Uncommon Consumable  [191517b]
2 materials (+2 LD odd)
26,040 col (HP[3100]*8 - incl. +2 CD even, +5% Col Deposit)

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

Settling down on a bit of broken ground, Freyd dusted himself off as best he could.  Fallen pride aside, the weapon is his hands performed admirably.  It had taken almost every ounce of effort since he'd first left the Town of Beginnings just to find all of the components required to forge the thing in the first place.  None of it was regrettable.  He'd met good people, and had adventures the likes of which he never could have imagined.  Despite years spent in MMOs and other games, plus the ever-present risk of impending doom shackled to them by Kiyaba, this place always made him feel more alive than anything else he could recall.  

"I suppose that there are some things to be grateful for, here, after all."

Montjoy mused silently beside him, watching and enabling the self-reflection by mere presence.  His shadow always seemed to know him better than he knew himself.

Spoiler

Rest 1/2
Ripple (CD 2/2)
Double or Nothing (CD 1/2)

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

A flickering of light in the distance drew the Whisper's attention.  Wincing and straining to see in greater detail, he eventually gave up and summoned forth one of a stack of spyglasses sitting idle in his inventory.  Torches had been planted around some sort of ritual site at the ridge leading to one of the adjacent caverns.  That meant something was up, or at least the possibility that someone else was around.  Sneaking stealthily over towards the site, Freyd found that it marked an unusual location.  Something lay concealed nearby, and this marker was but a hint about its presence.  Scanning slowly and steadily, he set himself to searching for those secrets and found what he was looking for.  The nearby rockface carried similar markings laid out in some form of puzzle-like pattern.  Pausing to explore and consider their significance, Freyd remained wary of traps or some form of ambush.  Had someone else already mapped this place out?

Spoiler

Rest 2/2 (EN refreshed)

Double or Nothing (CD 2/2)

Use Spyglass (44/45 remaining)

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

A cursory scan revealed familiar signs.

"A dungeon."  Freyd smirked, recognizing the pattern in the symbols from a similar marker he'd encountered months before.  The cipher was relatively simple and had been cracked by the information broker's network before.  By pressing the marker stones in the correct order, a portal opened in the nearby cavern wall, revealing a passage overgrown by glowing moss and fungi.   Staff in hand, he moved in to investigate, wary that foes of any kind could lurk within.  Dungeons also followed a standard pattern, or used to, but all expectations had been up-ended of late.  He could be walking into his own death.

Persi slipped out from beneath his clothing and sniffed silently at the air, as if sensing something familiar.  

"What is it, girl?  Sensing something we've fought before?"  The shadow mongoose crept forward without making a sound.  Trusting in her, Freyd followed.  She hadn't steered him wrong yet.

***

Search for Sub-Dungeon - ID #191538 | LD: 19+8=27 (Success)

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

They barely rounded the first corner before everything went pear-shaped.  Four smaller trolls, far less threatening than Ugzeke blundered into Freyd without warning, everyone equally startled to be triggering combat at such close range.  Freyd swung and took down the two nearest to him, each with a single strike, but the corridors were cramped and he chose the wrong kata.  He struck the walls instead of the other trolls, though the racket was enough to scare the stupid creatures and somehow led them to think that his actions were some strange form of charades.  They, too, beat on the walls, mimicking his actions and further confusing an already frazzled Freyd.

"Persi!  Keep them from retreating.  We need to pin them between us!"  While lean and gangly, trolls are especially strong.  Taking them down without one or both of them gnawing on some random part of his anatomy might be more difficult than he made it sound.

Spoiler

Post Action | Wallbreaker (CD 0/3) | (x15 AoE, 14 EN +2/hit): 18 EN - (Rested 1/2, Stamina) = 15 EN
Free Action | None

ID #191539 | BD: 10 (Crit +2, Holy +16) DMG (15*43=660)
ID #191540 | BD: 1 (miss)
ID #191541 | BD: 9 (Crit +1, Holy +16) DMG (15*43=645)
ID #191542 | BD: 1 (miss)

ID #191540 | MD: 1 (miss)
ID #191542 | MD: 6-4=2 (miss)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 109/124 (124-15) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 (-1) | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Troll #1 | HP: 0/620 | DMG 186 (620-660)
Troll #2 | HP: 620/620 | DMG 186
Troll #3 | HP: 0/620 | DMG 186 (620-645)
Troll #4 | HP: 620/620 | DMG 186
 

Loot Troll #1: ID #191543 | LD: 2+8=10 | CD: 2

T3 Uncommon Consumable [191543]
7,161 col (HP[620]*11 - incl. +4 LD/CD even, +5% Col Deposit)

Loot Troll #3: ID #191544 | LD: 3+8=11 | CD: 2

T3 Rare Trinket [191544]
2 materials (+2 LD odd)
5,208 col (HP[620]*8 - incl. +2 CD even, +5% Col Deposit)

Edited May 14, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

ph

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Wallbreaker (CD 1/3)

Post Action | Double or Nothing (CD 0/2) | (x13 AoE, 11 EN +2/hit): 15 EN - (Rested 2/2, Stamina) = 12 EN
Free Action | None

ID #191545 | BD: 7+6=13 (hit, Fallen +16) DMG (13*42=546)
ID #191546 | BD: 5+6=11 (hit) DMG (13*26=338

ID #191545 | MD: 6-4=2 (miss)
ID #191546 | MD: 6-4=2 (miss)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 101/124 (109+4-12) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 (-1) | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Troll #2 | HP: 74/620 | DMG 186 (620-546)
Troll #4 | HP: 282/620 | DMG 186 (620-338)

 

Edited May 1, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

A quick upward jab caught the first troll under the jaw and slammed its head into the cave ceiling.  It skull make an awful crunching sound and the beast fell to pieces, literally, an instant later.  Its companion sought to use its larger size to overwhelm Freyd, who skipped and rolled in the cramped corridor, then parried the follow strike by mashing the creature's palm against the wall.  Flipping the opposite end of the staff swiftly upward, Freyd caught the last troll between the legs, hard.  Its black, lidless eyes bulged out, painfully, even as it form began to disintegrate.

"Heh.  First wave down.  A little unorthodox, but it didn't feel too different than before."  Persi's azure eyes glanced back at him, conveying unending disappointment that he hadn't just wiped them all out on the first hit.  She could be so snooty, sometimes.  Shaking his head to dismiss her dismissal, Freyd chose to ignore the dig and just follow deeper into the cave.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Wallbreaker (CD 2/3)
Double or Nothing (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Twister (CD 0/2) | (x10 AoE, 8 EN +2/hit): 12 EN - (Stamina) = 10 EN
Free Action | None

ID #191547 | BD: 2+6=8 (hit) DMG (10*26=260)
ID #191548 | BD: 7+6=13 (hit, Fallen +16)  DMG (10*42=420)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 95/124 (101+4-10) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 (-1) | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Troll #2 | HP: 74/620 | DMG 186 (74-260)
Troll #4 | HP: 282/620 | DMG 186 (282-420)

Loot Troll #2: ID #191549 | LD: 2+8=10 | CD: 2

T3 Uncommon Consumable [191549]
7,161 col (HP[620]*11 - incl. +4 LD/CD even, +5% Col Deposit)

Loot Troll #4: ID #191550 | LD: 12+8=20 | CD: 11

T3 Perfect Weapon [191550]
2 materials (+2 CD odd)
7,812 col (HP[620]*12 - incl. +2 LD even, +5% Col Deposit)

Edited May 15, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

The cave network was far more extensive than he had first suspected, twisting and turning, rising and then dropping off again.  It had the feel of a warren, or sorts; a troll warren?  Piles of gnawed bones lay scattered throughout, likely where the original occupants were meant to have perished.  Freyd chuckled, knowing full fell that it was merely decor.  No one left bones behind when they died in the game, but the attention to detail was appreciated.  It set the proper, somber mood for morons like himself, who wandered alone in the den that could be completely overrun with trolls.  

As if reading his mind, two more of the creatures appeared, each storming out of a separate passage.  They looked bigger and meaner than the quad waiting by the outer door, and were probably meant to be better fed.  'Mini-bosses', Freyd thought, realizing that their bite was likely more proportional to the bark.  Charing forward, he twirled and smashed his staff into the ribs of the nearer creature, barely dodging its riposte even as he struck the other in the chest and shattered it to pieces.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Wallbreaker (CD 3/3)
Double or Nothing (CD 2/2)
Twister (CD 1/2)

Post Action | Odin's Wrath (CD 0/4) | (x18 AoE, 16 EN +2/hit): 18 EN - (Rested 1/2; Stamina) = 15 EN.  Charge (CD 0/3) (8 EN)
Free Action | Activate Grappling Familiar (CD 0/5) <- [ignoring this while waiting for ruling on targeting as part of AoE attack]

ID #191552 | BD: 5+6-1=10 (hit, Charge +5).  DMG (18*31=558-120=438)
ID #191553 | BD: 8+6-1=13 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +16).  DMG (18*47=846-120=726)

ID #191552 | MD: 8+1-4=5 (miss)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 76/124 (95+4-15-8) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 6 (-1) | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Bigger Troll #1 | HP: 182/620 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 1 (620-438)
Bigger Troll #2 | HP: 0/620 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 1 (620-726)

Loot Bigger Troll #2: ID #191553 | LD: 16+8=24 | CD: 3

T3 Perfect Trinket [191553a]
T3 Perfect Weapon [191553b]
2 materials (+2 CD odd)
5,208 col (HP[620]*8 - incl. +2 LD even, +5% Col Deposit)

Edited May 15, 2021 by Freyd

[Freyd 0]

Infuriated by his audacity, the lone surviving troll turned and roared its displeasure, or meant to.  It barely managed a pitiful squawk before clutching its injured flank and stumbling to its knees.  Having learned his lesson with Ugzeke, Freyd pounced and drove the shaft in his hands hard into its back.  The seal snapped open and suctioned up the fractured troll bits already falling to the floor.    Sparing Persi a look, Freyd held up two fingers, corresponding to the second wave that they had just defeated.  The boss would not be far behind.

Noting the system's automatic notice of loot collection, Freyd crept steadily forward in search of more quarry.  Nothing in here was worth much, as treasure went.  Sure, he could always use more col and mats, but the gear was of inferior tier.  The 'good stuff' was proving to be elusive, which would likely prove frustrating for those in desperate need of upgrades.  Setting his own ambitions aside, how would those players only just reaching the newly unlocked tier continue to progress?

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Twister (CD 2/2)
Odin's Wrath (CD 1/4)
Charge (CD 1/3)
Activate Grappling Familiar (CD 1/5) 

Post Action | Ripple (CD 0/2) | (x14, 12 EN): 12 EN - (Rested 2/2, Stamina) = 9 EN. 
Free Action | Shades of the Gemini (CD 0/2)

ID #191554 | BD: 6+6=12 (hit, Fallen +16).  DMG (14*42=588-120=468)

Freyd | HP: 900/900 | EN: 71/124 (76+4-9) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 151 | DOTE 3 | EVA: 4 (+1) | ACC: 6 (-1) | BH: 45 | LD: 8 | | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 24/3

Bigger Troll #1 | HP: 0/620 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 1 (138-468)

Loot Bigger Troll #1: ID #191555 | LD: 4+8=12 | CD: 8

T3 Rare Weapon [191555a]
T3 Uncommon Consumable [191555b]
6,510 col (HP[620]*10 - incl. +4 CD/LD even, +5% Col Deposit)

Edited May 15, 2021 by Freyd