[PP-F1] Uh... Whoops? <<Earning a Living: Artisan>> (Oscar)

[Oji 0]

It was a crisp day on Floor 1, the birds were singing and in some terms, even some flowers were blooming. But today he had decided that he would make a change to his dull life on Floor 1, that he would go and try to make a difference. He was going to become an Artisan, a profession he was well equipped to learn and proceed, or at least he thought. Oji woke up in his Inn room, adjusting his tie and putting on his cap. He looked in the mirror with a big smile. Today, he would get back to some semblance of normality to his schedule, something he had once done before being trapped in this blasted game.

Oji opened his HUD to track the quest, seeing that it was a bit of a walk, and decided to get a drink at the bar before heading out. He sat down as a Waitress NPC came over and asked him what he would like. He gave a small smile "The same as usual, a small cup of coffee with a little milk." He spoke kindly. The NPC nodded and walked away, and a few moments later he accepted the transaction and the Col disappeared from his inventory as a steaming cup of coffee appeared before him, the scent of fresh milk mixed within the freshly made coffee wafting into his nose. He smiled and spent a few moments drinking and listening to the hustle and bustle around him. Some players would come in and he'd bid them hello, and ask them how their quests had gone, making small talk as he always did. A few he knew by name, and some he only knew in passing. But overall, he enjoyed hearing about their adventures and the floors above.

After an hour or so, he made his way to the trail that led to an older-looking man at an artisan shop. He was obviously an NPC from the lack of a crystal above his head, and he came into the shop with a small twinkle of a bell above the door. He looked up and smiled  "Can I help you find something?" he asked kindly. Oji, who had been enjoying the small trinkets and items around him, gave a warm smile. "Hi Sir, I'm here to learn how to become an Artisan myself, and I heard you can help me." Soon, the NPC's salesman smile disappeared. Then Malachi heaves a massive sigh. "I rarely have time for such things, but you've caught me on an unusually slow day. I won't give you any of my materials, but should you find your own, I may be able to help you." Oji looked a bit upset by his reaction, but he nodded and made his way out, entering towards a bigger area, where he knew some materials could be found quite easily.

@Oscar

Quest:

Spoiler

Floor 1
<<Earning a Living: Artisan>>
Party Limit: 2 | 20+ Posts
Repeatable only if changing professions or escorting another player.
Escorting another player will only yield standard thread rewards.

Quest Rewards: 

• 300 Experience Points
• <<Artisan>> Profession
• Successfully Crafted Item
• Standard <<Artisan>> Shop
• (5) Tier 1 Crafting Materials

Requirements:

• Roleplay the following:
  • Talking to Malachi.
  • Gathering materials and bringing them back.
  • Crafting the item with Malachi's guidance.
• Gather five materials through any standard means (gathering, fishing, combat). Lower level players are encouraged to avoid combat.
• Craft an item using Malachi's shop.

Summary:
As you enter the crowded space, you cannot help but appreciate the variety of items on display. "Can I help you find something?" asks a man who seems to materialize beside you. When you explain that you're interested in becoming an artisan, his salesman smile disappears. Then Malachi heaves a massive sigh. "I rarely have time for such things, but you've caught me on an unusually slow day. I won't give you any of my materials, but should you find your own, I may be able to help you."

Outline: 

Crafting an Item
Make a standard Crafting Roll. Specify the item type in the Roll Purpose (must be a Tier 1 item craftable by an artisan). Use the Crafting Die Chart for a Rank 1 Artisan:

• [1] = Critical Fail (Lose materials)
• [2-5] = Fail (Lose materials)
• [6-9] = Salvage (Keep materials on LD 11+)
• [10] = Uncommon item (1 slot)
• [11] = Rare item (2 slots)
• [12] = Perfect item (3 slots)

Submit the successfully crafted item for evaluation.
NOTE: You keep the item you craft as a reward for completing the quest. You are permitted to roll as many times within a single post as it takes to make a successful craft. You may not keep any additional materials, but you will be guaranteed the five awarded to you as a quest reward.

NPCs:

<<Malachi Ringly>>
Speaks two languages: money, and sarcasm.

 

[Oscar 0]

Despite Oscar's attempts to distance himself from the life he'd built on the first Floor, he inexorably found himself drawn back here. He knew that as soon as his former protégé rallied from the damage that he and Firm Anima had dealt to his organization, the boy would be back with a vengeance. Nevertheless, he had commitments here that he couldn't suddenly drop. Chief among them was his work with the orphanage. Somehow, he had gone from merely making a meal for them once or twice a week to completely bankrolling the operation. Which was fine. He had more Col than he knew how to spend and the people in charge of the place weren't bad negotiators. Their requests never hit his wallet as hard as he would imagine. Now, things were almost as they were before. You could find Oscar in his shop, busy as ever in the kitchen.

Of course, being a shadow benefactor came with its own benefits. If a kid doesn't draw attention to themselves, they often escape notice. People would speak freely around them because they assume that a kid won't understand what they're saying. The thing about being trapped in a death game is that it makes one grow up quickly. Perceptions evolve at a rapid clip and things that a kid wouldn't bat an eye at in the real world are suddenly greeted with an preternatural clarity. Perhaps the most tragic thing to come of this entire ordeal. Childhoods were lost just as entire lives were. The dead cannot mourn their lost life, but a child will carry this trauma with them forever. 

So perhaps it was a small mercy that Oscar kept them busy. Honest work for honest pay was often the greatest of distractions. The children of the orphanage were forbidden to leave the city, but they were his eyes and ears within the sprawling expanse of the first town. There wasn't much that went on that Oscar didn't know about and it was never inconsequential.

Little Ophelia sold apples outside of Malachi's shop. She made herself a tidy sum every day, either from hungry Players or those that took pity on her. It was enough to feed herself, but that wasn't why she was there. She made a note, every day, of all the Players who entered the shop. Most days, there weren't any. The majority of Players had already left the Town of Beginnings and already had a profession. But occasionally, someone would enter. Everyone who entered left the town. And those were the people she was interested in. Or, rather, her friend was interested in. So when a well-dressed man entered the shop, she placed a closed sign over her cart and ran off down a nearby alley as fast as her feet would carry her. She dashed through the twisting paths and alleyways that spiderwebbed their way through the Town of Beginnings until she came to a non-descript shop tucked away in one of the darker corners of the city. She burst through the door and:

"Oscar! Oscar," she cried.

Over the din of his kitchen, Oscar heard the call crisp and clean. He killed the flames and stepped into the dining area, pulling off his apron as he did. He greeted the child with a warm smile and pulled a plate out of the serving window for her.

"What is it, Ophelia," he asked as he gestured to the seat.

The girl hopped up to the barstool, folding her hands politely on the counter. "Artisan quest," she responded with a trained quickness.

"I see," Oscar responded, pushing the plate towards her. "Good work. Eat. Don't forget to lock up when you're done."

Without another word, Oscar grabbed his jacket and weapon and headed for the door. It was important that someone kept an eye on the people leaving the town. Especially the lower-levels. Oscar didn't know why, but after the most recent Raid, high-level Mobs spawned more frequently. More often than not, Oscar didn't need to intervene. But he would rather waste his own time than let a preventable death happen. And so, Oscar made his way out of town and began searching for an unfamiliar face. He kept his ears peeled. Perhaps if the worst happened, he would be able to hear a scream.

Spoiler

Oscar,
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 46
HP: 860/860
EN: 118/118

Stats:
Damage: 26
Mitigation: 147
Evasion: 3
Accuracy: 5
Battle Healing: 47
Loot Dice: 8
Prosperity: 3
AA
FLN: 8
FRZ: 56

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: <<DARK FORTUNES>> T4 KATANA//ABS.ACC/FRZ/FLN/ACC
Armor: <<TACTICAL UNDER ARMOR>> T4 HEAVY ARMOR//MIT/MIT/MIT
Misc: <<IVORY GOLD LEAF RING>> T1 TRINKET//ACC/ACC/EVA/EVA

Custom Skill:


Skills:
Katana R5
Battle Healing R5
Heavy Armor R5
Searching R4
Energist
Fighting Spirit
Howl

Active Mods:
Impetus

Inactive Mods:

Addons:
Stamina
Ferocity
Iron Skin
Precision
Focused Howl

Active Extra Skills:
Parry
Brawler
Survival
Meditation

Inactive Extra Skills:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:
Well Rested: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
Squeaky Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (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.
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: +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 []: This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild:
Tanos Statue: +25 Mitigation for a thread.

Wedding Ring:

Consumables:
Evasion Dog +2 EVA
Liquor of Light +3 DMG
Golden Dog +3 Pros
Lucky Dog +3 LD

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by Oscar

[Oji 0]

Oji walked along the path away from the Artisan's shop, humming a small tune that he learned from his hometown. As of recent, he's been becoming more and more homesick. Before he got caught in this nightmare of a game, he usually avoided going home as he enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city far more than his quiet home town. But now, he realized that he missed his family. He had no idea how his parents were doing, or how his siblings were holding up. And he prayed that his niece didn't get caught up in this game.

He had spent weeks looking for her when they were initially captured, but he never found her. He checked the orphanage multiple times, and even checked the Monument of Life to see if he could find a username that looked like here, but he never did. After awhile, Oji realized that he had wandered quite a ways into the woods. He hadn't even noticed, as he was too busy trying to decide what he was going to call his shop. He decided that this place was better than nothing, and started to search

After a few moments, he found a small gem within a pile of stones, and he pocketed it. He thought it'd be a great start. But what he didn't realize is that he had crossed into dangerous territory. As he scrounged for materials, he had failed to realize the group of boars that had surrounded him. As he stood, dusting off the dirt pixels from his suit, he turned and saw the 4 boars, and he gave a yelp of surprise.

"Oh, uh.... This. This isn't good." He spoke to nobody in particular. He tried to back away, but he tripped over the stone pile and soon found himself on his back as the boars, hungry for blood and eyes glowing red, prepared for their next meal. Another worthy sacrifice to Aincrad, as a feeble player attempts to become more than what they were destined to be.

ID: 200066

LD: 17+1=18 Material Found! (1/5 Collected)

Oji: 20/20 HP | 20/20 NRG

Boar 1: 1000/1000 HP | 186 DMG

Boar 2: 1000/1000 HP | 186 DMG

Boar 3: 1000/1000 HP | 186 DMG

Boar 4: 1000/1000 HP | 186 DMG

Edited October 30, 2021 by Oji

[Oscar 0]

This is annoying, Oscar thought as he put the city in his rear-view. How, exactly, was he meant to find one specific guy in some far-flung corner of the Floor? He didn't even know if he was on the right track. There were about a million different paths one could take once they were out of the city proper. It would almost take searching under every rock and behind every blade of grass. 

He stopped cold, swearing under his breath.

I'm an idiot, he mused to himself.

Dark eyes flashed gold as he activated his Searching skill. He'd never met this Player before, but he would be able to pick up a trail at the very least. Assuming too many people hadn't left town through this gate recently, it wouldn't be too difficult to pick out the tracks left by someone on a quest from the rest of them. Earning a Living had a very distinctive meandering route if prior experience told him anything if you aren't beating your materials out of the boars near the gates. Since Oscar didn't see a newbie getting knocked on his ass by a baby pig, it would be safe to assume his target was going for the foraging route.

A digital net rippled out from his location, revealing more footprints than he would have liked. Most kept to the path, few broke off towards the mobs outside of town. But only one looked like it was heading into the woods.

"Bingo."

He focused on those tracks and allowed the others to fade away. A sudden sense of urgency gripped the man. The woods were definitely no place for a low-leveled Player to be now that the Floor had stronger enemy spawns. With the System corrections following Sundered Spire and Shadow, Oscar hadn't had the opportunity to push the limits of what he could do. When he broke into a sprint, he was pleased to see that he was still capable of going zero to 60 in a few seconds. The forest was a blur around him as he tore through the brush, flattening shrubs underfoot and shattering branches with his face.

Oscar was moving so fast that he almost completely passed the man and his porcine aggressors by completely. Dust and debris from the forest floor billowed out in his wake as his trajectory intersected Oji and his soon-to-be murderers. It was one thing to move in a straight line at a speed that would make a Formula One driver jealous. It was quite another to abruptly change direction and go back the way you came. Impossible, even, without help. That help came in the form of a large tree. Rather than move to dodge, dashed straight up its trunk until gravity began to slow him. The moment he felt himself being tugged back towards the earth, he turned on his heels and used the tree as a springboard to cover the distance again.

Oscar shot out towards the enemies like a rocket. <<Dark Fortunes>> manifested in his hand as he sailed through the air. He landed hard in their midst, his blade leaving its sheath for the briefest of moments. His weapon flicked towards the boars and returned to its scabbard in a flash. The guard clicked against the handle, force rippled out in a wide arc. The invisible strike immediately dispersed the cloud of dust he'd kicked up and dashed the boars against the trees. They made some token effort to rally, but mob AI simply couldn't keep up with an attack like that.

"That would've been really bad dude. Shouldn't really be this far out at level one," Oscar said. "But I've got threat now, so you'll be fine. Maybe just don't aggro anything else until I'm done with these guys?"

Spoiler

Oscar - HP: 860/860 | EN: 100/118 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 146 | BH: 47 | AA | FLN: 8 | FRZ: 56 | LD: 8 | PRS: 3

Oji - 20/20 HP | 20/20 NRG

AOE-I: -18 EN

[Os2, Oj0]Boar 1: 610/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200067 | BD: 1+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: 4-3, miss.
[Os2,Oj0]Boar 2: 610/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200068 | BD: 5+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: 6-3, miss.
[Os2, Oj0]Boar 3: 490/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200069 | BD: 6+5, Deal 510 DMG | MD: 2-3, miss.
[Os2,Oj0]Boar 4: 610/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200070 | BD: 1+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: 3-3, miss.

 

Edited November 1, 2021 by Oscar

[Oji 0]

Oji's life started to flash before his eyes. He knew he should have never left the town, he should have just spent the remaining days of this game at the pub where he greeted the brave ones that left. He wasn't a hero, he was just a tinkerer, a man who worked on delicate things. This wasn't his scene, and he had attempted to make it his. He was stupid, he was a fool he was-

And there it was, a sound. Something nearby. He didn't hear it at first, but he noticed the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching. He turned to see a figure burst through the foliage, and attacking the boars in an instant, sending a few of them reeling back. His eyes widened as he saw what was a- sword art? Is that what they were called? He couldn't remember, and his mind was more focused on survival. He scrambled out of the way as the figure- a man, spoke to him. He couldn't find his words. He knew he was in the wrong here, he should have died. This man just saved him, unless he couldn't deal with them. But he sensed he could, seeing as most of the mobs were almost or actually into the yellow zone on their bar. He nodded and stood up, backing away from the fight.

"Y-yeah... I'll do that." He said, and he hid behind a tree, watching the fight with a wooden, unbreakable barrier between him and the fight. He saw that the man had an impressive set of armor and a weapon of fine makings. Is this what the... what were they called, frontlines? He thinks that's right. Frontlines. Is this what a Frontlines player looked like? If so, he knew he would be nowhere near ready for that, not for awhile. But even then, he cant hold a weapon. He was a fool and had picked Search first, which a lot of people tended to remind him was a mistake. He should have chosen a weapon as his first. But a sword... something about that just didn't feel right. He didn't like it. He couldn't find himself comfortable with any of the weapon options.

Spoiler

Oscar - HP: 860/860 | EN: 100/118 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 146 | BH: 47 | AA | FLN: 8 | FRZ: 56 | LD: 8 | PRS: 3

Oji - 20/20 HP | 20/20 NRG

AOE-I: -18 EN

[Os2, Oj0]Boar 1: 610/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200067 | BD: 1+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: 4-3, miss.
[Os2,Oj0]Boar 2: 610/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200068 | BD: 5+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: 6-3, miss.
[Os2, Oj0]Boar 3: 490/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200069 | BD: 6+5, Deal 510 DMG | MD: 2-3, miss.
[Os2,Oj0]Boar 4: 610/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200070 | BD: 1+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: 3-3, miss.

 

[Oscar 0]

Now that Oscar had a firm grip on the situation, he was able to breathe just a bit easier. His recent build adjustment made situations such as this much easier to get a grasp on, which allowed him to simply focus on the combat. He wouldn't admit it, but he hadn't actually gotten into a fight since Cardinal shifted the Sword Arts around. It would seem he had a bit more freedom in how he attacked now. Rather than the System putting him on rails, he was able to attack as he pleased. That certainly made things interesting.

When it came to combat, Oscar preferred pure, unrelenting punishment until his opponents were reduced to crystal shards and loot. From mere boars to raid bosses, the best way to not die was to cull everything in front of you so it couldn't kill you.

The boars had begun to rally, but Oscar wouldn't give them an inch. He took a step back and bent down low. He wrapped his fingers around the handle of his blade and held position. The boars charged and two pulled ahead of the pack. Their tusks gored each leg. Unflinching as his health dropped, he sliced the air in front of him. A blizzard of black ice flowed from his blade, blasting back his aggressors. One froze straight to the ground and another gave up the ghost entirely. Completely unperturbed, Oscar stepped forward and collected the loot from the first slain boar.

"Hey man," Oscar called back to the hiding Oji. "I don't really need this Col. You want it?"
 

Spoiler

Oscar - HP: 775/860 | EN: 83/118 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 146 | BH: 47 | AA | FLN: 8 | FRZ: 56 | LD: 8 | PRS: 3

Oji - 20/20 HP | 20/20 NRG

AOE-II: -21 EN

[Os4, Oj0]Boar 1: 142/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200160 | BD: 3+5, Deal 468 DMG | MD: 10, Deal 43 DMG
[Os5,Oj0]Boar 2: 124/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200161 | BD: 9+5, Deal 486 DMG | MD: FRZ
Boar 3: 0/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200162 | BD: 8+5, Deal 612 DMG | MD: 2-3, miss.
[Os4,Oj0]Boar 4: 142/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200163| BD: 3+5, Deal 468 DMG | MD: 9, Deal 42 DMG

Looting
Boar 3 - ID: 200164 LD20+9, CD4 10,000 Col, 2 T4 Perfect Armor/Shield

 

Edited November 1, 2021 by Oscar

[Oji 0]

Oji watched in amazement at the fighting going on. The man took a gore to the legs without flinching, and sliced his opponents effortlessly, and one of the boars evaporated into pixels. His eyes scanned the battlefield, and saw that the boars had only a few more moments till they would be dead, their health in the red zone and looking like they want to run away. He looked at his hands, and tried to envision the Katana inside it. The thought of it made him feel a little bit queasy, and he quickly shoved his hands back to his side. No, no weapons felt right to him. He wasn't a fighter. He was a... coward? Was he a coward? Was his fear of combat a sign of a coward? No, no he came all the way out here, whether an accident or not. That was brave, right?

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the man's voice, asking if he wanted the col. "Huh?" Was the first thing out of his mouth. Then the words registered and he realized what he asked "Oh, uh. I mean yeah, my reserves from those delivery quests around the Town are running low." He said with a sheepish smile. "Uh, also. Might be a bad time, but I haven't caught your name." He spoke as he stepped out a bit. He looked at the pixelated wounds on the boars and on his legs. They didn't look painful. But, he knew it'd be a mistake for him to try and hit one of these boars. They were jacked, absolute bulky units that could snuff his life out just by looking at him the wrong way.

"I always end up in these situations." he thought to himself as he sat down to watch the conclusion of the combat.

Spoiler

Oscar - HP: 775/860 | EN: 83/118 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 146 | BH: 47 | AA | FLN: 8 | FRZ: 56 | LD: 8 | PRS: 3

Oji - 20/20 HP | 20/20 NRG

[Os4, Oj0]Boar 1: 142/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200160 | BD: 3+5, Deal 468 DMG | MD: 10, Deal 43 DMG
[Os5,Oj0]Boar 2: 124/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200161 | BD: 9+5, Deal 486 DMG | MD: FRZ
Boar 3: 0/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200162 | BD: 8+5, Deal 612 DMG | MD: 2-3, miss.
[Os4,Oj0]Boar 4: 142/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200163| BD: 3+5, Deal 468 DMG | MD: 9, Deal 42 DMG

 

[Oscar 0]

"Word," came Oscar's reply. A quick and inelegant acknowledgement; the verbal equivalent of the nod Oscar would have given the man if he'd had the time to turn and face him. The boars had other ideas and monopolized his attention. Despite his training and the enhancements on his equipment, Oscar couldn't check out completely from a fight like this. Though he had approached this fight as if this whole situation had been the most routine of farming runs, Oscar was still very much aware that his execution needed to be above reproach. A mere ten seconds ago, a man very nearly lost his life and Oscar wasn't going to give the game up at the five-yard line.

The unfrozen boar had rallied and dashed towards Oscar, a ferocious glint in its eye. Controlled by an unseen compulsion to attack the giant before him, its hooves thudded against the forest floor with a desperate rapidity. As if landing another hit would make Oscar crumble and remove the danger entirely. If that happened, the man cowering behind the tree would be next. Even in the mind of such a mindless creature, it could understand that much. Eyes flashed crimson, something that didn't go unnoticed by Oscar.

He rushed forward and grabbed the boar by the nape of its neck. Then, he flicked his wrist in a manner not unlike how one would throw a bowling ball. The creature was sent rolling backwards ass-over-snout until it collided with the boar frozen to the ground some distance away. Damage from the collision was enough to spell doom for the both of them, the two mobs shattering like glass. Oscar clicked his tongue and let out a heavy sigh. So much for Cardinal's ability to patch those fuckers out, he thought.

After collecting the loot <<Dark Fortunes>> disappeared into the ether in a flash of light. Oscar dusted off his jacket before crossing over to Oji's hiding place, hand outstretched. "Oscar, to answer your question. You'll have to forgive my manners. I was just a little too distracted for introductions."
 

Spoiler

Oscar - HP: 822/860 | EN: 69/118 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 146 | BH: 47 | AA | FLN: 8 | FRZ: 56 | LD: 8 | PRS: 3

Oji - 20/20 HP | 20/20 NRG

AOE-I -18 EN

Boar 1: 0/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200225 | BD: 10+5, Deal 420 DMG | MD: x
Boar 2: 0/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200226 | BD: 9+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: x
Boar 3: 0/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200162 | BD: 8+5, Deal 612 DMG | MD: x
Boar 4: 0/1000 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 200227| BD: 3+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: x

Looting
200228 - LD: 7+9, CD: 5 6,000 Col, 4 Materials
200229 - LD: 1+9, CD: 7 7,000 Col, 4 Materials
200230 - LD: 10+9, CD: 9 24,000 Col, 4 Materials, 2 T4 Unidentified Perfect Weapons [x2 from Holiday bonus]

Total
47,000 Col
12 Materials
T4 Perfect Weapon - 200230a, 200230b
T4 Perfect Armor/Shields - 200164a, 200164b

 

Edited November 14, 2021 by Oscar

[Oji 0]

"Word." Was all he got after he said he would take it. He didn't know if he was being humorous or serious. He had heard that slang had changed within the tower quite a bit. But even before SAO he hadn't been the most "Slang Savvy" Person. So needless to say he was a little confused as to what he meant. But, he quickly finished the remaining boars, two of them in an almost comedic way. It reminded him a lot of bowling for obvious reasons. He came from behind the tree after the combat had finished, and he introduced himself as Oscar. Weird for an online name, that was for sure, but he wasn't one to talk, he called himself "Oji", "Uncle." He had only planned to be in for a few hours at least, to check the game and now here he was, forever known as Oji whether he liked it or not.

"My names Oji. Thanks for saving my ass." He said with a small chuckle, a look of defeat on his face. "I didn't realize how deep I had gone in until it was a bit too late" He spoke, a bit ashamed of such a mess up. It almost cost him his life if this man hadn't come to his aid. "I seriously owe you for this Oscar, thanks for saving me" He said with a bow. He held it for a moment, then stood straight. He looked at his HUD and saw that he still needed to grab more materials for the quest. He sighed and gave a smile. "I guess we ought to head out of this place then eh? Don't need me dying while your around." He jested.

[Oscar 0]

"I seriously owe you for this Oscar, thanks for saving me."

"No you don't," Oscar replied curtly, almost. "Decency doesn't deserve thanks and I don't have time for life-debts. Just be more mindful in the future and we'll call it square." He shoved his hands in his pockets, keeping his eyes and ears sharp in case these mobs had a quick respawn timer. A silence passed between them as Oji stood up and checked his HUD, presumably still intent on finishing this quest. Good man, Oscar thought. Keep on trucking after almost dying. This game won't be taking you anytime soon.

Oscar had put Oji in the same basket as everyone else he'd saved - that of an inexperienced idiot who scurries off back to town the moment their health drops into the yellow. Not that he would have faulted him for it. This was a matter of life and death. But, despite nearly becoming pig feed, he was still set on finishing what he came out here to do. That had piqued Oscar's interest.

"I guess we ought to head out of this place then eh? Don't need me dying while your around."

For the first time since he'd arrived, Oscar cracked a smile. "What's the rush? You still need materials don't you? You've found one hell of a farming spot here too. I'll confess, I didn't know they had high-level spawns this close to town. Seems like a waste to just turn tail and run now."

Alright dude, let's see what you're really made of. Gonna shy away from danger or are you gonna double down? The man was very clearly not a fighter, but the Frontlines didn't need fighters. There were several things one could do to be useful without fighting, but it all came down to backbone. And the question was: Did Oji have one?

[Oji 0]

"No you don't, Decency doesn't deserve thanks and I don't have time for life-debts. Just be more mindful in the future and we'll call it square."

Oji was a bit taken aback by this. He was used to owing people a few things after getting his ass saved. Whether its lunch, a box of ciggs or even a Karaoke night. He would gladly buy as a way to say thank you, and he was okay with it. This was new and a little uncomfortable, but he was glad to not owe something to a man he had just met. "Right, gotcha." He spoke, and Oscar had a smile on his face as he offered to leave. "What's the rush? You still need materials don't you? Oji shrugged. "Well I mean, yeah." He said, looking at the quest screen. "I need only a few more."

You've found one hell of a farming spot here too. I'll confess, I didn't know they had high-level spawns this close to town. Seems like a waste to just turn tail and run now." He felt a bit of a chill down his spine at the thought, he would admit. It definitely wasn't the most comfortable thought to stay here. However, he saw how easily he took care of them, so he knew that if he did his part, he would get out of this alive. "We can do that, but I do have to warn you, I have no weapons, no armor and the only skill I got is Searching. Combat-wise I'm pretty useless." He spoke, adjusting his hat back to its proper place.

"My life is in your hands, and if you fail, my death's on your shoulders." he spoke, a bit of steel in his eyes. He had been challenged, but he wasn't going to let a younger man try and challenge him.

[Oscar 0]

"Good man," Oscar said. 

As far as Oscar could see, there was some strong potential in this Player. Potential that could be tapped assuming Oji could work past his very obvious hang-ups. After all, why would someone leave town and venture this deep into the woods without a weaponskill if there wasn't some dark skeletons in their mental closet? Of all the Players Oscar had met who had done such a thing, they all had one thing in common: severe mental hang-ups. Ceres - for as much as Oscar liked her - had been about as needy as a toddler. Shiina, a monstrous force as far as supports went, was absolutely batshit insane. Somehow, Oscar felt like the Rule of Three would fulfill itself with Oji. In the old days, Oscar would charge a premium for the kind of therapy work some Players needed. But now it was a matter of survival, so he was more than willing to help nudge things along as needed. Though he didn't know exactly what Oji's major malfunction was, he definitely knew it was there.

But, for now, Oscar could focus on getting his grind on. One didn't deep dive into the psyche of a person they just met. It was simply in poor taste. He wasn't comfortable with entering deeper into the forest. Not when he knew the grind would come to him. Marked for Death by the Spider Council as he was, it was only a matter of time before he was set upon by their minions. Descending from the trees on nigh-invincible threads, spiders the size of hogs approached the pair. A smirk crossed Oscar's face as his old nemeses came to greet him. He had not told a soul about what he'd learned of them, but the mere threat of his knowing was enough for the arachnids to chase him across the floors. Unfortunately for them, they were in his house and he had one hell of a rolled-up newspaper.

Oscar drew his blade swiftly, a gale of black snow twisting up from his position on the forest floor. Razor-sharp ice shards tore their webs and the tempest caught them up in its cyclonic force. The spiders were dashed against tree trunks and one another, perforated by shards of ice in the process. With each contact, their health values dipped lower and lower until, finally, they popped. Loot rained down upon Oscar and Oji as a gift from the Gods.

"What was that you said about dying? I think those boars were about the strongest things on this floor," Oscar said. Oscar had failed to mention that those boars were about as strong as any enemy his faced on the upper floors, but the absolute minimum level needed for him to get loot from them was lower. Much lower. "I think we can go one more round and then head back. You still have a quest to finish, no?"

Spoiler

Oscar - HP: 860/860 | EN: 59/118 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 146 | BH: 47 | AA | FLN: 8 | FRZ: 56 | LD: 8 | PRS: 3

AOE-I -18 EN

Oji - 20/20 HP | 20/20 NRG

Spider 1: 0/372 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 201474 | BD: 8+5, Deal 510 DMG| MD: x
Spider 2: 0/372 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 201475 | BD: 5+5, Deal 390 DMG | MD: x
Spider 3: 0/372 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 201476 | BD: 7+5, Deal 510 DMG | MD: x
Spider 4: 0/372 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 201477 | BD: 10+5, 420 DMG | MD: x

Looting
ID: 201478 LD: 10+8. CD: 12  9672 Col [x2 Holiday Bonus]
ID: 201479 LD: 20+8, CD: 10 7,440 Col, 1 Demonic Shard, Random Dungeon Map [x2 Holiday Bonus]
ID: 201480 LD: 13+8, CD: 1 2,232 Col, 4 Materials, T4 Perfect Armor/Shield, T4 Perfect Weapon
ID: 201481 LD: 15+8, CD: 7 2,232 Col, 4 Materials, T4 Perfect Armor/Shield, 2 T4 Perfect Weapons

Loot Totals
68,576 Col
22 Materials
2 Demonic Shards
Random Dungeon Map - 201479a, 201479b
T4 Perfect Weapon - 200230a, 200230b, 201480b, 201481b, 201481c
T4 Perfect Armor/Shields - 200164a, 200164b, 201480a, 201481b

 

Edited November 14, 2021 by Oscar

[Oji 0]

Oji adjusted his tie as Oscar called him a "Good Man." He really didn't have any idea what that meant, but a compliment was a compliment. He looked on as he saw giant spiders crawl down from the trees and he instantly fell a chill down his spine. He shuddered and took a hesitant step back. He had never been a big fan of creepy crawlies. He had always killed them when they had entered his shop, squishing them and cleaning their guts off of his walls. He now felt that the game had allowed them to get revenge for their fallen brethren, as they bared their fangs at the two of them. Oji suddenly felt a little anxious about what was about to happen, but Oscar instantly rushed forwards, barely seeming to swipe his sword as the spiders pixelated as soon as they were cut. He was shocked at the sheer ferocity of his new comrades power.

"Huh, so that's what it looks like." he muttered to himself. He walked forwards and nodded towards Oscar "Yeah, I apparently have to make something at the shop. I don't know how different it'll be from real life, but I feel like I'll be able to figure it out." he said with a small smile. "I used to do this kinda stuff in the real world. Back before it all-" He motioned around them "-went to shit. Hell we're barely a quarter to the top, and it feels like it's almost been a decade since we've been trapped. But, it's barely been a year." He shook his head. "I hope my shops okay." He spoke, a bit brought down at the thought of his cute little store with it's windows barred up and closed, all the unfinished projects in the back of the store left to rust. It haunted him, the present he was making for his mother, possibly destroyed.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar shrugged. "It can be as in-depth as you want it, I've found. You can let the System guide you through the motions and automate most of the process or you can be in control of every minute detail," he said. "I've spent so much time in the kitchen, I'm not entirely convinced that this death game is some do-or-die tutorial for real-life trade skills." Oji's pondering about the state of the real world sent Oscar's thoughts in the same direction. How was the Major? How were things going with the kids? He brushed the thoughts away as quickly as they came. There was nothing he could do about it in his current predicament, so why let it gnaw at him? He didn't have the time or inclination to handle things he couldn't actually handle. Still, Oji wasn't wasting his time worrying over the real world. It was only prudent to keep one eye on the future.

"I'm sure it's fine," Oscar said. "You'll be surprised how people rally around victims of crisis. Sometimes people you didn't even knew gave a shit about you will step up on your behalf. I imagine someone's taking care of it and it's just waiting on you to come back." Oscar gestured up towards the canopy "Look alive though, spiders had friends."

Reinforcements had come, arachnids seeking vengeance for the death of their kin. The sunlight glinted off of the jointed plate that covered their spindly legs. Steel plate covered the quartet's abdomens. The only spot their armor left exposed was their spinnerets. It was a surprising and impressive effort. Oscar felt touched that the spiders would go to such lengths just for him. It was plainly obvious that the Spire was affecting their behavior. But, just like their kin, they would find themselves ripped apart in a howling frigid gale and reduced to equipment and items.

Oscar sheathed his blade and let out a heavy sigh. As much as he would like to keep playing with his arachnid enemies, he wasn't sure how hard he could push it would Oji being in tangible danger. Still, it was good to know that the reset hadn't changed everything. He pulled up his menu and scrolled through the loot they had collected thus far. "Alright Oji. I think it's time we headed back. We're running out of sunlight and I'm running out of Energy."
 

Spoiler

Oscar - HP: 860/860 | EN: 41/118 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 146 | BH: 47 | AA | FLN: 8 | FRZ: 56 | LD: 8 | PRS: 3

AOE-II -22 EN

Oji - 20/20 HP | 20/20 NRG

Armored Spider 1: 0/450 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 201751 | BD: 3+5, Deal 468 DMG | MD: x
Armored Spider 2: 0/450 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 201752 | BD: 10, Deal 504 DMG | MD: x
Armored Spider 3: 0/450 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 201753 | BD: 9, Deal 486 DMG | MD: x
Armored Spider 4: 0/450 HP | 186 DMG | ID: 201754 | BD: 9, Deal 486 DMG | MD: x

Looting
ID: 201755 LD: 16+8, CD: 1 3,600 Col, 2 Materials, T4 Perfect Trinket, T4 Perfect Weapon
ID: 201756 LD: 5+8, CD: 7 2,700, 4 Materials,
ID: 201757 LD: 2+8, CD: 11 7,200 Col, 4 Materials
ID: 201758 LD: 17+8, CD: 10 7,200 Col, 4 Materials, 2 Demonic Shards, 2 Random Dungeon Maps

Loot Totals
89,276 Col
36 Materials
4 Demonic Shards
Random Dungeon Map - 201479a, 201479b, 201758a, 201758b
T4 Perfect Weapon - 200230a, 200230b, 201480b, 201481b, 201481c
T4 Perfect Armor/Shields - 200164a, 200164b, 201480a, 201481b

 

Edited November 14, 2021 by Oscar

[Oji 0]

Oji's thoughts shrouded his mind, the small worries of things in the outside world flooding his brain with the multiple scenarios of it being burned down, it being sold, it being broken into- but Oscar pulled him out of those nightmares with his reassuring words, reminding him that he had a large family, he was sure that they could help. Even if they didn't understand his passion for jewelry making, his family supported him and saw his love for his shop. They knew he liked it, and heck maybe his old friends would help too. He wasn't sure how they would help, but he could leave it in their hands. "Yeah, you're probably right." he said with a chuckle. "I haven't thought about that for awhile, guess when your in a hell-hole of a game you kinda worry about other things." As things progressed, he saw a few more spiders show up. He took a step back as Oscar quickly killed off the arachnids, and said it was time to go

"Yeah, as nice as this has been, I'm not doing much and you're almost out of energy. If more show up that might be the end of one of us." He tried to joke with a light laugh, but the fear of death did loom over his head. But, Oscar had kept his promise and he's still living after being out here in the woods. He swiped open his HUD and looked at the quest, selecting the area to highlight and a compass appeared in his hand, showing him the right direction. He pointed back towards the trail. "Let's head back so I can get this quest done, and then we might go to the tavern for a few drinks?" He offered, a small smile. "It's the least I can do for saving my ass."

[Oscar 0]

"Let's head back so I can get this quest done, and then we might go to the tavern for a few drinks? It's the least I can do for saving my ass."

"That's... probably not the best idea," Oscar replied quickly. With all the people gunning for him - looking for any vulnerability to exploit - it wouldn't be a good idea for a newbie to be seen hanging with Oscar in public. The situation had escalated to the point where he doubted they would bother to hold a Oji hostage. Indeed, they would be far more likely to just kill him. It was one hell of a situation to be in. Couldn't be seen around him, nor could he really explain why that was. "You don't really want to be seen hanging around me right now. It's one thing to chitchat in some remote part of the forest, but there are far too many eyes in taverns. That being said," he trailed off. Quickly navigating through his menus, he sent the man a friend request.

"Best thing you can do to repay me is to stay alive. It's one hell of a task to level up in this game without taking a Weaponskill. So, next time you're on a quest, shoot me a message. There ain't many quests that I can't simply rock out for you. I'll meet you outside of town or something." He started off back towards town, but then quickly turned on his heels and opened the trade window. Into it, he dropped a king's ransom of Col and the materials he'd gathered from the impromptu grinding session.

"Get yourself a house or something. There's some perks for crafters that you just can't turn your nose up to."

Oscar transfers 36 Materials and 200,000 Col to Oji

[Oji 0]

Oji was a bit taken aback by what Oscar said about inviting him over for a drink. It shocked him, if he was honest. Not taking an offer on a free drink? Only a mad man would deny an offer like that, as it's somewhat seen as rude in a lot of cultures. But there's always a second side to every story. Maybe this man has made some sort of enemies within the game and he could be hurt by it? Or maybe he was in hiding for something that might have happened on the frontlines. He hadn't heard much about the frontlines in awhile, maybe some drama had happened and he had missed the memo. He just mentally shrugged, he would have to check to see it when he got back into town.

"Alright, maybe if I get a house after some grinding, we can meet there for a drink, maybe get to chat when there's isn't a chill of looming death above our heads." he jested, adjusting his tie and looking around for the trail back towards the cabin. He heard two separate pings. He looked down to his HUD and saw two small windows. One was a friend request, and the other a trade request

"Best thing you can do to repay me is to stay alive. It's one hell of a task to level up in this game without taking a Weaponskill. So, next time you're on a quest, shoot me a message. There ain't many quests that I can't simply rock out for you. I'll meet you outside of town or something."

Oji just nodded, and his eyes widened when he saw the large number of col and mats sent to him. This was.... so much money, enough to even buy a house. He could finally get the home that he always wanted. He felt tears welling up, and he coughed and looked down. "Yeah, I will. Let's get a drink sometime though, or at least a somewhat decent meal other than rations." He said, and waved him off. Oji made his way down the trail on a light jog, ready and willing to become an Artisan. He soon rejoined the man at the cabin, the large number of mats Oscar had given him plenty enough for him to give it a try.

But, the making of jewelry was far harder in the game than it was in real life. At first he tried to use his real world knowledge to help make a necklace. But, he failed horridly, and kept making scraps instead of accessories. After that, he tried to make a nice wrist watch with etchings, but every time he attempted that it would scratch and fall apart. Malachi said nothing, but raised his brow. Saying all that was needed to be said in the action.

"Sorry, I'm a little rusty at this." He told the NPC, and he just scoffed and went back to making his own items. Finally, Oji decided to make a Pocket Watch, and he decided to actually use the tutorial that the game was offering, following the steps and realizing that crafting was nowhere near the same as it was in real life. He just sighed and continued on, until a perfectly round, etched, silver stopwatch rested in his palm. Malachi came over and looked at the stopwatch, his eyes widened for what seemed like a single frame, then immediately went back to their sarcastic light.

"Hm, well. Seems good enough. You pass, congratulations. Your diploma will be sent in the mail." He spoke, sarcasm spewing from his lips like a fountain. But, a small smile formed. "You've got a long way to go before you reach my level you old man. Best get started right away." He spoke, then walked into the back of his shop and out of sight. A small window displayed in front of him, and the quest was complete.

The many rolls needed:

Spoiler

ID: 202825 CD: 5 (Fail)
ID: 202826 CD: 9 (Fail) LD: 13 (Mat Salvaged)
ID: 202827 CD: 6 (Fail) LD: 16 (Mat Salvaged)
ID: 202828 CD: 7 (Fail) LD: 1 (Mat Lost)
ID: 202829 CD: 7 (Fail) LD: 4 (Mat Lost)
ID: 202830 CD: 3 (Fail)
ID: 202831 CD: 4 (Fail)
ID: 202832 CD:9 (Fail) LD: 15) (Mat Salvaged)
ID: 202833 CD: 12 Perfect Item!

5/36 mats used, 31 left

Item Eval Thing:

Spoiler

Name:	Jigen kōtai
Profession:	Artisan
Rank:	1
Roll ID:	202833
Roll Result:	12
Item Type:	Trinket
Tier:	1
Quality:	Perfect
Enchantments:	Evasion 3
Post Link:	Linky
Description:	A Silvered Wristwatch, etched with silver and gold highlights that shimmer in the daytime sky. When opened, the inside clock is plain, but shimmers with gold flakes whenever the hour passes. For some reason, the clock is a bit faster than normal.

 

 

Edited December 24, 2021 by Oji

[Oscar 0]

Oscar was careful to give Oji ample time to get back to town before he started on his own meandering path back to town. He'd not seen much of his enemies since the incident on Floor 13. That being said, Tyson was too pragmatic to let Oscar go completely unobserved. The goal here being to avoid roping anyone into his personal war unnecessarily. Especially not a guy who had only just gotten his courage together enough to engage with the game. A swift dash carried him around to a farther entrance to town. It was closer to his shop and far enough to make any distant observer assume Oji and Oscar's paths hadn't crossed while both of them were away. As he crossed the threshold to his shop, he closed the door around him and breathed a sigh of relief. The stress was beginning to wear on him and he couldn't deny it. He couldn't be everywhere at once and working from the background was exhausting.

"Not much longer," Oscar reassured himself, his voice scarcely louder than a whisper. "Not much longer."

Oscar didn't sleep much these days and today's excitement had gassed him out. In the fading light of his shop, Oscar slumped into one of the booths and rested his head over his folded arms. The slow, steady breathing of the man was quickly the only sound that could heard in the dim light of the restaurant. For now, the Beast would rest.

[Oji 0]

As Oji held the stopwatch in his hand, a small chuckle emerged from his lips. A thud of the door shutting behind him echoed through the forest he was in as the sunlight gleamed off the face of the metal trinket. He had done it, he had finally done it. His first steps, and successful ones, outside of the main town and onto becoming something more than just a meander in the local tavern that did nothing but sit around and wait for the frontlines to get them out of the game.

"Its a rough start, but it's a start." He chuckled to himself. He flipped open the hatch and looked at the time. it had auto'd itself to the correct time, and he saw that it was nearing 8 o'clock, about the time he would be at the tavern getting a bite to eat. Guess he would be late tonight. He hummed happily as he followed the safe path back into the town, his heart swelling with pride in himself to finally be brave enough to leave this dreaded starter town. Maybe he needed to gain some more information on the floors and see what else there was for him to experience, maybe he would even go into the double digits of the floors. Only time would tell.

[Oji 0]

Oji found himself within the inner walls of the safety zone a bit after 9, and he knew he would be a bit late for the nightly special. He had heard that it would be some type of crustacean and he was a bit excited. Seafood didn't really come by the tavern often, so a brave player must have brought some for the Tavern owner to sell. He took a light jog all the way to the tavern, the Grinning Whale, and he emerged from the door with a light slam. Everyone's eyes fell on him, some shocked that he was late, others a bit startled from the sound. Oji, a tad out of breath, panted out only a single sentence.

"Is.... is there still some... of the special?" He asked. A few moments of silence passed, so quiet that you could hear a pin clatter onto the ground, and a roar of laughter emerged from the tavern. "Mate, the special isn't until tomorrow, how did you get your days mixed up?" The Tavern NPC responded. Oji, a tad embarrassed, blushed lightly and scratched the back of his head. "W-well, it's been a busy day so I got a bit confused." He sat down at the bar and got a large plate of steak, with some carrots and mashed potatoes on the side, along with a large pint of ale. He nodded in thanks and ate happily, going to town after a long day in the outdoors.

After spending time with some of the normal players and showing off his new watch, which some of his friends looked with in awe, amazed that the quiet Oji had actually done something, he said his farewells and escaped to his room for the evening, placing his cap in it's normal spot, next to his new watch, and laid down on the linen sheets with a huge sigh, sleep encumbering him within a matter of moments.