[PP-F23] It Spreads

[Griswold 0]

A heavy looking barrel in his arms, a door swings open with the flat of a large foot. The guild hall, as ripe as ever this early in the morning. As he moves toward the back and up the stairs, a delivery of arms as was customary, ready to be divvied out to the rest of Aincrad as a whole. He kneels low and locks it to the floor, before sliding the thing out of the main stay with his leg. "Another one down." Griswold barks, moving a hand to his brow and wiping the bit of sweat lingering there. Sounds of footsteps ring out below, as expected. He was the first, but surely wouldn't be the last. The smith had made his deposit, and as such began to leave. Having not seen a ton of action as of late, he'd retire back to his store and see what else was on the dossier to be forged.

Spoiler

Griswold, Fist of Anvil
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 23
HP: 760/760
EN: 88/88

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 147
Accuracy: 2
AA
FL. THRN: 16
TAUNT
THRNS: 72

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Fist of Gaia - Incline [T4/Demonic/Warhammer] Taunt, Accuracy 2, AA
Armor: Forgemaster's Rattlecage - Juggernaut [T4/Perfect/Heavy Armor] (Mitigation 3 [+72 Mitigation])
Misc: Titanic Wall - Foundation [T4/Demonic/Shield] Thorns 2 (72), Flame Thorns 2

Skills:
Hammer R5
Heavy Armor R5
Howl
Charge

Active Mods:
Steadfast
Shield Bash
Impetus
Elusive
Rally

Addons:
Iron Skin
Rampart
Stamina

Active Extra Skills:
Leadership R2
Block R5

Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystal x1

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.
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.
Advanced Training: +10% Exp to a thread. Limit one use per month [1/1]
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:
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.

 

[Simmone 0]

The twins quickly rush up the stairs, past Griswold, as he was coming down. She was running a bit late, but not late enough to matter. In their arms was a large crate, far too sizeable for them to carry based on their stature. But that was the glory of NPC's, they were virtually unlimitedly strong. "Good morning dear, how goes the business?" she quips toward the smith, her long yukata with embellished sleeves opening to reveal a pale ivory hand. The drooping bit dragging on the polished hardwood floor. More and more faces flooded in, making deliveries and picking up information. This was the norm within the walls of Firm Anima's primary little nexus, Simmone making her stereotypical morning deposit of materials procured. And yet it seemed the amount never dwindled even when she was running late, albeit some required conversion through the system. Occasionally they ended up with an exorbitant surplus of fabric when they needed metal, and that is when her duties came in.

Spoiler

Simmoné, The Black Cat
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 27
HP: 720/720
EN: 90/90

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 63
Evasion: 2
Accuracy: 1
Loot Dice: 5
BLD: 48
BLGT: 32
BRN: 56
ENV.O: 32
REC: 8

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Mythril Foil - Viper [T4/Demonic/Rapier] Blight 1, Bleed 1, Envenom 1, Burn 1
Armor: Black Leather Bodice - Feline [T4/Perfect/LA] Mitigation 2, Evasion 1
Misc: The Black Lotus - Expedition [T4/Perfect/Trinket] Recovery 2, Evasion 1

Custom Skill:


Skills:
Saber R5
Lock Picking R3
Searching R5
Light Armor R3

Active Mods:
Meticulous
Energize

Inactive Mods:

Addons:
Focus
Hyperactive
Dismantling
Precision
Field Medic

Active Extra Skills:
First Aid R5

Inactive Extra Skills:

Battle Ready Inventory:
Resonance of the Grave [T1/Perfect (Instant)/Debuff/Incarceration] x5
Resonance of the Grave [T1/Perfect (Instant)/Debuff/Incarceration] x5
Vocal Augmentation - Resonation [Tierless/Perfect/Support/Instant] +15% HP x5
Flash of Rejuvenation [T1/Perfect/Crystal] Mass Heal x5
Flash of Rejuvenation [T1/Perfect/Crystal] Mass Heal x5

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.
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.
Col Stash: +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
Advanced Training: +10% Exp to a thread. Limit one use per month [1/1]
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:
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:

Wedding Ring:

 

[Gaius 0]

Right into the hectic early morning, which Gaius was making his delivery far earlier than normal. Usually his happened near the midafternoon, right when it was getting dark out. "This is normally why I don't show up this early." The dragoon murmurs as he attempts to make his way past the hustle and bustle within this place, as the girls ahead of him tear total ass up the stairs with something far too big. It grinds on the walls, and subtly Gaius mutters "The hell is even in that anyway?" The girl's hearing is far better than he expects. They both turn to him and look down "It's materials, for the guild." they quickly spew before continuing their ascent up and round the corner to the right. They really were creepy, they even speak together like the girls from the shining. A shutter, with the thought, that Simmone was some sort of ghost haunting this place with her spoopy children pets.

Spoiler

Gaius, The Sweeping Typhoon
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 25
HP: 780/780
EN: 110/110

Stats:
Damage: 23
Mitigation: 50
Battle Healing: 31
Loot Dice: 3
BLD: 48
FLN: 16
H.M.: 6

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Eye of the Gale - Brionac [T4/Demonic/2HAS] - Fallen 2, Bleed 2 (8-10)
Armor: Dragoon's Mantle - Fervor [Heavy] (T3/Perfect) 1 Recovery, 2 Heavy Momentum
Misc: Boar Hide Belt [Trinket] (T1/Perfect) [+3 Loot Dice]

Custom Skill:


Skills:
Polearm R5
Heavy Armor R5
Charge
Energist
Fighting Spirit
Battle Healing R4

Active Mods:
Impetus
Energize

Inactive Mods:

Addons:
Ferocity
Stamina
Iron Skin
Hyperactive

Active Extra Skills:
First Aid R3

Inactive Extra Skills:

Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystal x1
Bird Seed (T2/Rare/Snack) Vitality 2 x1

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.
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.
Col Stash: +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
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:
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:

Wedding Ring:

 

[Celeste 1]

Barging in and moving immediately to the large redwood table in the center of the room, Celeste begins to slide papers that adorn its surface. "No." an immediate rejection of the first, as it's flipped over, and she scans the next. "Nope, too easy." Another one labeled as no good. Her eyes scan the third, and everyone can see the girl's lips take to a rather sinister smile. "Perfect." Plucking it up and lifting another blank sheet, copies it over in an instant. Folding the duplicate and moving it to her pocket. "What's all this about, more than what I'm used to seeing bouncing around in here?" Celeste quips to the sudden influx of players within the hall, She was used to seeing Griswold or Simmone. Not Gaius basically ever. And normally it wasn't but like one or the other, never both. "Ya'll planning some kinda party, maybe a quest. If so, I want in." That lingering taste of growth still hung on her tongue.

Spoiler

Celeste, The Crimson Tide
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 1
HP: 620/620
EN: 80/80

Stats:
Damage: 29
Mitigation: 51
Evasion: 3
Accuracy: 6
Battle Healing: 18
BRN: 56
HLY: 16
PHASE

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Wash in Cardinal - Reaver [T4/Hammer/Demonic] - Holy 2, Burn 1, Phase
Armor: Red Woven Wave - Stampede [T4/Light Armor/Perfect]: Mitigation 2, Evasion 1
Misc: Platinum Buckle [T1/Trinket/Perfect]: Accuracy 3

Custom Skill:


Skills:
Hammer R5
Light Armor R3
Charge
Battle Healing R3

Active Mods:
Meticulous
Vanish
Surprise Attack (Assassin)

Inactive Mods:

Addons:
Ferocity
Stamina
Precision

Active Extra Skills:
Hiding R5

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.
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.
Advanced Training: +10% Exp to a thread. Limit one use per month [1/1]

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.

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by Celeste

[Sam 0]

A conversation with a woman, white hair, seeing that boy with blond hair that gave her a second change. It was really sending her for a loop. Was that a ghost, who was this female and how did she know that cognition of this kid. She had already been having night terrors of this day, that car, those kids. Bottom line was that she had forced herself not to trust anyone up this point because the judgement that lingered in her heart got her into trouble. The truth was, even though Kat was in her life, she didn't feel like she had any real friends. Lium has been absent, most likely due to her breaking his heart. She was looking for him for so long before she just up and gave up. No matter what she had felt, she thought that she would never see him again, so Sam did the only rational thing she could. Forgot about him, this was what she needed to do in order to mend her own broken heart. If she knew back then that Lium was locked away, then surely things would be different. 

The only person besides Kat that she deemed worthy as a friend right now was Simmonè. This woman has taught her everything she knows about the worth of this game, but Sam and her have yet to have a real conversation about anything. It makes her sad knowing that they have spent all this time together and barely knows a thing about one another. 

Sitting by the falls of this floor, it really was a relaxing area. Some of the time she came down her to clear her mind about anything that was running through her head at the moment. Sam needed to start letting herself more to people, if not, then what was even the point of being saved. Listening to the running water as she opens her HUD, sending a message to Simmonè.

To: Simmonè From: Sam I need a friend... Can we meet...

Spoiler

Sam,
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 34
HP: 740/740
EN: 92/92

Stats:
Damage: 23
Mitigation: 20
Evasion: 3
Accuracy: 2
Loot Dice: 4
BLD: 48
ENV.O: 32
FRSTB: 40
REC: 8
STK: 40

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Analyst's Harvester - Lethargy (THBA-T4-Demonic): Envenom 1, Bleed 1, Frostbite 1, Static 1
Armor: Acolyte's Light (T4-Perfect-Cloth Armor): Evasion 1, Recovery 2
Misc: Gold Promise - Din's Flame (T1/Perfect):Accuracy 1, Evasion 2

Custom Skill:


Skills:
Axe R5
Cloth Armor R5
Searching R4
Quick Change

Active Mods:
Vanish
Surprise Attack (Trickster)
Tracking
Athletics
Blindside

Inactive Mods:

Addons:
Ferocity
Stamina
Precision

Active Extra Skills:
Hiding R5
Concentration

Inactive Extra Skills:

Battle Ready Inventory:
Oracle's Watch - Inquiry (THBA-T4-Demonic): Absolute Accuracy, Accuracy 2, Phase x1
Sapphire Ring - Nayru: Prosperity 3 x5
Flash of Rejuvenation [T1/Perfect/Crystal] Mass Heal x5
Teleport Crystal x2

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.
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 (-): +1 Rank to the - skill.
Angler: +1 material gained when fishing
Advanced Training: +10% Exp to a thread. Limit one use per month [1/1]
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)]: 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.

 

[Ruri 0]

Hiding in the back of the guild hall, nestled into the apothecary chamber behind some glimmering glass. Ruri was hoping no one would even realize she was here, this was far too many people for her to slip past. Sliding over to one side, the girl missteps and knocks a vial off the counter. Shit... blows through her head as she drops low beneath the counter, hoping she wasn't noticed. The blunette wasn't ready to be sociable, especially with a whole gaggle of brightly colored and brightly temperamental people. A soft exhalation as she tries to conceal her breathing, keeping her head down and keeping out of sight. Taking care not to step on any of the newly produced broken glass, as she aimed to make a move toward the back of the room and bury herself under some of Raidou's junk he kept back there. Wonder if it would work?

Spoiler

Ruri, The Blue Bolt
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 13
HP: 660/660
EN: 84/84

Stats:
Damage: 1

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by Ruri

[Griswold 0]

The smith turns to Simmone, still a little unnerved when it came to one on one exchanges. "It's been going, how's that apprentice of yours?" It was a bit odd, small talk between business associates as best. He didn't see his girls nearly enough for his tastes, but they were their own people with their own ambitions. He couldn't really expect them to want to hang out with their old man all the time. The whole place seemed to liven up, more people crawling out of the wood work. Some he recognized, others he did not. His mind hangs for a moment, and for that brief instant he cannot shake the feeling that nearly everyone was acting strangely. Celeste showing interest at all, Gaius was here far too early by comparison to usual. Sounds of breaking glass meant that maybe even Raidou was home. What had changed? A ding has him pop to attention, one that belonged to Simmone.

[Simmone 0]

A twist of her head as she folds her arms across her chest, those long and open sleeves forming draped elbows. Leaning and placing her weight on her right leg, she continues to stare intensely at her twins. They were still so damn useful, toting that nigh half ton package up with ease. "Well, she's coming along. But Sam has a habit of getting distracted. I only can seem to keep her in the store for a short while, before she ends up fleeing off to god knows where." a message interrupts the conversation with the smith, and as she moves a long slender finger it expands. "Speak of the devil." She murmurs beneath her breath, scooping the digital keyboard up in her grasp. Those long spindly pieces of porcelain begin to punch away at the letters, as she readies a return to sender:

To: Sam From: Simmone I am at the guild hall, dear, making my delivery as per usual. Feel free to stop by, and do some work for once.

 

[Sam 0]

Reading Simmonè's message, in a grumpy voice, "I do work, my deliveries come later. I do have a life outside the guild." A huff of breath as she gets to her feet. Closing her HUD as she grabs her jacket and walks to the guild hall. Her mind was stuck on this dream thing. She was distracted as of late, she just saw that dead kid that saved her life. Anyone would be struck by shock from that. She needed to know that she wasn't crazy, Sam needed to know that she wasn't slowly going insane. This white haired chick just comes into this dream like state and shows her someone that she had been trying to get out of her head. How was that even possible, how did she know what the hell that boy looked like. I made no fucking sense and it bugged the shit out of her.

Swinging the door open, a bit too quickly, as it slams against the back wall. Not realizing how many people we actually here, Sam's eyes lock to Simmonè. "I do my work just as efficiently as everyone here. I have been stuck on a white haired woman that showed me something that shouldn't even been possible. So do not tell me that I am not working, I am doing the best I can..." Sam did not care if she sounding crazy, it was a bit beyond what she would normally, but she has been feeling so off her rocker for a while now, and she had not a clue how she was suppose to handle something like this.

[Celeste 1]

A glance toward Sam with the sudden outburst, door still swinging after connecting with the back wall. "The fuck is your deal?" Celeste remarks with an angry flare on her eyes. This chick was way too loud, way too early. Eying her with a twist that allows her hair to cascade over her shoulder. "How about you shut up and lower your voice some." A bit perturbed as she scans the room, a silence now claiming most of the place. Her panties were in a bunch, yeah, but she wasn't one to deal with such yelling so early. Which was ironic as she'd usually be the source of such a disturbance. "What? You all were thinking it, don't look at me." Celeste barks, sliding out a chair with a screech and falling into it in a huff. She still had to wait for Lium's lazy ass to get up and show up. Folding her arms and legs as she leans back, trying to cool off a rising temper.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Celeste

[Gaius 0]

In the storage room, still taking shots out of his peripheral at the twins dumping a crate down. Gaius begins to add these small boxes from his inventory to the shelving, hearing a ruckus downstairs. "Ugh, I need more tea." Gaius remarks before his eyes catch the twins, staring at him without blinking. Another shiver down his spine, immediately creeping him out. "No, that doesn't mean I want you to get me tea." They start moving again, ripping the top off that crate and beginning to pour objects onto the shelving, the same as him. Occasionally they need to reach somewhere higher, and create a human step latter to place materials on the top most shelving. They were pretty damn impressive. And weird. Clutching some foodstuff and adding them to a bag, that he slings over his left shoulder. He just had to get the hell out of here. "What's all the hubbub, you all trying to kill each other down here?"

[Ruri 0]

The increased volume of a whole smattering of players makes her wish to whisk her way into the small little cranny. Sliding a box slowly as to not draw attention to herself, a small alarm starts to buzz on her HUD. Ruri wigs out and quickly hushes that screaming birdie, hoping that no one else had heard it. It was time for her daily dose, and although she appreciated the reminder, it sucked total ass at the same time. *thunk* as she begins to imbibe it, that sickly greenish mixture tasting super bitter and a little like dish soap. But it did the trick anyway. Tucking it away as she hops into the box and slowly closes the lid, she'd wait out these people being weirdo's or hopefully Raidou getting home. She didn't really have anywhere else to go right now anyway, so being tucked away in here would at least hopefully keep them away.

[Sam 0]

Placing her hands against her mouth, it wasn't until now that she realized that her voice was way too loud. Knowing that she sounded crazy, but everything about what she was going on was nearly bad shit insanity. At this point she did not care what the others thought about her. She needed advice and even if it was very bad knowledge given, she would still feel better that she got something from someone. This entire thing was freaking her out, worse than being in the front lines with a team she didn't know. 

Trying to explain her outburst, "When I was very young, I was in an accident. A ran into the street to fetch a stupid ball and got pushed out of the way by a blond boy right before a car hit him. He saved me upon risking his own life. I recently had a dream, of this woman and this blond boy and at first I thought I was just dreaming, but when I woke I had remnants of what happened in that dream on my hands. Deem me fucking crazy, fine, but I know what I saw. It is on an entirely new level of insanity, but please, I am coming here asking for your guys help. I don't want to be lonely no more." Sam was really freaking out now. She never knew how to make that connection with this guild because she didn't know where to start. Sam needed them more than anything right now. She didn't want to be that girl on that computer again that trusted no one... Now more than ever, she was trying to reach out. 

[Gaius 0]

Caught a little off kilter, Sam turning into a total goof as she recounted her life story and some greater meaning. An eyebrow perks up as he struggles not to smirk. "Did you bump your head?" The fact of the matter was, although similar, yet he wasn't about to jump on that ship with her. Sam looked like a damn nutcase, and Gaius wasn't one to just accept some strange dream as fact. "Maybe you need a moment to sort yourself out, we'll be here when yah do. But..." He travels away from the chick before he breaks a smile with his left hand. "What the hell are we supposed to do with that kind of info? You want us to wait till you take a nap and all take turns jumping on your forehead to see if one of us fall in?" Yeah, it was a joke, but frankly, what the hell were they going to do with that?

[Griswold 0]

A grunt, and for a moment he contemplated punching Gaius, but the fact was he was right. "Now, now boy, it's clear she believes in it. Lighten up a bit." No matter how strange it was, that she just was listing off whatever was on her mind, the truth was it wasn't something anyone could act on. Griswold wasn't even sure he believed what he saw first hand, let alone something recounted by virtually someone he knew nothing about. Worse, that it all seemed the work of fairy tail. He blinks softly for a moment, giving Sam's shoulder a squeeze. "Sit down, get the girl some coffee and shut your mouth." he barks the order toward Gaius, who immediately perks to attention like it came from a commander. Once the guy turns, Griswold smiles, at least he was learning some. Grabbing a chair of his own, sliding it out from beside Celeste and turning it around. It screams for a moment as the big dude takes a seat. "Something is bothering you, start from the beginning."

[Simmone 0]

The girl had blown a damn fuse, and apparently an hour here or there counted as working a full shift. Taking a seat next to the one offered to Sam, with Griswold in earshot. "From the beginning." She quips as a confirmation to the smith, that yukata billowing out as her legs beneath it fold. A sandal hanging loosely off her toes, she'd only caught a tiny amount of her heated little outburst. It was early, and processing speeds were at an all-time low. Clearly, whatever Sam had to say couldn't wait, enough that she just blurted it out to a whole bunch of people. There was a time and place for anything, and no matter how much something bothered you, it wasn't worth dragging everyone in to one's affairs on a whim. Intense and yet kind eyes, picking apart the girl as if ordering her to sit. If she wanted to speak, then she'd do so on Simmone's terms. That was the price she'd pay for slacking off, no matter how she interpreted it.

[Celeste 1]

"Ya'll are fucking crazy. Especially you cupcake." As Lium had finally arrived, she fires that stare at Sam, the chair sliding out from under her ass and she just left it out. A glance back, "Get your shit together, no one needs a blubbering mess to clean up." Like before, the girl was always leading with her emotions every time her and Celeste met. That was a good way to suck, just totally suck. A sticky wet sopping dishrag wasn't useful in battle, and it was nothing more than a hindrance. Walking past Lium, apparently some in this guild were utterly useless, always flying off on some random tangent that bordered insanity. None of that shit was going to help them out of this mess, wearing one's heart on their sleeves, neither.

"Get the lead out, we got places to be. That isn't here..." Spoken through the threshold, there were mobs to kill outside the ACME factory.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Celeste

[Ruri 0]

Just keep quiet, just keep quiet Rushes through her head, hearing more and more talk within her self induced confinement. It appeared as though no one had discovered her yet, and yet she couldn't be more uncomfortable. Having this many people skittering around was making her skin crawl. She had no way out, no escape until they all left. Stabilizing her breathing through an active method, Ruri starts to attempt to drown them out. She'd not make a sound, though, feeling completely trapped. The girl still couldn't handle this, and it played off terribly every time she'd tried so far. The thumping of her heart bounced away at her eardrums, playing like a Native American tribe without a sense of rhythm. Her throat seemed dry and felt heavy, as if she tried to suck down a stone. This sucked, so, so much and all she had to do was make it through. In the back of her head, she kept hoping Raidou would show up soon.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Ruri

[Sam 0]

"It..." she just kept seeing his face, that face. Some of what was said came to deaf ears. Sam knew this was all crazy talk and that right now it looked like she should be in a nut house. "That boy should be dead, he is dead. It was just a dream," tears started to swell in her eyes as she pulls both legs to her chest. Thinking out loud in a small voice, "If it was a dream, then why did it feel so real, that voice..." Sam was good with numbers and information but dealing and sorting out emotion or how to express them. She was terrible at it, as it showed. "How can a dream feel so real, that woman, she wants me to find her. If it was a dream, should I even bother." Taking the coffee that was given to her in both hands. "Sleep, maybe I need sleep, haven't slept in days." Her voice was small but fast, like she was trying to rationalize what happened. Information like notes almost spurt from her face. This was what happened when she was trying to figure out something in games she was playing at the moment. Trying to divide and place order to her thinking and why it was the way it was. Sam felt lost right now and she didn't know how to fix it, her brain was on overload.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Sam

[Raidou 1]

Soft boots upon hardwood floors, his hearing was far better than most. Not that it was difficult to hear anything that was spoken. The trailing bit of crimson sliding along with him with momentum carried. Pale white reflections held to the eyes as he breached the threshold into the guild hall. An accurate pairing, but not one expected, the words sinking past a defensive layer. Without a word, he ushers past and places his things upon a countertop. Silently into the back, a rustle of Ruri's hair right before he gets punched for being late.

It didn't bother him in the slightest.

She starts to climb out of the box, and the guild hall had fallen silent. Some trailing with their eyes, others, just struck dumb by the wanderer's presence. It didn't matter none, and as Raidou makes a move to a chair, he removes his robe and drapes it off the back of it. A pair of reflective lenses still fighting with light pouring through the open and still swinging doors from Sam's little kerfuffle. He had seen the dead before, and has nearly every day since. In that area, he was an expert. But they were never real, how could they be?

Reaching for those glasses and plucking them from his face, his attentions shift toward Sam. "Real or not, it matters to you. But the fact is, it will not help you. Letting yourself be so totally consumed by this will only lead nowhere. Settle it, if you need to search for this woman, even if it is to convince yourself that she isn't real, then so be it. But when you're in this guild hall, reasoning and reality must prevail. You cannot afford to be so distracted or draw others into this chase. We have a job to do." The glasses fold up and take a space upon the table. "You want to talk, Sam. Then lets talk."

Spoiler

Raidou, Firm Anima Vanguard Captain
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 78
HP: 920/920
EN: 110/110

Stats:
Damage: 11
Mitigation: 44
Evasion: 4
Accuracy: 2
Battle Healing: 50
Loot Dice: 6
BLGT: 32
REC: 8
TAUNT
V.D.: 101
V.O.: 151

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Ebon Star - Vanguard Revenant [T4/Demonic/Straight Sword]: V.O 2, Taunt, Blight 1
Armor: Red Wander's Resolve - Sympathy [T1/Demonic/Cloth] 2 Evasion, 2 Vampiric Defensive
Misc: Vision of Wisdom - Whisper [T4/Demonic/Trinket] Evasion 1, Recovery 2, Accuracy 1

Custom Skill:


Skills:
Straight Sword R5
Cloth Armor R5
Battle Healing R5
Howl
Searching R5
Fighting Spirit

Active Mods:
Detect
Athletics
Vengeful Riposte
Tracking
Justified Riposte

Inactive Mods:

Addons:
Nimble
Ferocity
Precision
Focused Howl
Stamina

Active Extra Skills:
Parry
Survival
Forgotten King’s Authority
Concentration

Inactive Extra Skills:

Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystal x2
Vocal Augmentation - Resonation [Tierless/Perfect/Support/Instant] +15% HP x5
Valiant Decree - Crescendo [T1/Perfect/Debuff/Instant] -10% Final Damage x5
Flash of Rejuvenation [T1/Perfect/Crystal] Mass Heal x5
Flash of Rejuvenation [T1/Perfect/Crystal] Mass Heal x5

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.
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.
Col Stash: +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
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:
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.

Thread Complete:

3890/30=129*5=645
3890/300=12 Seeds

Griswold
645*6=3870*1.4=5418 EXP

Simmone
645*6=3870*1.4=5418 EXP

15*Materials [Griswold]
15*Materials [Simmone]
15*Materials [Gaius]
15*Materials [Celeste]
15*Materials [Ruri]
Total: 75 Materials

T4 Perfect Weapon #202302a
T4 Perfect Weapon #202302b
T4 Perfect Weapon #202302c
T4 Perfect Weapon #202307a
T4 Perfect Weapon #202307b
T4 Perfect Weapon #202307c

Gaius
645*6=3870*1.4=5418 EXP

Celeste
645*4=2580*1.4=3612 EXP

Sam
645*7=4515*1.4=6321 EXP

Ruri
645*5=3225*1.4=4515 EXP

Raidou:
Ineligible 

Tags:
Griswold
ID:202300 | Battle:7, Craft:4, Loot:14        
ID:202301 | Battle:4, Craft:9, Loot:18        
ID:202302 | Battle:4, Craft:11, Loot:19        
Tags: 2
10 materials, +5% EXP to the party
T4 Perfect Weapon #202302a
T4 Perfect Weapon #202302b
T4 Perfect Weapon #202302c
Simmone
ID:202303 | Battle:5, Craft:8, Loot:1        
ID:202304 | Battle:4, Craft:2, Loot:20        
ID:202305 | Battle:10, Craft:12, Loot:15        
Tags: 1
10 materials, +5% EXP to the party
Gaius
ID:202306 | Battle:9, Craft:12, Loot:1        
ID:202307 | Battle:3, Craft:10, Loot:20        
ID:202308 | Battle:3, Craft:2, Loot:14        
Tags: 2
10 materials, +5% EXP to the party
T4 Perfect Weapon #202307a
T4 Perfect Weapon #202307b
T4 Perfect Weapon #202307c
Celeste
ID:202309 | Battle:8, Craft:5, Loot:19        
ID:202310 | Battle:3, Craft:6, Loot:2        
ID:202311 | Battle:8, Craft:10, Loot:11        
Tags: 1
10 materials, +5% EXP to the party
Sam
ID:202312 | Battle:3, Craft:2, Loot:13        
ID:202313 | Battle:1, Craft:3, Loot:9        
ID:202314 | Battle:5, Craft:3, Loot:4        
Ruri
ID:202315 | Battle:1, Craft:3, Loot:14        
ID:202316 | Battle:9, Craft:12, Loot:4        
ID:202317 | Battle:9, Craft:8, Loot:11      
Tags: 1 
10 materials, +5% EXP to the party