[F01-PP] BOARDOM

[Nian 0]

so here was the situation.

"ever since the boss of the labyrinth has been defeated, there's been a bunch of boar noises from the tower that's keeping us awake! please clear out the labyrinth so that--"

blah blah blah. nian didn't need to know their reasons.

the once deadly labyrinth of aincrad's past was coated black, stuck on the furthest edge of the castle, away from the town of beginnings. almost a waypoint against a blue sky; on a clear day, and only if one was in the outskirts far enough to have spotted it. the quest npc that had wanted the massacre of pigs was housed somewhere close by. a village. a checkpoint, a beacon of hope for ancient players.

a troublesome stop in the road for nian. nonetheless, the effort she would take in decimation would be enough if cardinal took kindly to her prospects. some col; enough for a domicile, fit for a king, and whatever gear she could scavenge to boot. that would be enough, just for now.

greed would always find her again, to tell her when she needed most.

it was at the stronghold's entrance that said beast was reviewing her statuses. through thorough understanding, her estimation of what defeating the boars would entail should've been right -- some experience, but mostly the loot. buffs to help. damage to keep sane. she thought nothing of the dangers within, for there was little to oppose the woman in a place like this.

with a click of a button, the front doors to a prairie shifted open. a heavy groan, as though the labyrinth had not seen use in days -- yet, nian was certain it must've. cardinal was just being dramatic.

allowing the entrance to stay open, she strode in, white obscuring her arms in a turn of light, before blanketing them in claws of black blemished steel.

@Corvo

[[ N I A N ]]

Lv. 14 | NIAN | HP: 313/313 | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 36 | LD: 6 | PROSP: 3

Spoiler    equipment  Heaven's Decree +2 ACC +1 EVA STR-v2 + 6 DMG Red Omamori + 3 LD    br.inventory  Teleport Crystals (3) Cold Brew Coffee (5) | HP RECOVERY III | [link] Golden Key (3) Chocolate Truffles [+4 EN/ea] (5)    skills  Spoiler CLAWS | RANK 5/5 stamina, precision, ferocity aoe shift  COMBAT MASTERY: MIT | RANK 3/3    buffs  Spoiler field rations (+12% hp) | 1/1 water canister (+10hp/ooc regen) | 1/3 creme brulee (+2 acc) | 1/3 smores (+2 eva) | 1/3 berry crumb bars (+3 ld) | 1/1 smores (+3 prosp) | 1/1    sword arts  Spoiler all sword arts en match their multiplier unless stated otherwise. en for aoes is += (2 * targets). x15 | aoe-i x18 | aoe-ii x20 | st-b x12 | tech-a | stun | 13en x12 | tech-b | delay x8 | tech-f | stun aoe    misc.  Spoiler

 

[Corvo 0]

"...so they need help dealing with the town's bacon shortage, I get it. Bacon's important shit. I'd probably pay someone too."

The golden haired youth picked at his teeth with a fingernail as he spoke, not bothering to make eye contact with the young woman who'd gone out of her way to explain the situation to him. She frowned. "No, that's not what I said at all," she started to say, "boars. Lots of them. The quest calls for extermination, so-"

"Right, right. Kill boars. Make bacon. I get it," he repeated. She sighed loudly and threw up her hands. The part about boars appeared to have gotten through, but none of the words of caution seemed to stick as she spoke to the other Player. For Corvo, it didn't matter. Danger was to be expected, and if he wanted to get stronger, he would have to face it head on for himself. Calling up the massive greataxe from his inventory, the item appeared across his back as he made his way toward the first floor labyrinth.

"Hell of a place to hunt for pork, though," he complained. "Drab, terrible decorator. Complete mismatch from the theme," he gestured toward the rest of the first floor, which amounted to a lush prairie and mountains, and an overabundance of life. By contrast, the labyrinth was ostentatious in its defiance of that. A black, lifeless amalgamation of metal that opened up into a sinister dungeon.

Maybe it was to intimidate new Players.

Corvo liked his interpretation better. He always did. By the time he made his approach, someone else had made their way ahead of him. "Oooooh noyadon't," he hissed beneath his breath as the red eyed man picked up his pace and sprinted to the door before it could close, and slid through narrowly just as it slammed shut.

"Hey, I don't know if you noticed," he raised his voice, "but I was here first." Total bullshit. "The bacon belongs to me," he puffed out his chest slightly and jabbed his thumb toward it to indicate himself. That was when he noticed them. Lots of them. More than he was going to be able to handle on his own, if he continued with that line of thinking.

"Ah, what I meant was, the bacon is mine, but I don't mind sharing, since I'm benevolent and all that. So, provided you don't slow me down..." he let the words hang in the air as his gaze moved from one pig to the next, then back toward the other Player.

"Whaddya say?"

Corvo

Level 9 HP: 180/180 EN: 36/36

DMG: 10 BLD: 1 ACC: 3 RISKY: 8 Recovery: 1

Edited March 26, 2022 by Corvo

[Nian 0]

"Oooooh noyadon't,"

oh great. who in the world was this extra?

it hadn't even registered to nian that the labyrinth would want to keep itself shut, the moment she heard that creaking of the doors. and the king whirled around, ears prickled, tuned to the sound of a human voice.

a commoner.

"Hey, I don't know if you noticed, but I was here first."

lanky. devious. cutting edge. had the weapon not been strapped to the random nuisance that had appeared, the emperor might've let the oddity slip. because then there would be something to marvel at, upon her notice. but no -- it was always mongrels somehow dogging her steps as she wandered through the castle, wasn't it?

and no, the king hadn't noticed the nameless figure as she wandered in, either, thank you very much.

she sneered, looking over her shoulder. benevolence was one thing. but there was nothing the lowlife could offer the emperor that he did not already have, granted heaven's gifts upon his arrival, he would need for nothing more than what he could obtain on his own. god's hand. even in his observation, surveying the quarry that awaited them, nian was already removing the limiters on her weapon -- a lock flipped here, a screw unwound there.

"So, provided you don't slow me down... Whaddya say?"

a growl, and the woman got into a readied stance, catching a group of boars finally darting her way. her metal fingers extended outwards, a flex in a wave. "his majesty needs not your permission."

one slam of her nails into faux grass on solid ground. what enemies she could catch in her strike were eliminated.

Spoiler

> POST ACTION: AOE-I

ID207135 | bd10 | -> Boar #4 
ID207134 | bd6+5 = 11 | -> Boar #3 
ID207133 | bd2+5 = 7 | -> Boar #2 
ID207132 | bd6+5 = 11 | -> Boar #1 

15 + (2 * 4) -2 = -21 EN
16 * 15 = 240 DMG

---

Boar #1 ~ Boar #4 | HP: 0/240 | DMG: 84

NIAN | HP: 313/313 | EN: 25/46 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 36 | LD: 6 | PROSP: 3

 

[Corvo 0]

"His Majesty?" he clicked his tongue once disapprovingly. "Aintcha a hair too pretty to be King of anything?" the blonde asked without a second thought. It hit him immediately thereafter, and he snapped like he had been gifted a stroke of genius. "Oh, I get it, you must be one of them types what dont identify with what hangs- or don't hang between yer legs. I get it, I get it, no worries, I support it. Live yer truth 'n all that shit," he flicked his wrist dismissively, like that was the least of his worries.

"But, ah, we're gonna have a problem if you don't wanna work with me on this," he chided. "See, you're pretty and all, but pretty don't pay my damn bills or put food in my belly," he peeled the axe from behind him one handed as four more boars made their appearance and bum rushed the two of them. "So, why don't the two of us cooperate and kill as much as we can, and I'll split the profits with you down the middle?"

With a powerful twist of his hips, the red eyed brawler brought his weapon spinning around his body toward the first Boar, which deftly hopped over the attack. The other three were less fortunate, and the weapon sheared through them multiple times, leaving them with with red lines that indicated the wounds as their health bars dropped frantically.

The attack it seemed, had been less effective than the one loosed by the stranger. That only served to infuriate the man, who's competitive streak left him inclined to want to put more enemies down than this self-important snob who called herself... himself... whatever- who claimed to be King.

Now, this was frustrating.

"Maybe, if you're lucky, you might get to see what a real King can do," he added with a wink.

Corvo HP: 180/180 EN: 19/36 (-17) 

Corvo activates AOE-I: 9 EN + (2×#targets) = 17 EN

AOE-I deals 10×9= 90 DMG

Boar 5: 240/240 (miss) 84 DMG

Boar 6: 150/240 (-90) 84 DMG 

Boar 7: 150/240 (-90) 84 DMG 

Boar 8: 150/240 (-90) 84 DMG

Spoiler

 

Rolls:

207139	2	12	15	4	Corvo	http://www.cydel.net/images/saorpg/diceroll/Msg_hover2.png	AOE 1 against Boar 5	2022-03-25 20:17:28
207138	6	7	17	4	Corvo	http://www.cydel.net/images/saorpg/diceroll/Msg_hover2.png	AOE 1 against Boar 8	2022-03-25 20:16:54
207137	4	5	16	2	Corvo	http://www.cydel.net/images/saorpg/diceroll/Msg_hover2.png	AOE 1 against Boar 7	2022-03-25 20:16:39
207136	8	11	5	2	Corvo	http://www.cydel.net/images/saorpg/diceroll/Msg_hover2.png	AOE 1 against Boar 6	2022-03-25 20:16:20

 

Edited March 26, 2022 by Corvo

[Nian 0]

pretty? the word near made her skin crawl. where the stranger couldn't see, nian practically balked at that response. just the same with the comment afterwards -- but it was better that than pretty.

elegant would've been the better choice there.

"But, ah, we're gonna have a problem if you don't wanna work with me on this,"

"the same could be said for you," the royal touted back, glare shot from over her shoulder.

"See, you're pretty and all,"

(purposeful?)

"but pretty don't pay my damn bills or put food in my belly. So, why don't the two of us cooperate and kill as much as we can, and I'll split the profits with you down the middle?"

and his majesty only found herself with narrowed eyes. from what little she could tell of the tattler, the strength he wielded was immense -- axe swung with great might, its edge cutting loose upon the stampede that drew his way. the deal...

... was off the moment she noticed that his attacks had barely done enough to even push the boars into the green. pretty, he'd said -- pretty awful was how heaven's chosen thought of him, and pretty was all the man even had, given his all talk and little bite.

and in her benevolence, the emperor darted behind the boars. a low punch towards the ground created enough of a light seismic to rattle their opponents, and so too when the boar that had dodged out of harms way came charging back towards that weakling, nian was all but too eager to slip past his form. an open palm, harsh cold metal halting the rush of that once-evader, and god's favoured turned towards the useless, ruby eyes shot back onto crimson.

crimson.

her eyes narrowed once again.

a crack upon the boar in her claws. with a crunch, like teeth sinking into prey, the mob died struggling in her arms.

never mind the wink and the escort talk shot her way. even the hopeless could rise to formidability given enough hard work and effort -- despite only the highest of echelons reserved for the righteous, by birthright. nian folded her steel arms. "mighty bold for a commoner like you to dabble in perjury without an inch of col to your name. and that is not to your benefit, fool."

she opened a palm as she spoke. "in the same vein of benevolence, then. 'co-operation', in the name of profits." her index then extended. "on one condition."

"mongrel. state your level."

Spoiler

> POST ACTION: AOE-I

ID207157 | bd4+5 | -> Boar #8 
ID207156 | bd5+5 | -> Boar #7 
ID207155 | bd2+5 | -> Boar #6 
ID207154 | bd6+5 | -> Boar #5 

15 + (2 * 4) -2-2 = -19 EN
16 * 15 = 240 DMG

---

Boar #5 ~ Boar #8 | HP: 0/240 | DMG: 84

NIAN | HP: 313/313 | EN: 6/46 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 36 | LD: 6 | PROSP: 3

 

[Corvo 0]

Mongrel, she says.

"Well, can't hate you for that," he shrugged. "most of the idjits in this place are delusional. At least we're getting someplace," Corvo clicked his tongue again as he shouldered his axe and admired the few seconds of violence-induced silence that her weapons had brought about. He wasn't dead yet, at least.

"Nine," he answered the woman's question without getting any more arbitrary or obtuse. There was no use in inflaming a situation that was already in flames.

It was evident that there was no danger of this person prying into his personal business. This made the woman precariously one of the few people in this world he could tolerate. No pretense of kindness, no united we stand posturing. It was likely their disdain was mutual, and that was the only commonality that he needed.

"As long as it's just about profits. My coffers aint as swole as I'd like 'em, and I aim to change that." He shrugged as another group of boars made a bee-line toward them, and he brought the weapon straight down in front of him, sundering the earth in their path to effectively split them and render their attacks uncoordinated. The furthest boars from the apex of the strike simply deviated from their course away from the duo and the attack summarily failed to strike them at all, but the two who were unfortunate enough to get caught in the blast...

Squeal! Shriek!

The first boar was indignant as the radial blast took its hooves out from under it and sent it sprawling to the dirt not four feet from Corvo. The second was caught directly in the path of the attack, feeling the full weight and strength of the blade as it ripped into the earth. Corvo wore a menacing smirk as he gripped his weapon tighter and began to pry it free, leaving the boars in disarray but the woman in perfect position to capitalize on the discord.

Much better, he reasoned, than risking four boars at once consistently.

The two that were very much not dead, but disgruntled licked their proverbial wounds by rushing headlong toward him and goring large chunks away from his HP. A fitting reprisal perhaps, but one that he'd called down on himself intentionally.

The swell of power that came with being struck would make a considerable difference in the amount of damage he could deal. His body swelled with power as the damage whittled away at him, and he felt the rush of adrenaline supercharge his muscles and pump his blood ever faster.

It had quickly become evident that this method of fighting... might not be sustainable for him. Not at this level, at least.

"Gonna have to slog a potion after that shitshow," he muttered indignantly.

[Recovery: ID 207295 CD 8]

Corvo regains 1 EN from Recovery

Corvo HP: 36/180 (-144) EN: 5/36 (+2, -16)

84-12= 72×2= 144 damage

[1]Boar 9: 120/240 (-120) 84 damage (12×10= 120)

[2]Boar 10: 108/240 (-132) 84 damage (12×11= 132)

Spoiler   207298 9 10 7 8 Corvo http://www.cydel.net/images/saorpg/diceroll/Msg_hover2.png AOE 2 against Boar 10 2022-03-26 12:12:56 207297 7 6 14 8 Corvo http://www.cydel.net/images/saorpg/diceroll/Msg_hover2.png AOE 2 against Boar 9

Edited March 26, 2022 by Corvo

[Nian 0]

awful. the moment he took the brunt of the damage, it became more than just profits. somehow, it pivoted to the life-and-death spiel that had plagued the land since forever. pig headed fools just love the ilk of their kin, she supposed.

no rest for the wicked. the point of an emperor was to lead his subjects to victory and -- no love for the land she was sent to save, but -- there would be no subjects left entitled to her respect had they been wiped out before she could grace their presence. as stupid as they were to have gone out in a manner of different ways, like boars.

level nine was beneath her. as she'd expected. but just the same, with quick thinking, nian had figured her own energy pools depleted likely meant the same to her associate. and that spelled trouble, despite her eye roll watching his show. the emperor had stepped out of the warpath of the man's axe, readied but unmoved. only at his warning did his majesty shift into action.

three finger. thumb, index, middle. though her form shot towards a single boar, her loose grasp ensured that the opponent had eyes on the one that truly mattered -- her -- and that lob of its measly form afterwards bought time for rationale. her digits almost punched the lights out the menu that she called open, pressure threatening to break cardinal's interface. and the swing towards the daft in her vicinity could've been construed as an attack, had it not also sent a blue block his way.

a teleport crystal. the king hissed, annoyance coming to a boil.

"take a hike as you see fit. you couldn't afford to have your ashes stuffed in those coffers had you preferred."

Spoiler

> POST ACTION: BASIC ATTACK
> FREE ACTION: Giving Corvo [Teleport Crystal] (1).

ID207157 | bd2+5 | -> Boar #9

1 -2 = +1 EN

---

Boar #9 | HP: 104/240 | DMG: 84
Boar #10 | HP: 108/240 | DMG: 84

[1,0] NIAN | HP: 313/313 | EN: 7/46 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 36 | LD: 6 | PROSP: 3
[1,1] CORVO | HP: 36/180 | EN: 5/36 | DMG: 10+8 | ACC: 3 | BLD: 1 | RISKY: 8 | REC: 1

 

[Corvo 0]

He caught the crystal deftly as it was thrown, despite not knowing what it was. He didn't glance at the menu prompt to find out, either. The words that this woman spoke to him were ice, and suggested that he was worthless. "Piss on that,"he hissed angrily as he swapped the item for a different one in his inventory, this time guzzling the conjured healing potion in a single swig. He would need every drop of health he could manage in order to survive this encounter. The last thing he wanted to do was die, but next to that, proving this person right was damned close to his top priority. 

He wasn't simply angry anymore. As his health climbed out of the bottom of the tank, he was malding. 

Minus, you know, the whole losing hair part.

"Now you listen here, you prissy bitch," he pointed his finger accusingly as he let himself get drunk on the momentary high that came with a rush of hit points. He would need that vigor to survive the next series of attacks. Fortunately, the self-appointed monarch had drawn the ire of the second boar. According to the damage he'd taken the last time, he could easily manage to make it through one more hit. One. No more than that, though. "I ain't backin' down now. Too late for that. No one worth his salt makes a commitment and breaks it." Was that a token of wisdom handed down from his father? Hell- seemed like not every part of him was lost, after all.

"Maybe it'll be on your conscience, and maybe it won't, but if you want to do something useful, instead of telling me to run, just help me make sure I make it out of here alive." 

As he moved to regain his composure and find his center of gravity, the boars came again. This time, his sway effected the beginnings of a dodge, and he managed to maneuver out of the way of the powerful attempt to gore his flesh. Thankfully, Corvo was able to hang on to those excess hit points. Maybe he'd be able to take advantage of them in the next encounter? Or maybe, they'd get him out of this alive- now, that thought was much less ambitious.

Ambition is my birthright, he silently reminded himself as he gripped the haft of the Battle Axe tightly. His knuckles were turning white. He watched as the other boar moved toward the second Player. 

Now, lets see what you've got, he watched, readying himself for the next attack.

[Recovery ID: 209337 CD: 12]

Corvo regains 1 EN from Recovery.

Corvo HP: 86/180 (+50) EN: 7/36 (+2)
NIAN | HP: 313/313 | EN: 7/46 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 36 | LD: 6 | PROSP: 3

84-12= 72×2= 144 damage

[0]Boar 9: 120/240 (-120) 84 damage (12×10= 120)

[1]Boar 10: 108/240 (-132) 84 damage (12×11= 132)

 

Boar 9 attacking Nian: ID: 209338 MD: 1 (Fails hilariously)

Boar 10 attacking Corvo: ID: 209339 MD: 4 (Fail!)

Edited May 20, 2022 by Corvo