[SP-F2] Let There Be Light

[Morningstar 0]

Spoiler

Floor 2
<<Let There Be Light>>
Party Limit: 4 | 20+ Posts
Repeatable for standard page rewards and extra col from quest rewards.

Quest Rewards:

• 500 Experience Points
• A Col Value of your Loot Dice multiplied by 25 [Party leader rolls LD. All players receive that amount.]
• Each player receives: (1) Glow Stone
  • Effect: While holding a Glow Stone, the area around you is illuminated. You and players near you do not suffer any penalties for darkness or low-light conditions. Cannot wield a weapon while holding a Glow Stone, but it can be swapped out and and back in to continue its effect. Effect lasts for one thread.

Requirements:

• Roleplay talking to the frantic Choshi (3+ posts)
• Defeat (1) Giant Bat upon entering the cave
• Find Koko on a LD of 15+ (each roll is a post action)
• Defeat (1) Giant Bat before exiting the cave
• Roleplay the Ending

Summary:

An erratic woman by the name of Choshi frantically approaches the player the moment they step foot in the town of Urbus. "Pl-please," she begs, "I've been trying to find someone to help me all day. My child--" she pauses, trying to regain her composure. "She-- she was playing in one of the caverns in the mountains with her friend. I-I told her not to go but she didn't listen to me!" Choshi exclaims hysterically, fat tears pouring from her eyes as she pleads for the player(s) to help her. "Her friend came back to me just this moment a-and said that they were attacked by monsters! T-the beast is still in there with her, please, I don't know how long my Koko can last in a place like that!" She sobs and any attempts to comfort or convince her that she is overreacting proves fruitless.

When the player(s) decide to help the woman, her face will brighten up considerably. "R-really? Thank you! Thank you so much, you have no idea how grateful I am," she will say with a wide and relieved smile. "Your e-efforts won't go to waste, I swear! I'll have something for you when you get back, I-I promise!" Once Choshi says this, the location of Koko will be pinned on the player(s) map, signalling the beginning of the quest. 

Outline: 

The player(s) must encounter Choshi, hear her tale of woe and roleplay agreeing to help find her missing child.  They will be attacked by a Giant Bat upon entering the cave where the child is said to have been playing.  Once defeated, each player may spend post actions to roll LD to attempt to locate Koko.  This is a modified roll, with skills and consumable applicable.  Another bat will arrive on the on the post immediately after Koko is found.  Once it, too, is defeated, the player(s) can return Koko to her mother.
 

---

NPCs:

 

<<Choshi>> and <<Koko>>
A very warm and caring mother who lives happily with her daughter, Koko.
A very adventurous and passionate young girl who loves getting herself into trouble.

---

Enemies:

Giant Bat:
HP: 75/75 | DMG: 35

Environmental Effect:

• It's Dark in There | Players without a glowstone, the Night Vision mod, or some other means to aid with sight will suffer a -1 to ACC.

 

---

Epilogue:

Koko will run to Choshi the second she spots her when the player(s) enter Urbus. "I'm sorry, Mama!" She wails, her tiny arms wrapping around her mother's waist as she buries her face into her shirt. "I-I won't get into trouble again, I-I promise!"

Choshi's face slowly morphs from surprise to pure joy before she hugs her child back. "It's okay, sweetie. I know you didn't mean for it to happen," she murmurs, coaxing her child as she runs her hand down Koko's hair soothingly. She looks up at the player(s) and gives them a thankful smile. "Thank you... I cannot even explain how grateful I am to you. I am forever in your debt, both me and Koko are." The mother chuckled, tugging on the cheeks of her daughter before she reaches into her dress, pulling out a pouch. "I know it's not much, but please, take it," she says, handing the player(s) the pouch. "It's some money I scraped together... and a little something extra." She looks down at Koko and sighs. "Again, thank you for saving her. I have no idea what I would do if Koko was harmed... and speaking of Koko, what do we say?" 

Koko lifts her face from her mother's clothes and gives the player a toothy grin. "Thank you for saving me!" The girl blurted, which will immediately end the quest, and all players will have their rewards transferred to them.

A blue light overtook Morningstar as he teleported from one floor to another. The teleportation process was always mind-boggling. It was almost instantaneous, aside for the short seconds in-between places; a sort of limbo, you might say. His body deconstructed itself into pixels and when it reformed, he was in Urbus.

Floor Two. It had been a while.

He stepped off of the teleportation pad and into the town. A plan was something that Morningstar lacked. It wasn't unusual for him to wing it, though. He considered where he would start. A tavern, maybe? He had been told that The Rusty Dagger was a reputable establishment. Not far into the town, the voice of an erratic, frightened woman called out to him. It took him by surprise—had he started a quest line by mistake?

""Pl-please," she begged, "I've been trying to find someone to help me all day. My child—"

She paused to regain her composure. Her breathing was irregular and fast. Morningstar placed a hand on her shoulder and she took notice, calming down a bit.

"It's okay," he started. "What happened to your child?"

"She-- she was playing in one of the caverns in the mountains with her friend. I-I told her not to go but she didn't listen to me!" Choshi exclaimed hysterically.

Tears poured from her eyes. "Her friend came back to me just this moment a-and said that they were attacked by monsters! T-the beast is still in there with her. Please, I don't know how long my Koko can last in a place like that!" Her sobbing was uncontrollable.

"Hey, hey. It's okay. I can help bring your daughter back," Morningstar ensured.

Her tears didn't stop but she nodded as if to thank him. A few confused onlookers stopped to watch the scene. The NPC cried into his shoulder while he waited for a quest notification to pop up. It was really taking its time. With one hand, he held on to the woman and with the other, he swiped open his inventory to check his equipment.

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 19 | HP: 380/380 | EN: 56/56 | DMG: 17 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 29

Gear:

• Beginner's Straight Sword | Uncommon
  +1 DMG
• Beginner's Light Armor | Uncommon
  +9 MIT
• Lexa's Light | Perfect
  +3 ACC

Battle Ready:

• 5x T1 Health Potion (heals 5% of max HP)

Skills:

• Two-Handed Straight Sword | Rank 5 | Precision | Stamina | Ferocity
  +9 DMG
  +1 ACC
  -2 ENG per attack
• Light Armor | Rank 4
  +20 MIT
  -2 Stealth
• Searching | Rank 5
  +5 LD
  +5 Stealth Detection

Combat Mastery:

• Damage
  +6 DMG

Combat Shift:

• TECH Specialist
  +4 to multipliers
  +3 to ENG cost

@Reyna

[Reyna 0]

Without thinking the words “second floor” made it past nude lips. Seconds later the blue light surrounded her and started to break down her very form. The first time the woman had attempted to teleport she had nearly had a panic attack. Although nothing was felt the thought of a body breaking down into tiny pixels only to be reformed on another plane terrified her. Now, it just seemed like normal. Funny was two years does to the mind.

Materializing on the second floor, a wooden sandal touched the pavement of Urbus. Normally other players were wandering about the floor; however, this time most of them seemed to be stopped and watching something. Following their confused gaze’s lilac orbs landed on a strange scene - a male player cradling a woman as she desperately cried into his chest. At first, she thought the woman was a player but upon closer inspection she recognized the NPC coloring. Trailing back down to the woman’s face she made eye contact. It was a mistake.

“You there,” She cried desperately while hanging onto the man, “Please! You must help him retrieve my little girl. I fear for his life if he goes alone!” Blinking in a confused fashion, Reyna shrunk back as the eyes of the observers turned to her. Then a sigh was released. Striding up to the collapsed woman and come to stand slightly adjunct to the male player, the dark purple haired players eyes softened. A hand was placed on the NPC’s auburn hair before it started to softly stoke the locks; attempting to calm the woman.

“I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’ll certainly come along,” Reyna cooed to the woman reassuringly, continuing to softly stroke the NPC’s hair. Then a warm gaze was turned toward the man as her attention shifted, “I’m Reyna by the way. Nice to meet you.”  

@Morningstar

Spoiler

Reyna | Level 1 | SP:5 | HP: 20 | EN: 20 | DMG: 1 | ACC: 1 |

Items: 
-->(3) Starter Healing Potions (Heals 50 HP)
-->(25) Materials

Equipment: 
-->Ice Tipped Spear | T1 | Polearm/Spear | Rare
Damage (1 Slot); Accuracy (1 Slot)
Item Description: A long polearm crafted on a red-steel shaft, the entire length from blade tip to shaft-end is approximately 5 ft. The blade itself is crafted of an ice blue metal material, and seems to sparkle slightly in the light.

Spoiler

Word count: 314

 

Edited March 22, 2022 by Reyna

[Morningstar 0]

The arrival of the indigo-haired woman was comforting, for lack of a better word. Instead of a town of people staring at him, a town people were staring at them. The NPC's tears finally came to a stop when the player agreed to join in on the quest.

"Morningstar," he introduced himself, shrugging. "I'd shake your hand but..."

His were, of course, occupied. A quest notification appeared and like clockwork, the NPC loosened her grip. Now free to move as he pleased, he tapped the accept button with his finger. "I think fearing for my life is an exaggeration but if you're not too busy, I would enjoy the company" Morningstar smiled.

While he didn't expect a challenge, he knew that the trip and back would be tiresome if he went alone. Besides, he needed more friends—his were always busy with the guilds he refused to join. He equipped his weapon and cloak, scanning through his inventory for anything else he thought he might need. A few health potions wouldn't hurt, just in case.

It dawned on him that he wasn't wearing his neckless. With a few taps in his menu, an angel wing pendant appeared around his neck. It glowed faintly in the sunlight.

The woman's face brightened. "Thank you!" she cried. "You have no idea how grateful I am. Your e-efforts won't go to waste, I swear! I'll have something for you when you get back, I-I promise!" 

The woman sniffled as she spoke, telling them that her name was Choshi and that she would be waiting in the same spot when they returned. Morningstar opened his map. The location of the woman's daughter was pinned over a cave deep in the wilderness of the second floor.

"We can make it back before night, I think," he said, meeting Reyna's eyes.

@Reyna

[Reyna 0]

Noticing that his hands were being occupied, Reyna nodded in understanding. Realizing that he may not have seen the nod she smiled, “It’s no worries. You have a lot going on right now.” It was a light joke to break some of the tension that was starting to build up within. In all honesty, she was nervous about being a level one and dragging him down. Did Morningstar know?

The more she thought about it the more she hesitated; her fingers hovered hesitantly over the accept button of the quest window. “I’m definitely not busy,” Reyna grinned, but the grin then faltered slightly, “but I think if she should be fearing for anyone’s life, it would be mine. I am just a level one after all.”

Anxiously, the indigo-haired women turned to face Morningstar and waited to see his reaction. As she waited, part of her attention shifted to the female NPC, now known as Choshi, as she stated that it would be worth their effort to go on this quest. Nerves getting the better of her, the eye contact she was making suddenly dropped and landed on the necklace. It was beautiful. Realizing that she was staring once again her gaze shifted back to his face. 

Since the beginning of SAO Reyna had only interacted with NPC’s. It was lonely, but some part of her thought that she didn’t deserve to have a connection with people. She chose to remain on the first floor while others risked their lives to win. It was what she deserved – but now, but now what did she deserve?

@Morningstar

Spoiler

Word Count: 256

 

[Morningstar 0]

Reyna's level took him by surprise. He raised a brow as if he were thinking about how to approach the situation. He was confident that he could handle the quest alone but holding the life of a level one player in his hands almost made him uncomfortable. If something were to happen to her, it would be his fault.

Morningstar caught the woman gazing at his necklace. Smiling faintly, he wondered what Lexa would have done in his position. The staring of passersby finally came to an end, relieving some of his tension. He cleared his throat, committing to an answer.

"If we go together, you'll be okay," he beamed.

His overthinking mind caused him some worry but in truth, the danger was minimal. "Besides," he began, "I'm curious about you."

The Town of Beginnings was full of people who, essentially, had not played the game. Level one players were common there and while some may have looked down on those who stayed behind the safety of the walls, Morningstar knew that they all had their reasons. He wondered what her story was and why she was willing to venture out after all this time.

Perhaps she was like him and craved adventure. Or maybe she had something she wanted to prove. No matter the reason, he was interested. With a few taps of his menu, a party invitation was sent to Reyna.

"What do you say? Come for the trip? It could be fun," he chuckled.

@Reyna

[Reyna 0]

“If we go together, you’ll be okay.”

Her whole body froze. The words that had been stated bounced around in her head like a bouncy ball. It was reassuring, but her immediate thought went to the word “you’ll.” What about him? Before another thought could occur another comment with made. 

As if agreeing to go with her was not shocking enough, the next words would have been, “besides, I’m curious about you.” Instantly, the light beige cheeks turned a cherry red, and a wave of warmth overflowed. Her gaze, which had been focused on him, swiveled back to the party invite quickly.  

Taking a moment to regroup and focus Reyna made a decision. “Yeah, I think it will be fun,” with that said, a pair of fingers lightly tapped the ‘yes’ button, then she glided up to stand next to him, “I'm ready to head out when you are. Just so you know, you'll be okay too.” At that, she placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled the corners of her mouth into a gentle smile. It may not have been as reassuring as his words were to her, but she wanted to make her thoughts clear. 

Now that they were party members the player information appeared over the head of his pixelate body. Just has he said, Morningstar shined brightly in blue print. If she focused a little more, she could see that under his name was the level information – seventeen. She found herself relaxing just a little bit more; reassured by the information. 

"We'll both be okay." Reyna thought to herself. 

@Morningstar

Spoiler

Word Count: 264

Edited March 28, 2022 by Reyna

[Morningstar 0]

Sparks ran up Morningstar's spine at the touch of Reyna's hand. Her words surprised him. He felt like it was on him to support her but there she was, reassuring him instead. Matching her smile, he took a step forwards. He brought his left hand up to his necklace, touching the pendant gently. He lifted it and slid it underneath his cloak, out of sight.

"Let's head out," he said, peeking back to make sure she was following.

The gates of Urbus stood tall, its guards placed in the same particular way that they always were. Morningstar nodded to them in passing as they left the city, entering the small forest outside. The atmosphere was different from that of the city. The forest was more lively; robins and songbirds whistled in the trees, aromatic flowers bloomed along the edges of the path, and sometimes, out of the corner of his eye, he'd catch a glimpse of a squirrel scurrying through the bushes. Morningstar found peace in forests. They were alive and yet so harmonious, exempt from the chaos that existed within the walls of civilization. And this close to Urbus, it was unlikely that they would run into any monsters. It was safe and free from strife.

Morningstar shifted his gaze from the treetops to his partner. She shared the colour of her hair with some of the flowers that grew off to the side. Soft, patchy light snuck in through the leaves and sprinkled itself across her skin. Her eyes were full of mystery. They pulled him in, bested by curiosity.

"So," he began, "it doesn't seem like you quest much. What prompted you to join me?"

He meant no offense but with the woman's level, she'd likely be outclassed by whatever waited for them within the cave. That being said, he'd been in her exact position before—a level one in a terrifying world. He understood how it felt to dive blindly into the world, with nothing but the arms of another player to keep you up. The comfort the walls of the city provided was unmatched and the decision to leave could not have been an easy one.

@Reyna

[Reyna 0]

As Morningstar stepped forward, the feminine hand slipped off his broad shoulder and floated where he once stood. It was startling. Not his movement, but the sudden lack of warmth that had disappeared as quickly as it was realized. Wide, blinking eyes stared down at her hand as if it was suddenly new - and in a way it was. The warmth that radiated from another player was a new experience. She never would have guessed that the system recreated those sensations. As her thoughts started to whirl his voice that brought her back to reality. Bringing the hand to her chest, she then gripped the spear in her right hand and nodded. Jogging to catch-up the duo headed out of the town. 

Striding beside him, they entered the forest of floor two. The sounds of the town started to fade in the background before altogether disappearing. In the real world, Reyna rarely would have been caught walking or exploring the forest. There was something about them that unsettled the core of her being. Perhaps her brother, Emory, had something to do with it. There was a fond memory of her family and her going to camping, and then her brother waking up in the middle of the night to play a terrifying prank on her. In retrospect, it was a memory caused a smile but part of her still thoughts about the things that go bump in the forest. 

Scanning the surrounding area her attention was brought back to Morningstar, and his now stated question. "You would be right. I don't quest much, just started actually," Reyna commented casually, while picking a flower from one of the trees and intently focusing on it. The systems recalibrated and every detail of the strange, baby pink flower was revealed. "And I d-," Reyna found that the words froze in her throat. It would have been a lie to say, "I don't know." 

A deep breath was taken, but eye contact was avoided as the next statement was heartfelt. “I, um, felt like I was wasting away. Like I was just waiting for this to be over and get back to my life in the real world," Reyna whispered, plucking one of the pink petals, "But, Morningstar, I came with you because you felt…alive? Like you're enjoying life even if we're stuck here and I want to learn how to do that." 

@Morningstar

Spoiler

Word Count: 400

 

Edited March 30, 2022 by Reyna

[Morningstar 0]

She hesitated at first but Morningstar didn't blame her. He had asked a question that, for most, was tricky to answer. Everyone had a backstory and not everyone was proud of it.

Reyna's explanation was well put. Morningstar understood where she was coming from, wanting to return to the real world, to her own life. The frontlines existed for that very reason. Even still, there was no telling when they would get the chance to go back. The blonde's eyes widened at her final sentence.

Alive.

It was an oddly accurate way of describing his ability to carry on in a world so different from the one they had come from. Most days, Morningstar would wake up without even thinking about his life from before. It was as if one had completely replaced the other. New people succeeded the old and while he still loved his real family and friends, they had become a distant memory—a fragment of the past. He glanced at Reyna. She was shorter than him by a few inches, so he had to look down a bit. Approaching the idea of teaching a person how to find enjoyment in life was a difficult task. Actually, he was not sure that it was teachable at all.

It was something you had to experience.

In the same way that Morningstar could not adequately describe the gorgeous, purple flower in the woman's hand to someone who had not already seen it, there was no way for him to explain his way of life. He simply lived. Pushing his blonde locks out of his face, he smiled.

"You've already taken the first step by coming with me," he said.

@Reyna

[Reyna 0]

Then there was silence. 

Immediately, the female's thought process changed direction and started working a mile a minute. Changing her focus from the flower, which had taken up most of her attention, a tentative glance was taken at her adventuring partner. Reyna found herself glancing up to make up for the more then couple different inches in height. The blonde hair was slightly messy with longer strands on one side. Wandering eyes followed the strands of hair to his eyes, which were bright amber and filled with life and warmth. Then his whole face was taken in. Thick brows matched the blonde hair, and his nose was slightly pointed.

That was there when the wandering stopped. His expression caused her thought process to freeze. His eyes were furrowed, and he was staring ahead of them. Morningstar did not appear to be put off by the answer. Instead, he appeared to be contemplating it. Upon that realization, the tension that was starting to build up released. Without knowing it, a breath escaped past her pink lips. In that moment, his amber eyes started to drift toward her direction. Quickly, as if to make it look like she was not just staring at him, the lilac haired women turned her gaze to the forest in front of them. She did her best to focus on the path ensure that nothing was tripped on. While she could feel his gaze on her, she didn't entirely mind. It felt more searching than anything else. 

Then those words left his mouth.

Blinking dumbfoundedly, Reyna's attention immediately turned back to him. Soft lavender orbs met amber. Morningstar was right. This was the first step. She was moving forward and that is what mattered. Excitement started to overflow, and her chest started to flutter. The warmth started to creep over her once again. Breaking the eye contact she turned to scan her surroundings again. "So," Reyna started, taking the moment to calm herself, "Can I ask what made you decided to invite me? I know that bringing a lower-level player can be risky - especially level one." 

@Morningstar

Spoiler

Word Count: 350

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Reyna

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar noticed a bit of colour trickle into her pale cheeks. She broke their eye contact, looking back at the path, so he did the same. Reyna's question came expectedly. He wouldn't have taken her if he wasn't one hundred percent sure that he could protect her. The blonde left that part out, returning a half-truth.

"It wouldn't have been much fun to go alone. Besides," Morningstar chuckled, "I don't have many friends."

The path split off to the right and, according to his map, turning would lead them to their destination. Guiding Reyna along, he motioned for them to follow the new path. The air was cooler the closer they were to the cave. Not only that but the forest had become darker. Flowers were unable to bloom in the absence of sunlight. The atmosphere around the pair had grown less pleasant than it was before. Periodically, he would glance over at the girl to make sure she was okay.

It didn't take long for them to reach the cave. Even standing outside, he could tell how dark it was within. His eyes were trained on the blackness before him, watching for movement. The man's hand was steady on the hilt of his straight sword. He found himself wishing he had brought some sort of light with him.

"Stay close," he said as he stepped into the unlit cavern.

The sounds of the forest were muted as they entered. Water dripped from the ceiling, echoing around them as they smacked against the cold ground. It was hard to make out more than shapes in the darkness that consumed them. Morningstar's eyes played tricks on him; he saw darts of movement all around him, from nowhere in particular. He questioned his vision, unsure of what was real and what was not. The warmth of the woman behind him was all he was certain of.

The sudden tap of a rock dropping from the wall took Morningstar by surprise. He stopped, hoping he hadn't startled Reyna. He peered through the endless void. Something felt off.

Quick successions of wings flapping caused the blonde to react, swiping his blade from its scabbard. They were allowed a short minute of sight as Morningstar's weapon glowed with golden illumination. The blade slashed through the body of a giant bat, leaving behind a group of blue particles.

 

Spoiler

Morningstar | HP: 380/380 | EN: 56/56 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 29
Reyna | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 2 | ACC: 1

Giant Bat | HP: 0/75 | DMG: 35

ROUND 1
Morningstar | HP: 380/380 | EN: 43/56 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 29
Reyna | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 2 | ACC: 1

ST-I Activated
ID: 208323 BD: 9+4-1=12 (+1 DMG)
17*12=204 DMG to Giant Bat
-13 ENG

Giant Bat | HP: 0/75 | DMG: 35

@Reyna

Edited April 8, 2022 by Morningstar

[Reyna 0]

 The response, "Well, then we should be friends" died in Reyna's throat as the path suddenly split. Narrowed lavender orbs studied each path trying to discern the way to go. The path to the left appeared as if it continued down a straight lighter path. On the other hand, the right path appeared to take a deep turn toward the heart of the forest. Reyna preferred the left path, but when Morningstar started down the right, she bit her bottom lip and reluctantly followed. The further they ventured down the path the darker the aura got. To control the fear that was starting to bubble up Reyna closed the distance between Morningstar and herself. 

The sight of the cave nearly made her turn around. There was absolute nothingness. Just a dense black void that looked like it would swallow someone whole. Gripping the spear tightly she followed the broad shoulders of her partner into the darkness. Even if Morningstar had not said to stay close, she probably would have done so anyway. Without noticing it, her left hand hovered over the back of Morningstar’s shirt – ready to grab on just in case. Realizing what was happening she quickly withdrew her hand.

And she was glad she did. 

In the next instant, Morningstar's sword was drawn and partially lighting up the cave. The next instant a screech was heard from the darkness, and then the light blue pixels appeared before quickly fading into the dark. As the bat had screeched though, Reyna's ears had picked up something else. The barely auditable sound of crying. Koko. Fear replaced by the desire to find the little girl Reyna ventured off to the left from Morningstar. Fumbling through the dark, arms outstretched the player felt her way around the cave while following the sounds of crying. If this was real life scratches and cuts would have decorated her hands and knees. 

It took several minutes of blindly feeling, and periodically trying to ensure that Morningstar was there, Reyna found a large rock where the crying was coming directly behind. Kneeling, she whispered into the darkness, "Koko, is that you?" The sounds softened even further as a small, cracked voice whispered back, "Y-y-yes." A wave of relief overcame the lavender haired player. Koko was safe. Softly, Reyna explained that Koko's mom had sent them to come bring her home. As Reyna continued to talk the soft scratching of cloth against ground could be heard. Reaching out into the darkness, her hand connected with something warm, small, and soft. Reyna pulled. A small body collided with her kneeling form. Small arms reached around her neck as a head buried into the crook of her neck.

"I-I wanna go home," A small voice whispered, "I wanna see my mom." 

Wrapping the girl in a comforting hug for about a minute she nodded. "Morningstar," Reyna called out into the darkness, "I've got her! I've got Koko!" 

@Morningstar

Spoiler

208466

5

2

16

6

Reyna

http://www.cydel.net/images/saorpg/diceroll/Msg_hover2.png

Find Koko

LD: 16 (Success) 
Koko found! 

[Morningstar 0]

Returning to darkness, Morningstar could hear the voices of Reyna and Koko mixing in with the heavy drips of water that fell from the ceiling. It was difficult to tell, but he thought they were to his left He traversed the pitch-black cave, avoiding puddles and weaving around spiked rocks when he could. His eyes were beginning to adjust to the lighting, or the lack thereof, and he caught a glimpse of what he thought was Reyna sticking out from behind a rock. With some speed in his step, he jogged in their direction.

A screech from the void caught his attention. A large shape glided through the cave, straight towards the girls. Morningstar swore, wearing a panicked expression. He dashed forwards, barely able to see, and activated a sword art once more.

The same golden light from before flowed up to the tip of his blade. Bridging the gap between himself and the bat, he swung upwards in a straight line. Star's sword made contact with the bat's center, slicing it completely in half. More pixels showered over him, the bright glow from his weapon fading. He found himself next to the girls. Reyna's arms were wrapped around Koko. The child's fearful eyes gazed up at him. He knelt down, touching her hair with his fingers.

"You're okay. We've got you."

@Reyna

Spoiler

Morningstar | HP: 380/380 | EN: 44/56 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 29
Reyna | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 2 | ACC: 1

Giant Bat | HP: 75/75 | DMG: 35

ROUND 1
Morningstar | HP: 380/380 | EN: 31/56 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 29
Reyna | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 2 | ACC: 1

ST-I Activated
ID: 208323 BD: 10+4-1=13 (+2 DMG)
17*13=221 DMG to Giant Bat
-13 ENG

Giant Bat | HP: 0/75 | DMG: 35

 

Edited April 24, 2022 by Morningstar

[Reyna 0]

As a screech reverberated through the cavern Reyna's body moved before her brain could even process what was happening.  One second, she was standing next to the young girl, and then the next virtual arms wrapped around the shoulders of the child, pulling her as close as possible.  There was a dull sense of recognition as the sound of wings swiping the air thundered toward the duo. The child, in response, curled into the protective embraced as sobs started to escape from the small mouth.  Gently, the older girl cooed, trying to quiet the sobs that seemed to draw all attention to them. 

With her attention focused on quelling the child her awareness of the surrounding environment faded. As she mentally, and physically, prepared for the attack Reyna shut her eyes tight. We'll be okay... Despite just having met her traveling partner she trusted him. He would be there, of that, she was sure. Of course, if someone asked her why she would have not been able to put it into words, but she believed in Morningstar. Luckily, her trust in her partner had not been misplaced. The sound of a sword swiping through the air and screech of death echoed in her eardrums.  Then, there was a slight awareness of someone standing next to her. Without thought the grip on the girl loosened. 

"Morningstar..." Reyna whispered, relief and happiness laced in her voice as she looked up at the other player. Reyna wanted to express her gratitude, but the words fell silent as she watched his hand reached down and interlaced with the child's hair. "You're okay. We've got you."  At that the young women's face broke into a large grin. We. As in both of them. In the pit of her stomach a tingling sensation started to make itself known as warmth spread through her. 

"We do," Reyna echoed warmly, "Now let's get you back to your mom."  

@Morningstar

Spoiler

Word Count: 318

 

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar looked at Reyna, nodding in agreement with her statement. He stood, reaching out a hand to the child. She was quiet but managed to thank the pair with a whimper. The tip of his sword disappeared into its scabbard; however, his free hand stayed close to the hilt in case another bat appeared. His attention moved back to the girl, who was staring off at the exit to the cave. As they moved, he noticed that she was having trouble walking and guessed that fatigue was overcoming her. He stopped, kneeling down once more.

"Here," he said, "Hop on."

She watched him nervously for a moment, hands pressed together near her face. Then, she nodded gently, stumbling behind the blonde and climbing onto his back. After confirming that she was secure, he squatted back up and resumed their course. The girl rested her head against his shoulder, struggling to keep her eyes from closing. He couldn't imagine how tired she was. She was lighter than he had expected and he was grateful for it. He glanced at Reyna, who was still not fully visible in the dark of the cave.

"Congrats on making it through your first quest," Morningstar chuckled, "you did perfectly."

@Reyna

[Reyna 0]

Still kneeling, the young women placed the dull end of the spear on the ground and used the downward pressure that was applied to stand. As she stood her narrowed gaze brushed over the shadows of the cave. While the scan told her nothing, but it did provide further reassurance that they were all safe.  Despite the reassurance, the spear remained out and ready.  Not that there was really a good place to store it either. 

As the trio started walking toward the opening of the cave, the young girl started to sway.  There was no hesitation. Suddenly, Morningstar was there and encouraging the young girl to hop on his shoulders.  A small, gentle smile appeared as she put a hand up to ensure that the young girl did not lose her balance and fall backward.  Internally, she found herself wondering if Morningstar had experiences with children in the real world. Maybe siblings? Or even a child? She could ask him…but now was not the time for that.  She found herself pondering that thought as Morningstar’s voice broke though the darkness.

"Congrats on making it through your first quest," Morningstar chuckled, "you did perfectly."

The warmth that had been gathered in her stomach spread until the heat hit her cheeks.  She was all the sudden grateful for the darkness that surrounded them.  “Thanks,” she laughed lightly while softly poking him with her elbow, “It helps when you have a partner who knows what they are doing.” Glancing up, she found her gaze drawn to the girl who was now resting her chin on the fighter’s blonde, spiky hair with her eyes closed.  As they continued forward, the mouth of the cave became wider and brighter.  Before she knew it they were only a couple feet from the mouth of the cave. 

@Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The air was different outside of the cave. It felt warm and smelled of flowers and trees. It was refreshing. The breeze was soft and the ends of his hair moved gently in its wake. Morningstar heard Reyna's compliment but had no words in response. He simply smiled back at her, holding the child steadily on his back. Fatigue crept up on him and he imagined his partner was experiencing the same weariness. It had been a long day for them both. The village was not far now and, if they kept to the path, they would be back before dark.

"What'll you do when we're back?" Morningstar asked, out of curiosity more than anything.

He had a couple of ideas of his own. He had heard rumors of kidnappings on the third floor and ghosts on the twenty-seventh. Perhaps it was best for him to take a break, though. It would be cold, but there were nice cafes on the fourth floor he could visit.

They passed a bush littered with blackberries. Star reached out, picked a handful, and held them out to share with Reyna.

@Reyna

[Morningstar 0]

Converting this thread to an SP due to the length of time between posts and because I don't think that Reyna will ever come back. Quest requirements have already been fulfilled. Shouldn't be any issues.

Their long walk ended with the gates of Urbus. Koko did her best to lead them back to her home, and to avoid ruining the fun for her, they avoided telling her they knew the way.

Koko ran to her mother the second she spotted her. "I'm sorry, Mama!" She wailed, her tiny arms wrapping around Choshi's waist as she buried her face into her shirt. "I-I won't get into trouble again, I-I promise!"

Choshi's face slowly morphed from surprise to pure joy before she hugged her child back. "It's okay, sweetie. I know you didn't mean for it to happen," she murmured, coaxing her child as she ran her hand down Koko's hair soothingly. She looked up at the Star and Reyna and gave them a thankful smile. "Thank you... I cannot even explain how grateful I am to you. I am forever in your debt, both me and Koko are." The mother chuckled, tugging on the cheeks of her daughter before she reached into her dress, pulling out a pouch. "I know it's not much, but please, take it," she said, handing the players the pouch. "It's some money I scraped together... and a little something extra." She looked down at Koko and sighed. "Again, thank you for saving her. I have no idea what I would do if Koko was harmed... and speaking of Koko, what do we say?" 

Koko lifted her face from her mother's clothes and gave the player a toothy grin. "Thank you for saving me!" The girl blurted.

The pair waved goodbye to Koko and her mother, and Star promised to visit sometime.

[Morningstar 0]

They parted ways in Urbus beneath the sunset. They shared one last smile and Morningstar couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. She was like a flower about to bloom; a butterfly, freeing itself from the chrysalis.

Elegant and strong.

She rounded a corner and he was alone again. The partnership was nice, even if it was brief. It wasn't often he teamed up with another player. To his left was a tavern, and to his right some shops. To end the day, he decided to choose left.

It was a decent little place, filled with shockingly respectful customers. They weren't too loud, but it wasn't a graveyard either. The atmosphere was comfortable, and for that he'd stay a while.

"Whatever you have on tap. And a room, please," he requested.

The tavern owner, a bald man with an impressive beard, obliged. He brought Morningstar his drink and handed over a key to a room upstairs. 

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar enjoyed his drink in silence. He wasn't sure what exactly he had been handed. It looked like beer but tasted sort of like cranberry juice. Whatever it was, he liked it. He downed three before calling it quits and retiring to his cheap room.

It had a bed, and even a mattress on top. There was a blanket, but it wasn't very thick or cozy. The pillow was too soft and the window wouldn't close properly. The table in the room was the only nice addition. It gave him somewhere to sit and write, a habit he had formed.

Every night, like clockwork, he would open his journal and jot down a few paragraphs about his day. Sometimes, the entries were stale and boring. Sometimes they were full of excitement. Regardless, he would always be sure to write something.

That night, he wrote about a lost kid, giant bats, and a girl he'd met along the way.