[F01 - PP] An Guth a Scaoileadh | <<Earning a Living: Performer>>

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

She’d woken up early that morning, her excitement getting the best of her. She’d spent the previous evening considering her changes, the ideas she’d had around it. A good portion of the evening had been wandering through the forge and the shop on the twenty seventh, running her hand over the tools, the bench, even the anvil as she considered her path forwards. Her love for the forge hadn’t diminished, but with the number of available blacksmiths, and the state of her business itself…

Late into the evening she had realised how long she had spent sitting on the shop’s counter, considering everything. Her heart had been torn, for a long time as her eyes passed over everything she had created. Everything she had accomplished. All of it came with memories; memories filled with happiness, with sorrow, with pain…even with longing.

It hadn’t been until she had returned home, to her new home on the fourth, that her mind had been fully made up. The cold air causing a clarity that she hadn’t expected, but that she knew came with all the sudden changes in her life.

“On the echoes, of life’s lonely edge. So too, so too, do I stand…forever in the hearts of one…so too, so too, do I stand.” The words came to her, even after such a long period of time, hanging on the air even after her voice had long disappeared.

-----

The sun had risen hours past, before the knock on the door had finally come. Rushing to the point of sliding across the floors, Nari had thrown open the door, jumping into NIGHT’s arms as she gave squeal of excitement. “Gooood morning! Are you ready? I have…well, I have plans for this morning. I know we said we’d take the day easy today, but…well…I was up late last night and…”

The words drifted off as Nari peeled herself backwards, beaming a large smile at the girl. Behind her, Yuki came sauntering to the door, yawning in response to having been woken for the sixth time in the last two hours.

Spoiler

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 32 | HP: 820/820 | EN: 94/94 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | ACC: 3 | STH: -5 | Thorns [72 DMG] | Frostbite [30 DMG] | Battle Healing [+24] | Heavy Momentum | Paralyse | Taunt

Tier 4 | Tier 7

Laurel Wreath (Earn Col equivalent to 15% of player’s EXP earned in thread).

+1 LD (This bonus only applies to looting, searching for and opening chests).

 

Equipped Items

Póg Deiridh [Tier 4; Polearm [One-handed Assault Spear]; Demonic] A metre and a half in length, the short spear contains a shaft of polished wood with a twisting combination of light and dark violet, with a single line of black separating the colours. The thin blade itself is coloured lavender, with a heart of royal purple. Attached at the connection between shaft and blade, are twisting tassels of violet and ice blue.
Enhancement: Frostbite [2 Slots] | Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) deal (10 * Tier) unmitigated Frost damage each enemy turn for 2 turns. In addition, anyone with Frostbite receives a -1 Accuracy debuff until the effect wears off.  Frostbite damage does not stack, but can be refreshed. The highest tier of Frost damage overrides lower tier versions; cannot be overridden by lower-tier versions. [Must hit to activate the status condition.]
Enhancement: Accuracy [2 Slots] | Effect: Gain +(1 per slot) to the BD when attacking. Cannot be used to cause a critical hit.

Glacadh Morríghan [Tier 4; Heavy/Plate Armour] Designed as form fitting half-plate armour, this piece has an open chest area, designed to adjust based on the wearer. Small pauldrons protect the shoulders and neck, while light greaves cover the arms. Coloured in a shifting of soft violet and ice blue, the bottom left front of the torso contains a small curled fox.
Enhancement: Frost Aura [2 Slots] | Effect: Prevent (4 per slot * Tier) damage per slot from successful attacks against you. Successful non-critical attacks against you deal (2 per slot * Tier) unmitigated Burn damage to the attacking enemy. Enhancement: Heavy Momentum [1 Slot] | Effect: After an unsuccessful attack, gain +(1 per slot * Tier) base damage until your next successful attack, at which point this bonus is removed. Another unsuccessful attack will reactivate this enhancement. Must be using the Heavy Armor Skill for this enhancement to take effect. [For Area of Effect attacks: This effect only activates if you miss all enemies targeted by the attack.]

Póg an Gheimhridh [Tier 4; Heater Shield] A smaller heater shield, this piece contains the typical heater shape, with a bouche edge on the left hand upper corner, and a tear drop tail that curls towards the right on the bottom edge. Coloured a shifting soft violet and ice blue, a small white fox appears on the forefront, the ideas staring outwards and the mouth pulled back in a snarl. Enhancement: Paralyse [1 Slot] | Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) remove the enemy’s action on their next turn. Paralyzed opponents lose any evasion properties.
Enhancement: Taunt [1 Slot] | Effect: +1 Hate generated from Howl, Focused Howl, and successful attacks.
Enhancement: Thorns [2 Slots] | Effect: Successful non-critical attacks against you deal (9 * Tier) unmitigated damage to the attacking enemy. Only activates on damage dealing, melee attacks.

Battle-Ready Inventory

Teleport Crystal {3}
Pure Unadulterated Rage (Meals) | Tier 1; Mitigation 3
Starter Healing Potions {5} | Heals 50 HP
Blank Dungeon Map {4} | Tier 4
Immolation Potion {1} | Tier 4; When used, successful non-critical attacks against you deal (10 * Tier) unmitigated damage to the attacking enemy. Must be of the appropriate tier to use. Effect lasts for one thread.
Caribou Stew {3} | Tier 4; Rare Meal | Protein II

Inventory

Monkey Agility {2} | Tier 1; Evasion 1
Super-Duper Anti Snake Sauce (Salve) | Tier 1; Antidote 2
Spyglass {3} | Use to reduce the number of posts required to search for a dungeon, familiar or field bosses by 5 posts. Effect lasts for one thread.
Uncommon Health Potions {5} | Tier 1; Heals 5% of Maximum HP
Uncommon Overhealth Potion {1} | Tier 1; Adds 5% of Maximum HP to users Maximum HP for a thread
Rare Health Potions {1} | Tier 1; Heals 10% of Maximum HP
Arrowhead Brooch | Tier 1 Perfect Trinket | Accuracy III
Music Box | Tier 1 Perfect Trinket | LD III
Ketchup Chips {4} | Tier 4; Perfect Snacks| Probiotics III
Poutine {3} | Tier 4; Uncommon Meal | Overhealth I
Cheesecake {3} | Tier 4; Perfect Dessert | Loot Dice III
Divinity's Wait {6} | Tier 2; Perfect Potion | Mitigation III
Divinity's Protection {5} | Tier 3; Perfect Potion | Overhealth III
Fruit Infused Tea {3} | Tier 3; Perfect Potion | HP Recovery III
Cold Brew Coffee {4} | Tier 1; Perfect Potion | HP Recovery III

Combat Skills

Battle Healing
Rank 3
Passive
Effect: While in combat, recover 1% per rank of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.

Fighting Spirit
Passive
Effect: Attacking and using Howl or Focused Howl generates +1 additional Hate. (Ex. Generate 1/2/3 Hate on a Miss/Hit/Critical attack. Generate 5 Hate when using Focused Howl.)

Howl
Active: Post Action
Energy Cost: 2 EN
Effect: Adds +2 Hate each against up to 4 targets.

Weapon Skills

Polearm
Rank 5
Passive
Effect: +7 DMG

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Stamina
Passive
Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Precision
Passive
Effect: Gain +1 ACC.

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] <<Weapon Type>> Focus
Passive
Effect: Decreases minor critical threshold by 1. Also reduces DoT thresholds by 1. Players cannot use Focus and Ferocity at the same time for the same Weapon Type.

[Rank 5 Shift] TECH Specialist
Passive
Effect: For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. No other Shifts may be taken.

Sword Arts

[x12] ST-I (12 EN) | A single-target sword art.
[x15] ST-II (15 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn.
[x20] ST-B (20 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll.
[x11] AOE-I (11 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once.
[x14] AOE-II (14 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed the previous turn.
[x16] TECH-A (16 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy.
[x16] TECH-B (15 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a status condition that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn.
[x16] TECH-C (15 EN) | COUNTER | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, places [Counter] around the player. [Counter] reduces the final damage taken by its user by 25% (rounded down) for one turn.
[x16] TECH-D (15 EN) | SHATTER | A single-target sword art that applies [Shatter] to an enemy for 3 turns. [Shatter] is a debuff that can stack up to a cap of 3. Each stack of [Shatter] removes -20 MIT from an enemy, down to 0, if it has MIT.
[x12] TECH-F (11 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE STUN | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. All struck targets are stunned for one turn.
[x3] RAW-A (10 EN) | THORNS | A single-target sword art that utilizes the [Thorns] of the individual against the enemy. Other types of enhancements that apply damage upon contact with the individual are also considered in improving the damage of this sword art (eg. Immolation Potion, Flame/Frost Aura, etc). Outgoing damage is considered mitigatable.  Must have a weapon equipped to activate this sword art.

Armour Skills

Heavy Armor
Rank 5
Passive
Effect: MIT + 35. You can only benefit from one armour skill at a time (the respective armour type must be equipped). Your evasion is capped at 1 enhancement slot and you take -1 to Stealth Rating per rank.

[Rank 5 Heavy Armor Addon] Iron Skin
Effect: Gain +15 Mitigation and +15 * Tier HP

Active Extra Skills

Block [Requires two Extra Skill slots]
Passive
Effect: Requires an equipped shield. User’s evasion cannot be greater than 0 (can still be negative). Grants additional mitigation:
Rank 5: 25 MIT

Frozen Hide
Active: Free Action
Energy Cost: 5 EN
Cooldown: 4 Turns
Effect: As a free action, apply one slot of Frost Aura and one slot of Frost Thorns equal to your tier to yourself until the start of your next turn.

Parry
Active: Post action
Energy cost: 9 EN
Cooldown: 3 Turns
Effect: Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns.

[Parry Mod] Vengeful Riposte
Passive
Cooldown: 4 Turns
Effect: A successful Parry also returns 50% (rounded down) of the raw damage that would be dealt to you back to your opponent. The reflected damage can be mitigated by the opponent.

Inactive Extra Skills 

Meditation
Action: Post Action
Cooldown: 3 turns
Effect: Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy. 

Survival
Cost: Complete <<The Traveler>> with Unlock Conditions
Action: Passive
Effect: Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.

Combat Mastery

Mitigation
[Expert] -> Rank 3
Passive
Effect: Gain +6*Tier Mitigation per rank. Ranks of this Skill apply to Mitigation enhancement caps.

Familiar Skills

Protector Familiar
Active: Free Action
Cooldown: 3 Posts
Effect: The next time you would take damage, your familiar rushes to your aid, reducing the final damage by 10%.

Estate Buffs

Master Bedroom
Effect: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat.
Master Bathroom
Effect: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down).
Dining Room
Effect: Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
Basic Kitchen
Effect: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
Living Room
Effect: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Attic (Storage)
Effect: +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
Storage Closet
Effect: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot

Spoiler

Word Count: 347

 

[NIGHT 0]

up late last night? the player slid a gloved hand up nari's back as she caught the woman, pressing into the hug. the sounds of a muffled, "without me?" came from the lean forward, lips pressed to soft hair, and night let her partner go, if only briefly. part of her wondered if it was the frost of the floor biting at what exposed skin her jacket hadn't covered, or if it could be the chill of her companion falling into her element.

bare fingers slid behind night's neck. the player's eyes narrowed, thinking what those plans entailed. if it'd been something urgent or dire, wouldn't nari have sent a message her way for preparation instead? "well, ready enough, i think. whatever it is you've got in mind, i wouldn't want to hold you back from it." tension relaxed from her form with the wave of her hand, then the thought of a sleepless rest came to mind, and concern grew in the woman once again. "for your sake, though, i hope we are taking it easy today. what's on the agenda?"

| NIGHT  | Lv. 136 >> P. 104, Lv. 32  | Status: warming up.  Notes:  //

Spoiler NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 144/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 1 | ABS. ACC | LD: 14 | QTY: 2 | PROSP: 5 | BH: 58 | Stealth Rating: 6 equipped Cosmic Devourer+1  ABS. ACC, ACC III rider. LD III locket.  QUALITY II, PROSP II battle-ready inventory Jack's Executioner BLIGHT (32, -20MIT), BLEED (48), FROSTBITE (40, -1ACC), STATIC (40, 24 SPLASH) oathkeeper. FLN II, HLY II (16) skills Spoiler mod count: 5/7 2HSS | RANK 5/5 focus, stamina, precision shift: aoe CLOTH ARMOR | RANK 5/5 athletics, nimble COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 4+1/5 reveal BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 ENERGIST FAMILIAR: PROFESSION QUICK CHANGE CHARGE EXTENDED MOD LIMIT extra SURVIVAL CONCENTRATION HIDING blindside, untraceable, vanish, surprise attack-t buffs Spoiler statue OROCHI | +1 LD consumables Breakfast Fry | PROTEIN II Berry Crumb Bars | LD IV* | filled Mousse | PROSP III Liquor of Light | DMG III paragon Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD to looting. sword arts Spoiler en cost matches multiplier unless stated otherwise. shift underlined. ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x15 -> x18 TECH-A | x12 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x12 | DELAY TECH-D | x12 | SHATTER TECH-G | x12 | BURN misc. Spoiler housing Dimensional Backpack, Item Stash | +2 Battle-Ready Inventory Slots. Well Rested | -1 EN for the first three expenditures of each combat.  Relaxed | +(5 * Tier) HP per out-of-combat post. Full energy restoration occurs after two turns out of combat. Squeaky Clean | -25% DoT damage taken from the first DoT applied to this player in a thread. Skylight: Searching | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cooldown of 30 days to reassign. Multipurpose | +1 LD/Prosperity/Stealth/Detection to one post per thread. Can be applied after a roll. Filling | +1 T1 slot to a food consumed by this player in a thread. Can exceed Cook enhancement caps. Col Deposit | +5% col from loot-minimum mobs, +10% col from treasure chests. gathering Greenhouse | +2 G.EXP, +1 CD&LD to gathering attempts. Familiar: Profession | +2 G.EXP Demeter's Cornucopia | +1 CD to gathering attempts.

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“I’m closing down the Winter Fox Smithery. I’m redoing the living profession quest, and leaving the blacksmithing behind.” Although there was a touch of sadness in her eyes and features, her face was also lit with a beaming smile, and a hint of excitement at the new prospects. It took all of her control not to hop around NIGHT, knowing that it would likely end with her collapsing. “I…was up last night doing a once over on the forge and shop, and…well, I made my decision. As much as my heart lays with the forge, it’s…well, it’s a past thing now.”

Her fingers had begun twirling a lock of hair as she spoke. Realising they were still out in the cold, she tugged NIGHT into the warmth of the house, closing the door behind them. “I need to get ready quickly, but after that we’ll head down to Floor One? Feel free to settle in, I just need a quick shower. And no peeking.”

A wink and then she was off, quickly running through the morning routine she hadn’t yet gotten to. She’d managed a couple hours of rest, but the excitement had her so wound that she’d been able to do little more than wait for NIGHT’s arrival.

Twenty minutes later she was changed and returned to the main floor, her turtleneck and black leggings in place beneath an ice blue vest. A violet scarf wrapped around her throat, and an ice blue tuque completed her outfit.

“Ready? We should get going. No reason to delay, right?” Her excitement bounding out from her body, she’d begun to bounce onto the tips of her feet as she spoke – not quite leaving the floor, but causing her entire body to lift and drop in place.

Spoiler

Word Count: 294

 

[NIGHT 0]

"--eh?"

two blinks, and a confused expression. night watched the somber in the corners of her other and thought better of it. still, part of her clung onto some strange modicum of relief. something about easing up around the lack of a raging fire, and that damned ringing...

"... sure, if you... feel like it."

she allowed herself to be dragged into the home from the cold. and despite the atmosphere of the new house (night had to admit it was rather cozy), she knew herself better than to strip off the extra layers catered to the snow. though cardinal really wanted her to, it seemed. how nari could stand it, the player couldn't tell. better yet was the prospect a shower, and night closed her eyes at the comment. "i'm not like you. i won't."

wouldn't it be chilly, being damp and exposed to winter? she felt her teeth grow sensitive at the mere thought of it. and it was only after half the time had passed that night began to let up on the outer coat, splaying it across a couch as she waited by the hearth. sleepy, the woman felt, in that crossing between warmth and frost, and it was only at the steps of her other that the player perked up from her obviously idle state.

energetic, still. somehow. and who between them had the better rest...?

night redid her jacket before piping up with an affirmative. reddened cheeks met the sting of the outdoors, harsh and fierce like she hadn't felt it before, and immediately the player regretted getting out of the house in the first place. small whimpers of disgruntlement, and she decided to stick close to nari with a wince, trying to shrug off the cold with an agitated look on her face. "you first."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Giving a slight smile to NIGHT, she led the way towards the teleporter, chattering needlessly as they went about things that had happened recently – including her shopping trip. “Oh! I found a nice little shop down on floor one! The…Cincinnati? Cinnomonti? I can’t quite remember the name exactly, but it’s run by someone named Bistro. Nice little café feel to it.”

She bounded the final steps up to the teleporter, suddenly realising she probably should have taken a jacket. Refusing to let her discomfort show, she waited patiently until NIGHT had arrived beside her, pulling the girl in close and calling out to activate the teleporter. “First Floor, Town of Beginnings!”

The slight shimmer, a moment of brightness, and then she was back on the first, NIGHT still pulled in close. She held the girl one an extra few seconds, before releasing her and heading down the steps. Bounding to the bottom, she smiled back at NIGHT before calling out, her impatience getting the better of her.

“Come on, it’s this way!” Skipping as she went, she made her way towards the small shop that her information broker had told her about. She paused on the exterior just long enough for NIGHT to catch up, before making her way inside, the music blaring into her ears causing her to wince for a single second, her mouth falling open in surprise and excitement. “I could so live here!”

“I take requests!” It took Nari a moment to realise the NPC was speaking to her, but as soon as she did, she shook her head.

“Not here for a request, but for training.”

"Not the kind of request I was expecting, but yeah, I'll help. Problem is, I've got a few more orders to fill, and I'm getting low on recording crystals. If you go pick up the mats I need, I'll finish up my work, and we can meet in the middle. Deal?"

Another quick nod, acceptance of the quest dialogue that popped up, and Nari had spun – to find NIGHT behind her. “Come on, looks like we need to go material hunting again.”

Spoiler

Word Count: 353

 

[NIGHT 0]

night found herself rolling her eyes at the mention of her broker. and here she figured she had the chance of the introduction. "the cintamani," she corrected her other, hands stuffed into pockets of thick pants. "though i feel like i should've taken you there instead. i'd mentioned about it the first time..."

the rest of the words seemed to fade from her tongue, wispy nostalgia stopping her mouth still. night pressed her lips together, corners upturned, glancing over to nari as they strolled. her eyes tracked the other's back once the player had shot up to the teleporter, and rose to the occasion in strides. she'd almost chuckled at the draw, their gentle hug.

night didn't want to be let go of, either.

watching how quickly the fox bounded, she couldn't help but feel rushed to follow. fingers darted to move across window shortcuts -- most of the extra layers were off within seconds. just night and her tracksuit again, and the player skid to a halt catching up to her companion.

“I could so live here!”

it seemed standard for some place on the first. and noisy -- though the music stopped once the quest giver started to speak. the woman tilted her head, curious -- songs? specifically? as though the synergy in combat between the two of them couldn't be any stronger... though was she understanding nari right, with the pick of her profession?

night nodded, shuffling out. "i mean, the last time i did this quest..." it had been ages ago, and she was still getting used to a sword at that point. her gaze fell to nari once they were upon the streets of the city once more. "i took out some boars nearby. so much for taking it easy -- unless you want to go..."

oh, what was it that performers needed...?

"-- crystal hunting...?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari’s ears peaked up at the girl’s mention of previously completing the quest. She glanced over at NIGHT, a look of curiosity on her face as she pondered how best to approach the question. “You…used to sing?” She kept her tone filled with a tone of interest, trying to convey in her words that she wanted to hear more without making the girl think she was judging.

“I…took some lessons in the real world, a few times. But…well, Aikido took up too much time and I never really went anywhere with it.” She made her way towards the gate of the city, waving at the guard – was his name Merv? Marvin? She could never remember – as she passed, keeping up a tradition she had seen since her very first days here.

“I just thought…well, with the need for so many pieces…and I suck at cooking, so maybe this…” She paused in her steps as her mind suddenly clicked. “Oh my gods I have to sing to finish this quest. You’re here. You’re going to…”

She tried to hide her embarrassment by foraging through some nearby bushes, pushing them aside and sticking her face close enough that she hoped her hair hid her from view. She hadn’t taken into consideration the fact that she’d actually have to sing in front of NIGHT. But now that the idea had taken route, she knew it was going to make this that much harder. Squealing softly to herself, she forced her eyes to search for the materials she needed to find, if only to take her mind off the thoughts of embarrassment she was feeling in her current predicament.

ID208146 | LD: 4+1 = 5 | CD: 2+1 = 3 | Foraging | Failure

Spoiler

Word Count: 275

 

[NIGHT 0]

used to? the question hadn't struck until she realized nari was referring to the performer profession in specific. a frantic waving of her hand; she wasn't confident enough to try and sell labels. "uh-- no-- that's not what i meant-- like, when i took earning a living, i mean. i'd... stuck with being an artisan ever since the beginning, so..."

night fingers slid up the back of her head, running through short hair. embarrassing -- just because she could didn't mean she'd wanted to make her life all about the song. though perhaps the same assumption should've been granted to her partner. the player listened, attentive, curious. lessons?

"you had professional training?" all they had akin to it was choir as a co-curricular activity in school, before the game, and from what night had heard from other students, their sessions seemed like hell. "i mean, i do karaoke sometimes, but nothing so formal on my part."

between cooking and blacksmithing, the player hadn't seen much of nari's talents in either. and she wondered if she'd been missing out the way her companion described it. "don't count yourself out for either," she clarified, knowing her other likely better at culinary arts than herself. "but if you want to give this a go, then sure. let's do it."

past the city entrance, she watched as nari rattle off a quip of anxiety -- and the confusion stuck with her, because, "is it really that big a deal?" a tilt of her head, the player looking out towards the field. "you're usually humming one thing or another, anyway. it's really pretty. and the one time..."

another muted sentence, the woman paused, feeling a burn upon the side of her cheek. the twirl away from her position, the song of delight after they'd walked out from the restaurant the other day, that 'confession'; night thought about all of that, a glimmer in her eyes the only give away about memory.

with a blink, she focused on a nearby boar.

"... well, i-it's nothing..."

between the two's fluster, it was only obvious they'd be distracted out on duty. and night threw herself into the fray in hopes of washing that scarlet off her image. what loot her enemy would drop, too, would be useful.

Spoiler

> POST ACTION | AOE-I

acc5 + abs acc = rolls not necessary, but doing it for the id's.

ID208150 | bd5 | -> Boar #4 
ID208149 | bd4 | -> Boar #3 
ID208148 | bd10 | -> Boar #2 
ID208147 | bd2 | -> Boar #1 

15 + (2*4) -2 = 21 EN
15 * 26 = 384 DMG

---

Boar #1 ~ #4 | HP: 0/384 | DMG: 128

NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 123/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 1 | ABS. ACC | LD: 14 | QTY: 2 | PROSP: 5 | BH: 58

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“Well, I wouldn’t call it…professional training…I mean it was but I never really went anywhere with it…And it was only for a few years. Just during high school, mostly…and a year in college…” She’d begun fumbling her words again, the embarrassment at the admission taking over her normal calmness. Her frantic search had found nothing, but she wasn’t ready to give up quite yet.

Pausing only long enough to watch as NIGHT dispatched a few of the local boars, she returned to her searching, mumbling to herself as she went. “I mean, it’s not like I was Taylor Swift or anything. I just…did a few practice sessions. And that one little show. Nothing major.”

She could feel her face burning as she continued searching through the grasses, trying to calm herself in the Zen like method of foraging. Even as she focused on bringing herself to balance, the imagery of NIGHT listening to her singing – and in turn giggling to herself – caused Nari to shrink further into herself, trying to hide herself away from the other.

ID208155 | LD: 3+1 = 4 | CD: 4+1 = 5 | Foraging | Failure

Spoiler

Word Count: 176

 

[NIGHT 0]

no, no. a few years, formal or not, was still impressive a time to put work towards a craft. and upon hearing 'that one little show', night all but raised a brow, giving the few rushing boars in the vicinity a brush of her blade's edge, before planting its tip into the dirt. the player leaned over it, amused and curious both.

"Nothing major.”

"not even in your notes?" her chin rested upon the back of her hands, palm upon the pommel. the more nari seemed to downplay her experience, the more she'd found herself wanting to push it a big deal. "not everyone gets invited for a show or another. so -- what, was it an acoustics session or something? catering to a small gathering of family and friends? which is it?"

besides, it seemed like prime time to serve her own revenge on embarrassment. night couldn't help but return a grin, devoid of intention, while feeling herself warm to the conversation.

Spoiler

> POST ACTION | AOE-I

acc5 + abs acc = rolls not necessary, but doing it for the id's.

ID208159 | bd7 | -> Boar #8 
ID208158 | bd1 | -> Boar #7 
ID208157 | bd8 | -> Boar #6 
ID208156 | bd2 | -> Boar #5 

15 + (2*4) -2-4 = 17 EN
15 * 26 = 384 DMG

---

Boar #5 ~ #8 | HP: 0/384 | DMG: 128

NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 106/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 1 | ABS. ACC | LD: 14 | QTY: 2 | PROSP: 5 | BH: 58

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“I-It wasn’t anything like that!” Her spine had gone straight as she realised NIGHT could hear her. She’d thought that the words had been whispered so that only she would hear them, but her partner had no trouble catching them on the air. Her hands paused again as she turned to glance out of the corner of her eye at NIGHT, not quite looking at the girl. “It was just…a little performance. Like a talent show…”

She forced her hands to continue their digging, softly pulling aside the dirt around the base of a tree in the hopes that something would appear. Her eyes remained disconnected, staring towards the ground near NIGHT, but refusing to look at the girl proper. Face still flushed, she felt her tongue continue, clearly unable to contain itself.

“…like a county show, kind of…there weren’t that many people…maybe like…a hundred?...or so…It was a long time ago.” Her face had begun to twitch slightly in memory as she thought back to the concert, realising it may have been slightly bigger than she was making it out to be. The memory caused her only to blush a brighter red, her head ducking inwards towards her chest slightly.

ID208155 | LD: 15+1 = 16 | CD: 9+1 = 10 | Foraging | Critical Success [4 materials; 3,000 col]

Spoiler

Word Count: 200

 

[NIGHT 0]

"a talent show," night reiterated. "sure. and to have the courage to put on 'a little performance' in front of strangers..."

then the figure was dropped. and the player couldn't help but object, uncertain if it was out of pride or dissatisfaction for the accuracy of nari's explanation that forced the words out her mouth. "a hundred people or so isn't little." her blade was pulled out the ground in tandem, sword pushing back boars with the force of a kick. "where'd you get that impression?"

to night's credit, even in karaoke, the audience sum there was approximately ten acquaintances at most. and usually solo -- because where else was she going to get her privacy? -- so she could never imagine having the courage needed for such a large-scale presentation. let alone something marked...

"well, if it's enough for you to have thought of it a talent," the woman remarked, grinning back at nari from over her shoulder.

Spoiler

> POST ACTION | AOE-I

acc5 + abs acc = rolls not necessary, but doing it for the id's.

ID208185 | bd9 | -> Boar #12 
ID208184 | bd6 | -> Boar #11 
ID208183 | bd10 | -> Boar #10 
ID208182 | bd4 | -> Boar #9 

15 + (2*4) -2-4 = 17 EN
15 * 26 = 384 DMG

---

Boar #9 ~ #12 | HP: 0/384 | DMG: 128

NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 89/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 1 | ABS. ACC | LD: 14 | QTY: 2 | PROSP: 5 | BH: 58

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“I said or so. And it wasn’t like…a professional recital or performance or like…it wasn’t like I was auditioning on the Idol of something.” Her voice had taken on an almost alarmed tone, as she slowly slid sideways on the grass, as if trying to put some distance between her and NIGHT. “It was just…a local thing. And my agent at the time said that it was just…normal. Like, a school play?”

Even to her, the words sounded uncertain and unassured. She forced her hands back into the dirt, frantically pulling at bushes and grasses in an attempt to find the final materials she needed. She felt her cheeks burning with the embarrassment, and before she could stop herself, her next words had been whispered – just loud enough that she knew NIGHT would hear them.

“Plus you’ve probably done something similar, like a live performance. Like a play in school or something. It’s not like it was special.”

ID208177 | LD: 6+1 = 7 | CD: 4+1 = 5 | Foraging | Failure [0/4 materials; 0/3,000 col]

Spoiler

Word Count: 158

 

[NIGHT 0]

she blinked at the mention of being an idol. had to rethink her grip on reality at the turn of an agent. and then having it compared to something akin to 'a school play'?

"yeah," night retorted, still befuddled, eyes to the enemy wave. her blade was swung to her side, and a lazy slash culled the horde. "no. maybe i helped out back stage when i was seven, but being placed front and center is not my go-to at all." besides, karaoke didn't count. it was within friends, so it was more a social obligation.

with an agent? it sounded like it was by choice. "you're special," the woman shot back under her breath, half-chiding and half placated by the explanation. "remind me to schedule your next performance once you get this quest done. and did you tell onora you needed a costume or three, too? or should i be in charge of that?"

Spoiler

> POST ACTION | AOE-I

acc5 + abs acc = rolls not necessary, but doing it for the id's.

ID208189 | bd4 | -> Boar #16 
ID208188 | bd3 | -> Boar #15 
ID208187 | bd1 | -> Boar #14 
ID208186 | bd6 | -> Boar #13 

15 + (2*4) -2-4 = 17 EN
15 * 26 = 384 DMG

---

Boar #13 ~ #16 | HP: 0/384 | DMG: 128

NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 72/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 1 | ABS. ACC | LD: 14 | QTY: 2 | PROSP: 5 | BH: 58

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“Hey…” Her sentence fell short as she pulled into herself. Something in NIGHT’s tone had hurt, even if it had been nothing more than a bit of friendly jesting. Something about it had hit her deeper than she’d expected, however.

Pawing silently at the dirt for a little while, she tried to keep her focus on the goal at hand. Her search for materials had been less than productive so far, and her foraging skill had appeared to be of limited use, at least at the moment. She wondered – not for the first time, if there was some sort of emotional tie to her success.

As her hands grasped the final piece of material she would need, she suddenly realised that its appearance had changed form. Quickly pulling out some of her others, she noticed that the long shiny bars had disappeared, instead, appeared as small, varying coloured crystals in the palm of her hand. Shrugging off the depressive feeling she’d had just moments ago, she turned to NIGHT, storing the goods and readying herself.

“I’ve found every- hey, what do materials look like to you? Like, describe them to me?” Her tone was slightly disconnected as she considered the changes, wondering if this was a trick of her own perception, or something of Cardinal’s doing. Either way, she found the new appearance more fitting with her line of chosen work.

ID208178 | LD: 16+1 = 17 | CD: 1+1 = 2 | Foraging | Success [1/5 materials; 0/3,000 col]

Spoiler

Word Count: 231

 

[NIGHT 0]

the way her tone fell short of satisfactory and the quiet afterwards left night wondering if she'd said something wrong. the realization hadn't occurred immediately, however, the woman only noticing after the last of her boars had been culled and her gaze was upon nari's movements. searching less frantic. and she'd remembered how nari had flustered at even being heard by one person, but still.

still, it made her wonder.

night began to pace over, half wondering what to say to make up for it. was there a need to make up for it? with expressions unseen, she couldn't tell. but the mention of materials and the crystals formed in the woman's hand made night stop in her tracks to think. "like orbs of light when they're unpicked," she explained. "and they form into solid objects once taken a hold of. though what they form into varies." and the artisan had rarely seen her materials as conformed as the crystals in her partner's palm, so she looked over them, curious. "i get leaves, sometimes. i hand them off to bistro or something that way. ...why do you ask?"

Spoiler

> POST ACTION | AOE-I

acc5 + abs acc = rolls not necessary, but doing it for the id's.

ID208193 | bd9 | -> Boar #20 
ID208192 | bd2 | -> Boar #19 
ID208191 | bd10 | -> Boar #18 
ID208190 | bd3 | -> Boar #17 

15 + (2*4) -2-4 = 17 EN
15 * 26 = 384 DMG

---

Boar #17 ~ #20 | HP: 0/384 | DMG: 128

NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 55/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 1 | ABS. ACC | LD: 14 | QTY: 2 | PROSP: 5 | BH: 58

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“Well, it’s just that…when I started out with blacksmithing, and even up until recently…they’d always be these shiny metallic looking bars of varying colours – sometimes gold, sometimes silver, or copper.” She began walking towards the town again, determined to get the quest completed so she could begin the real trouble. “But now, as I was thinking about…things…they suddenly changed. Now, they’re all crystals – beautiful, no doubt. But they kind of remind me of gemstones. Likes this one –“

Picking up a red one as she walked, she held up the small, octahedron looking piece to show to NIGHT. “- almost looks like a ruby, while this one –“ This time she held up a green octahedron, letting the light reflect on and through it. “- reminds me of an emerald. It just seemed…odd, that it would change. But maybe that’s something Cardinal does? Reads what’s best based off our current ambitions, or mentalities?”

She wondered at her own thoughts, pondering if it was even possible. She knew the artificial intelligence had grandeur control over their little world here, but how far that went could almost be a disturbing thought, in many cases.

Returning to the shop itself, she spoke briefly with the NPC in order to obtain directions on what needed to be done, before dragging NIGHT into a sound room that they had been provided for use. Laying one of the crystals on the table in the room, she glanced towards NIGHT, her apprehension and embarrassment returning.

“Can you…not stare at me like that?” She forced herself to calm, closing her eyes and forcing her memory back. A few deep breaths, and she opened her mouth, only to realise that her mind had frozen up entirely.

ID208179 | CD: 5 | Crafting Attempt 1 | Failure

Spoiler

Word Count: 287

 

[NIGHT 0]

gemstones? 

"they sort of remind me of the key items from the dragon hunting quest." an immediate connection, night not having figured why nor how she'd made it so quickly. as if to prove her point, she summoned one of them, and the object fell into her hands as she willed it through her menus. fingers played with each cut edge as she considered the reasons why. "i mean, if you're thinking about gemstones, then--"

--they're perfect for me. why don't you let me...

but before the thought could form, a burn had already taken over her. gemstones, for her? for night? it was subconscious? was the player reading too much into this, or was it simply cardinal playing tricks on them again? night kept the stone in her hand away, her other relinquishing her blade to cover her mouth. reddened ears. "n-nevermind," she stuttered out, looking away from those glittering surfaces. so long as they constituted as materials for the quest, it would be enough.

right. and she was certain performer crystals looked different, too; more standardized fron last she saw at arabelle's shop. tucking away the notion that the gemstones clearly meant anything, night followed nari with some hesitance back to the studio.

and she was staring, she realized, once the other had brought it up. a dodgy gaze. her eyes fell back to the stones hopelessly, still devoid of comment.

only when nari had begun to try did she realize the woman, too, was speechless.

"h-hey..." 

night piped up with her fingers brushing through her short hair. trying to play it cool, again, despite the obvious lack of it. they reached out for nari's, a warble on her bottom lip as she considered the prospect carefully.

well, she wasn't much of a singer, but... 

"if it helps, i can go first." a worried look, though with determination behind it. "something short. just to ease you up a bit. ... really, it's okay, nari."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“I-…I just need to….to you know, get into it…and…” Her words were full of a fear that she felt deep within herself. It had been a long time since she’d purposefully sung in front of anyone else. She’d kept up the habit in private, but few had gained her trust enough to hear her outside of accidents. ‘I just need to do this…let it out, like you used to…’

She closed her eyes again, thinking back to the stage many years ago. Thinking back to the song she had performed, during her single public appearance. She could still feel the heat of the lights upon her face, the brisk air on her lungs, and the burning in her ears at the feel of being watched, judged, by so many.

Slowly, she opened her mouth again, letting the words flow out. They seemed to come hesitantly at first, but with each passing syllable, she could feel herself fall into the flow of the song. Her voice casting aside any hesitation as it continued, she kept her eyes closed, pulling her hands into her chest to comfort herself.

“Mo ghrá…den chéad fhéachaint…thú, ’Eleanóir, a rún…Is ortsa a bhím a’ smaoineamh, tráth a mbím ar mo shuaimh…”

She only opened her eyes once she had finished the entirety, the echo of her own voice still within her ears. She could feel the blushed appearance on her face, knowing that she was likely lighting up the room with her heat of embarrassment. Looking at NIGHT out of the corner of her eyes, holding the small sapphire crystal close, she whispered out a question.

“Was it…okay?”

ID208181 | CD: 10 | Crafting Attempt 2 | Success [Uncommon; 1 Slot]

Spoiler

Reference Song

 

Spoiler

Word Count: 271

 

[NIGHT 0]

"... okay," she whispered, gently working at her companion's fingers, taking them into her palm. "you start whenever you're ready." a smoothing of skin across the back of nari's hands -- night watched the woman take her breaths, thinking back to the request given to her. for what little it was worth, she let herself shut her own sights, matching in pace. steady breathing; in, then out.

the player had the littlest faith that it was going to work. yet, the moment those words resonated through the room, a relief washed over her, almost choking tight in her throat. part of her wince was at the volume, but also at the power behind her partner's tone, that voice. night cracked open her eyes only to notice nari pulling away, focusing on the vocals, and she let her, keeping quiet. almost stunned.

the song felt like a comfort. wrapped up in warmth despite the singer's winter chill -- like a hug, soft and comfortable, despite the power behind the projection of volume. she couldn't tell if it was her own heart, the room nor her figure out of fear that was trembling, shuddering at the emotion of sound.

when it was over, night had nothing but awe.

nari didn't have to ask one bit. wiping the daintiest tier with the back of her finger, one she didn't expect to have formed, the player dove straight for the woman, pressing her close in her arms.

her heart was still pounding.

"mm. yeah." night's voice was husky, trying to hold back her feelings. her hand on the back of her companion's head, her lips were pressed to that hair, burying her thoughts. but the compliment slipped through either way. "you did great. good job, nari."