[PP-F27-CSPT] Where The Elements Thrive (NIGHT, ---, ---)

[Hirru 0]

Where The Elements Thrive

A land surrounded by the bountiful spoils of nature, while also cast into darkness.  Separated, but equal in all ways.  A land that would be cherished by all that choose to strive their path into its domain.  It used to be called by many names before, but it is now known as the Twenty Seventh Floor of the Flying Castle, Aincrad.  Five lands that was separated, not by walls, but by the sheer force of nature itself.  Water breaths life and claims the center lands.  Fertile earth prospers among the lands of the north.  High winds tear through the countryside of the west, weathering all but the most capable warriors.  Nature reclaims the fractured mountainsides of the east.  The calming heat that washes those that claim the southern plains.  It all brings an overwhelming sense of equality.

Following the recent events that had kept the hunter from reaching the newest floor, he was ready to start scouting out the area, but there was an issue.  He wanted to properly investigate this floor, instead of blindingly wander around, like the last floor.  Though, there have been many whom have done that very tactic before, Hirru wanted to err on the side of caution.  There was word of a couple quests in the area, but he wanted to look into any dungeons that were within the area.  They were much more fruitful than anything else that could be given, so far.

He ventured to invite some of Jacob's Ladder, but they have been busy getting somethings together for their own excursion into this floor.  As an independent agent, he was willing to just go on ahead.  So in that nature, he figured he was look into if a certain raven haired stealth user would venture with him, this time for something more tangible than a discussion over if NPC's should be spared.  He's had enough of that talk for one month.  He sent a passive message, this time giving more information.

To @NIGHT

From Hirru

I'm going dungeon hunting on the new floor.  Did you want to join?

Hirru consumes:

Spoiler

• Gungnir Shard MIT T4 Feast 6/6 -> +60 MIt [ https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/8406-found-item-recognition-hirru/?do=findComment&comment=644334}
• Immolation Potion T4 -> +40 Thorns
• Field Rations -> [Filled] 12%-> 16%
• Berry Crumb Bar -> +3 LD [[13/05/21]

Hirru stats

Spoiler

Hirru | HP: 1067/1067 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 95 | Loot: 9~15 | BH: 53 | HLY BLS: 43 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

Hirru Lvl 32 (PL 58)

1067 HP (+220 PL)
104 Energy (+22 PL)
1 Base Damage
5% Battle Healing
8 Recovery
95 Mitigation
76 Thorns
4% Holy Blessing
20% Life Mend
9 Luck Die [Paragon +1] (12 w/ Favor | 15 with Reveal/Detect]

Equipment

<Paladin's Oath> ................... // +4% Holy Blessing / +20% Life Mending
<Light's Embrace> .................. // +8 Recovery / 32 Thorns
<Favor of the Golden Dragon> ....... // +3 Loot Die
Blades Cloak ....................... // Vanity
Lun'Rael's Insignia ................ // Unique Vanity |
Fates Armament (Shield) ............ // Unique Vanity | 
Dimensional Backpack ............... // +1 B.R.I Slot

Battle Ready Inventory

<Teleportation Crystal> x5 ......... // Teleport to a town / out of a dungeon [Uses 2 posts: 1 for use, next to teleport]

<Shelob's Fang> .................... // +1 Para / +32 Off Envenom / +1 Accuracy
<Betrayal of the Fallen Knight> .... // +12 Damage
<Mass HP Recovery Crystal> x5 ...... // +10% AOE Heal
<Bulwark> .......................... // +72 Mitigation
<Empty>

Skills

Heavy Armor ........................ // Rank 5: +35 MIT
Battle Healing ..................... // Rank 5: +5% HP each turn
Search ............................. // Rank 5: +5 Loot Die / +5 Stealth Detection
Quick Change ....................... // Rank 0: Switch Active Equipment with BRI / 3 turn cooldown

Custom Skill

Inquisitor ......................... // +20% HP Recovery for all sources.

Extra Skills (Max 4)

First Aid .......................... // Rank 5: +20% ST-H / -15 EN
Leadership ......................... // Rank 5: Command the Front w/ Buffs

Skill Mods / Addons (Max 5 Mods)

Iron Skin (Add on) ................. // +15 Mit / +60 HP
Field Medic (Add on) ............... // +25% AOE-H / -15 EN / 3 turn Cooldown
Hyperactive (Add on) ............... // +3 EN Regen for 3 turns / -5 EN / 3 turn Cooldown
Reveal (Add on)..................... // +2 to Dungeon, Labyrinth searches / Post 10 searches / 2 turn Labyrinth Cooldown

Barrier ............................ // -15% Dmg shield AOE / -15 EN / 2 turn Cooldown
Energize ........................... // +8 EN ST / -10 EN
Steadfast .......................... // +1 ACC AOE, -1 ACC self / -6 EN / 3 turn Cooldown
Press The Attack ................... // +(Target Tier) Dmg, -(Cumulative)Dmg / -10 En / 5 turn Cooldown
Detect ............................. // +1 to Labyrinth searches | +2 Stealth Detect

Housing Buffs

Rested ............................. // -1 EN for 2 uses
Relaxed ............................ // OOC HP regen 5*tier Rec EN after 2 turns
Filling ............................ // Increase food by +1 T1 slot
Multipurpose ....................... // +1 LD, Stealth, Dection, or Prosperity to 1 post
Practiced Angler ................... // +2 EXP & +1 LD & CD to attempts

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by Hirru

[NIGHT 0]

why was it that when players messaged her to go anywhere these days, it always ended up being on the 27th floor?

that's what night thought about when she received the message, and it was with a curiosity that she responded back, dismissing the new message from her inbox that wasn't from a player.

night: sure
night: where @?

the last time she'd been in a dungeon there, things had turned out... for the better. even in reminiscence, the glance over to the sleeping beauty by her side, the memory alone stirred up more than just a fluttering in her heart; there was also a tightness in her throat, a favourable pressure that made it hard to breathe.

she was quiet in her examination of her other. a thumb on nari's cheek, and a muted message sent her way about being out for the day before making her way out the room. for once, night would allow her other to sleep in; after their previous expedition, she knew they both needed a break.

but night would have hers afterwards. there was much more that she needed to think through and be done with before she could feel she'd earned it.

in minutes, she was off the teleporter of the 27th, allowing the winter coat to fade off from her figure in exchange for her standard tracksuit. and in consideration for her differing equipment today -- an experiment, orion had mentioned -- the player had taken caution to what buffs she'd carry into the dungeon. awaiting hirru's next missive, she idled by the main street that connected to the plaza, allowing her gaze to sweep across the crowd of other players, only stopping the turn of her head looking down the way towards her partner's previous home.

| NIGHT  | Lv. 136 >> P. 104, Lv. 32  | Status: ...  Notes:  -

Spoiler NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 144/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 58 | VAMP-D: 174 | TAUNT | Stealth Rating: 6 equipped oathkeeper. FLN II, HLY II (16) pretense. REGEN, VAMP-D II Silver Crescent Necklace ACC II, EVA II battle-ready inventory Jack's Executioner BLIGHT (32, -20MIT), BLEED (48), FROSTBITE (40, -1ACC), STATIC (40, 24 SPLASH) penance. ACC II, REC II Teleport Crystal (3) | Instant | TELEPORT [T1E3] Imugi's Inspiration (5) | Instant | MASS HP RECOVERY [+30*Tier HP] [T1E3] Imugi's Inspiration (5) | Instant | MASS HP RECOVERY [+30*Tier HP] [T1E2] [ref] Der Flohwalzer (2) | Instant | HYPNOSIS II [T1E2] [ref] Le Gibet (2) | Instant | LULLABY II 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 [PT-CS] DUAL BLADES extra SURVIVAL CONCENTRATION HIDING blindside, untraceable, vanish, surprise attack-t buffs Spoiler statue BIALAS | +TAUNT consumables  Crème Brûlée | ACCURACY II  Smores | EVASION III* | filled.  Breakfast Fry | PROTEIN II  Berry Crumb Bars | LOOT DIE III  Mousse | PROSPERITY III  Liquor of Light | DAMAGE 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.

 

[Hirru 0]

Hirru got the message and had to flip himself once more for leaving out specific information as to where they were going to meet up.  Shaking his head several times to the point where his helm was not keeping up with the movements, he sent a message back.

Message: Head to..

He had to look around to figure out where the hell he was before he could send the information.  He had literally walked east from the portal town, and wandered into an area full of green gems.  Although the area was foreign to him, the ethereal power of nature seemed to be where he liked to venture the most.  So wherever there were trees, he would find the most out of it all.  Besides, the southern lands looked too bright; the west seemed to be covered in storm clouds, and the north looked dull.  Walking over to a little workshop in the middle of nowhere, Hirru was able to glean some information about the area.  Srona was the name of the natural land, which seemed be be a crafters paradise.

Message: Head to the eastern land of Srona.  I'll be there waiting on the main road.  Just look for the green flame.

As he sent that, he would pull the Emerald Flame, a tall torch that seemed to draw individuals by it's ethereal dance.  It's about the only way he could make sure he was seen outside of his own hair, which was still hidden by the bucket helm.

[NIGHT 0]

srona, srona...

that seemed to be the place where she and koga had been to on their road trip around the floor. a wagon waved over for her uses was a simple task enough. she sent an affirmative message to hirru with an estimated time of arrival as she boarded the vehicle, with fingers crossed in her hands as she departed that there wouldn't be another incident of arson to stop her travel.

thankfully, the elements must've heard her prayer.

night had only hopped off the ride early in part due to the signal her adventuring partner had told her about. 'green flame' -- it matched his hair, which she still found oddly strange for the setting despite its incredulity. a variety of styles and colours, but never really one that was so boldly... uh, verdant?

at the very least, it must've done something for his camouflage.

the col had already been paid for the wagon's use, and so cardinal wouldn't be sending her a bill to interrupt her duties any time soon. with a wave to hirru as she approached, the player looked around, trying to assess their surroundings. with no other players present...

well, it was a good thing she came prepared.

"dungeon hunting in srona," night started. "i wouldn't have guessed. i'd ask why the location, but maybe the better question is -- what're you in the business of dungeon hunting for? equipment upgrades?"

[Hirru 0]

The Jade Hunter waved over to the darkened fighter as she approached.  This would be a fairly simple task, although possible difficulty may be apparent.  He had already dealt with the issue of dungeon hunts before with his new build.  The venture with Jomei showed just how useless he was, if Hirru was only just healing and buffing his party member.  The elite mobs that would fair through the second portions of most dungeons were quite capable of destroying an opponent with ease.  That was why he decided to take a little incentive that this Orion had proposed onto them all.  A custom skill, as it were.

"Yeah, I thought we could work in an area that is already known for it's cultivation, while still having some areas that may still be outside the citizens view.  I mostly go for information, but I do need better equipment as we go along.  Most dungeons are either old relics or ruins, or their varied nests for certain mobs.  Probably going to be searching for the later."

Hirru took the Emerald Flame from where it stood, and returned it back to his inventory.  The glow would fade before the hunter would set his sights for the inner woods.  He remembered that he had a spyglass with him, and pulled it out to hopefully find something a bit sooner than normal.

"Ruins are great for learning about those that came before, but this place doesn't have that much of it.  It's better to understand the guardians of these lands.  These so called Elementals are odd beings.  Gonna see if we can get another out of a larger variant."

Spyglass used.  Dungeon search reduced from [15 -> 10 (Reveal) -> 5 (Spyglass)]

[NIGHT 0]

"information," she considered, thumb at the base of her chin and intonation rising in a query. and she hadn't heard of anyone running dungeons for intel before, much less searching for them, but perhaps the walk and hirru's activities would clue her into how such intel gathering would work. night nodded at the suggestion, offering him to lead with a wave of her hand. "sure. count me in."

it only seemed that they'd start walking once the man had decided to complete his scout, however. spyglass drawn from his inventory, she merely listened, scholar-like, wondering if she should be taking down notes. "right. to understand the floor better. and perhaps they would give us a leg up on the floor boss, too." then the player wondered if her information on quests would be of import here, granted she did make a sweep of srona with koga -- however brief -- from its outskirts to the region's city center. but what hirru was suggesting seemed to err more on the wilder side of adventuring.

"what do you think a larger variant's going to clue us in on?" night paused, then, giving hirru's word choice more thought. "and guardians, you'd said. do you think the citizens worship the beings they live with, then?" because she hadn't seen much of it in the places she'd visited thus far. yet, the idea seemed an intriguing possibility -- perhaps the floor residents were quick to hide that part of their lifestyle away from prying eyes of outsiders.

[Hirru 0]

"Even in a game, the laws of nature apply."

Hirru said before lowering the spyglass a bit and starting to walk slowly towards one of the smaller forests that populate the Srona area. 

"You can find quite a bit of information from talking to NPC's, and quests.  Though, everyone does that, and coming up with the same information time and time again, becomes dull.  Barely anything changes.  What we're looking for is something slightly more."

They walked past many shops and NPCs, most hawking wares while others were busy gathering and crafting.  Some of them that were settled in or around trees didn't seem to dabble in fire, while those within a certain distance were quite handy with a flame.  Those that settled around trees did not do so around certain trees, and others would just out right be left alone.  Not once did he try to walk close to any tree, despite the multitude of different and exotic types of trees that filled the land.  In fact, if permitted, Hirru roughly stayed a good four foot distance from most trees that he could see as they walked forward.  This was not by any random nature, or aversion to the foliage. 

"Mob patterns.  Daily life within their own environment, with some combat data, as well.  What do they do to NPC's that stay near them?  Players?  Do they live in solitude, or are they territorially aggressive?  Do they attack with their vestigial appendages, or other means?  All of this can tell you quite a bit about the floor, it's inhabitants, and the floor's boss, sometimes.  Dungeons usually hide the strongest of these creatures, or other hidden lore that can not be found in the overworld. 

After about half an hour of walking, he would stop before two trees that were roughly close together.  Both of them had leaves that were very odd in pattern, while rather yellow in color.  Hirru didn't know the actual differences from the real world, so the names would escape him.

Nest type dungeons help in the former, allowing us to see the mobs in a more concentrated area.  Creatures, regardless of stature and will, follow the laws of nature.  There will always be a hierarchy, there will always be an alpha, of sorts.  Even in a place like this, where the mobs may all seem like they are the same, there is always one that has more sway than the rest..  Have you ever wondered why such strong creatures were in dungeons?  They're protecting the alpha."

"Can you see them?"

He would say back to NIGHT as an easy <<Search>> ping could see the glints of flowing green in the trees, that would disappear at the slightest look.  Every so often, one would see the bark of a tree move slightly, or a limb suddenly disappear.  

"Right here, they are watching us, instead."

The Jade Hunter would give a slight hand gesture to a few trees here and there.

"It could be that they've been watching us the entire time, but it does not look like any of them are attacking, but patiently observing.  Why do you think that is?  We are obviously deep within their territory.  Why wait?"

His eyes would glow a slight green, showing that his full <<Search>> skill line was being used.  Reveal and Detect would both ring

"You have the same sight as me.  You've shown as much from our scouting of the 26th floor.  Tell me, what do you make of these creatures, these Wood Elementals, as they seem to be called."

Hirru searches for a Dungeon
ID: [208654] LD: [5+14] (5 Search, 3 Trinket, 3 Food, +1 Detect, +2 Reveal)
Dungeon Found

Edited April 15, 2022 by Hirru

[NIGHT 0]

they walked, and all it gave night was food for thought. to analyze monsters not only for their attack patterns but in how they fit into the eco-system; that definitely sounded like a job outside of her scope, for having the patience or the gall to keep hidden away from the very thing one might've been tracking was an skill filled with the probability of losing one's position on the target. and night was reckless, she knew that from experience. but she took in the analysis, either way, trying to wrap her head around how that journey -- from knowing nothing about an enemy to pathing their entire behaviour set -- would benefit their efforts in the long run.

so much of the game had been to start from scratch and end up in devastation, it would be worthy to consider the alternative a try.

her head only cocked to one side at the mention of an alpha. where had she heard that before? fanfictions? but it was based on a theory for animals in reality, wasn't it? "shouldn't the alpha be the one in charge of defending their territory?" that was the least she could recall from approximate studies on the subject. then again, it wasn't as though she was a trained zoologist.

instead, night's eyes flitted to the surroundings at hirru's call. a phantom branch here, a falling leaf there; all were signs that the forest was alive, each act illusory, shaping the players directed where the environment would want them.

"Right here, they are watching us, instead."

and how scary that notion, that the trees had eyes. even more fearful as the thought that they could talk. and she knew that their environment was likely interconnected, through roots underground, the entire forest a single entity; living, breathing, passing resources and taking care of each representative in reality. if anything, her initial guess on their hesitation was to gossip about what intruders stepped into their land, ventured in close without knowing; today, it would be the two of them, one following after another.

the better answer, perhaps, came in an agitated look from the woman, night turning from the canopy to hirru. "for the same reason that we're here, then? as you'd suggested, there's more to monsters than just what first meets the eye. so these elementals, with will of their own, probably want as much data as they can get on us, just as we do on them." and to that statement, she did tilt her head in response. "i... think. although..."

a gesture with her index to the forest floor, right towards hirru's feet. her middle finger was lifted from her hand, matching the base of a tree, and the connection between two points drew an imaginary line. "you'd been keeping your distance from them ever since we'd started walking." so, perhaps, there had to be a little more to the tale than just trees waiting in silence.

[Hirru 0]

"Let's look at it like this.  Everything has a territory, a range in which they claim dominion.  Some things have a specific area that whole range takes up.  An aggro range some people like to affectionately call it, to keep the game from getting too real.  Even the NPC's understood that, as they never built a shop any closer than four feet from any given tree.  Everything obeys the laws of nature that are presented."

Hirru would explain while moving his arm to one of the trees, encroaching on that 4 foot range.  Suddenly, four aggressive pings would erupt from behind several of the trees before them.  He would pull his hand away, and the red crystals that would indicate where the Wood Elementals were, would slowly fade from RED to PINK to nothing as they disappeared once more behind their trees.

"These beings are one with the trees.  I kind of figured from their physique, but as we were walking here, I could ping a few here and there.  The camouflage they use in ingenious, but I'm not called a hunter for nothing.  They remind me of the treants from the third floor.  So they must care for the multitude of trees within this land.  "

The hunter cupped his chin in thought.

"Or are they part of the sixth floor now?  Too much has changed now for me to keep my lores together, anymore."

Hirru sighed before pulling out Fang and Embrace.  He would not be just letting NIGHT take their time with the fight.  He would be joining the attack.

"Anyway, their alpha, or would the term matriarch work in this regard?  Sometime, I can't remember which one is which.  ANYWAY!!  Do you want to rustle the nest?"

Switching equipment: Favor of the Golden Dragon +3 LD -> Shelob's Fang +1 ACC / +1 Para / +32 Envenom

[NIGHT 0]

"hmm..."

his explanation seemed to make sense. and because not all trees could've been considered a wood elemental, some of them had their personal space encroached upon, while others were shied away from. yet it made her wonder why, in the same vein that forests were made to be clusters of the wood elementals, there were those that stayed out of vicinity from their kin. an extension? she ruminated on the reason why, looking towards the trees as hirru approached one of them.

so in part of being able to identify them was in knowing which trees would be considered threats. and though night wasn't one for disrupting the wildlife without reason, she shrugged at his offer. "sure." and oathkeeper slipped itself into her grasp, layers upon layers of light. "should i reason the idea behind jabbing the alpha -- matriach -- leader? -- of the nest be something to note down when studying the elementals' habits, too?"

[Hirru 0]

"Note that floor bosses are not always the equivalence of the mobs upon which the floor has made clear.  However, more so concepts that we can see within each area."

He backs away from the two trees, and it seems that the elementals that were keeping watch were slowly fading back into their trees.

"Back when I was first starting to raid, one of the first things I started notice a bit more, was that the bosses had a key theme, or something that could be seen within the entire floor."

Hirru started to explain a bit.  His face would slightly relax as they were no longer in the danger zone for these creatures.

"Nineteen was a land of giants, and the boss was one of the biggest there ever was.  Twenty was ruled over by insects, and Mothra was a giant moth.  Twenty three..."

He stopped for a second before continuing on with the explaination.  They had already had this conversation before, and there were still so many things that he still couldn't get rid off, from that day.

"Twenty three was the floor devastated by the war of the elves, so it wasn't really that much of a surprise to fight them, I guess."

He shrugged before continuing so he didn't have to repeat himself about that venture again.

"The recent boss showed that much more too.  A human in a human empire.  Now, we had no way to know about his 'magic' or whatever the flying hell those flying ships were doing there, but I don't want to go off on a tangent about floor lores and why proper investigation should be made before properly scouting a labyrinth.  Which.. technically I did do when I called the scouting party for that floor.."

Hirru put his hands out in a gesture to forget that last part, or push it aside.  There was far too much that he had a problem with, as the humanoid bosses have been a pure pain, in his miserable life.  Drawing his sword and shield, the hunter sighed as he feigned a slash at one of the more protected trees.

"Though, there are many instances where that didn't happen, like Bialas on the 22nd floor, where there wasn't a single aggressive creature."

With the show of aggression, a few of the creatures would come out of the wood work.  Getting a better look at them, the hunter could see that they were heavily tree like, if not for the green sprites of life that seemed to flow through their insides.  Tall, but thin.  Not like the treants at all.

"Well, let's get this party started."

Hirru | HP: 1067/1067 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | ACC: 1 | MIT: 95 | PARA: 1 | OENV: 32 | Loot: 9 | BH: 53 | HLY BLS: 43 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76
NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 144/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 58 | VAMP-D: 174 | TAUNT | Stealth Rating: 6

Cedar Wood Elemental 1 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Cedar Wood Elemental 2 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Spruce Wood Elemental 1 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Spruce Wood Elemental 2 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1

[NIGHT 0]

only in thematics. then, hence, what exactly was their motive in picking a fight with a nest, again? the question stirred behind the player's eyes, though night had said nothing, listening intently to the prior floors and the hunter's discoveries instead. clues found and located -- some, like bialas, where there had been none before.

so for what their work was worth, it may seem to end in a fruitless result after all.

still, hirru swung at the trees, and out from the foliage did the spirits lumber out. it didn't matter, so long as the effort was made. the player realized this, letting out a cool breath, adjusting her grip on the hilt of her sword. one rush towards them, and night set the blade to her side, taking a leap as the sprites started moving to formation. a swing, oathkeeper striking the first target, and a pulse of darkness rang out from the impact. enough to shatter the rest of its followers, the leader spared from the sword's wrath.

Spoiler

> POST ACTION: AoE-I

ID208766 | bd5+5-1 = 9 | -> Cedar #1
ID208767 | bd9 | -> Cedar #2
ID208767 | bd7+5-1 = 11 | -> Spruce #1
ID208767 | bd8+5-1 = 12 | -> Spruce #2

15 + (2*4) -2 = 21 EN

26 * 15 = 390 DMG
390 - 60 = 330 DMG

(26+16) * 15 = 630 DMG
630 - 60 = 570 DMG

---

Cedar Wood Elemental 1 | HP: 70/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Cedar Wood Elemental 2 | HP: -170/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Spruce Wood Elemental 1 | HP: -170/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Spruce Wood Elemental 2 | HP: -170/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1

Hirru | HP: 1067/1067 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | ACC: 1 | MIT: 95 | PARA: 1 | OENV: 32 | Loot: 9 | BH: 53 | HLY BLS: 43 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76
NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 123/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 58 | VAMP-D: 174 | TAUNT | Stealth Rating: 6

[Hirru 0]

Unlike his venturing partner, Hirru had no proper power against these creatures.  NIGHT's barrage would send all but one back to their digital prisons, or what ever the hell this place would call the after life, if ever a things was reasonably viable.  Her movements mirrored many others that would use the sword arts, though, he could swear that some of her own movements were being thrown in.  Though, the darkness that came out of it was something he had been seeing a lot more of lately.

"Fallen, huh?"

He had seen similar effects quite a bit more recently, mostly from when Hirru was venturing into another dungeon with Jomei.  Although, the enhancement didn't have the specific effect until after the events of the 25th floor.  He had seen the Chaos Sisters in action, and knew too well that they weapons were laden with the foul enhancement, and they only held a slight change in the sword art's color.  He shook his head to the thought, as he too wished to encounter that enhancement on one of his appraisals, one day.

Readying his own weapon, covered in the venom of the spider queen, or that's what it's lore would pertain to, Hirru would spark forward in an art that he had only recently found out about.  Shield had used it during the floor boss raid, and he was dealing significant damage to the boss.  Nearly more than everyone else was, actually.  He thought that if he could build around that, that even a healer could deal damage too.  Nearly bowling into the elemental, just to have both his shield and sword to barrel into the creature, scraping his thorns thoroughly upon its bark like exterior.  The elemental would die before even getting a chance to counter attack his companion.

"Well, that was unfortunate.  Didn't get to see how they attack.  I guess I'll try to play a passive role with the next ones, if we want to learn anything from them."

Spoiler

Post Action: RAW-A (Thorns x2= 152 DMG | -10 EN
[ID: 208837] [BD: 6+1-1=6] Hit 152-60 = 92 Dmg

Cedar Wood Elemental 1 | HP: 70/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Cedar Wood Elemental 2 | HP: -170/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Spruce Wood Elemental 1 | HP: -170/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Spruce Wood Elemental 2 | HP: -170/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1

Hirru | HP: 1067/1067 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | ACC: 1 | MIT: 95 | PARA: 1 | OENV: 32 | Loot: 9 | BH: 53 | HLY BLS: 43 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76
NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 123/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 58 | VAMP-D: 174 | TAUNT | Stealth Rating: 6

Looting Cedar Elemental 1
[ID: 208838] [CD: 5] [LD: 9+9=18]
2000 Col (400*3 + Even LD *2 multiplier)
1 Mat (Odd CD)
Rare Consumable UnID [208838a]
Rare Armor/Shield UnID [208838b]

Edited April 21, 2022 by Hirru

[NIGHT 0]

"huh?"

caught off-guard, her shift gave the fight enough reprieve for hirru to charge in, culling the remaining elemental she'd yet to cut down. and given she hadn't the time to jump back into the fight after that call -- "yeah, and holy," was all she could return, watching the cedar figment disassemble into sparkling hues.

though she didn't give either the enhancements much thought beyond their power, their make. night was surprised to even know their effects could've been made out after all, knowing how it varied between players, even weapons. some drew the night sky, yet hers had simply clattered in void. and not that she paid her attacks much attention, the way her blade was drowned in pure white most of the time. so long as their strength pulsed against their enemies, that was what she'd cared for.

well, that, and the description of the blade she'd forged.

her attention went back to hirru as oathkeeper disappeared into the ether, a hand raised in suggestion. "i could switch out gear if they seem to go down too fast. just figured before this that we should've been efficient -- in slaying, more than observation."

[Hirru 0]

Hirru shook his head as NIGHT asked if she should switch out her weapon.

"No, although this is for observation, I can always revisit this dungeon multiple times to learn more.  I prefer our safety over information.  We may be powerful as we are, but that can change quite easily, especially if the enemy has something we don't know about."

He nodded down to her hand as the weapon would disappear.

"Whatever is your preferred method of fighting would be better.  Especially for the next part of this place.  We've taken care of the dungeon's guardians, so let's enter and deal with the bosses next group.  They're be a bit harder than the others."

He started to walk past the two trees that he avoided before.  Their guardian elementals were no longer here, for now.  As soon as Hirru walked past, the visual effects of the area seemed to change.  It would appear to NIGHT that Hirru had disappeared, but the blue glint of a teleportation effect would be left behind.  To Hirru, he was now in a large clearing that was covered in the green crystals that would denote the area.  The ground itself seemed to elevate into a small hill.  Atop the hill was a large tree, with two smaller ones of the same style, that seemed to have germinated not far from it.  Little seedlings would drop down from the main tree, as small cones that roll away into the surrounding forest. 

At times, Hirru thought he could see an elemental appearing from nothing, to take the cone and move farther into the woods.  Was this how the trees were made?  Then, how about the wood elementals?  Would every tree get one?  No, there were trees that didn't have the protection, or did not have an elemental tied to them anymore.  Was this something that happens over time?

"So, this is the nest?"

[NIGHT 0]

night followed hirru through the threshold, knowing not to switch off oathkeeper at his behest.

the scenery around her weaved itself from flat ground into a hilled forest. as the man paused to take in the view, so too did the player, eyes drifting from the sides of their makeshift room to take note of the tiny rolling cones that raced to the lands behind them. fuzzy colours at the edges of her periphery -- almost like sprites, if she'd focused. and it took the woman much longer a moment to come to the same conclusion as her companions; when asked, she merely replied with a distracted, "huh? --yeah, i guess so."

to her conclusion, it was likely that the elementals acted the same was as mobs did -- spawning regulations based off cardinal's own decisions, rather than life created and recreated as they would so, naturally, like creatures part of the animal kingdom. and if they'd taken the seedlings to plant and grow their forests, then surely any singular lone tree would act as a guardian, perhaps. or the trees would be homes for any stray elemental that decided not to reside with the rest of their kinsmen, almost similar to the activities of humans. night took a few steps forward, trying to hone her senses, listen in for more signals.

had she missed something, perhaps? was there more to be gleamed from their environment?

only after she ascended did night turn to hirru, curious, wondering if she should've been prepared for battle. "so you were saying about the next group...?"

[Hirru 0]

"Probably going to come out if we try to investigate the main trees themselves."

He walked forward slightly behind NIGHT.  He still had reservations over the support deal, especially having someone else take the brunt of the battle while he did a little healing or buffing.  He had wished he had <hate> gain skills or abilities, so that he could tank a bit, but that would cause more problems.  Especially since he was the healer now.  He couldn't heal himself without using an AOE heal or a potion.  Sighing heavily, the hunter checked once more to find that the two trees seemed to be hiding two more trees?  No, those were..

"There they are..  Two large Maple Wood Elementals.  Let's get ready!  Here they come!"

Two large elementals would show themselves, wielding clubs as large as their branches.  They would bear down upon the two of them for coming too close to the mother tree.  

Spoiler

Maple Wood Elemental 1 | HP: 700/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
Maple Wood Elemental 2 | HP: 700/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

Hirru | HP: 1067/1067 | EN: 94/104 | DMG: 1 | ACC: 1 | MIT: 95 | PARA: 1 | OENV: 32 | Loot: 9 | BH: 53 | HLY BLS: 43 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76
NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 123/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 58 | VAMP-D: 174 | TAUNT | Stealth Rating: 6

 

[NIGHT 0]

that made sense. she thought twice about if they should've investigated the main trees, anyway, though her hunch for choosing to do so laid in the fact that cardinal would usually give her a hard time and reel her into combat anyway. if they were here to observe and learn, then so be it – whatever hell would come their way. in fact, just as she mindlessly thought so about her decision, her attention was stolen from watching hirru to the looming forms of the elementals, clubs in hand.

if she hesitated, it was because the flash of the tiny seedlings from earlier had reminded her of what her opponents believed they were made to defend. still, night shifted forward, grip tightening on oathkeeper. what she'd seen shouldn't bring down her own guard, and her blade made sure of it; with the resounding ring of a pin drop, an intense vibration and a wave of darkness and light mixed, near pushing back the spirits into the wood they first emerged from.

sleepy, distracted night. even if she were to lose steam again, she decided that she should focus, just for a little bit.

Spoiler

POST ACTION: AOE-I | CHARGE | x

ID212801 | bd7+5-1-1 = 10 | -> Maple Wood Elemental #1
ID212802 | bd10+5-1-1 = 13 | -> Maple Wood Elemental #2

15 + (2*2) -2 EN.

(26+16+5) * 15 = 705 DMG
705 - 120 = 585 DMG

(26+16+5+2) * 15 = 735 DMG
735 - 120 = 615 DMG

---

[2] Maple Wood Elemental 1 | HP: 115/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
[3] Maple Wood Elemental 2 | HP: 85/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

Hirru | HP: 1067/1067 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | ACC: 1 | MIT: 95 | PARA: 1 | OENV: 32 | Loot: 9 | BH: 53 | HLY BLS: 43 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76
NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 127/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 58 | VAMP-D: 174 | TAUNT | Stealth Rating: 6 | [CHARGE: 1/3]

Edited July 2, 2023 by NIGHT

[Hirru 0]

Yet another time where he didn't have to do anything and the one with the fallen and holy weapon would burn through the scores of enemies.  These weapons were seriously something to look out for, but the hunter knew just how bad it was to find.  There was probably only one way to get a full version of one, and that was to fuse together specially appraised weapons with one or two of each unique enhancements.  Already a physically and mentally daunting task, as it probably took hundreds of appraisals.  Lots of regular weapons sold off to the nether that was the merchant's network.  He wondered if they may have flooded the market with the over abundance of unnaturally imbalanced weapons and armor.

That thought was cut off as the elementals would begin to make NIGHT their target, whos cascading sword art made her the main focus.  One club would come down around around the swordswoman, but the size of her sword was not going to make her speed any less impressive.  She would be able to dodge all of their incoming attacks with ease.  The other elemental would try to find a pincer maneuver, but there wasn't much they could do against NIGHT.  Though, interesting enough was that their strikes against the ground were not upheaving any dirt or damaging grass.  It was as if they did not want to harm the nature around them; just the intruders that dare to come close to the mother tree.

"They're both in the red!  Take em out!"

Spoiler

Enemy Action -> Attack x2 
[ID: 212803][MD: 4+2-3= 3] Miss
[ID: 212804][MD: 5+2-3= 4] Miss
Post Action -> None

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

[2] Maple Wood Elemental 1 | HP: 115/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
[3] Maple Wood Elemental 2 | HP: 85/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

Hirru | HP: 1067/1067 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | ACC: 1 | MIT: 95 | PARA: 1 | OENV: 32 | Loot: 9 | BH: 53 | HLY BLS: 43 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76
NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 129/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 58 | VAMP-D: 174 | TAUNT | Stealth Rating: 6 | [CHARGE: 1/3]

 

Edited July 2, 2023 by Hirru

[NIGHT 0]

might've been a poor move to focus, actually – perhaps being somewhat out of it helped night concentrate a little better, or she was trying, trying still, despite not being successful at waking up.

two branches were brought down with a light breeze tailing them, and night wove through them with ease, even more so that the ground hadn't been impacted by their force. but it got trickier to hitting them, as she quickly understood – the spirits, rather than tangible beings lacked the telegraphed impact she required to know that her blow landed. and so with a skip and a swing, she'd whiffed her first strike, the woman clicking her tongue and leaning further into the attack on the second.

her gaze tracked the red amidst the haze of stardust, just as the second guardian crumpled away. night only took her eyes off the lone survivor's bar as she tumbled, running to turn around and push forward, in pursuit of the elemental again.

Spoiler

POST ACTION: AOE-II | x

ID212801 | bd1 | -> Maple Wood Elemental #1
ID212802 | bd7+5-1 = 12 | -> Maple Wood Elemental #2

18 + (2*1) -2 +6 EN.

(26+16) * 18 = 756 DMG
756 - 120 = 636 DMG

---

[2] Maple Wood Elemental 1 | HP: 115/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
[3] Maple Wood Elemental 2 | HP: 551/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

Hirru | HP: 1067/1067 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | ACC: 1 | MIT: 95 | PARA: 1 | OENV: 32 | Loot: 9 | BH: 53 | HLY BLS: 43 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76
NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 115/144 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 58 | VAMP-D: 174 | TAUNT | Stealth Rating: 6 | [CHARGE: 2/3]

 

Edited July 2, 2023 by NIGHT