[SP-F7] A Helping Hand

[Morningstar 0]

Sunlight shone over the humble town of Rig. While some of the townsfolk were enjoying the weather, others were hard at work. They tended to their shops and their gardens; one man even had a few chickens to feed. The mayor looked down at the main street, troubled as he watched over his people.

"It appears at random," he said, scratching his greying beard, "and with little warning. It isn't often that I see everyone outside like this; we've all been forced to live more carefully."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Morningstar replied.

The pair reentered the large house, the mayor taking the first steps. It was fancier than the average house in Rig. Morningstar eyed the white bookshelves that lined the walls of the study, hoping to find something he recognized. He had not seen a book from the old world since coming to Aincrad. Frankly, he found it difficult to believe that they existed there. Music did, thankfully.

He pulled a novel titled "King of Serpents" by an author whom he had never heard of. Opening it revealed a scribbled signature and a message thanking the mayor for something that he had done in the past. He skimmed the book some more, flipping through pages without an objective.

"I'll take care of the snake for you, Mayor. Your town'll be safe in no time at all."

[ lv. 44  ->   l. 33 / p. 11 ] MORNINGSTAR | HP: 760/760 | EN: 108/108 | DMG: 23 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 122 | EVA: 1 | LD: 6 | AA: 1 | VO: 125 | STK: 40/24 | BH: 25 | Stealth Rating: -5   Hide contents notes.     Hide contents equipped soulcursed blade VO II, AA I, STK I armor of fallen radiance  MIT III sapphire ACC III, EVA I battle-ready inventory x1 teleport crystal skills.   Hide contents mod count: 3/5 2HSS | RANK 5/5 precision, stamina, ferocity shift: tech HEAVY ARMOR | RANK 5/5 impetus, iron skin COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 5/5 night vision, detect BATTLE HEALING | RANK 3/5 ENERGIST CHARGE extra SURVIVAL FORGOTTEN KING'S AUTHORITY LADY LUCK buffs.   Hide contents statue n/a consumables  n/a paragon Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD arts.   Hide contents en cost matches multiplier unless stated otherwise. shift underlined. ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x11 -> x14 TECH-A | x16 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x16 | DELAY TECH-D | x16 | SHATTER misc.   Hide contents Rested | -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat. Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down). Filling | 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. Tasty | 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. Relaxed | Increases out-of-combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Basic Training | +5% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post. gathering n/a

[Morningstar 0]

He returned the book to the shelf, turning his attention to the mayor, who was already thanking him for his help. He said nothing, instead offering a warm smile and a nod. The stairwell was long and led him back to the bottom floor of the house.

"We can discuss your reward after the beast is dead!" The mayor called after him.

"No need, Mayor. No reward necessary."

A swish of his wrist pulled open his menu. He navigated to his inventory, scrolling through it until he came across his gifted blade and a perfectly ripened apple. He summoned both, slinging the sword around his shoulder and taking a sizable bite out of the red fruit.

"Mm. Sweet."

He pulled open the front door, waving to the mayor's wife as he exited. He unbuttoned his white button down a single time, giving his arms a short stretch while he took a look at the town. It was a small settlement and, oddly enough, was not a safe zone.

[Morningstar 0]

His long, wooden walking stick leaned against the wall of the front porch of the mayor's house. He left it there; it would only get in the way during the battle. Adjusting his dark grey trousers, he waltzed onto the dirt road. A wooden crate sat off to the side and he moved it into the middle to use as a seat. There was no telling when the legendary two-headed serpent would appear and he had no intention of standing all day, if it took that long.

He pulled off his backpack, opening and sifting through it. It was full of mostly random junk that he had discovered on his long journey through the seventh floor. There was nothing of immense value, only things that he personally found interesting.

Things had been quiet as of late. No news had come from the Black Knights in days. All Morningstar could do was wait and search on his own. He had decided to take the floors on one at a time, avoiding the well-known locations altogether and sticking to secret spots that only the best of the brokers knew. It was expensive.

He took a seat on the wooden merchant's crate, awaiting his opponent.

[Morningstar 0]

Another crunch of his apple sent his tastebuds into a spiral. It was not native to the seventh floor. Morningstar had found it on the first floor the last time he had visited. He did not find himself there very often anymore. There was simply no time, considering that there was little left down there that he had not found. From dragons to dueling tournaments, he had seen it all. There was too much elsewhere that he still wanted to find.

This quest in particular was one of those things. He had heard through the grapevine that Rig was the place to go if you wanted a relatively simple, snake-related quest. He liked the sound of it and felt pleasure in lending a hand to unprotected NPCs, so off he went.

It was a detour, admittedly, and he had a feeling there would be nothing of value in or around the town. Still, he had made a commitment to the villagers. Occasionally, he'd receive a look of curiosity or a smile from the people who passed him. Some of them appeared confused by his presence; others knew more or less why he had come.

[Morningstar 0]

He took a final bite of the fruit, tossing the core aside and watching as it turned to pixels before him. The only thing within his bag that was not loot was a small bottle of water that he kept close by. He hated having to pull it out of his inventory every time he felt a little bit thirsty, so into the bag it went. He withdrew it, taking a quick swig before returning it to the backpack.

He could feel the blade on his back growing restless. He was not sure where Freyd had found it, but it had proven to be a real piece of work. Had it not been so powerful, Morningstar would have switched back to his old weapon, Meteor. Sometimes, he missed the golden greatsword. It had a nice shine to it and it's weight was perfect in his hands. Not to mention, it was trustworthy.

The Soulcursed Blade never ceased to feel like it was double-edged. He had become accustomed to the odd waves of bloodlust that coursed through him while he wielded it. The pain it caused his body was something else, however. Still, it did not appear to have any negative effects on him after the fact, so he intended on continuing his use of the blade.

[Morningstar 0]

It talked to him, sometimes. He tried to ignore it. Part of him thought that he was losing it and the other was a tad bit interested. He thought it better to avoid conversing with his murder-hungry weapon, though. For the most part, it made strange hissing noises that only he seemed to hear. On rare occasions, it would actually whisper to him. One time, when he could not help but tune into its madness, it had mentioned a castle. It had not gone into much detail; Morningstar was not even sure whether it had intended to speak to him or not.

A yawn escaped his weary lips. Some of the villagers had cleared the streets. It was unclear whether they were worried about the serpent or whether their workdays had simply ended and they were retiring for the afternoon. Personally, he would have loved to do the latter.

From the corner of his eye, he could see the mayor and his wife peeking out from their downstairs window. They were understandably nervous; however, it was nothing that Morningstar had not done before. He was well-versed in killing dangerous creatures such as this. It was a hobby of his.

 

[Morningstar 0]

In the distance, he could hear a rumbling sound. It was almost like something was burrowing through the dirt nearby. That was his queue, he thought. He nodded to the mayor, who was still watching from the window. He ran out side immediately, shouting to the townspeople to return to their homes.

Morningstar was thankful that they did so without question. This was clearly normal for them, as there was no panic or confusion. Efficiently, the people of Rig gathered in their houses, leaving the streets eerily silent but for the sounds of the serpent's approach.

He placed his bag to the side of the crate and stood, dusting off his trousers and removing the sword from his back. Villagers peeked out from behind closed shutters and curtains, awaiting the coming storm.

He could see the dirt separating less than a hundred feet from him.

"Time to get started, I guess."

[Morningstar 0]

The serpent erupted from the ground and dirt and rocks flew through the air. A few specks landed on Morningstar's brand new white shirt. He frowned. He was fond of the shirt.

Two heads glared at Morningstar. Amphis Serpens, as it was written above the quest boss' health bars, was fearsome in appearance. He could see why it had caused the mayor so much trouble. Each body had a set of wings, although they were far to small and weak to grant it flight. He was glad; dragons were not his forte.

At the drop of a pin, the fight began. Morningstar made the first move, beelining towards Amphis Serpens' right side and uppercutting with his dominant fist.

The left head was quick to counterattack, snapping at him with its strong jaw. He redirected the bite with a graceful kick. The monster was left dazed for a longer moment than Morningstar had expected. It appeared that it was only fearsome in appearance.

Spoiler

POST ACTION | ST-I (x12) vs Amphis Serpens
FREE ACTION | N/A

ID: 218680 | BD: 3+4+1-1=7 | MD: 1

23*12-50=226 DMG to Amphis Serpens

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Morningstar | HP: 760/760 | EN: 97/108 (-11) | DMG: 23 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 122 | EVA: 1 | LD: 6 | AA: 1 | VO: 125 | STK: 40/24 | BH: 25 | Stealth Rating: -5

Amphis Serpens | HP: 674/900 | DMG: 125 | MIT: 50

• Serpent’s Poison | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the boss will make two attacks; each will target one of the two players with the highest Hate. The attack poisons them, dealing normal attack damage in addition to inflicting an unmitigated DoT [15 DMG] effect that lasts 2 turns. Against a single player, both attacks will target the player.

• Shifting Sand | Due to the shifting sands and movement of the boss, players take a -1 penalty to Accuracy and Evasion.

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar was suddenly thrusted to the side as the serpent swatted him with its tail. His graceful landing turned to a bounce and roll. Picking himself up, he retrieved his blade. He was mildly annoyed by his mistake.

The twin-headed serpent slithered toward him, its doubled fangs sparkling in the sun's rays. He matched its speed. The sword in his grasp emerged from its steel case. Purple sparks bounced along its face, dispersing from the tip. A quick slice across Amphis Serpens side caught it off balance, causing it to move away from him and to the side.

The successful dispelling of the attack gave Morningstar just enough time to recollect himself. His eyes danced across the battlefield like flames flickering in the wind. They landed on the splitting point of the two heads: his next mark.

He made his move, emptying out the merchant crate he had previously claimed as a seat and tossing it at his opponent.

Spoiler

POST ACTION | ST-I (x12) vs Amphis Serpens
FREE ACTION | N/A

ID: 218681 | BD: 7+4+1-1=11 | MD: 6+1=7

23*12-50=226 DMG to Amphis Serpens
125-122=3 DMG to Morningstar

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Morningstar | HP: 757/760 | EN: 90/108 (+4)(-11) | DMG: 23 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 122 | EVA: 1 | LD: 6 | AA: 1 | VO: 125 | STK: 40/24 | BH: 25 | Stealth Rating: -5

Amphis Serpens | HP: 448/900 | DMG: 125 | MIT: 50

• Serpent’s Poison | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the boss will make two attacks; each will target one of the two players with the highest Hate. The attack poisons them, dealing normal attack damage in addition to inflicting an unmitigated DoT [15 DMG] effect that lasts 2 turns. Against a single player, both attacks will target the player.

• Shifting Sand | Due to the shifting sands and movement of the boss, players take a -1 penalty to Accuracy and Evasion.

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The distraction worked. Amphis Serpens' focus was locked on the wooden container. It reeled back, dodging the box, but Morningstar had already closed the gap between them. He leaped and in a horizontal arc, he struck the snake on it's neck. He cleaved through it's thick scales like butter and watched as it crashed to the ground.

It was gone only moments later. Two heads had been reduced to one. Amphis Serpens writhed in pain and deafening screeches emitted from its mouth. Morningstar spotted the mayor covering his ears and shutting the blinds. A few other townspeople did the same.

One more attack would do the trick, he assumed. He thought it more humane to put the creature out of its misery sooner rather than later. It had already lost its other half. It had nothing else anyway.

He prepared another attack, this time aimed at the last of the two heads.

Spoiler

POST ACTION | ST-I (x12) vs Amphis Serpens
FREE ACTION | N/A

Morningstar recovers 3 HP

ID: 218682 | BD: 7+4+1-1=11 | MD: 8+1=9

23*12-50=226 DMG to Amphis Serpens
125-122=3 DMG to Morningstar

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Morningstar | HP: 757/760 | EN: 82/108 (+4)(-12) | DMG: 23 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 122 | EVA: 1 | LD: 6 | AA: 1 | VO: 125 | STK: 40/24 | BH: 25 | Stealth Rating: -5

Amphis Serpens | HP: 222/900 | DMG: 125 | MIT: 50

• Serpent’s Poison | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the boss will make two attacks; each will target one of the two players with the highest Hate. The attack poisons them, dealing normal attack damage in addition to inflicting an unmitigated DoT [15 DMG] effect that lasts 2 turns. Against a single player, both attacks will target the player.

• Shifting Sand | Due to the shifting sands and movement of the boss, players take a -1 penalty to Accuracy and Evasion.

 

Edited November 30, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The serpent, despite its agony, managed to muster a feeble defense, weaving its remaining head to and fro in a desperate attempt to shield itself. Morningstar, determined and resolute, pressed forward, determined to end the threat once and for all. The townspeople, peering cautiously from behind their barricades, held their breath as the final confrontation unfolded. The air was thick with anticipation as Morningstar's weapon arced toward the serpent's last lifeline, marking the decisive moment in this intense battle of survival.

A red streak shot from the toppling body of Amphis Serpens. It was dead. The lifeless husk that remained slowly faded to blue dust, returning to the code that created it.

The Soulcursed Blade returned to its scabbard, satisfied with the meal it had been fed. Morningstar was glad to see that he had made little mess of the town. A broken box and some damaged road would be of little concern to the mayor and townsfolk.

Spoiler

POST ACTION | ST-I (x12) vs Amphis Serpens
FREE ACTION | N/A

Morningstar recovers 3 HP

ID: 218713 | BD: 2+4+1-1=6

23*12-50=226 DMG to Amphis Serpens

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Morningstar | HP: 760/760 | EN: 74/108 (+4)(-12) | DMG: 23 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 122 | EVA: 1 | LD: 6 | AA: 1 | VO: 125 | STK: 40/24 | BH: 25 | Stealth Rating: -5

Amphis Serpens | HP: 0/900 | DMG: 125 | MIT: 50

• Serpent’s Poison | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the boss will make two attacks; each will target one of the two players with the highest Hate. The attack poisons them, dealing normal attack damage in addition to inflicting an unmitigated DoT [15 DMG] effect that lasts 2 turns. Against a single player, both attacks will target the player.

• Shifting Sand | Due to the shifting sands and movement of the boss, players take a -1 penalty to Accuracy and Evasion.

 

Edited November 30, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Many exited their houses as the scene unfolded. The body of the snake was now gone and Morningstar remained, victorious. The mayor sped out his front door, his wife shocked at the man's enthusiasm. He thanked Star for his help and promised whatever riches and rewards he desired, to which the swordsman profusely declined.

"I already told you, Mayor. No reward necessary."

As the words came out, he noticed a shield-like orb grow around the city. Only he appeared to see it. It formed quickly and then disappeared. A pop-up followed shortly after. He was now allowed to use Rig as a safezone. No harm would come to him while he was within its radius.

With a smirk, he patted Mayor Cyrus on the shoulder. "I'd best get going now. Keep safe."

"You won't stay a while? We have an inn not far from here. It's nothing fancy but the beds are comfy."

"Tempting but I really must leave. Long trip ahead and no horse," Morningstar explained, going into as little detail as possible.

 

[Morningstar 0]

On his way out, a grateful farmer presented him with food for his travels: a chicken, some vegetables, and bread. He offered it to Morningstar as if it were nothing special. Although the meat and vegetables would need preparing, he thought that the gesture was far more than he could ask for. He fit the food in his bag, hanging the chicken off the side. After saying his goodbyes, Morningstar left the town of Rig.

The trails of the seventh floor were rough and rugged. It made traveling by foot difficult, especially for the unprepared. He, however, had come with comfortable equipment and enough food to last him a few days at least. It helped that he could stuff things in his inventory. The heavy things that he did not readily need (his tent, for example) were organized there, while he kept his water, snacks, and weaponry close by.

Hiking and camping were two things that he had not done much of before Sword Art Online. The wealth that he had once known was left behind in his pre-Aincrad life. Sure, he was well-off within the game and the appraisal business was going well, but it was nowhere near what he had had in the past. He had become more frugal now. It helped that he was no longer forced to rent rooms at inns. His house was a purchase that had already paid off. Now that money was out of the picture, he had more time to himself. He often found himself trailblazing for the fun of it and, in doing so, he had lived more in one short year than he had ever before. 

[Morningstar 0]

He walked until sunset, taking a break once he could see The Eye. It stood far away and as tall as ever. He had heard rumors of the griffin that lived at the peak; however, he had yet to take a look. He made a mental note of it and hoped he would remember for the future.

After a few deep breaths, he whipped open his inventory and scrolled through, eventually coming to the aforementioned tent. The components fell to the ground before him. His search for a tent that did not need putting together had come up dry. He improved every time, though.

It was a small tent. Its maximum capacity was about two or, uncomfortably, three. He tossed a sleeping bag inside and zipped it shut, stopping any unwanted bugs or critters from sneaking in.

A hatchet appeared in his hand. Unenhanced, it had little use to him, aside from chopping wood. A few small logs sat at his feet. He positioned one upright and split it with the axe. It was not the cleanest cut but it did the trick. He wondered if it would have looked prettier had he taken the matching weapon skill.

[Morningstar 0]

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape. The air grew cooler, and the need for warmth became more pressing. Morningstar took a moment to appreciate the serene beauty of The Eye, its distant glow providing a fantasy-esque backdrop to his campsite.

Setting up a makeshift fire pit, he arranged the wood in a pyramid shape, leaving enough space for air circulation. Morningstar struck a flint against the steel of his blade, sending sparks into the dry grass he had tossed in the center. After a few attempts, a small flame flickered to life, eagerly consuming the tinder.

As the fire grew, its warmth spread, challenging the oncoming chill of the night. Morningstar sat by the crackling flames, enjoying the comforting dance of the fire. The tent provided a cozy shelter, and the night air carried a faint scent of pine from the surrounding trees.

He took some time away from his tent to clean and prepare the chicken before returning once more to start dinner.

With the fire steadily burning, he reached into his inventory once more and retrieved a small pot. He filled it with water from his canteen and hung it over the flames using an awkwardly shaped log. Soon, the water began to simmer, and he added some dried herbs and the vegetables from Rig, creating a simple but tasty stew.

As he waited for his meal to cook, Morningstar took a moment to reflect on his journey. The cheer from his victory at Rig lingered in the campsite. It was a short stop on the way to nowhere. The firelight cast a warm glow on his face as he lost himself in thoughts of wonder.

Once the stew was ready, he enjoyed a quiet meal by the fire, savoring the flavors and finding comfort in the simplicity of the moment. The night sky glimmered with stars, and the distant silhouette of The Eye stood as a silent guardian. It was almost like a painting.

[Morningstar 0]

With the last spoonful of stew, Morningstar leaned back, staring into the star-strewn sky above. The fire had reduced to glowing embers, continuing to faintly light up the campsite. He left the remainder of the campfire burning and cleaned up his gear before climbing into his tent. He nestled into his sleeping bag, the sounds of the night now muffled by the tent walls. A light breeze brushed against it, the ambience relaxing him. He gazed up at the ceiling, which gently swayed with the occasional gust of wind. The day's exhaustion had finally taken hold of him. He dozed off into a deep slumber.

He awoke in the morning to silence, the same as the few nights prior. He unzipped his tent, peeking outside at the empty hills. It was chilly and the ground was damp. There was not a soul around. He took down his site, carefully folding his tent and returning it to his inventory.

Edited December 5, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

A message came in early and unexpectedly.

joaquin: any luck with the search?

He forgot that he had told Joaquin at all. Although semi-actively, he had been assisting with Morningstar's work, even accompanying him on some of his travels. He appreciated it, knowing that Joaquin's time had grown less free, with guild activities taking a hold on his life.

The luxury of playing solo was the absence of responsibility.

morningstar: not really. did a quest in rig, though.
joaquin: i'm on twenty-six right now. no sign of anything here either.
joaquin: meeting with guild later. hoping to convince them to join the cause.
morningstar: best of luck. it'd be good to work together again.

He closed his messaging panel and threw his bag over his shoulders. As the sun grew in the sky, he began the final stretch of his journey. He could see his destination in the distance: crumbling stone ruins upon a flattop hill. 

[Morningstar 0]

Upon reaching the ruins, he surveyed the area. The weathered stones looked as though they might fall apart with the slightest touch. He looked around for monsters and, thankfully, there were none.

Unfortunately, he expected that the lack of enemies meant that there would be no loot. The low difficulty area was often a sign that one's time was better spent elsewhere. He stepped carefully through the wet grass and circled the ruins until his interest waned. Then, he moved on.

Snacking on the last of his apple stash, he journeyed deeper into the wilds of the seventh floor. He glanced over to the Eye curiously. It was rumored that the griffin appeared around midday, he thought someone had told him. He judged the distance, concluding that it would take him an hour to reach the base and two and a half more to climb to the top. The trip up was difficult as well and he had no knowledge of the creatures that lurked in the caves and crevices of the mountain.

Edited December 6, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The wind picked up suddenly, tossing his bangs into his eyes, obscuring his vision and ticking him off.

"Maybe it's about time I got this mess cut," he muttered to himself.

Across from him, hiking along a rocky path, was a player. Morningstar waved, a handsome smile growing on his face. The player, a man in a yellow ballcap, returned the gesture. They stopped for a moment to chat. Neither of them had seen another soul in days, aside from the NPCs that Morningstar had helped in Rig.

"Name's Otter," he handed over a slice of banana bread, a sign of good faith between the two hikers.

"Morningstar," he accepted the gift graciously, "good to meet you. Where're you headed?"

"No where in particular," Otter admitted. He spoke in between bites of banana bread, "I hike all over the place. Working my way around the seventh until I have the confidence to attempt the Eye."

"Oh, yeah?" Morningstar made no attempt to hide his interest, "It's quite the climb. Probably bigger than any mountains I've gone up. I'd like to try it someday too."

Otter chuckled. "Honestly, I'm not sure whether I'm more worried about the hike or the mobs. Hard to find info on what's up there—aside from the griffin, of course. It's not well-documented."

Edited February 9 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar's eyebrows rose. "So, the griffin really does exist?"

"Oh, yeah. Haven't seen it myself, of course, but it's up there sometimes. It's a field boss, I think. Not my cup of tea, field bosses."

"No?"

"Not really. I'm not much of a fighter at all, really. I get by but I try to steer clear of anything too risky. Don't want to end up dying when I could just be hiking instead."

"Fair enough," Morningstar had no counterargument. He had lived similarly for a long time. He finished off the delicious slice of banana bread and they talked a while longer before saying their farewells.

"You let me know when you plan on climbing the Eye. We can watch each other's backs."

Smiling, Otter agreed, waving as he continued along the beaten backroad that wasn't really a road at all. Morningstar moved on as well, walking until the sun dipped low once more.

Edited February 9 by Morningstar