[PP-F1] Sniffing Wilds or Something <<Scents of the Wild: Keepers of Nature>>

[Pinball 1]

<<Using x1 Yui's Grace>>

He'd heard of this questline on more than one occassion. And on more than one occassion, he'd almost gone and started it -- but something always got in the way. The rewards were amazing, from what he'd read. A permanent, modular buff you got to keep forever? Sign him up. But to get that, he was going to have to undertake a gauntlet of boss fights. 

First things first. 

The tablet had been hidden in the depths of a cave, behind a secret disappearing wall of rock. He'd gone ahead and fetched it early, just in case there were other people coming out to do the same. He exited the cave with the tablet in hand. The morning light streaming through the forest's canopy made it easier to see the runes inscribed on the ancient epitaph... runes that were completely unintelligble to his eyes. As expected. There was supposed to be a tree somewhere nearby with the cipher carved into its bark. He'd need to decipher the tablet before he could continue the quest. 

He pulled the hood of his cloak up and walked, cutting a dark figure across the otherwise cheery and verdant path. 

                                                                                     

Player Stats: 

Spoiler

Level: 33 (Paragon Level 39)
Health: 800 | Energy: 118
DMG: 20  | ACC: 4  | EVA: 3  | BH: 44
Shift: Tech

Skills:

Combat Skills:
► Battle Healing [30/30]
► Energist [8/8]
► Combat Mastery: Damage [13/13]

Weapon Skills:
► Thrown Weapons [30/30] 
    Add Ons: 
►Focus 
►Precision 
►Stamina 

Utility Skills:
► Quick Change [8/8] 

Extra Skills:
► Disguise
► Survival
► Forgotten King's Authority 
► Hiding [30/30]

Familiar Skill: 
► Rending Familiar [10/10]

Armor Skills:
►N/A

Modifiers:
► Sneak Attack: Trickster 
► Vanish 
► Emergency Recovery
► Untraceable

Miscellaneous: 
► +1 LD to Searching, Lockpicking, Treasure Chests (Paragon) 
► Earn Col Equivalent to 15% of player’s EXP earned in a thread (Paragon) 

Inventory:
»[Equipped] [Demonic] Cold Fervor: +2 Freeze, Phase, Cursed 
»[Equipped] [Perfect] Warrior’s Focus: +3 ACC
»[Equipped] [Perfect] Black Cloak: +3 EVA 

Battle Ready: 
» [2x] Teleportation Crystal 
» [x4] Lacrimosa - HP Recovery III Crystal {Instant}
» [Demonic TW] Hellfire: Burn, Bleed, Blight, Cursed
» [Demonic TW] Astral Blade: Holy, Fallen, Phase, Damage

Housing Buffs: 

Spoiler

Housing Buffs: 
Squeaky Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
Well Rested: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
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.
Relaxed: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Item Stash: +1 BR Slot 

 

Edited August 13 by Pinball

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus had been taking more risks than usual. She was concerned—was she finally plucking up courage, or was it a disregard for her own life?

She'd only met Pinball a few days ago. When he walked into her shop with a few requests, she had been shocked. She didn't get much traffic in her shop yet. They began to chat about a potential custom order—she couldn't remember the full conversation, but the next thing she knew, she'd agreed to help out on a quest involving flowers. Flower don't seem so bad. She'd looked at the first quest in the guide, and it was all about searching.

Now that she was perusing the full quest chain, a cold sense of dread came over her. A massive bear. A Lich?? Acanthus was ok with risks, but this almost seemed like suicide. I have time to level up. I'll just have to really work on it beforehand.

To top it all off, here she was on yet another quest with a total stranger. Trusting every person she met was going to inevitably be a problem. But again, she trusted Pinball. She just couldn't say why.

The orange cursor is odd. I've never seen that before. Maybe it means he's hit the level cap?

"We have the tablet. So what happens now?"

 

Spoiler

 

Acanthus | Lvl. 14 | HP: 280/280 | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 30 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3 | BLD: 24

Skills

<<Straight Swords>> Rank 4
<<Light Armor>> Rank 3
<<Searching>> Rank 3
<<Hiding>> Rank 3
Combat Mastery: ACC Rank 1
 

Equipment

Wormwood (T2 Perfect Longsword | BLD: 2 DMG: 1)
Custom Breastplate (T1 Perfect Light Armor | MIT: 2 EVA: 1)
Tuning Fork (Ambition: +1 EXP per crafting/gathering attempt)

 

 

[Pinball 1]

He'd met Acanthus a few days ago. Pinball had been looking for a performer (since he didn't really want to go back to Arabelle, and also, he wasn't sure what she was even up to these days) and Acanthus' shop was the first one he'd found. It didn't take him long to realize that she was just starting out -- both because of the low level crafts available for sale at her shop, and because she seemed pretty clueless when it came to the orange crystal floating above his head. Clueless, or fearless. Either one was dangerous. 

But he had a soft spot for the people trapped in the starting cities, and those rare players who finally dared venture out into Aincrad. It was rare that he interacted with them, and even rarer that they wanted anything remotely to do with him. He wanted to help her out. He'd offered her to come along on the questline with him. It'd get her some experience (figuratively and literally), and if she stuck it out, it'd get her a good buff, too. The quests would come first and foremost. She could hate him after, if she found out about him. 

"There's going to be a tree inscribed with the key to the tablet's cipher. It shouldn't be far." 

He'd glance at her from beneath the dark hood of his cloak. 

"Any questions?" 

[Acanthus 0]

On 8/13/2024 at 11:33 PM, Pinball said:

"Any questions?" 

Hundreds. Who were you before all of this? Where exactly does the quest take us? Why my shop instead of someone else’s? How am I even supposed to help out here? …Am I getting myself into something I’ll regret?

“No. I think I’m ready.” She put a hand on her sword and felt the familiar groove of the wood as they walked. Wormwood had become something of a fixture on her person over the last week. It hadn’t seen much combat, but the comfort from its weight around her hip was undeniable.

The two were back on floor 1, traveling across the plains. Massive islands floated lazily above them, shrouding as they walked underneath. She had a hard time keeping track of Pinball when they walked in the shade—even with the fair amount of light, the dark clothing and quick step made it easy to lose sight of him. Determined not to lose him, Acanthus picked up her pace and trotted up alongside Pinball.

She thought she might need to strike up some conversation. It had been quiet for some time. Not that the silence bothered her; she worried that he might find it off-putting.

Just some light small talk, something easy. Maybe ask how he got his name.

“Do you like Pinball?”

She winced internally. Close enough.

[Pinball 1]

“Do you like Pinball?”

He didn't stop walking. Though Acanthus winced at the lame question, Pinball's icy expression remained completely unchaged. 

"No." 

The forest ahead of them seemed to open up a little in the distance, the trees becoming fewer and farther apart. The path seemed to widen. They were coming upon a clearing, the forest encircling it, with a single colossal oak tree residing in the middle of it. Its branches were large, its canopy full, and it cast the whole clearing in abundant shade. It was the very one that they were searching for. Pinball's pace slowed. They've practically arrived. 

And after a moment's thought, he added, "It was the name of my cat." 

He didn't give her any time to wrestle with that knowledge, though. He immediately handed Acanthus the tablet, nodding towards the tree ahead. "Here. The cipher should be etched into the tree bark. Try and see what you can figure out. I'm going to take a moment. I'll catch up." If she accepted the tablet, his hands would vanish beneath his cloak. He'd step off the forest path and disappear between the trees like a wayward shadow. 

[Acanthus 0]

 

She barely had time to process Pinball's response before he offered Acanthus the tablet. His hands vanished as she took it, and Pinball quickly disappeared into the trees.

Acanthus looked around the grove. It felt deathly quiet. The sound of birds and wildlife had faded into the distance, and even the wind had died to a low murmur. Taking the tablet in both hands, she approached the tall oak tree carefully. At its base was a small podium, holding a stone tablet. One one side of the tablet, six indentations adorned the stone, each with a motif that vaguely resembles an animal. On the other side, a long undecipherable message:

Quote

“Ru hvvprmt kldvi, drhwln zmw ivhrorvmxv, urmw bv gslhv dsrxs vnylwb mzgfiv’h tizxvh: Gsv urvixvhg lu yvzhgh drgs fmnzgxsvw hgivmtgs; z hvmgrmvo gl gsv zugvioruv ylfmw yb gsv Hgbtrzm irevi; z drhv zmw drob dzgvi-ylimv kivwzgli; gsv fmnlevw grgzm dsl rh xzoolfh zmw uivv; z hob hszwld srts rm gsv yizmxsvh lu gsv ulivhg; zmw ozhgob, gszg dsrxs kildoh zmw hzuvtfziwh gsv hpb. Lmob lmxv ezmjfrhsvw droo blf szimvhh gsvri kldvi gl blfi yvmvurg. Gsvhv ziv gsv Pvvkvih lu Mzgfiv.” (quoting to indicate that random gobbledegook doesn't count towards the total word count)

She looked down at the tree bark. On it was written all the Hiragana in two concentric circles. In the outer circle, a was at the top; the inner circle, n.

She suspected there was some kind of puzzle at play. She breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, a quest where I don’t have to fight for my life or confront some deep existential turmoil. She plopped down and began to study the tablet.

She rotated the bark, traced her finger along each of the letters, even went so far as to compare the shape and size of the letters between the bark and the tablet. It may also have something to do with the indentations. She spoke aloud. "A bear. A Lich. A fish. A… mountain? A panther. And a lightning bolt. With a head, I think."

The wind picked up, and Acanthus glanced around the clearing. She saw no one.

“Pinball? Do you have any ideas about the text here? I think it’s a cipher, but I haven’t narrowed it down much further than that.”

 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Deciphering the Tablet

Roll ID 226391 | LD 11 + 3 = 14. Progress (14/60)

 

 

Edited August 15 by Acanthus

[Pinball 1]

Pinball had wandered off into the wilderness in search of prey. 

He was after dire wolves. Big, bulky, and probably not belonging on the First Floor. The fun thing about being solo on lower floors is that Cardinal got to throw beefier monsters at you. But after a few minutes of searching and waiting, he found none. Not wanting to leave Acanthus on her own for too long, he'd make his way back to the clearing. He returned just as Acanthus was calling out for him. The wind blew through the trees and tugged at his cloak. Pinball lowered his hood and thoughtfully peered over Acanthus' shoulder, studying the tablet. 

"Well, the animals are definitely the guardians we'll have to face. As for what they're guarding, I'm not sure." He just knew the basics: fight the guardians, get the reward. He hadn't read up too much on the lore. It was more exciting this way anyway, right? Pinball would glance between the text and the cipher, trying to make sense of it as best he could. 

And he could feel the cogs turning, feel his brain trying to spot a pattern... he felt like he was onto something, but he wasn't sure what. 

                                                            

Action: [Deciphering the Tablet] - 15+3= 18 LD 
Progress: 32/60

Edited August 16 by Pinball

[Acanthus 0]

The answer was right in front of her. She just needed a little more time.

She turned the bark over in her hands, slowly revisiting every inch of the clue. Nothing on the back of the cipher. The only thing there were the two circles of letters in alphabetical order, except one was reversed.

Absent mindedly, she scratched her head with the tree bark. The language on the tablet—well, it didn’t seem like a language. It seemed more like a code. So the rings of letters had to tie into it somehow.

She was beginning to wish she had paid more attention to her dad when he’d gone on one of his good-natured yet long-winded talks. He loved word puzzles, and often drowned whoever would listen in a deluge of information about the intricacies of languages and letters. Most of the time, that poor soul was her mom. But one time, as she was slipping down the stairs for a glass of water, her dad cornered her with a puzzle book in hand. He rambled with a manic gleam in his eye, continuing a train of thought he’d started long before Acanthus came down the stairs.

“—now, real word puzzles respect the original translation while not sticking too close to the source material. And a good, solvable cipher leaves subtle clues for the keen mind to pick up. I mean, of course you can create ones that are only breakable with certain words. But the important thing is that you never, EVER stoop so low as to include a basic 'back to front' cipher. I mean, a fourth grader could solve one of those in his sleep. That’s hardly secure, let alone a good challenge. Myself, I’m partial to a good Vignère—” and he had wandered off mid-sentence, heading towards the garden. Poor mom.

Back in Aincrad, Acanthus took one more look at the tablet. The words almost seemed like words she recognized, but they were crudely jumbled. The solution was right there on the tip of her tongue, waiting to roll off. Dad would be disappointed, I’m sure.

Stumped, she offered the cipher back up to Pinball. “I have almost solved it, I think. But I need a little time to clear my head. I may go for a short walk to the edge of the clearing. I’ll make sure to stay where I can see you. Although if you’d prefer me to stay here so you can think out loud at someone, I am happy to remain close.”
 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Deciphering the Tablet

Roll ID 226391 | LD 14 + 3 = 17. Progress (49/60)

 

 

Edited August 16 by Acanthus

[Pinball 1]

He sat and he studied in silence. 

Pinball was never a puzzle guy -- when it came to crosswords, riddles, and other things of that sort, he could take them or leave them. But his mind worked a bit differently than it used to. Sometimes it was slower. Sometimes it was faster. He was on the precipice of a revelation. It was also around this time that he realized that the tablet wasn't exactly a hard puzzle to crack at all. Probably because Cardinal didn't want players agonizing it for hours on end, or maybe because they lacked the ability to create enough unique, complex ciphers to players. Most of the completed tablets and cracked ciphers could be bought by info brokers. Pinball could have done the same. Then it wouldn't have been puzzling it out, it would have just been a matter of decoding it. Still, he was glad he hadn't. It was proving to be a whole lot easier than he'd initially expected. 

"Acanthus," he'd call to his companion. He'd pass back the tablet and quickly explain what headway he'd made. 

It was just up to her to finish it up. 

***

((OOC Note: In the last post I was meant to Quick Change into an item I didn't mention, and an item that wasn't in my inventory. Whoops. I subtracted 3 LD from the count going forward))

Action: [Deciphering the Tablet] - ID#226671 LD: 11 
Progress: 57/60 

Edited August 17 by Pinball

[Acanthus 0]

At the edge of the clearing, Acanthus paced the treeline. It should already be figured out. If hundreds of other players had cracked the code, why was it taking her so long?

From the darkness of the woods, fears and doubts began pulling at her. What are you doing here? It’s just like when Freyd had to carry you through that floor 5 quest—nobody really needs you. Pinball especially doesn’t need you here. A morbid thought crossed her mind. Well, if he doesn’t need you, and this isn’t charity, then… he has other plans. For the second time that day, Acanthus became aware that she was adventuring with near total strangers. Her life was on the line, and she needed to be wary of more than just the monsters that spawned. If he decided to do anything—rob her, strand her, kill her—

His cat was named Pinball. The thought snuck into her mind. She wasn’t sure where it came from, but it derailed her train of thought. He named himself after his cat. It didn’t seem like something a wanton murderer would do. You’re spiraling again. Breathe. Let the feeling pass through you and over you.

A few steady breaths later, Acanthus heard her name. From the oak tree, Pinball gestured to her with the tablet. She trotted back over and listened as he explained the headway he had made. It was invaluable to hear his perspective. As he finished his thoughts, something he said clicked. She reached out and grabbed his shoulders. “That’s it!” Immediately, she broke off. “Sorry, that was rude of me. I got carried away.” Cipher in hand, she returned to the podium underneath the tree. Dad would be exasperated at the game developers right now, using a front to back cipher. He’d also be exasperated that I didn’t see it so soon. As she worked to decode the message, she had another odd thought. I almost wish he were here to be exasperated. It would be just a little taste of home.

Stepping away from the podium, she watched as the message shifted subtly. A game event signifying the next step, she assumed. After decoding word by word, she now took in the entire message:

Quote

“If seeking power, wisdom and resilience, find ye those which embody nature’s graces: The fiercest of beasts with unmatched strength; a sentinel to the afterlife bound by the Stygian river; a wise and wily water-borne predator; the unmoved titan who is callous and free; a sly shadow high in the branches of the forest; and lastly, that which prowls and safeguards the sky. Only once vanquished will you harness their power to your benefit. These are the Keepers of Nature.”

She looked over her shoulder at Pinball. “This has something to do with the images from earlier, right? Sounds like six boss fights.” She swallowed. “No problem at all.”

 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Deciphering the Tablet

Roll ID 226696 | LD 15 + 3 = 18. Progress (75/60)

 

 

Edited August 17 by Acanthus

[Pinball 1]

It was done -- she'd cracked it. Pinball would straighten himself, happy that they'd made such good time, even if his face didn't show it. His icy expression remained the same, even when Acanthus reached over and grabbed him by she shoulders, excitedly exclaiming that she'd figured it out. He didn't smile, but he shook his head. "Don't worry about it." He remained standing in place as she returned to the podium beneath the tree. She worked quietly, decoding the message at a rapid pace. He joined her then, watching silently. Eventually she stood, stepping back, and the message seemed to shift before their very eyes. 

“If seeking power, wisdom and resilience, find ye those which embody nature’s graces: The fiercest of beasts with unmatched strength; a sentinel to the afterlife bound by the Stygian river; a wise and wily water-borne predator; the unmoved titan who is callous and free; a sly shadow high in the branches of the forest; and lastly, that which prowls and safeguards the sky. Only once vanquished will you harness their power to your benefit. These are the Keepers of Nature.”

"Absolutely." She'd nailed it. Six boss fights. Six trials to undertake. If they wanted to claim Nature's Blessing, they'd first have to prove themselves worthy. 

Or something like that, anyway. Pinball nodded. "Not a problem at all." And he meant it. He was absolutely confident in his ability, and was absolutely confident that Acanthus would come into her own as they progressed as well. He'd turn away and walk a bit. It was still morning, but the forest was warming up, and the sun had climbed much higher into the sky than when they'd left. 

"There's still daylight left. Would you like to head to the first Keeper now? Or would you rather take a break?" 

As he talked, he swiped open his menu, fingers flying across the interface. Now that he had a moment, he did two things in rapid succession; equipped a new weapon, and filled his Battle-Ready Inventory with things that might be useful later. 

*** 

Equipped: [Uncommon T1 TW] Tyrfing: Absolute Accuracy 

Updated Battle-Ready Inventory: 

Spoiler

Battle Ready: 
» [2x] Teleportation Crystal 
» [x4] Lacrimosa - HP Recovery III Crystal {Instant}
» [Demonic TW] Hellfire: Burn, Bleed, Blight, Cursed
» [Demonic TW] Astral Blade: Holy, Fallen, Phase, Damage
» [Demonic TW] Cold Fervor: +2 Freeze, Phase, Cursed 
» [Perfect Cloth] Cloak of the Harbingers: +3 LD 

 

Edited August 17 by Pinball

[Acanthus 0]

Quote

"There's still daylight left. Would you like to head to the first Keeper now? Or would you rather take a break?" 

Acanthus pondered a moment. She knew herself well, and any break at all would give her time to think. And time to think almost always turned into cold feet. “How about something in-between? Let’s start moving toward the first boss. But I would also like a little time to prepare myself. Mentally, at least.” She picked herself up off the ground and opened her map. “I think there’s a zone nearby that has monsters far above my capabilities. They are probably way underneath yours, since I’m pretty sure you’re at maximum level. If we went there, could I possibly watch you fight? Observation is an excellent precursor to mastery.”

And if he has any tricks up his sleeve when he decides to finally kill you, then you can be prep—.

She slapped her cheeks with her hands. Pinball has a name. He’s a person. And if he were going to do something awful, he’s already passed up plenty of chances to do so.

She just thought about what that looked like to Pinball. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she had just smacked herself. At this rate, he’s going to think I’m the one that can’t be trusted. “I apologize. I was just… energizing myself. For the boss fight. It’s complicated.” She avoided making eye contact as she walked past him. Her face burned with embarrassment.

[Pinball 1]

He gave Acanthus time to think. Pinball was thinking too. She seemed nervous around him. 

Well, that was pretty normal. Nervousness turned into hatred as their confidence grew. He'd seen it before. And that was okay. It was natural. He wouldn't judge her for that -- he wouldn't judge anyone for that. He only hoped that she stuck around for the rest of the questline. It was for her own good. 

She expressed interest in grinding a few mobs on the way to the first boss fight, and in watching him fight. He didn't think twice about it, until she started slapping her cheeks. His brow furrowed. Was she okay? But she just as quickly excused herself, and after a moment's hesitation, Pinball nodded. 

"Okay. Sure. I know the place."

--- 

There they were. Finally. Big, hulking monsters that probably shared more in common with bears than wolves. As they emerged from the wilderness, they froze, noses raised to the sky. One lowered its head and locked eyes with them. It began to growl. The entire pack soon joined. It was a sound like thunder, deep and reverberating. And it would have been intimidating, if he hadn't done it a million times before. 

He told Acanthus, "Just stay back. I'll keep them off you." He lowered his hood. 

And the wolves descended on him with cruel intent. 

It happened in a flash. Pinball stood completely still as they approached, and then -- flash! -- he moved with blinding speed, his daggers practically shining in the sun. Each wolf was struck with pinpoint accuracy. Their legs were suddenly useless beneath them, the momentum carrying them off their paws and leaving them each sprawling several feet behind him. His cloak, which had whipped behind him wildly when he'd attacked, again settled comfortably around his shoulders. 

***

(Turn Order: Pinball, Acanthus, Mobs) 

Action Taken: {Well Rested} [TECH-F] [-13 EN] 
Direwolf 1: ID#226755 BD: 8 - 20*12 = 240 DMG 
Direwolf 2: ID#226757 BD: 6 - 20*12 = 240 DMG 
Direwolf 3: ID#226758 BD: 7 - 20*12 = 240 DMG 
Direwolf 4: ID#226759 BD: 2+5= 7 - 20*12= 240 DMG 

Pinball: 800/800 HP | 105/118 EN | DMG: 20 | ABS. ACC | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | BH: 44
Acanthus: 280/280 HP | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 30 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3 | BLD: 24

Direwolf 1: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 2: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 3: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 4: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 

Edited August 17 by Pinball

[Acanthus 0]

She remembered reading about wolves in some of her classes. And of course she’d seen them on TV; who hadn’t? Whenever the actors on TV saw a big, scary wolf, they would always marvel at how much bigger they were in real life. It was the cheesiest trope on TV, and she rolled her eyes every time some hapless hero feigned shock over the big, scary wolves.

But as the monsters emerged from the undergrowth, Acanthus realized where the trope had come from. These creatures were massive: longer than she was tall, and jaws so big she could likely fit her whole head inside. They looked so much like bears that when the first one emerged, her thought was that Pinball had tricked her and jumped straight to the first boss.

And then another one emerged. And another. And then two more. Their low, slavering growls set every fiber of her being on edge. Pinball, on the other hand, seemed perfectly calm. As the last one joined, he lowered his hood.

Quote

"Just stay back. I'll keep them off you." 

Pinball vanished in a blur. Acanthus blinked. When she refocused, he stood about three meters away, his daggers drawn and slick with wolves’ blood. The growls of the pack now intermingled with high-pitched whines, and they reoriented to surround him.

Heeding Pinball’s advice, she held back for a round. Given the speed of that last strike, I’d probably just get in the way. She fumbled through her pouches for some consumables before she remembered she hadn’t taken any. She wasn’t used to being unprepared—she told herself to remember some songs for next time, even if there was no chance of combat. You never know.

Spoiler

 

(No action taken.)

Pinball: 800/800 HP | 105/118 EN | DMG: 20 | ABS. ACC | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | BH: 44
Acanthus: 280/280 HP | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 30 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3 | BLD: 24

Direwolf 1: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 2: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 3: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 4: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 

 

 

[Pinball 1]

The wolves were still stunned. They were only just beginning to recover, unsteadily trying to stand on legs they just couldn't quite get back under them. They'd stand, and then they would attack again, turning their claws and daggerlike fangs on the one who had wounded them. 

Pinball didn't even give them the chance to try. 

He walked calmly back to Acanthus, two knives held in each hand. He flung the knives downwards, and the blades each found a wolf to call their new homes. He flung upwards, and the last two did the same. Each direwolf exploded in a brilliant cloud of crystalline fractals and bright dust, carried away by the breeze. Pinball returned his hands beneath his cloak. 

"Alright, that's all of them--"

Then came growling in the distance, coming from the treeline behind him. He turned back around to see four more direwolves, hackles raised, fangs bared. 

"Sorry. One second." 

*** 

Spoiler

Action Taken: {Well Rested} [TECH-F] [-13 EN] 
Direwolf 1: ID#226819 BD: 9 - 21*12 = 252 DMG 
Direwolf 2: ID#226820 BD: 3+5= 8 - 20*12 = 240 DMG 
Direwolf 3: ID#226821 BD: 3+5 = 8 - 20*12 = 240 DMG 
Direwolf 4: ID#226822 BD: 1+5= 6 - 20*12= 240 DMG 

Pinball: 800/800 HP | 96/118 EN | DMG: 20 | ABS. ACC | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | BH: 44
Acanthus: 280/280 HP | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 30 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3 | BLD: 24

Direwolf 1: 0/396 HP | 132 DMG 
Direwolf 2: 0/396 HP | 132 DMG 
Direwolf 3: 0/396 HP | 132 DMG 
Direwolf 4: 0/396 HP | 132 DMG 

Looting: 

Spoiler

Looting: 

Direwolf 1: ID#226823 LD: 19 CD: 8 
Direwolf 2: ID#226824 LD: 3 CD: 12 
Direwolf 3: ID#226825 LD: 20 CD: 4 
Direwolf 4: ID#226826 LD: 20 CD: 11 

Total: 

• 10,296 Col 
• 6 Materials 
• Unidentified Perfect T4 Armor: [#226823-a] [#226826] 
• Unidentified Perfect T4 Trinket: [#226823-b] 
• Unidentified Perfect T4 Consumable: [#226825-a] 
• Unidentified Rare T4 Trinket: [#226826-b]

 

Edited August 17 by Pinball

[Acanthus 0]

She swore the next pack was even bigger than the ones Pinball had just put down. But she was considerably less worried. Four wolves and he hadn’t even broke into a sweat. She hoped that the bosses would be just as easy.

With Wormwood in her hands, she fell back into a defensive posture. The wolves slowly fanned out and began to encircle the two of them. Whoever had programmed the things had taken great care to emulate actual wolves. It was unnerving.

“That last pack was gone before I saw anything. This is just another day in the wilds for you, isn’t it?” She talked as she pivoted to keep facing one of the wolves. It was eyeing her forward leg hungrily. “I said observation was the key to learning, but I think you’re moving too fast for me to even read your movements. Is this just how all the frontliners are?”

 

Spoiler

 

(No action taken.)

Pinball: 800/800 HP | 97/118 EN | DMG: 20 | ABS. ACC | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | BH: 44
Acanthus: 280/280 HP | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 30 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3 | BLD: 24

Direwolf 1: 396/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 2: 396/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 3: 396/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 4: 396 /396 HP | 132 DMG

 

 

[Pinball 1]

They fanned out around him. Pinball had eyes on each one -- even the ones he couldn't see. He wasn't stressed. He wanted Acanthus to see that, too. The last thing he wanted was for her to think that he'd pluck her out of her little shop just to put her life in danger. He didn't say it outwadly, but he wanted to help. Pinball had been in situations like these a countless number of times. Acanthus, should she stick to it, would too. It was better to get used to it sooner rather than later. 

Once again the knives flashed out. A blade was buried in the pelt of each direwolf, leaving them stunned, immobile, and disoriented. Pinball, this time, remained rooted in place, and let his throwing knives fly at will. He replied as the wolves went down, "It's all simulated. I'm not any faster than anyone else my level, the system just wants me to look that way. It all just comes down to numbers and equipment. As you progress through the tiers, I'll probably start looking slower and slower." His replies, like always, were delivered quite flat. 

*** 

Spoiler

Action Taken: {Well Rested} [TECH-F] [-13 EN] 
Wolf 1: ID#226828 BD: 4+5= 9 (Hit) MD: 8 (Stunned) - 20*12= 240 DMG 
Wolf 2: ID#226829 BD: 9 MD: 9 (Stunned) - 21*12= 252 DMG 
Wolf 3: ID#226830 BD: 6 MD: 6 (Stunned) - 20*12= 240 DMG 
Wolf 4: ID#226831 BD: 1+5= 6 MD: 6 (Stunned) - 20*12= 240 DMG 

Pinball: 800/800 HP | 88/118 EN | DMG: 20 | ABS. ACC | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | BH: 44
Acanthus: 280/280 HP | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 30 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3 | BLD: 24

Direwolf 1: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 2: 144/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 3: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 
Direwolf 4: 156 /396 HP | 132 DMG {STUNNED} 

 

Edited August 17 by Pinball

[Acanthus 0]

The thought of ever being that fast seemed unbelievable. Deep down, some part of her still believed that the people that had made it up to the higher floors were just born with something that set them apart. It made her last two years of cowardice easier to process. She couldn’t feel bad if she never had a chance to begin with.

But the last few weeks had proven her wrong. Before, Acanthus was terrified to even step outside a safe zone. Now here she was, with plenty of quests under her belt and asking strangers to lead her into trouble. Pinball was doing all the work, sure, but the girl that entered Aincrad would struggle to recognize herself as she stared these wolves in the eye.

The wolf that had focused on her began creeping in. She angled the sword across her body to in preparation for the coming leap. With careful footwork, she made sure the beast stayed in Pinball’s line of sight. If it made any sudden movements, she trusted he would take care of it. No need to impress anybody. Today is a win if you hold your ground, and you don’t complicate things.

Spoiler

(No action taken.)

Pinball: 800/800 HP | 88/118 EN | DMG: 20 | ABS. ACC | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | BH: 44
Acanthus: 280/280 HP | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 30 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3 | BLD: 24

Direwolf 1: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 2: 144/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 3: 156/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 4: 156 /396 HP | 132 DMG

 

 

[Pinball 1]

The second pack of wolves went down much like the first. He had a knife for each of them, and he casually put the digital beasts out of their misery. He stowed his weapons and pulled his hood back over his head. They'd burned a nice couple of minutes, and maybe they'd come across more direwolves on their way to the first Keeper. But it was probably time to go. 

"You can have any of the drops. We'll split Col and mats down the middle." His fingers would fly across his menu's interface as he sent half the loot over to Acanthus. He'd then dismiss the menu and begin to walk. "Alright. Let's go." 

Pinball would lead the way, giving Acanthus her space, and if she at any point desired to stop, or take a break, or split up for whatever reason, he would easily obligue. As they traveled together, Acanthus would have figured out that Pinball wasn't particularly talkative, but he didn't seem unkind either. At the same time, though, you'd be hard-pressed to describe him any other way. His expression was icy, emotionless, and his tone was flat. He kept his sentences short and eye contact even shorter. 

But he was curious about Acanthus. Invested. And in his own sort of loose, dampened way, he was looking forward to the challenges ahead of them. 

*** 

Spoiler

Action Taken: {Well Rested} [TECH-F] [-13 EN] 
Wolf 1: ID#226835 BD: 10 - 22*12 = 264 DMG 
Wolf 2: ID#226836 BD: 1+5= 6 - 20*12 = 240 DMG 
Wolf 3: ID#226837 BD: 5+5= 10 - 20*12 = 240 DMG 
Wolf 4: ID#226838  BD: 3+5= 8 - 20*12 = 240 DMG 

Pinball: 800/800 HP | 79/118 EN | DMG: 20 | ABS. ACC | ACC: 5 | EVA: 3 | BH: 44
Acanthus: 280/280 HP | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 30 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3 | BLD: 24

Direwolf 1: 0/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 2: 0/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 3: 0/396 HP | 132 DMG
Direwolf 4: 0/396 HP | 132 DMG

Looting: 

Spoiler

Looting: 

Direwolf 1: ID#226839 LD: 12 CD: 3 
Direwolf 2: ID#226840 LD: 14 CD: 10 
Direwolf 3: ID#226841 LD: 2 CD: 5 
Direwolf 4: ID#226842 LD: 15 CD: 3 

Total: 

• 8,712 Col 
• 8 Materials 
• Unidentified T4 Rare Trinket [#226839] [#226842] 
• Unidentified T4 Rare Armor [#226840] 

Loot Pool: 

Spoiler

Total: 

• 19,008 Col 
• 14 Materials 
• Unidentified Perfect T4 Armor: [#226823-a] [#226826] 
• Unidentified Perfect T4 Trinket: [#226823-b] 
• Unidentified Perfect T4 Consumable: [#226825-a] 
• Unidentified Rare T4 Trinket: [#226826-b] [#226839] [#226842]
• Unidentified Rare T4 Armor: [#226840]

 

 

Edited August 17 by Pinball

[Acanthus 0]

Quote

"You can have any of the drops. We'll split Col and mats down the middle."

“That’s very generous of you.” She knew it would be more polite to decline, even if she would eventually relent. But the truth was that crafting was a gaping chasm that was consuming her materials at an alarming rate. And she had plans for a house, so the col would be needed as well. She looked over the dropped weapons and items. They were all well above her level, but she would grow into them.

She would grow into them.

For the first time since she entered the game, she was thinking about the future. Not just going home, not just seeing her friends and family again, but her future here: gaining levels, meeting new people, and even buying a house. The girl that entered Aincrad would struggle to recognize herself as she stared these wolves in the eye.

Acanthus turned away from Pinball as her eyes misted over—just a little bit. She went into her menu, pretending to ponder which loot drops she would like. Here I am, getting emotional over what was any other day for Pinball. Calm down—you’re making a bad impression on someone that’s here for another few quests. A few deep breaths and she was back to normal. Eyes dried and voice level, she turned to face Pinball again. She tried to think of a way to say “thank you.” Even if it was a routine quest for him, for Acanthus, it was a new chapter. Gone was the girl that wasted away in the Town of Beginnings, hoping for someone else to clear the game. Now, she would do it herself.

Bracing herself for a genuine moment, she looked at Pinball and scrambled to think of a way to really, truly express her gratitude for helping her start this quest. She offered the most effusive words she could muster:

“This was a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to our next quest. I hope it’s soon.”