[F05 | SP] Specks Across the Sands | <<The Traveller>>

Nymoria · August 14

The morning came all too soon as the familiar vibration of her alarm clock woke her. Nymoria rolled to the side, groaning as she realised that it had only been a single night since her challenge with the hooded figure. Her search through the area had been worth her time, eventually learning that the figure was known as the Gemini, a being which appeared to face and challenge players on the floor. One which Nymoria had been lucky to find so early on, from what she had been told.

She’d also learnt, to her benefit, that it was rare to rediscover the Gemini. Instances had happened, and each player had confirmed and reaffirmed that she should continue to train herself just in case it ever did reappear. But none that she had spoken with had ever had to reface the thing; a fact which she took with a grain of salt, considering that none were true frontliners.

Maybe you need to progress quite some ways before it reappears. Maybe it doesn’t return until it thinks you’re stronger. I wonder when that would be for me? She sighed as she realised her thoughts were heading down the same path that they had taken the night previous – one which had left her with more questions than answers; which had called away sleep until she’d finally given in and fallen into exhaustion. Her restlessness had also upset Musei, the small weasel leaving his regular spot on the pillow in order to move to another area of the room, where her movements didn’t jostle his sleeping perch.

Her eyes hovered over the weasel as she considered how much she had impacted him the night previous, deciding that she needed to make it up to him today somehow. Well, we can stop by his favourite treat store on the way out. I’ve earned enough that I can spoil him – and maybe me, as well – a bit. It’s the very least I can do in return for everything he’s done for me. She was grateful that she and Musei had chosen to train the weasel in collecting items and col, his continuous flow of goods benefit her growth almost as much as the consistent fights she’d found herself involved in recently. Only a few weeks had passed since she’d begun her journey in earnest, but already Nymoria was feeling more alive, more accomplished than any previous moment in Aincrad.

And yet you’re still here, living in an inn. With no real thing worth your name. Maybe you should consider that, before you get too excited. She’d already decided that she would finally open her shop, a decision she’d made just before falling asleep. She just needed to do a few more minor quests before she felt comfortable leaving the grinding of the daily life she’d become accustomed to, and focusing on the mercantile life that she had chosen to adopt, to a degree. Yeah, run away and hide in a store. Let everyone else fight and carry you out of this world. Isn’t that what you always do, let everyone else help you?

Knowing that the voices weren’t going to get any better, Nymoria rolled to her opposite side, glancing about before spotting Musei laying on the small bed she’d placed on the nearby desk for him. Her hands moving caused him to awaken and focus on her, his eyes snapping to attention instantly. What do you say we head out for the day and get another quest done? We can pick up some treats and goodies along the way…

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Statblock

Spoiler

Notes

[Theme]

Nymoria | Lv. 22 | P. 0 | HP [440/440] | EN [62/62] | ACC [4] | DMG [14] | MIT [36] | BH [+13] | Bleed [36] | Keen [+2 BD] | Recovery [6]
Tier 3 | Tier 3

Equipment

Silence [Rapier | Tier 3 | Bleed I | Keen II]
Enhancement: Bleed [1 Slot]
Enhancement: Keen [2 Slots]
Suppression [Light Armour | Tier 3 | Mitigation I | Recovery II]
Enhancement: Mitigation [1 Slot]
Enhancement: Recovery [2 Slots]
Hearing Aid
[Trinket | Tier 1]
Enhancement: Accuracy [3 Slots]

Battle-Ready Inventory

Uncommon Health Potion {5} [Potion | Tier 1 | Heals 5% Maximum HP]
Spyglass {2} | Reduce Search Posts x5 [Dungeon, Familiar, Field Boss] for one thread
bento {2} [Meal | Tierless | Oveerhealth III]
Teleport Crystal {1}
Honey Cookie {20} [Snack | Tier 1 | Vitality II]

Skills

Spoiler

Utility Skills
N/A

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

Rapiers [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: +7 DMG]
[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Stamina [Active: Passive. Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.]
[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Precision [Active: Passive. Effect: +1 ACC.]
[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Rapier Ferocity [Active: Passive. Effect: +2 DMG when using the weapon of your choice. Players cannot use Focus and Ferocity at the same time for the same Weapon Type.]

Armour Skills
Light Armour [Rank: 3. Active: Passive. Effect: Gain Mitigation based on your rank in Light Armor. You can only benefit from one armor skill at a time (the respective armor type must be equipped). Your mitigation is capped at 2 enhancement slots.]
[Rank 3 Armour Mod] Meticulous [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 base Damage.]

Active Extra Skills
Leadership [Rank: 1. Active: Passive. Effect: Gain access to Leadership Arts every rank. In order to use a Leadership Art, it must take up a mod slot. Each Leadership Art takes up a different mod slot. Leadership Arts from different sources do not stack.]
[Rank 1 Leadership Art] Elusive [Active: Post Action. Energy: 4 EN. Cooldown: 2 turns. Effect: Increase the Evasion of all players in your party by 1 for a single turn.]

Inactive Extra Skills
Concentration [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 5 turns. Effect: As a free action, gain Absolute Accuracy on your next attack. In the case Absolute Accuracy is already present, increase your Accuracy by 1 instead. Effect lasts until the start of next turn.]
Frozen Hide [Active: Free Action. Energy: 5 EN. Cooldown: 4 turns. Effect: As a free action, apply one slot of Frost Aura and one slot of Frost Thorns equal to your tier to yourself until the start of your next turn.]

Combat Mastery
Damage [Rank: 1. Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 * Tier additional Base Damage per rank. Ranks of this Skill obey Damage enhancement caps.]

Familiar Skills
Hunting Familiar [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 5 turns. : Effect: Your familiar has a nose for treasure. Roll LD/CD (without bonuses) as if you had slain a loot-minimum mob.]

Estate Buffs
N/A

Sword Arts

Spoiler

[x12] ST-I (12 10 EN) | A single-target sword art.
[x15] ST-II (15 13EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn.
[x20] ST-B (20 18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, this CD check applies to only the first roll.
[x11] AOE-I (11 9 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once.
[x14] AOE-II (14 12 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed all intended targets the previous turn.
[x12] TECH-A (13 11 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy.
[x12] TECH-B (13 11 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a debuff that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn.
[x8] TECH-F (8 6 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE STUN | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. All struck targets are stunned for one turn.

Estate Buffs

Spoiler

N/A

Nymoria · August 14

Musei had kept them far longer than Nymoria had meant to stay at the store, his nose poking and sniffing at the various amounts of assorted meats and treats that were open and on display for those looking to buy. She’s also spent far more col than she’d been intending to, thanks to the weasel deciding that it was going to sample a number of the pieces on display – much to the shop keeper’s dismay and outbursts. All in all, she’d left a substantial amount of her earnings behind, and given the weasel a harsh look for the trouble that he’d caused.

Not that it had in any way helped; Musei had essentially ignored the glares he’d been getting, instead focusing on the cleaning of his coat in a way that was clearly meant to show he wasn’t paying attention. He could be at least slightly remorseful for his actions. Even if he put in a lot of the work, we can’t go about spending our money like it’s endless…that’s how we end up in trouble. She scowled to herself even as her feet carried her through the town’s streets, heading for the teleportation platform that would take her up to the higher floors.

The quest she had chosen, a simple escort quest from the looks of it, was held on the fifth floor – a place where Nymoria had only once previously visited, and even that was only briefly. She’d ended up leaving after confirming that the large bazaar had little to offer her in the way of goods, and the floor itself being little of interest. The desert had felt almost oppressing, in a way, and she’d wanted nothing more than to leave and never return to it again.

Looks like I’m not getting that wish. She sighed inwardly as she realised she was heading right back to where she’d wanted to avoid. At least it’s not that super cold floor that is always winter. That would be even worse, feeling all your limbs freeze to death as you tried to wander through it aimlessly…or even with purpose. Yeah…the desert isn’t so bad in comparison, I guess.

She felt herself smile, as much in response to the attempt to cheer herself up as the actual effect of cheering herself up. She still hated the idea of the scorching heat and biting sand, but she knew that the desert would at least not cause her to shiver for days afterwards, like the fourth floor had done to her. She still felt like she couldn’t get properly warm following that adventure, even though it had only lasted for a small period of time – it had been more than enough to convince her that she wasn’t built for winters, and that she should avoid them at all possible costs. Well, for now let’s go see how much I truly end up liking the desert…I’m sure my opinion will change by the time we’re done up there.

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ID226117 | Hunting Familiar | Cooldown: 5 turns (Post #7)

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}

Total Loot
1,584 col
2 materials
Rare Trinket {1}

Nymoria · August 14

The line-up to get onto the teleporter had caused Nymoria’s travels to pause temporarily, a long fifteen minutes that had passed only through sheer determination and spite that was emanating from her as she stood in what could be called an orderly line. It was the first time she’d ever encountered a line in order to use the teleportation pads, and it made her wonder what sort of special event or occasion was occurring to cause such a thing to even happen.

Who would’ve thought that you’d have to wait for instant transmission to a higher floor? I guess it’s still faster than taking the stairs. Her eyes darted towards the stairs in the centre of the floor, leading up to the floor boss’s lair, and the floor above. Nymoria had, thankfully, never been inside it – and she had no desire to enter it at this point, either. She’d felt more than content with the teleportation pad, even if it meant waiting a while to get to her destination.

The fifth floor, as it turned out, remained a barren land of sand and heat. One that Nymoria could already tell she was going to quickly grow to dislike. The heat itself wasn’t unbearable, and as Nymoria wandered through the small bazaar that laid out at the foot of the teleportation pad. The few vendors offered various delicacies, items that Nymoria might’ve considered had they not already spent a fair fortune at the previous snack huts that she had visited on the first floor.

On her shoulder she could feel Musei glaring at the snack vendors, a sudden frustration in his form at the realisation of what he was missing out, and the clear understanding that they weren’t going to be stopping to get any. Whether feeling vengeful or simply suddenly talkative, Nymoria’s hands moved as she signed to the small weasel. If someone hadn’t bought everything during our first shopping trip, maybe we could afford to get something here as well. Now we need to restock our supplies and finances though.

She could feel the discontent in its form, the small weasel almost shaking as it tried to bite back the frustration it felt. Musei was smart enough, however, not to voice any complaints – a fact that Nymoria found oddly impressive, considering. She made sure, in turn, to pass by the snack areas quickly so as not to tempt fate – or Musei, in this instance – beyond what was necessary. She’d come to recognise how food focused the weasel was, and how easily it was for him to make mistakes when it came to desiring a snack – or an entire meal, in one instance. Not that she entirely blamed him, but she also didn’t need to upset any more store owners, especially when they’d already burnt through a good portion of their funds.

Leaving the food area behind, she found herself moving into a more familiar zone of shops. Trinkets, pieces of jewelry and finely crafted items hung on display – most no more than odd bits designed to attract the eyes of those passing. Her trained eyes, as amateur as they may be, noticed a collection of finer items however. She’d paused at one stall, eyeing a pair of bracelets that would’ve been tempting, if she’d had the funds for them. With a sadness in her step, however, she’d had to retreat with the promise to return once she’d made more col; a plan that she expected to put into place sooner, rather than later.

Nymoria · August 14

Her steps led her beyond the edges of the small bazaar and into the town proper, her eyes passing over various stores and taverns, as well as a collection of various homes and other buildings of limited interest as she passed by them entirely. She continued along a path, leisurely heading towards what she had assumed would be the exit from the town and into the wildlands beyond, the only thing she knew about the quest being that she needed to head for the desert, and travel through it with a companion that she would locate somewhere.

Somewhere indeed. How hard can it be to find this person? Her face twitched in response as the frustration grew upon her again. She’d just passed another tavern, checking quickly to confirm that no one who had matched the brief description of the NPC sat within. It was the eighth one that she had checked, and Nymoria was beginning to think that she had somehow failed to find the man back in the bazaar, or that she had missed an update that noted the man was gone forever.

It was during this moment when she was lost in thought that the hand landed upon her shoulder, causing her to jump in response – and in turn causing the man who stood behind her to jump as well. His long white beard seemed to reach for his toes, and the hunched back seemed to cause his eyes to twist in a minor amount of pain as he recoiled from her form.

She quickly collected herself, bowing and signing an apology to the man even as she glanced at his face to hear his words, knowing that there would likely be an awkward exchange of apologies passed between the two of them before they reached the topic that he had drawn her attention for. She noticed, her eyes glancing upwards to confirm, that the man was very obviously an NPC, and she found herself thinking that she had finally found the man she’d been looking for – a fact confirmed once he began speaking.

”I’m sorry to startle you, but you are an adventurer, aren’t you?” He smiled somewhat sheepishly, his words coming short as he seemed to gasp for air. Nymoria nodded slowly, wondering whether she had found the correct NPC or not, but before she could ask anything he had continued onwards with his question, broken only by a fit of coughs that overtook him for a few seconds. ”I am terribly…terribly sorry to bother you, but I need help. I have a treasure chest…of sorts, buried in the desert. At the base of some uniquely shaped. Rocks.”

Nymoria waited patiently, a small look of worry on her face as the man seemed to break down into a more aggressive coughing fit; his words which had been broken up earlier entirely stopped by the rough heaving that he went through. Slowly, managing to compose himself, he finished his thoughts. ”The contents are important to me, but I am too sick to go alone. Would you escort me to the location? I cannot offer you much in col, but I would be eternally grateful.”

Nymoria · August 15

Nymoria felt herself biting her lip, her eyes taking in the man before her. The NPC seemed similar to the description, at least what little description there was. His words also seemed to match with the few hints that the quest gave, and Nymoria couldn’t see any foul or hostile intent from the man – at least, not in the current moment.

I can accompany you. But we go under my direction. Is that okay? The man’s eyes seemed to pause on Nymoria’s hands as she responded in her odd way, something that the NPCs had never commented on, and very few players had; although she knew the latter simply chose not to breach a normally awkward subject.

The old man seemed to consider her proposal for all of three seconds before accepting her terms, nodding and spewing forth a combination of words and hacking as he fell into yet another of his coughing fits. Nymoria found herself hoping that those weren’t going to be overly common, due to the impact it would have on their ability to communicate during their travels. Not that the man seemed overly talkative to begin with, she realised suddenly. Sighing to herself, she decided to put it all aside; she’d accepted the quest, and that was the end of it – now all she needed to do was escort him to his spot in the desert, and return safely. A task that she figured would be easy enough, assuming they weren’t ambushed along the way.

Confirming her sabre was safely stored in its scabbard, Nymoria gave the man a wave to notify that she was ready to head out, before falling into step behind him. She felt herself squirming slightly as she realised just how slowly the man moved, and the sudden epiphany about how long the quest was likely going to take them. At least we didn’t have anything else planned for the day…because at this rate we should arrive tomorrow…assuming the location itself is no further than the front gates. She only barely managed to stop herself from sighing aloud, knowing that it would only bring questions she didn’t want to answer. For the time being, she would simply have to accept that her pace would be cut significantly, and that they would reach their destination, eventually.

At least it will give me some time to organise and maybe adjust my inventory…look into some other quests that I could do after this one…message some people…maybe even keep an eye out for some goods along the way. Who says I can’t forage for materials for my profession when doing a quest, right? The thoughts gave her some comfort as she confirmed to herself that she didn’t need to silently follow behind the man with no other purpose than to step after his steps. She could maintain her own things and needs, all while keeping an eye – and pace – with him. It’s not like he specifically asked me to watch him like a hawk. I’m just a travelling companion, really.

Nymoria · August 15

What was apparent to her before became even more obvious as their steps carried them slowly through the alleyways and back into the small bazaar. Nymoria had managed to keep her patience only through the ability to glance, once more, over the various items and goods for sale – her eyes lighting up once more over the bracelets she’d spotted earlier. She eyed their designs, saving them to memory with the intent to try and create them herself when she had the chance, before stepping after the elderly man that she had agreed to accompany – his form having made it almost to the end of their current aisle while Nymoria had been browsing.

The streets following were even more painful, with the stalls to glance over becoming less and less frequent the closer they came to the gates that led into the wildlands beyond. She’d felt herself begun to bounce between her feet, an itch to hurry their travel pace up only countered by the knowledge that the man was, likely, travelling as fast as his hobbling form could carry him. Although she could feel the twitching within herself, she knew that her steps would appear more calm and collected to those around her, a behaviour and fact that she had instilled into her growing up; one of the few tendencies that her parents had successful taught her.

The few times he glanced her way, as if to confirm she remained following, She’d shared a pleasant smile and nod, listening the sparse few times he’d spoken anything. Not that it had been anything of interest, if she were being honest – mere mumblings that confirmed he had grown up in the area, and had found some great treasure. A treasure that they were now on their way to collect, if his words were accurate. You’d think someone would overhear him and try and steal it…oh. Ohhh. Maybe that’s why I’m coming along? Her eyes shifted around the area with the thought, her left hand resting on the pommel of her sabre as she considered the sudden danger.

She only settled as they reached the gate with no obvious threats appearing. Not that she thought the wildlands beyond the safety of the town would be better, but rather because she realised there had been no trace of anyone following them, of anyone or anything keeping an eye on their progress. If there was danger, the system certainly would’ve given some sort of notice…even if there was someone hiding from me, I mean…it wouldn’t let me go blind, right? A single shrug was all she could give as she stepped out into the wilds beyond and began her journey in earnest with the man. Her eyes passed over nearby areas as they moved, looking for anything that could be considered useful in her creations.

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ID226363 | Foraging

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8/49 EXP]

Total Loot
1,584 col
2 materials
Rare Trinket {1}

Nymoria · August 15

Nymoria’s eyes alighted on a collection of small gems that glittered in the sand, a plethora of colours that seemed to draw attention towards themselves. She quickly changed her pace and direction towards them, taking a few moments to look them over before confirming that only one of them was of any use to her. Carefully pulling it away from the main collection, she stored it into her inventory before glancing back at her travelling companion; the man having only made it a few dozen more steps in the entire time it had taken her to extract the gemstone.

If this pace keeps up, Musei and I will have lots of time to collect things. And if I can find them this close to the town’s walls, well…there’s no reason I can’t keep going. A small smile spread across her face at the success. She’d barely taken fifteen steps out of the town, and already she’d found the first set of materials that would help her in her artisan creations. For the first time since entering the floor, she began to wonder if the desert wasn’t so bad after all, considering everything.

Tucking away the sudden admiration and content ideology for the floor, she stood and quickly returned to her travelling companion, giving a small smile and a nod as he glanced her way. His words came a few seconds later, barely audible over a breeze that had begun to blow against them. ”It would seem there’s a storm coming…we should…be careful not to split up too much. It will become hard to see.”

Her eyes followed his gaze out towards the desert, noticing the wall of sand and wind that was slowly approaching from their right side. She was no weather forecaster, but from the direction and speed it was heading, it became obvious to Nymoria that she would likely be caught in the storm alongside her companion, meaning that they were going to be in for a rough period. Sighing to herself, resigned to the fact that her momentary happiness was about to be crushed, she returned to placing one foot in front of the other, her eyes continuing to search for any small glittering masses that may have stuck out as she kept pace alongside the man.

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Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}

Total Loot
3,432 col
2 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1} | ID226365
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 15

The sandstorm reached them far sooner than Nymoria could’ve expected. It began battering them after only another half hour had passed; a half hour that Nymoria had to admit was at least partially excruciating. The slow pace had barely changed, even with the urgency of the coming storm, and she’d begun to tell herself that there was no way they were going to make it into the storm and beyond.

”We’re almost there, I think! Not long now!” The shout had come out of nowhere just as the winds had begun to pick up in earnest, mere moments before the first gusts of sand had struck her. She doubted that they were almost there, even as she stepped closer to the figure of the elderly man in order to not lose sight of him during the storm. She wanted nothing more than to return to town, but she knew that she needed to continue following him if she wanted to complete the quest – an annoyance in and of itself, but one that she couldn’t avoid.

The sand in the air stung as it struck her, but she quickly learnt to ignore it. She covered the majority of patches of open skin that she was able to hide from the storm, squinting against the flying sand in order to protect her eyes to a small degree. Suddenly the large flowing robes, and coverings that the man before her wore made sense; protection that covered the majority of his body from the brutal pieces that flew through the air. For the first time, Nymoria felt herself wanting to wear something all encompassing like his outfit, before she shook away the feeling and desire.

I do hope that we’re actually almost there…it would be nice to get out of this storm as quickly as possible, and back to the safety of the town. She could feel the shifting of Musei in her pocket, the weasel having hidden away at the first sign of a change in the weather. She didn’t blame him, knowing that his smaller form would take a much more brutal beating from it than she would. Instead, she’d dropped a single piece of the dried meats that he’d picked out, giving him something to at least chew on while he hid away from their current situation.

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ID226372 | Foraging
ID226373 | Sandstorm | CD: 2

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]

Total Loot
3,432 col
2 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1} | ID226365
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 16

An outcropping in the distance, just barely visible through the storm, had caught her attention. She’d been about to point it out, when the man suddenly turned towards her, his voice mostly lost against the wind and Nymoria’s lack of hearing, but the movement of his arms and general stance told her everything she needed to know about what he was trying to say.

A quick nod in return, and their direction had shifted slightly as they made their way towards the outcropping, hoping to find some sort of solace from the storm. Her eyes continued to wander across the sands before her as she stepped carefully onwards, her right arm raised to cover herself from the storm slightly, keeping the worst of the sands from slashing at her eyes. She could feel it biting into the few pieces of exposed skin; her desire to find shelter from the storm only increasing with each biting gust.

Just when I’d started thinking this place couldn’t be that bad, it had to go and throw a sandstorm at me. I wonder if this is just a one off occurrence, or if these are regular…? She’d never heard about major storms ripping through the floors before, but the game had been created to be relatively realistic, and Nymoria figured that included having days of storms and various other aspects of weather. A fact that meant she had, somehow, managed to enter this floor on one of the few, likely, days that it had produced just such an event. That would be my luck, wouldn’t it?

She knew, at least, that there was no point in complaining about it. She was stuck in the storm until they found a way out, or until such time as it finally passed. For now, the only thing she could do would be to continue onwards, and possibly convince her companion to turn back if it became too unbearable. Though with his consistent, slow drudge onwards she had already tossed aside that likelihood. The man seemed determined to reach their destination, no matter the cost along the way. She only hoped that cost didn’t include their own lives.

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ID226584 | Foraging
ID226585 | Sandstorm | CD: 9

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]

Total Loot
3,432 col
2 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1} | ID226365
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 16

The man slowed as he entered the edges of the outcropping, the area providing at least some protection from the winds and sands that whipped at them, if not blocking them out completely. Nymoria strode up beside him, her eyes casting about as she waited to see if they’d reached their destination or not. She was careful to keep the look of annoyance and desperate desire to return home off of her face, knowing that it would do nothing in the moment.

”We’re almost…there. This outcropping…is familiar.” She could’ve sighed at his words, had she not more restraint on herself. She had been hoping, if only slightly and with better knowledge, that they had finally reached their destination. She’d known, somehow, that it was fruitless, but hearing it aloud somehow made it worse for her. Instead of commenting on the disparity of it, she instead nodded and moved in behind the elderly man, determined to at least keep them on the path towards completion with haste.

We should continue. Before the storm gets worse. We still need to make it back to the safety of the town. Whether he noticed her words or not, he gave a wave of his hand and began wandering forth, continuing the slow and steady pace that he’d managed since Nymoria had first met him. She felt herself sighing internally, knowing that were it not for the rewards at the end of the quest, she’d likely have given up on it already. Cardinal sure does know how to test our patience…at least I can spend my time looking for stuff while he shuffles on towards wherever we’re going. If I couldn’t do that… She shivered at the thought, realising how horrible this quest could be if it were more restrictive.

Giving in to the continued boredom that she was about to push through, she instead decided to focus on searching for gemstones and keeping pace with the man she was escorting, stowing away any feelings towards the quest, or Cardinal, at the moment. She knew that although she was annoyed, there was little else she had planned for the day, which meant that as frustrating and time wasting as the slow shuffle was, it wasn’t biting into anything important for her. Best part about being stuck in a game, I guess…can’t be late for anything. Especially if no one is waiting for you. She tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice without success, the tone finding it’s way back into her thoughts no matter how hard she tried. She knew she should ignore it; giving it awareness meant acknowledging the darkness within, but she found it hard with nothing to focus on. That’s because there’s nothing important for you to do. Never is. You let everyone else do all the important work, while you just thank them for their help. What do you do that helps others?

------

ID226591 | Foraging
ID226592 | Sandstorm | CD: 11

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 4 | CD: 11 | Results: Failure [+3 | 20/49 EXP]

Total Loot
3,432 col
2 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1} | ID226365
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 16

Her continued searching had been fruitless, just adding to the growing annoyances that were building up within Nymoria’s mind. She could, thankfully, play off her lack of success due to the storm that continued to swell and swirl around them, but she’d also been hoping that her original success would continue to a point where she could make the trip at least somewhat worthwhile. The continued lack of anything valuable meat that she was, for lack of a better purpose, simply following her escort and glancing about open sand areas in the hopes that he would somehow begin to walk faster.

Not for the first time since leaving the town, she found herself considering simply picking the man up and carrying him to wherever they needed to go. She knew, however, that the NPC – and Cardinal’s own systems – wouldn’t take kindly to such an action, and that in the end she would only end up the worse for it. Instead, the only thing she could do was to continue trudging along like a dog on a leash, stuck within a small range of area around the elderly man as they made their way somewhere deeper into the desert area.

“Aha! Here!” Nymoria paused as she heard the words, certain that there had been something else said. She was surprised, however, to notice as the man began to kneel down. The movement was nearly as slow as his pace had been the entire duration of their walk through the desert, and she wondered for a moment if he wouldn’t become imbalanced and simply collapse to the ground, taken entirely off centre by his weird movement downwards.

”Right where I left it. Perfect.” She gazed around the area as he began to dig something out of the ground, his attention completely engaged with the activity that seemed to have sparked life back into him. Nymoria, in contrast, found herself entirely unabsorbed by what was occurring, instead turning her gaze towards the shadows in the distance that had begun to waver and flicker, as if shifting in the wind itself.

Odd, those almost look like figures. The thought spurred a sudden movement as she drew her sabre, recognising them as outlines of approaching individuals – and from the looks of it, there were quite a few coming closer. She stepped between the elderly man and the figures, raising her blade as she readied herself for whatever was coming out of the storm.

------

ID226607 | Foraging
ID226608 | Sandstorm | CD: 8

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 4 | CD: 11 | Results: Failure [+3 | 20/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 6 | CD: 19 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 28/49 EXP]

Total Loot
3,432 col
4 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1} | ID226365
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 17

There were seven of them, each wearing robes of similar fashion to those the elderly man that Nymoria had been escorting through the desert. Theirs were lighter, providing less bulk than what her companion wore even if it covered all of their forms. The sand continued to blow and surround them, just enough to ensure their forms were little more than indistinguishable silhouettes that appeared right before her, and yet far enough away to be indecipherable.

Her blade shifted with the wind suddenly, her grip light enough to allow it to waver slightly. The lead figure suddenly approached, turning itself from ominous silhouette into a tan skinned man barely older than Nymoria. His features, visible around the light wrap that covered half his face and head, contained green coloured eyes and gingered hair that seemed to contrast against the soft sand coloured robes that the man wore.

”You’re in our lands, travellers. Which means you need to pay the toll.” His voice was barely audible against the winds that continued to blow through the area, and Nymoria found herself squinting at him just to hear his voice. She wasn’t sure whether the elderly man had noticed their arrival yet or not, but she doubted that he would have any funds to pay them, assuming that they didn’t just steal whatever he had hidden away here.

Nymoria shifted herself, placing her back to the elderly man fully as she turned to face the bandits. She considered her options carefully. She was well outnumbered, and although she was confident in her new skills, she doubted that even a frontliner could take on all of the bandits without at least some support. Especially considering these ones are probably at the same level as I am, which means equal footing. I’m outnumbered, and possibly out skilled here…so I shouldn’t push my luck. She didn’t like the idea of giving up without a fight, but she’d also learnt that there you didn’t necessarily always need to fight when facing a dangerous situation.

We’re harmless travellers making our way through the desert when the storm hit. I don’t want to fight, but I will if I have to, in order to keep us safe. Is a few pieces of col worth the possible harm that you could face? Her fingers were steady and strong as she signed her message. She could see a few of the forms still hidden away within the sand shift slightly, as if angered or insulted by the commentary. She didn’t let it phase her, however, her right hand continuing even as she held her sabre aloft. I may not win, but you won’t all go home to your families either. Make your choice.

She felt her breath coming quickly, as much from the harshness of the storm as from the sudden spike of adrenaline and fear she was feeling. Still, she maintained her eye contact with the ginger haired man who had first spoken, figuring that he was somehow the leader and in charge of the entire situation.

------

ID226733 | Sandstorm | CD: 3

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 4 | CD: 11 | Results: Failure [+3 | 20/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 6 | CD: 19 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 28/49 EXP]

Total Loot
3,432 col
4 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1} | ID226365
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 17

The wind and sand battered them as they stood silently, Nymoria waiting to see what the man would say in response to her words. She could see his eyes narrowed, stuck in consideration as he seemed to eye her stance. She assumed that he was taking into view her entire form, seeing the tensed muscles and clear discipline that showed through the way she held the sabre; soft in her palm, yet firmly gripped so as to not let it loose. A grip that would bespeak of some level of expertise with the weapon, to any who had the eye to notice such a thing.

Whether he noticed it or not, Nymoria wasn’t sure. His response, however, seemed to show that he had seen the danger they faced, and the truth behind her words. She found herself releasing a breath as he spoke, her sabre still held in place but a level of her adrenaline and fear dissipating as he confirmed their desire to avoid a fight.

”Consider this your lucky day. We won’t collect a toll from you. This sandstorm is harsh enough, we don’t need more bloodshed simply to gain some profit.” He eyed her again for a moment before adding to his initial comment. ”Have you any food or water, however, we would happily take those.

Nymoria didn’t even think, pulling up her menu and bringing into existence a few canteens of water and bags of foods that she had purchased earlier in the day, before tossing them across to the collection of forms. A couple barely managed to catch the items as the wind whipped at them. The ginger haired man smiled and gave a small bow of his head, before stepping backwards into the winds and sands.

Nymoria watched, her form still tense, as they slowly disappeared from sight, their existence quickly becoming one with the sandstorm as she was left alone with the elderly man. Seconds turned into minutes, before she finally relaxed enough to look around. The elderly man seemed intent on his digging, having entirely missed the confrontation that had just occurred behind him as he dug through the sands for whatever he had left here.

She shook her head at his obliviousness, wishing for a single second that she could be so lost in her task. A moment of envy passed through her before she managed to squash it, realising that there was nothing to envy in that moment. They had survived, through her ability to scare and convince the men away, and that was all that mattered. She let loose a soft sigh, lost on the wind, before settling in to sit next to the man while he continued his work.

------

ID226748 | Sandstorm | CD: 5

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 4 | CD: 11 | Results: Failure [+3 | 20/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 6 | CD: 19 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 28/49 EXP]

Total Loot
3,432 col
4 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1} | ID226365
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 17

”Here we are.” Nymoria peaked around as the man pulled out what appeared to be a box, average looking in every detail except for the lock upon its front. She watched, curiosity growing, as he pulled a key out and slid it into the lock. The lid popped out, and Nymoria found herself glancing over the items in modest confusion. Although she hadn’t been expecting piles of treasure and col, the items inside – a collection of letters and assorted other minor trinkets – appeared more common than she wanted to give credit to, considering everything they’d gone through to get them. She felt a question bubbling at the back of her throat, but wasn’t sure if asking it would upset the man or not, and found herself hesitating.

”These belonged to my late wife. Between the bandits that raid our village, greedy family members, and everything else in life, I knew that my most valuable items wouldn’t be safe with me. That’s the reason I hid them all the way out here.” He paused to look up at her, a gentle, happy expression on his face. Nymoria wasn’t even sure he was entirely with her anymore, a dazed and distant look in his eyes, as if he were remembering something. ”The years are passing, and I won’t be around forever. I can feel my days becoming shorter…that’s why I wanted my Dena with me, as the final hours approach. Thank you, you’ve made an old man very happy…”

Nymoria found herself smiling in spite of her confusion, happy that she’d at least managed to safely bring him this far. She wasn’t however, looking forward to the slow trek back – one which would likely be made even more paced by the fact that he would now be carrying the box back with him.

What’s this? She spotted the quest completion notice in surprise, clicking the acceptance button as she received the rewards from having completed it already. Huh, I guess I don’t need to escort him back…although something about that feels…off. As much as she didn’t like the idea of the slow crawl back to town, she also didn’t like the idea of leaving the man behind, a fact which surprised her.

Excuse me, but should we head back now that we have your items? She signed once his eyes had moved in her general direction. He shook his head in response, surprising Nymoria once again.

”I’m going to stay here a while…and enjoy the time I have left with Dena. You should return…it looks like the sandstorm is subsiding, at least a little bit.” Nymoria looked around and noticed for the first time that it had, in fact, begun to subside. She shook her head, realising that the sandstorm had been a part of the quest the entire time. Standing up, she considered saying something else to the man, before noticing that he had returned to his box of goods and items, and paid her no more heed or mind.

Taking another quick glance over the area – as much in search of any gemstones as in memory of the locale – she left the man behind, heading back out into the open desert area as she collected herself and her bearings. They’d made it a lot further from the town than she’d expected, and she could see that her return trip was going to take so time yet. At least I didn’t have anything planned for today…

------

ID226789 | Foraging
ID226790 | Hunting Familiar | Cooldown: 5 turns (Post #19)

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 4 | CD: 11 | Results: Failure [+3 | 20/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 6 | CD: 19 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 28/49 EXP]
ID226789 | LD: 8 | CD: 9 | Results: Failure [+3 | 31/49 EXP]
ID226790 | LD: 10 | CD: 1 | Results: 1,320 (792+528) col, 2 materials, Uncommon Consumable {1}

Total Loot
4,752 col
6 materials
Uncommon Consumable {2} | ID226365, 226790
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 17

The walk back had been somewhat calming, if a bit lonely. Nymoria was happy to have been able to move at her own pace, although the lack of company – left alone with just Musei, once more – had felt oddly out of place during her steps towards the town. She still felt a measure of discomfort at having left the elderly man behind, but it had been clear that he wasn’t going to leave until he was ready to do so; and that likely was going to be once the quest itself had completely reset, with her presence gone from the area.

I’ll probably see him back in town once or twice when I make it back, if it’s anything like the other quests. It had made her uncomfortable in the first few weeks, seeing NPCs that she had directly engaged with, and in some cases even seen pass away, back in their original places acting like nothing had happened. Only a few of them had even shown any sort of awareness of who Nymoria was, leaving her feeling somehow more abandoned and uncomfortable at their deaths and losses.

By now she had become used to it, to some degree. It was still odd, but she hadn’t felt the discomfort and depression that she had originally felt, a fact that she wasn’t so sure was necessarily a good thing. It was a sign that she was becoming more and more used to the world; more and more used to how this was the norm, and not simply a game.

A sudden flash of movement caught her attention, walking in parallel with her on the sands. She could make out a collection of furs and dog like forms, pacing along with her towards the town. It took her a few more moments before she recognised the things as the sand hyenas that populated the floor’s wildlands. They’re supposed to be the boars of this floor, if I remember correctly…maybe I should do some hunting while I’m up here?

She knew that there were more goods to be found the higher she went in Aincrad, and a part of her wanted to test her skills on some of the creatures that were more difficult than those she was used to facing on the lower few floors. Her decision made, she drew her sabre and changed her path, moving to meet the sand hyenas even as they adjusted in response to her own changes.

It wasn’t long before their paths collided, and Nymoria launched herself into motion, hoping to catch the first strike against the group that had arrived to greet her, her blade lashing through the air in an attempt to swipe the entire group in a flurry of simple strikes, aiming to disable them and give her the advantage in the fight.

------

Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 22 | P. 0 | HP [440/440] | EN [48/62] | ACC [4] | DMG [14] | MIT [36] | BH [+13] | Bleed [36] | Keen [+2 BD] | Recovery [6] | +2 BD | -14 EN
Sand Hyena 1 | HP: 144/300 | DMG: 88 | Bleed [36 DMG | 1/2] | Stunned
Sand Hyena 2 | HP: 188/300 | DMG: 88 | Stunned
Sand Hyena 3 | HP: 144/300 | DMG: 88 | Bleed [36 DMG | 1/2] | Stunned
Sand Hyena 4 | HP: 136/300 | DMG: 88 | Bleed [36 DMG | 1/2] | Stunned

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 4 | CD: 11 | Results: Failure [+3 | 20/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 6 | CD: 19 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 28/49 EXP]
ID226789 | LD: 8 | CD: 9 | Results: Failure [+3 | 31/49 EXP]
ID226790 | LD: 10 | CD: 1 | Results: 1,320 (792+528) col, 2 materials, Uncommon Consumable {1}

Total Loot
4,752 col
6 materials
Uncommon Consumable {2} | ID226365, 226790
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {1} | ID226365

Nymoria · August 17

The sand hyenas hadn’t been ready for her sudden rush, their tight grouping giving them a disadvantage as she forced her way into, and through, their small pack. Her sabre had danced around, slashing leg and face as she focused on stunning each and every single one of them in her passing. She could feel as her blade intersected with them, leaving them behind as she carried on and through, eventually coming out the other side and pausing to catch herself.

She turned back to confirm that they had been held in place, frozen as the stun effect of her sword art coursed through them and left them helpless. Nymoria wanted nothing more than to rush back in, but she knew the dangers of not being careful. Although they appeared weaker than she’d expected, she knew that even the weakest boar could bring down a player if they weren’t careful – a lesson that far too many players already had learnt.

Instead of charging back in, she began circling them, putting some space between her and them, waiting for them to leap back into life and movement, signalling the return of the conflict. Her sabre waved in her hand as the adrenaline coursed through her form, ready to connect with the sand hyenas once more. She could feel her breath coming, steady even though she had rushed into the fray and leapt into conflict. It reminded her of how far she had come since her beginning days, and how much stronger she had already gotten, even just in the past few months.

The shift from frozen to movement came almost instantly, Nymoria’s reaction bringing her into her own dash as the sand hyenas charged towards her once more, their movements hindered only in the need to turn and find her before looking to close in. She brought her sabre around even as they did so, aiming to slash through them with another flurry of strikes, hoping to bring down at least one of them and even the odds slightly for herself.

------

Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 22 | P. 0 | HP [440/440] | EN [34/62] | ACC [4] | DMG [14] | MIT [36] | BH [+13] | Bleed [36] | Keen [+2 BD] | Recovery [6] | +3 EN +2 BD | -17 EN
~~Sand Hyena 1 | HP: 0/300 | DMG: 88 | Bleed [36 DMG | 2/2] | Stun Immunity [1/3]~~
Sand Hyena 2 | HP: 8/300 | DMG: 88 | Stun Immunity [1/3]
Sand Hyena 3 | HP: 0/300 | DMG: 88 | Bleed [36 DMG | 2/2] | Stun Immunity [1/3]
Sand Hyena 4 | HP: 0/300 | DMG: 88 | Bleed [36 DMG | 2/2] | Stun Immunity [1/3]

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 4 | CD: 11 | Results: Failure [+3 | 20/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 6 | CD: 19 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 28/49 EXP]
ID226789 | LD: 8 | CD: 9 | Results: Failure [+3 | 31/49 EXP]
ID226790 | LD: 10 | CD: 1 | Results: 1,320 (792+528) col, 2 materials, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226814 | LD: 16 | CD: 1 | Results: 1,500 (900+600) col, 2 materials, Rare Consumable {1}, Rare Weapon {1}
ID226815 | LD: 20 | CD: 9 | Results: 2,700 (900+600+1,200) col, 2 materials, Perfect Weapon {1}
ID226816 | LD: 10 | CD: 1 | Results: 1,500 (900+600) col, 2 materials, Uncommon Consumable {1}

Total Loot
10,452 col
12 materials
Uncommon Consumable {3} | ID226365, 226790, 226816
Rare Consumable {1} | ID226814
Rare Trinket {1} | ID226117
Rare Weapon {2} | ID226365, 226814
Perfect Weapon {1} | ID226815

Nymoria · August 17

Three exploded as Nymoria’s strike tore through them, leaving only a singular member of their pack standing. She spun to face it even as it launched itself through the air towards her, hoping to catch her unawares and busy with its now fallen companions. She felt as the nails of its claws slammed against her sabre, barely turned away even as she cut deeply into its legs and paws, causing it to cry out as it landed off to the side, hard.

Nymoria stepped back a bit, giving herself a moment to catch her breath as the thing struggled to its feet. Both of them knew that it was barely alive, barely capable of standing on its feet to face her. She felt a single moment of pity for the thing; it was simply living its life as it had been instructed by Cardinal, and meant her no real harm or hurt. Yet, as Nymoria stared at it, she couldn’t help but wonder if that wasn’t entirely untrue. There was an intellect to it, in a way; a feeling that seemed to go beyond simple monster created by a system.

She shook away the feeling as she stepped closed to it, bringing her sabre up in preparation to finish the conflict and bring it down once and for all. Although she meant no harm to it, there was also no desire to let it remain standing any longer than need be – an act of mercy. It was barely alive, and clearly suffering from what Nymoria had already done to it, and although she felt no pity in response to her actions, she also felt no desire to leave it suffering in painful life.

I would say sorry, but…instead I’ll simply say thank you. She thought as she stepped towards it, intent on finishing it off in a single strike. She could already feel it coiling itself for the final moment of coming together, as if it had somehow already seen its own death in her approach.

------

Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 22 | P. 0 | HP [440/440] | EN [27/62] | ACC [4] | DMG [14] | MIT [36] | BH [+13] | Bleed [36] | Keen [+2 BD] | Recovery [6] | +3 EN +2 BD | -10 EN
~~Sand Hyena 2 | HP: 0/300 | DMG: 88 | Stun Immunity [1/3]~~

Spoiler

Looting Results
ID226117 | LD: 7 | CD: 12 | Results: 1,584 (792+528+264) col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}
ID226363 | LD: 15 | CD: 5 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 8/49 EXP]
ID226364 | LD: 12 | CD: 1 | Results: Failure [+3 | 11/49 EXP]
ID226365 | LD: 14 | CD: 8 | Results: 1,848 (792+1,056) col, Rare Weapon {1}, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226367 | LD: 5 | CD: 6 | Results: Failure [+3 | 14/49 EXP]
ID226584 | LD: 1 | CD: 12 | Results: Failure [+3 | 17/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 4 | CD: 11 | Results: Failure [+3 | 20/49 EXP]
ID226591 | LD: 6 | CD: 19 | Results: 1 material [+8 | 28/49 EXP]
ID226789 | LD: 8 | CD: 9 | Results: Failure [+3 | 31/49 EXP]
ID226790 | LD: 10 | CD: 1 | Results: 1,320 (792+528) col, 2 materials, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226814 | LD: 16 | CD: 1 | Results: 1,500 (900+600) col, 2 materials, Rare Consumable {1}, Rare Weapon {1}
ID226815 | LD: 20 | CD: 9 | Results: 2,700 (900+600+1,200) col, 2 materials, Perfect Weapon {1}
ID226816 | LD: 10 | CD: 1 | Results: 1,500 (900+600) col, 2 materials, Uncommon Consumable {1}
ID226818 | LD: 7 | CD: 11 | Results: 1,200 (900+300) col, 4 materials, Rare Trinket {1}

Total Loot
11,652 col
16 materials
Uncommon Consumable {3} | ID226365, 226790, 226816
Rare Consumable {1} | ID226814
Rare Trinket {2} | ID226117, 226818
Rare Weapon {2} | ID226365, 226814
Perfect Weapon {1} | ID226815

Nymoria · August 18

Her sabre passed through it with ease, tearing the thing in two and ending whatever pain it may have been feeling in its final seconds of life. She wanted to feel something negative about what she had done, but Nymoria was surprised to find that she felt only a deep emptiness, as if the action of killing a thing – even if it was digital – didn’t phase her anymore. She felt her face scowl in response to the realisation, an almost sickening feeling welling up inside her. She didn’t like the fact that she was becoming not on accustomed to killing things, but felt no disgust towards the action as well. She’d always held onto a least a measure of discontent with the action, even though she knew that it was required to survive.

Being in this world for so long is changing me. Changing us all. Was that what Kayaba wanted? To see how we would adjust, how we would change and become different? Was that his entire purpose for locking us away in here? It was fruitless, she knew, guessing at what the madman who had changed all their lives through a single action had wanted. There was no logic, no answer, to be found in her musings. She slowly discarded the line of thought, hovering over it for a few seconds in a way that felt like hanging on to her past. The epiphany about her changes had left her feeling off, and she found herself hunting for something, anything, that would connect her back to who she had used to be. It was bound to happen, to some degree. We change and adjust to our environments…that’s a known fact. What I need to keep in mind, is who I am at my core. I can’t let myself become…not myself.

She wasn’t quite sure what the thought meant, but somehow it felt right to her. Determined, with a decision made, she knew that her new goal would be to continue progressing forwards – and yet remaining, to a degree, who she had always been. As if to accent that sudden change, she knelt where the hyena had been mere moments ago, placing her hand on the ground and closing her eyes. Quick thoughts of apology and thanks passed through her, giving a measure of thought towards the creatures she had cut down.

She’d never been so foolish as to think there was a way through this world without killing things; those who did think that often didn’t live long, once they left the shelters of their rooms. She hadn’t, however, become like many who desired the continuous slaughter of everything around and before them. She’d seen many players, both those rushing to the frontlines and those left behind, turning into murder happy individuals in an attempt to better themselves. It was a behaviour that she had found repulsive, and she’d done everything she could to stay away from them; to stay away from becoming them.

What’s gotten into you? The thought seemed to shake her, and she realised that she was being far more internal than she usually was. Her eyes glanced back towards the rocky ridges that she had left behind, no sign of the elderly man she had escorted along its visible lines. She knew, suddenly, that the idea of his passing had shook her; brought her into a near depressive arc that she hadn’t even noticed until now. She’d never truly feared dying, not even when hearing that this could be her final resting place; Aincrad as good as the real world, in her mind. The only thing that had kept her going was the thought of her family, her mother and sister, waiting for her in the real world. The devastation that her passing would cause for them.

She’d come close, more than once, to ending everything. It was only the awareness that they were still there, still waiting for her, that had continued to press her onwards. Yet, something about the meeting had made her question that, to wonder if they were still waiting for her. Or am I simply the Dena to them? Lost to this game, as good as dead…little more than a small box of collectibles to remember me? Did they even keep anything, or am I already gone? The thoughts were a familiar dark path, and Nymoria felt herself being drawn towards it. Closing her eyes, she let herself drift slightly, sinking into the familiar feeling as if returning home.

Nymoria · August 18

Nymoria recoiled suddenly, her eyes snapping open as she realised what she had almost done without any sort of hesitation or second guessing. She could feel her hands shaking, as much from the shock of it, as from the fact that her adrenaline was suddenly coursing through her with the forcible return from the internal thoughts she had begun to sink into, the darkness almost grasping hold of her without any resistance.

She forced herself to her feet, the sabre suddenly in her hand again as she drew it in a smooth, singular motion. So engaged with her adrenaline rush she barely registered that there was no external threat to her life; her mind raced as she tried to figure out what had just happened. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest. The beat of it seemed to pound within her ears, a sound similar to a vibration giving her more anxiety as she tried to break away.

Calm. Deep breath. Calm. Just calm yourself. She repeated the words as she forced herself to slowly relax, the trembling of the sabre in her hand fading with time. Nymoria glanced at the clock, noticing that she had been sitting in the desert for nearly an hour since she’d killed the sand hyena, her thoughts taking hold of her and dragging her down without any consideration for her safety. She’d been lucky that nothing else had crossed her path; a fact that chilled her stomach more than the darkness that she’d pulled herself out of just moments ago. What would I have-

She shoved the thoughts away suddenly, forcing herself back into the present. She’d spent more than enough time standing in the middle of the desert, lost in her thoughts. She couldn’t afford to fall back into it, not here. Suddenly realising that it was reaching the time most people had supper, Nymoria felt an urge to make her way back to the town, and with it back to the comfort of the inn on the first floor. She glanced around and confirmed that the sun had, in fact, shifted in the sky in response to the change in the day, concreting her decision to head back.

Another quick glance around to confirm there were no immediate dangers, and Nymoria placed her focus into taking the steps back to the town. She forced herself not to think, instead simply placing one foot in front of the other, keeping a constant eye out for dangers that thankfully never materialised. It took all her effort, but she kept her thoughts from running rampant again, striking down any that even began to take form; an effort that caused as much exhaustion in her as marching through the shifting sands and storms of the desert.

By the time she had reached the edges of the town’s wall, night had already fallen and the heat of the sun had left the otherwise empty desert. Nymoria glanced upwards, spying the stars twinkling in the night sky, bringing her to a pause just outside the safety of the walls themselves. There was an odd dancing movement to the stars, and just for a moment Nymoria wondered if there wasn’t some message in them, something that was trying to tell her…something.

Nymoria · August 18

The desert sky had held no hidden messages for her, but she’d stood there for some time staring at it. The beauty of the twinkling had kept her for a time, however, as she’d stared at the dancing lights in a mixture of peace and wonder. Something about the flickering lights had called and held her attention, and by the time she had moved into the town and back towards the teleportation pad, night had fallen in earnest. Lights within the town had become lit as the entire population shifted towards the end of the day, most NPCs and players retiring inside to complete their daily routines, whatever those might have been.

Nymoria had made her way back through the town, passing through the now closed bazaar with ease before stepping up onto the teleportation pad. She’d glanced over the area once more, before activating the pad with a wave of her hand and a twist of her fingers, disappearing in a glitter of shards.

The first floor had been familiar, calming her fully and making her realise that she had still been on edge following her episode in the desert. The breath that she’d released upon returning to the first floor’s courtyard had been long, and a sign of her discomfort with the fifth that had continued to linger even after she’d returned to safety. Questionable safety, considering that the danger had come from within herself and not from any external threats.

Shaking at the memory of the incident, Nymoria left the teleportation pad behind and stepped towards the street that would lead her back to the safety and familiarity of her inn. She needed time to decompress from the incident, and an environment that would allow her to feel comfortable and safe in ways that the open streets didn’t allow. Even with how empty it was, she still noticed the odd person glancing her way as they made their own path towards whatever destination awaited them; her presence as noticed as their own was. In a way it comforted Nymoria to be noticed, but she also felt the desire to be away from eyes for the time being, a conundrum that left her hurrying through the streets in a rapid pace.

The inn itself was as it always was, a few players seated at the tables of the tavern; none glancing up as Nymoria entered and paused at the counter to obtain an evening’s meal. She’d almost forgotten the need to get something before heading upstairs, and had come to a halt at the last moment, a sudden stop that had caught the barkeep off guard. She had waited, impatiently, for the food to be made and brought out, before hurrying up to the solitary confinement of her rented room; closing the door with a soft clasping sound before settling herself into the bed. The next few moments were spent in silence as she consumed the meal, sharing small bits of it with Musei – the weasel having exited from her pocket at some point during their traverse from the edges of the desert, to the arrival in her sleeping area.

That was a dark moment. I can’t let that happen again…that was too close. Nymoria wasn’t entirely sure what had brought it on, but in the instant she had nearly given up on everything. On herself, her chance of escaping, even the belief that her family was waiting for her in the real world. She’d seen, in her mind, images of them having a funeral, believing her to be dead and gone, before moving on with their lives. A relief in their eyes that bespoke of the idea that she had always had in the darkest corner of her heart; that she was nothing more than a hindrance, an annoyance to them which held them from achieving whatever goals they really wanted in life. The images and feelings had been so real, so strong, that she had fallen into them without a fight, the darkness within them nearly consuming her wholly. Through some sheer moment of luck, she’d managed to pull herself out and back to reality, saving herself from what very well could have become an end to her story.

Sighing suddenly, she placed the fork she’d been eating with down, placing her hands in her lap and staring at Musei. The weasel stared back, his expression one of clear concern towards her. Slowly, he stepped forwards and nudged her fingers, pulling them from her lap and into the air slightly. Smiling, she shook her head, signing as an afterthought in order to put the words in her mind into the real world. I’m not giving up. Not yet. So long as you’re here with me, I’ll keep fighting. You’ll keep me going, and I’ll keep going. For you. I promise you that, Musei. So don’t give up on me, please. Can you do that for me?

The weasel gave a soft nudge against her, his eyes and movement saying more than any words ever could. Nymoria smiled down at him once more, knowing that so long as they were together, everything could be alright.

------

Thread Summary
Word Count: 10,023
EXP: 10,023 / 10 x 3 x 1 = 3,006 [Thread Progression] + 500 [Quest] = 3,506 EXP
Col: 400 [Thread Progression] + 500 [Quest] + 11,652 [Loot] = 12,552 col
16 materials
Uncommon Consumable {3} | ID226365, 226790, 226816
Rare Consumable {1} | ID226814
Rare Trinket {2} | ID226117, 226818
Rare Weapon {2} | ID226365, 226814
Perfect Weapon {1} | ID226815
<<Survival>> Extra Skill

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[F05 | SP] Specks Across the Sands | <<The Traveller>>

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