[PP-F5] SBTP Special Morningstar Edition

[Morningstar 0]

Quest

For two days, Morningstar prowled Fortaleza. Beads of sweat hugged his sun-kissed skin as he spied on the well-endowed building. Word of raiders in the south had caught his attention, and he suspected the source to be Abdullah.

Not that he had any proof. No trails led back to him, and rumors did Star little good. He was clean, on paper. Any crime that he was involved with was unattached to him directly; a million middle men stood in the way of incriminating him. Pinning him to anything required a touch of creativity.

Wiping his forehead, Star entered the sandstone building, fed up with watching unremarkable players and NPCs come and go for hours on end. It was about as warm inside as it was out. The gold, jewels, and lavish trinkets stood out to Morningstar. There was a clear wealth gap between Abdullah and the rest of the city. Two guards stood at either side of him, and none of them looked particularly happy to see their visitor.

"I do hope you're here for the beast. It's been nothing but endless favors all morning."

Morningstar had no idea what he was talking about. "Yeah, that's why I'm here," he remarked, cluelessly.

 

| MORNINGSTAR  | Lv. 63 >> P. 30, Lv. 33  | Status: [ // ]  Notes:  //

Hide contents Morningstar | HP: 780/780 | EN: 116/116 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 20 | EVA: 5 | ACC: 6 | BH: 43 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN equipped Dying Sun FLN II, AA, PAR VEN Inner Focus EVA II, REC II Sapphire ACC III, EVA I battle-ready inventory Magdalyn's Cuckoo Teleport Crystal skills   Hide contents mod count: 4/5 2HSS | RANK 5/5 precision, stamina, ferocity shift: tech CLOTH ARMOR | RANK 5/5 athletics, nimble COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 4/5 (5) night vision, detect, tracking, reveal BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 ENERGIST CHARGE extra (active) SURVIVAL FORGOTTEN KING'S AUTHORITY LADY LUCK FROZEN HIDE data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs   Hide contents statue # | # consumables Monkey Agility | EVA I Shadows Withal | OH II Mortal Instants | MIT III Imperial Quarter Blend | DMG III Breakfast Fry | PROTEIN II Creme Brulee | ACC II Elven Armor Salve | +1 Hate on attacks paragon Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD to looting. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== sword arts   Hide contents en cost matches multiplier unless stated otherwise. shift underlined. ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x11 -> x14 TECH-A | x16 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x16 | DELAY TECH-D | x16 | SHATTER TECH-F | x12 | AOE STUN TECH-G | x16 | BURN data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== misc/housing buffs   Hide contents Dimensional Backpack | +2 Battle-Ready Inventory Slots. Well Rested | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. Squeaky Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down). Filling | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30. Tasty | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. Relaxed | Increases out-of-combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Multipurpose | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. Skylight (Searching) | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill.  fishing # data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==   data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

 

 

[Pinball 1]

It was an unfortunate truth that some quests weren't meant to be completed by those with orange cursors, whether accidentally or through design. But sometimes he needed the experience. Or the skill. Or he wanted to be there when Mishiro did it. It was all of the above today. 
They hadn't been in town for very long, but Pinball's face was already slick with sweat. His black hair and warm, dark clothing did him no favors. He was dressed for shadier, sometimes colder climates. He hated the dessert. Regardless, his hood stayed up, and as soon as they had teleported into the city, Pinball had vanished into the alleys and side streets of Fortaleza. 

Fortaleza was different than other starting cities in that it could be easier to get away with getting caught in a pinch. Guards here took bribes, and could sometimes be convinced to look the other way for a bit of coin. He'd still rather avoid it altogether; Mishiro knew where to go, and Pinball knew how to follow. 

They were required to hold an audience with a man named Abdullah. More accurately, Mishiro was going to talk to him. Pinball was just going to watch from afar, and rejoin her at the first opportunity. 

Pinball followed her lead, invisible to the naked eye. He was a little uncomfortable; there were too many people, too many eyes. But he probably wouldn't have stayed outside even if he'd been asked. Instead he hugged the walls, stayed out of anybody's direct line of sight, and kept his distance. His Stealth Rating remained, for the moment, healthy. He didn’t know how long he’d be able to keep it that way. 

* * *

[HIDING]
ID#226407 LD: 15+6= 21 Stealth Rating (please don't look for me, haha-) 

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 16 by Pinball

[Oz 0]

That one. That one looks good.

"Oh thank god," came a gravel-y voice, cutting through the tension with all the grace of a brain-damaged gazelle stumbling unflatteringly before an assortment zig-zagging headlights which spelled its certain doom. But this gazelle, however stupid it may have been, had luck on its side. Or so Oz hoped. "We thought we'd never see a strapping young man such as yourself stroll through here with eyes for the monster. Ain't that right, boys?"

Morningstar would find a spindly arm suddenly draped across his shoulders, and the prompt intrusion of a verdant-clad someone invading his personal space to the left. Oz, himself slick with sweat, almost immediately clung to the man at the points of contact, their fluids no doubt melding together amidst the sea of fabrics in a most unsettling of ways. Both of the guards (and Morningstar, he suspected) cast uneasy gazes upon him. Who was this guy, and why was he acting like he knew everybody? He hoped that's what they were all thinking.

He'd been waiting quite some time, now, for someone who appeared to have the expertise to carry him through the quest. If this guy's gear was any indication, Oz would be in good hands. Now all that remained was to convince everyone involved that he belonged. Perhaps the absurd heat would help in that regard. Dehydrated braincells made for easily manipulated braincells.

"Oh, don't look at me like that, you hooligans. We all know I was waiting for a second to accompany me on the mission." It was possible that we was laying it on too thick. But, to his surprise, the two NPCs exchanged glances with one another, then merely shrugged. Oz craned his head to the right to peer at his victim. "That'd be you!"

Spoiler

Oz | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 4 | LD: 5 | VampOff 2 | VampDef 1 | ParaVen 2 | HB: 2
Level: 3

---

Equipped

• Loathsome Lullaby. [T1 Demonic Throwing Knives - ID: 226394]
  • Vampiric Offensive II | Paralytic Venom II
     
• Oath Raiment. [T1 Perfect Cloth Armor - ID: 226417]
  • Vampiric Defensive I | Holy Blessing II
     
• Laurel Earcuffs. [T1 Perfect Jewelry - ID: 220923]
  • LD III

 

Battle-Ready Inventory

• (5) Crystal of the Blood Dragon Horde.
  • Tierless Mass Healing Crystals - Heals user and each member of Party for 10% of Max HP
  • IDs: 222918, 222918-1, 222929, 222930, 222931
• (5) Crystal of the Blood Dragon Horde.
  • Tierless Mass Healing Crystals - Heals user and each member of Party for 10% of Max HP
  • IDs: 222932, 222933, 222934, 222935, 222936
• (5) Crystal of the Blood Dragon Horde.
  • Tierless Mass Healing Crystals - Heals user and each member of Party for 10% of Max HP
  • IDs: 222937, 223187, 223187-1, 223187-2, 223185

---

Skills

Spoiler

• Searching [Rank 2]
  • +2 LD
  • +2 Stealth Detection
• Throwing Knives. [Rank 1]
  • +3 DMG when wielding Throwing Knives

Buffs

Spoiler

 

 

 

Edited August 18 by Oz

[Mishiro 0]

as soon as they concluded their triple quest relay, mishiro had wanted to go straight back to the desert. a few quests still remained that from her estimate were entirely within their ability to complete as a pair and rather than keep those dreaded lines in her books, continually having to consider some point in the future where they'll have to undergo the misery of venturing out of fortaleza again, she thought they could knock them off entirely while they were already miserable and the momentum was still high. it's just another day compared to the bliss of never having to come back here again. a trade entirely in their favor.

pinball wanted to accompany her, despite her growing reluctance towards having him at her side at every opportunity, and he did need someone to pick up the quest. after a few days of rest, she teleports them both into fortaleza a few hours into the afternoon.

the sun has barely begun its climb down its peak. the air is hotter than it was before, and she's burning up under her collar, where the pure white scales of her cloak cinch around her throat and shoulders. under her unseen companion's gaze, mishiro navigates her way around the players and npcs in the square until she arrives at the most ostentatious building in the settlement. a guard decorates the open entryway and it glares at her as though her very existence was a personal offense. it has the muscle to back it up. "name and business, girl. our client is a busy man."

she fights down her discomfort. "mishiro," she returns. "i hear your client is seeking fighters to defeat terra firma."

its glare doesn't abate. in fact, it now seems to scrutinize her, from her light clothes and delicate bearing to the weapon at her hip that most eyes would mistake for an instrument. dilettantes who want to bite off more than they can chew, or something like that. but that was not its judgment to make, whether by client's decree or cardinal's. the guard moves further to the side. "go on in," it says gruffly, "and make it quick. he doesn't like repeating himself."

she doesn't want to dwell. she hurries inside, tossing a glance over her shoulder to see the guard resume its position.

two players had arrived before her. they constitute an awkward scene. mishiro's gaze drifts from the man in the red cloak to the grinning man who was attached to him. she mentally picks at her sense of deja vu until she recognizes him for his funny hat: he was in the crusty bahrnacle the other day. it wasn't a pleasant encounter she had walked into back then, but it was one she had not entirely been present for and she generally likes to gather more information before deciding on a person's character. offering a polite nod to both, the girl steps away from the fringes of the room. "greetings, sirs," she says, mostly addressing the merchant at the head of the room, "i'm here for the same purpose. please continue."

  

a corpse is talking.

Spoiler // oh god it has evade. STATS: Spoiler LEVEL 21: HP 420 | EN 60 | DMG 19 | MIT 36 | ACC 4 | AA | EVA 1 | FLN 6 (6-8) | VO 10% WEAPON: RAPIER V + STAMINA + PRECISION + FEROCITY + ST SPECIALIST -- COMBAT MASTERY: DAMAGE III EXTRA 1 + 2: FIRST AID V + ADD-ON: FIELD MEDIC (total sp: 105 | used: 99 / unused: 6) EQUIPMENT: walpurgisnacht T3E4 WEAPON (RAPIER). CURSED, FALLEN, VAMPIRIC (OFFENSIVE), ABSOLUTE ACCURACY dioscuri T1E3 JEWELRY. ACCURACY III white cloak T3E3 LIGHT ARMOR. MITIGATION II, EVADE

Edited August 22 by Mishiro

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar couldn't even muster a look at Oz, whose arm was draped over his shoulders. They stuck to each other like a child's art project, their sweat an unpleasant replacement for glue. Star's jaw dropped, the only thought on his mind being "who the hell is this guy and why is he touching me."

Abdullah appeared to wonder as well, eying the peculiarly-dressed man suspiciously. Turning from Oz, he directed his thoughts to Morningstar. "I don't care who kills the beast, so long as it does end up dead. Bring whoever you please—not that this one looks particularly useful," he remarked, his tone riddled with disdain.

Star was less than delighted to have been selected by the green-clad stranger. His muscles tensed, and he found himself wishing the guards would attack already. The end of a spear was enticing—anything to avoid an exhausting alliance. He shrugged off the spindly arm, grumbling in agreement. "Fine. We can team up."

Hope was restored by the arrival of a third, a potential buffer. Abdullah cleared his throat, eager to see the growing group leave his presence. "Razor sharp teeth, thick claws, a hide tougher than diamond, and a bladed tail. Terra Firma is a swift, deadly killer, and a significant threat to Fortaleza. Find it in the east, hunting in the grounds of the Sand Shark, and ensure it is slain. You will be rewarded adequately."

With that, he shooed them out, allowing no opportunity for questions. The guards left his side, and escorted them to the exit, their weapons pressed to the players' backs.

[Pinball 1]

Other than Mishiro, there were two other players in the building seeking audience with Abdullah. One was Morningstar. The third was a sleazy looking guy in a stupid hat. 

Well, they had a group assembled, and negotiations (if you could call them that) with Abdullah were underway. Pinball decided it was probably for the best if he slipped out the building before they were finished. He was up and out of the building just as the guards began to (rather aggressively) usher the group of players out onto the streets again. They were given their task, warned of its difficulty, and given a location. Check, check, check. Pinball slinked off into a side street. He watched from afar. 

There was always the option of dropping stealth early and introducing himself then and there, but he felt that it was unnecessarily reisky and probably not worth the hassle. The guards noticing him would cause trouble, a player spotting him would probably be worse, and getting thrown out of the city on his ass would be a little embarrassing given the circumstances.

No, he'd stay his distance for now. 

***
[HIDING]
Maintaining Stealth: ID#227630 LD: 17+6= 23 Stealth Rating

Edited August 21 by Pinball

[Oz 0]

"Fine. We can team up."

Success. He was in.

Morningstar's revulsion was no surprise. It wasn't as if Oz had gone out of his way to make the man comfortable. But, like most of the Players which riddled this floating castle, he was a pushover. Oz had, on more than one occasion, borne witness to Players at one another's throats team up to take on quests. It must have been the impending doom which stirred the more cooperative elements within each of them, a desire to lift up together in face of their seemingly unattainable common goal. Quests, unsurprisingly, struck many people as the obvious solution to their lack of strength. They provided ample experience points and decent loot, an "easy" fast track to the Frontlines where they could push the assault. To Oz, it was frivolous.

Oz was seldom the sort to busy himself with quests such as these. Aside from the obvious dangers associated with being about as durable as a wet noodle before the vast majority of quest bosses, it was simply a waste of time. He didn't need physical power, he needed information and merchandise. Experience points meant nothing to Oz, and he had reason to believe that as the Frontliners thinned in numbers before the increasing difficulty the higher floors featured, the next most well-adapted Players would be called upon to fill the ranks. If his suspicions were correct, they would eventually resort to force to get lower-leveled Players up to speed and in front of floor bosses.

No fucking thank you.

What he was after was the creature's scale. It fetched a fair bit of coin in the modern market among solo Players and tanks, and his wallet had been stretched thin by recent endeavors to extend his longevity by way of improved equipment. Players still required meals. Meals required coin. And he'd be damned if he went back to cooking in the putrid hovel he called home. Everything he made tasted like sand anyway. There was a beautiful gyro on the seventeenth floor calling his name, a much more appetizing option if given the opportunity.

As they were turned about by that ostentatious oaf's guards, Oz caught a glimpse of the soft-spoken woman who'd joined them halfway through the conversation. It was for but a moment, and her swift about-face made it difficult to tell for sure with that white cloak she sported, but she appeared to be the petite little morsel who'd made her way into Bahr's shop that day. A small world, it seemed. That, or she was tailing him. Had that crimson-clad Frontliner wannabe really sent a spy after him?

Interesting.

Once outside, everyone seemed to simply regard one another awkwardly. Did they not know where to go?

"C'mon, you heard Lord Fuckwit. To the West!~" It may have been hot, and miserable, and everyone there may have hated him. That wasn't going to kill his vibe. He'd found a gaggle of suckers willing to carry him through a quest, and he wasn't going to squander it by being a sourpuss. He'd leave the chagrin and angst to his more well-adjusted interlocutors. 

Over the sand and through the sand. Around the bend of sand and, if you can believe it, over the sand again. It was all just sand. Where had the madmen who settled in these parts even found the materials to build their magnificent cities? Was there a deposit of limestone somewhere that only Abdullah knew about? That secretive prick probably charged an arm and a leg just for a pebble. God, how Oz wished he could be that guy. Only, perhaps, in a less arid venue.

As it turned out, it was actually Oz who didn't know where he was going. "Kinda thought we would have seen him by now. Hard to miss a fish out of water, right? Wonder if he's 'swimming.'"

Edited August 22 by Oz

[Mishiro 0]

the man says west but his feet take him east.

mishiro, a few steps behind, opening her mouth to correct him, realizes it's pointless since he's leading them in the right direction anyway and flutters her hand to her lips to cover a small, amused huff. pinball would recognize it for what it is, but on her mien, it is nearly indistinguishable from an exhalation of her breath. her humor in this moment is just as faint. as the awkward, mismatched band of three approaches the gate, mishiro, glimpsing the preview text of a notification at the corner of her eye, pulls her hood over her head and grazes her fingertips over the hilt of her rapier to confirm its presence. the two walk into the desert, and she follows.

 

 

"kinda thought we would have seen him by now," one of them is saying, "hard to miss a fish out of water, right? wonder if he's 'swimming.'"

indeed, the 'sea' is entirely still. the ground is smooth, undisturbed. particles of dust blow off the top layers of the sands and are carried away by the wind. it's the only movement the four of them can see for miles. looking down, mishiro tracks the prints left by her shoes. she knows without checking her map that they are in the right place, she had been keeping a close eye on their location for as long as the man in green had been in the lead. "it hasn't been too long," she turns her head up, unperturbed by the wait, "let's circle around again and check..."

the hill in front of them explodes. sand sprays into the air in a column reminiscent of a geyser and from the dust comes charging a beast with scales made out of armor. its teeth are bared at the sight of prey. it clears the miles of sand dividing them in the time that it takes for everyone to draw their weapons. mishiro is the first to light up her rapier with a sword art, and she lunges forward, aiming for a swift, piercing blow, but the point of her blade meets naught but air. walpurgisnacht's precision would be of no help to her in this fight.

 

-> combat: missed vs terra firma.

Spoiler

ACTION: ST-I vs Terra Firma [12 2 EN]
227712: BD 3 + 4 + 1 = 8 - 4 - 1 = 3

[0] Mishiro | HP: 420/420 | EN: 58/60 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 36 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 1 | FLN: 6 (6-8) | VO: 10%
[0] Morningstar | HP: 780/780 | EN: 116/116 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 20 | EVA: 5 | ACC: 6 | BH: 43 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN
[0] Pinball | HP: 800/800 | EN: 118/118 | DMG: 20  | ACC: 4  | EVA: 3  | BH: 44
[0] Oz | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 4 | LD: 5 | VampOff 2 | VampDef 1 | ParaVen 2 | HB: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 950/950 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 4 |
This boss uses its own BD roll when attacking.

Abilities:

• Move Swiftly | This boss is impervious to benefits provided by the Concentration skill. Additionally, all players suffer a -1 penalty to BD when attacking this boss.
• Hard-Scaled | Paralysis, Paralytic Venom, and Freeze are ineffectual against this boss.
• Deaf | This mob has no ears, and therefore is immune to the effects of debuff songs.
• Weak Spots | On a Player's natural BD of 9 or 10 when attacking this creature, they will gain 50% Phase for that attack. This does not stack with the Phase enhancement.
• Assault Mode | If a Player has exploited one of Terra Firma's <<Weak Spots>> during the battle, Terra Firma will activate <<Assault Mode>>. On an LD of 11+, this mob will identify stealthed Players. Its ACC and EVA will swap for the duration of its attack, then revert to normal. It will gain 50% Phase on a BD of 9, and 100% Phase on a BD of 10 or higher. BD modifiers such as ACC can activate these Phase attributes.

 

Edited August 23 by Mishiro

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar was first startled by the erupting sand and the shark tunnelling towards them. After the initial shock wore off, he was surprised that out of all of them, Mishiro was the first to spring into action. Maybe he was getting slow. He played around her, tracking the nimble predator as it darted in and out of the sand. Her sword was met with air, and Star made his move. Evading Mishiro's attack made its next movements predictable. He flew into Terra Firma's path, intent on a head-on collision, inhibited only by the softness of the sand beneath his feet. A streak of gold burned bright, exploding outward as it connected with the shark's impenetrable scales.

Terra Firma's muscles tensed, and it crashed to the ground. It twitched, but was otherwise limp. Star's stun took control quickly, subduing the beast for a brief period. Maybe he wasn't so slow after all.

Spoiler

POST ACTION: TECH-A vs Terra Firma [15 -2-1 = 12 EN]
FREE ACTION: Lady Luck [5 EN]
227903: LD 6 | PAR.V -> TAUNT
227712: BD 6 + 6 + 1 = 13 - 4 - 1 = 8 | FLN PROC

(28 + 16) * 16 = 704 - 150 = 554 DMG to Terra Firma

[0] Mishiro | HP: 420/420 | EN: 58/60 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 36 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 1 | FLN: 6 (6-8) | VO: 10%
[3] Morningstar | HP: 780/780 | EN: 99/116 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 20 | EVA: 5 | ACC: 6 | BH: 43 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR.V
[0] Pinball | HP: 800/800 | EN: 118/118 | DMG: 20  | ACC: 4  | EVA: 3  | BH: 44
[0] Oz | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 4 | LD: 5 | VampOff 2 | VampDef 1 | ParaVen 2 | HB: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 396/950 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 4 0 | STUNNED | StunImm[P]: 0/3
This boss uses its own BD roll when attacking.

Abilities:

• Move Swiftly | This boss is impervious to benefits provided by the Concentration skill. Additionally, all players suffer a -1 penalty to BD when attacking this boss.
• Hard-Scaled | Paralysis, Paralytic Venom, and Freeze are ineffectual against this boss.
• Deaf | This mob has no ears, and therefore is immune to the effects of debuff songs.
• Weak Spots | On a Player's natural BD of 9 or 10 when attacking this creature, they will gain 50% Phase for that attack. This does not stack with the Phase enhancement.
• Assault Mode | If a Player has exploited one of Terra Firma's <<Weak Spots>> during the battle, Terra Firma will activate <<Assault Mode>>. On an LD of 11+, this mob will identify stealthed Players. Its ACC and EVA will swap for the duration of its attack, then revert to normal. It will gain 50% Phase on a BD of 9, and 100% Phase on a BD of 10 or higher. BD modifiers such as ACC can activate these Phase attributes.

 

[Pinball 1]

From beside Morningstar, Pinball whistled. His stealth dropped, and there he was, arms crossed. 

"Nice hit." Morningstar had sent Terra Firma's health plummeting below half. "Might be killing it too fast, though." 

If they were after the monster's extra skill, they needed to crit Terra Firma, activating its stance change. But not if they killed it before it had the chance to do that. Pinball tilted his head. He realized how he must have sounded, suddenly appearing like that -- he apologized. If he had been in Morningstar's position, he would have been pretty irritated. "Sorry. Not trying to be an asshole." 

Though if Morningstar believed that Pinball was sorry was something entirely up to his discretion. Nothing in Pinball's flat tone and stoic expression screamed "sorry," though the sincerity was certainly there. Pinball uncrossed his arms. If they were in the middle of battle. If they couldn't get Terra Firma to enter Assault Mode... 

"I'll help." 

***

Spoiler

Maintaining Stealth: ID#228210 LD: 2 {Stealth Drops} 
Action Taken: {Well Rested} [Basic Attack] 
ID#228211 BD: 1 (wow) 

[0] Mishiro | HP: 420/420 | EN: 58/60 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 36 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 1 | FLN: 6 (6-8) | VO: 10%
[3] Morningstar | HP: 780/780 | EN: 99/116 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 20 | EVA: 5 | ACC: 6 | BH: 43 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR.V
[0] Pinball | HP: 800/800 | EN: 117/118 | DMG: 20  | ACC: 4  | EVA: 3  | BH: 44
[0] Oz | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 4 | LD: 5 | VampOff 2 | VampDef 1 | ParaVen 2 | HB: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 396/950 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 4 0 | STUNNED | StunImm[P]: 0/3
This boss uses its own BD roll when attacking.

Abilities:

• Move Swiftly | This boss is impervious to benefits provided by the Concentration skill. Additionally, all players suffer a -1 penalty to BD when attacking this boss.
• Hard-Scaled | Paralysis, Paralytic Venom, and Freeze are ineffectual against this boss.
• Deaf | This mob has no ears, and therefore is immune to the effects of debuff songs.
• Weak Spots | On a Player's natural BD of 9 or 10 when attacking this creature, they will gain 50% Phase for that attack. This does not stack with the Phase enhancement.
• Assault Mode | If a Player has exploited one of Terra Firma's <<Weak Spots>> during the battle, Terra Firma will activate <<Assault Mode>>. On an LD of 11+, this mob will identify stealthed Players. Its ACC and EVA will swap for the duration of its attack, then revert to normal. It will gain 50% Phase on a BD of 9, and 100% Phase on a BD of 10 or higher. BD modifiers such as ACC can activate these Phase attributes.

 

Edited August 25 by Pinball

[Oz 0]

"Wow, it's so fucking cool!"

Thanks to Morningstar having stunned the colossal weirdo, Oz was given ample opportunity to get up close to the monster and inspect it in more granular detail. He ran a finger across its smooth-looking skin and was surprised to find that it instead felt exactly like sandpaper. "Do you think its skin is only rough because it hangs out in the sand all day? I always thought sharks were smooth-skinned. Or, at least, that's how they always looked in the pictures." Not like it mattered, the fucking thing was made of pixels.

A singular beady eye tracked Oz as he continued to meander along its profile, the creature clearly none too happy about the viridescent vandal's inspection. He arrived at the shark's oversized maw and placed one hand firmly against its snout, the other against its lower jaw. With an unflattering grunt, he spread the its mouth ajar, menacing rows of teeth fanning out before him. "Daaaaamn," he remarked in enthusiastic appreciation, quickly losing count of the boney protrusions. While his holding its mouth open, he stuck his head between the creature's jaws and cast a wry smile toward his reluctant companions.

"Anyone got a camera?" His eyes affixed on a newcomer who had seemingly appeared out of where, and his expression contorted into one of confusion. "Wait, who the fuck is that?"

Then, Terra Firma twitched. With a cowardly (and high-pitched) yelp, Oz dashed back and released his grip on the creature, its jaws hastily snapping shut. Though Oz was safe, it appeared his hat wasn't as fortunate. By the time he'd taken his place in line among the others, they would see the lumbering monster raise to its feet with a white and green striped hat clasped between the very denticles he'd just been admiring. "God damn it, not again."

Spoiler

[0] Mishiro | HP: 420/420 | EN: 58/60 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 36 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 1 | FLN: 6 (6-8) | VO: 10%
[3] Morningstar | HP: 780/780 | EN: 99/116 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 20 | EVA: 5 | ACC: 6 | BH: 43 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR.V
[0] Pinball | HP: 800/800 | EN: 117/118 | DMG: 20  | ACC: 4  | EVA: 3  | BH: 44
[0] Oz | HP: 60/60 | EN: 22/24 | DMG: 4 | LD: 5 | VampOff 2 | VampDef 1 | ParaVen 2 | HB: 2

Oz uses [x1] Basic Attack against Terra Firma, -2 EN for miss
ID: 228263 | BD: 1 (pin i feel your pain)

Terra Firma | HP: 396/950 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 4 0 | STUNNED | StunImm[P]: 0/3
Terra Firma takes no action (stunned)

Abilities:
This boss uses its own BD roll when attacking.

• Move Swiftly | This boss is impervious to benefits provided by the Concentration skill. Additionally, all players suffer a -1 penalty to BD when attacking this boss.
• Hard-Scaled | Paralysis, Paralytic Venom, and Freeze are ineffectual against this boss.
• Deaf | This mob has no ears, and therefore is immune to the effects of debuff songs.
• Weak Spots | On a Player's natural BD of 9 or 10 when attacking this creature, they will gain 50% Phase for that attack. This does not stack with the Phase enhancement.
• Assault Mode | If a Player has exploited one of Terra Firma's <<Weak Spots>> during the battle, Terra Firma will activate <<Assault Mode>>. On an LD of 11+, this mob will identify stealthed Players. Its ACC and EVA will swap for the duration of its attack, then revert to normal. It will gain 50% Phase on a BD of 9, and 100% Phase on a BD of 10 or higher. BD modifiers such as ACC can activate these Phase attributes.

 

Edited August 26 by Oz

[Mishiro 0]

"..."

at half hp?

"we're fine."

the greatsword's blow had sent terra firma sprawling, the agile beast unable to so much as twitch a muscle as it lands in front of their fourth member. it is a perfect opportunity to land that strike they were waiting for and he squanders it, approaching the beast without raising his weapon. he pats it down, circles around it, and opens its jaw and puts his head between its teeth?

mishiro hovers nearby in an almost open display of concern, unable to attack it lest she jolt the thing into dropping its jaw straight into their troublemaker's skull. "no," she tries, placating. the girl herself is out of the enemy's reach should it start to move -- she follows her own advice, "but i'm certain no one will forget this."

terra firma is back up before she can continue. luckily, the player is slippery enough, and she's quick to snap herself into a stance and rush forward to aid his retreat. her rapier snags the bottom of its jaw where its armor doesn't reach and a status effect flashes beneath its hp bar as the system starts running the numbers for damage.

weakness found.

she pulls her sword back in haste.

"got it! everyone, steer clear of its next attacks."

now they wait for it to rage.

 

-> combat: st-i vs terra firma. [triggered weak spots.]

Spoiler

PASSIVE: +3 EN

POST ACTION: ST-I vs Terra Firma [12 EN]
228496: BD 10: (19 + 2) * 15 = 315 - (150 * 0.5) = 240 DMG -> Terra Firma [Triggered Weak Spots!]

[2] Mishiro | HP: 420/420 | EN: 48/60 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 36 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 1 | FLN: 6 (6-8) | VO: 10%
[3] Morningstar | HP: 780/780 | EN: 99/116 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 20 | EVA: 5 | ACC: 6 | BH: 43 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR.V
[0] Pinball | HP: 800/800 | EN: 117/118 | DMG: 20  | ACC: 4  | EVA: 3  | BH: 44
[0] Oz | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 4 | LD: 5 | VampOff 2 | VampDef 1 | ParaVen 2 | HB: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 156/950 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 4 | StunImm[P]: 0/3 | Assault Mode on next turn

Abilities:
This boss uses its own BD roll when attacking.

• Move Swiftly | This boss is impervious to benefits provided by the Concentration skill. Additionally, all players suffer a -1 penalty to BD when attacking this boss.
• Hard-Scaled | Paralysis, Paralytic Venom, and Freeze are ineffectual against this boss.
• Deaf | This mob has no ears, and therefore is immune to the effects of debuff songs.
• Weak Spots | On a Player's natural BD of 9 or 10 when attacking this creature, they will gain 50% Phase for that attack. This does not stack with the Phase enhancement.
• Assault Mode | If a Player has exploited one of Terra Firma's <<Weak Spots>> during the battle, Terra Firma will activate <<Assault Mode>>. On an LD of 11+, this mob will identify stealthed Players. Its ACC and EVA will swap for the duration of its attack, then revert to normal. It will gain 50% Phase on a BD of 9, and 100% Phase on a BD of 10 or higher. BD modifiers such as ACC can activate these Phase attributes.

 

Edited August 26 by Mishiro

[Morningstar 0]

Star waited for the shark to chomp down on Oz's head. No such luck. 

Words from behind, where none should have come from, had him jumping from his skin. He spun, meeting Pinball's gaze. He hadn't the faintest clue where he had come from or why he was there. "Christ—jump scare much?"

He dismissed the comment, unoffended. It wasn't wrong; Star's attack was excessive, counterproductive even. Thankfully, Mishiro bailed them out. Terra Firma struggled back to its feet, still dazed from the stun. The girl was quick, proactively keeping Oz from snuffing out his own life while simultaneously stabbing at the shark's weak spots. She was precise, and clipped it on its jaw. Star was almost jealous; in a million years, he wouldn't have hit it so accurately.

It writhed, burrowing in the sand, sinking into an advantageous position. The world went still, and Star's eyes darted around, looking for the slightest shift in the sand. Nothing.

Perplexed, he looked to his party. Then, he cursed.

By chance, or perhaps skill, he stepped back. It was too late. He shielded his face, blasted by a geyser of sand, and a burst of pain shot through his non-dominant arm. He grunted, trapped in Terra Firma's bite. His grip tightened, and as a last resort, he slid his blade across the shark's unarmored chin.

It glowed, shattered, and the weight of it upon him was gone.

Spoiler

PASSIVE: +4 EN
228539 | CD: 7 | RECOVERY: +8 EN

POST ACTION: TECH-D vs Terra Firma [15 -2-1 = 12 EN]
228540: BD 4 + 6 + 1 = 11 - 4 - 1 = 6 | 28 * 16 = 448 - 130 = 318 DMG -> Terra Firma

[2] Mishiro | HP: 420/420 | EN: 48/60 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 36 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 1 | FLN: 6 (6-8) | VO: 10%
[5] Morningstar | HP: 780/780 | EN: 99/116 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 20 | EVA: 5 | ACC: 6 | BH: 43 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR.V
[0] Pinball | HP: 800/800 | EN: 117/118 | DMG: 20  | ACC: 4  | EVA: 3  | BH: 44
[0] Oz | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 4 | LD: 5 | VampOff 2 | VampDef 1 | ParaVen 2 | HB: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 0/950 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 4 | StunImm[P]: 1/3 | Assault Mode on next turn

Abilities:
This boss uses its own BD roll when attacking.

• Move Swiftly | This boss is impervious to benefits provided by the Concentration skill. Additionally, all players suffer a -1 penalty to BD when attacking this boss.
• Hard-Scaled | Paralysis, Paralytic Venom, and Freeze are ineffectual against this boss.
• Deaf | This mob has no ears, and therefore is immune to the effects of debuff songs.
• Weak Spots | On a Player's natural BD of 9 or 10 when attacking this creature, they will gain 50% Phase for that attack. This does not stack with the Phase enhancement.
• Assault Mode | If a Player has exploited one of Terra Firma's <<Weak Spots>> during the battle, Terra Firma will activate <<Assault Mode>>. On an LD of 11+, this mob will identify stealthed Players. Its ACC and EVA will swap for the duration of its attack, then revert to normal. It will gain 50% Phase on a BD of 9, and 100% Phase on a BD of 10 or higher. BD modifiers such as ACC can activate these Phase attributes.

Looting Terra Firma:
jfc what are these numbers

228541: LD: 5+6 = 11 | CD: 3
2,850 col | 950*3
4 materials
T4 Rare Trinket 228541

[Pinball 1]

"Christ—jump scare much?"

Pinball shrugged. 

He'd said he was going to help, but he ended up not having to. Morningstar's attack had been a little excessive, and put them in a pretty tricky position. If Pinball had to attack, he wasn't going to be able to use Sword Arts without risking killing it, and that could have lead to complications on its own. Thankfully, Mishiro bailed them out. Her attack was pinpoint -- precise. Pinball was impressed, though his expression certainly didn't show it. Terra Firma switched its stance and disappeared beneath the sands. 

All was silent. 

Pinball must have noticed it before Morningstar did. As he was standing right beside him, Pinball took a few long steps backwards before Terra Firma exploded from the sand beneath him. The land shark chomped down on Morningstar like a midafternoon snack, but did little damage to him. It meant that Terra Firma was the one in trouble, not him. Within that same moment, Morningstar slid his blade across the beast's unarmored chin. Its form was engulfed in light; and then it was gone, a cloud of digital shards carried away by the desert breeze. 

Edited August 29 by Pinball

[Oz 0]

Oz took long, dramatic strides into the battlefield toward Morningstar, grumbling to himself as he leaned over and picked his striped hat out of the sand. Luckily, when the creature had decided to dive back into the earth, Oz’s headgear had remained miraculously affixed to its gleaming chompers. Now dead, scattered into a mosaic of fractal shards, the hat was freed. He beat the ragged fabric against his hip, sending plumes of sandy smoke every which way.

“My hat’s just fine!” he announced, loudly. “Thank you very much!”

It was like these people had no respect for the common decency of a man’s favorite hat. Though, the irony of Oz being wholly fixated on the garment as opposed to Morningstar, who’d actually just taken a strike from Toothy Wonder, was completely lost on the viridescent goofball.

Hat now placed rightly upon its perch, Oz cast a shady glance to his companions. “So, what now?” The answer was likely obvious - they were to make their way back to that rich prick Abdullah and report their success. An endeavor Oz was admittedly none too pleased to undertake. Being back within that guy's proximity would remind him of the things he wanted - but didn’t have, all over again. The money, the security. The babes.

“Anyone remember which way we came from?”
 

[Mishiro 0]

the quest completion window appears in their individual views after a few moments delay.

she had been staring emptily at the sand where some of terra firma’s shards still lay scattered, hardly cognizant of the loudest individual of their group celebrating the intactness of his hat, when the screen flashes before her eyes and pulls her back into focus. she studies it, almost disbelieving. this was… too easy. abdullah didn’t even want them to come back.

their rewards are 5,000 col, conveniently sent through the quest system, a single scale that they can each take from terra firma, and a learned skill.

she rejoins the group last, sheathing her blade. without an established dynamic, the question of how to wrap things up gracefully hangs over them and she has a vested interest in concluding this business as fast as possible. pinball is hovering near them like a dismal shade, his orange cursor even more evident outside the heat of combat, and she hasn’t -- she has more or less settled, that the fairest action is let him handle it and step in when necessary. hasn’t quite extinguished her own unease of her answer. “now we settle the loot,” she suggests, turning her head up to speak to their de facto leader. “i’ll pass, though. it’s the least i could do to repay you for dealing the most damage.”

Edited August 31 by Mishiro

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar gave his wounds a once over. They looked a lot more gruesome than they really were. His health bar had barely been scratched, and yet blood-like particles floated away from tooth shaped holes in his arm. At least the arm was still there. He hated waiting for them to reform.

"West. We came west," Star sighed, poking at the tears in his sleeve. If only he knew a tailor.

Mishiro was kind enough to offer her share of the loot drop. He appreciated her logic, but shook his head. "Thanks, but I don't need it," he double checked the list to make sure he hadn't missed anything useful. "Yeah, if any of you want the drops, they're yours."

A quick glance to the left revealed that Pinball was still there. He hadn't questioned why he'd come, nor where he was hiding. Either he was a really weird stalker, or he was the duo of one of their party members. Oz and Pinball was an odd match. That left one pair. "Nice to see you again," Star said. "Wasn't sure I would."

[Pinball 1]

Pinball's eyes flicked from Oz, to Morningstar, to Mishiro, and back to Morningstar. 

He shook his head. He didn't need any of the drops, and if Oz didn't take them, Pinball usually let his loot fall into Mishiro's inventory anyway. The sands stretched out endlessly around them. Pinball was amazed he'd made it this far without being discovered. He was amazed nobody seemed to care, either, though he was more thankful for that part than not. 

"Nice to see you," Pinball replied. He opened his mouth to speak and then shrugged. Pinball didn't know what else to say. He wasn't the best at conversation. 

Regardless, the quest was completed, and Pinball wasn't super comfortable sitting around. Was it time to leave? He looked to Mishiro to see what she did. As far as he understood, they had gotten their rewards already, so they didn't have to go all the way back to the city. Not that he would anyways. Pinball sometimes preferred to walk between floors. This seemed like it would be one of those times. 

[Oz 0]

Oz's gray hues flickered between the lot of them before a sigh escaped his lips. "Fine, guess I can take the boss drops, since y'all don't seem to want them." This was, of course, his desire all along. But they didn't need to know that.

He waited for the loot to be divided and then offered a half-hearted salute to the group before spinning on his heel and taking off in a direction. Which direction, he wasn't sure. Any direction would do, if it meant getting away from this awkward gaggle of weirdos. "Thanks folks, it's been real," he offered as his final parting gift, not bothering to look back at how any of his interlocutors had reacted. They hadn't seemed too keen on his attendance from the start, and so he assumed that they were simply relieved to be free from him once and for all.

Truth be told, he felt a bit of relief, too. 

[Mishiro 0]

"oh, no, no," mishiro starts, apologetic, "i meant the extras that were looted from terra firma, not the quest reward. i think i'll keep mine. oh, but..." she switches to addressing pinball before he could open a trade. she wouldn't covet the excess if there was someone else who might have better use of it. "can you hold onto your scale instead? i'll just take it from you later."

sometimes the system logs show a trade from one player's inventory to another when an item is physically handed off. sometimes it doesn't. it is inconsistent. mishiro does the former and makes a mental note to herself to check when they get back to pinball's manse. as the other transaction occurs, her eyes glance between her companion and the unknown third person who seemed familiar with him. "well, this is where we part ways, too. thank you kindly for the help."

the group disperses.

with nothing else to kill the remaining time, she and pinball were free to indulge in their love for long walks. the events of the last hour are nudged to the back of her mind at first, as she simply appreciates the silence that falls between them and her other's presence at her side, but soon her curiosity overtakes her. she nudges pinball, then takes him by the elbow, leaning close and whispering even though they were completely alone: "who was that person? the one in red..."