[F13 | SP] Involuntary Mobslaughter - Blade of a Dying World

[Acanthus 0]

It had been exactly as it was the first time. A thick canopy obscured most of the light in the clearing, except for a single spear of sun that struck the middle of the meadow. The light shined on a single tree, far bigger than any other in the area. The Strongoak Tree.

The Strongoak Tree, Greyson said with some reverence. You go ahead and gather what you need. The rest of us will be outside the meadow. Don’t worry about us—we will be fine. “Are you sure?” Acanthus worried that they were trying to get rid of her. She’d already caused the death of one of them. They assuaged her, telling her none of it was her fault. “Gather the wood, and we will be outside when you return.”

Four villagers waited inside the grove for her. They were not so indistinct as the rest. But she killed them all the same.

Spoiler

Acanthus | Lvl 55 | HP: 780/780 | EN: 73/92 | DMG: 28 | ACC:5 | AA | LD:12 | PROSP:6 | QTY: 2 | HELLFIRE: 80

Greyson | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Grile | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Stubs | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Kara | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG

Recovery. +4 EN.

Post Action: TECH-F -> Greyson, Grile, Stubs, Kara
236520 | BD 3. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236519 | BD 4. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236518 | BD 6. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236517 | BD 6. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.

Looting Rolls
ID: 236524 | LD: 5+13=18 | CD:1+2=3 | Col:3744, Mats:4, [236524a] T4 Rare Consumable, [236524b] T4 Rare Weapon     
ID: 236523 | LD: 8+13=21 | CD:12+2=14 | Col:7488, Mats:0, [236523a] T4 Perfect Trinket     
ID: 236522 | LD: 8+13=21 | CD:4+2=6 | Col:5408, Mats:0, [236522a] T4 Perfect Armor/Shield, [236522b] T4 Perfect Consumable, [236522c] T4 Perfect Consumable     
ID: 236521 | LD: 13+13=26 | CD:6+2=8 | Col:7488, Mats:2, [236521a] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236521b] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236521c] T4 Perfect Weapon     

 

 

Edited October 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

When she exited the meadow, the mangled form of Grile shocked her. He grabbed Acanthus’ leg. “You…” He coughed violently. “You have to get back to the village. Tell them we won’t make it. They need to know so that someone else can bring materials back to the village. Kara… I don’t know how, but she followed us. We… we hesitated for a moment too long.”

The previous pack was already gone, and Acanthus had already moved on to the next ones. They weren’t people anyways. 

Acanthus took a few moments to register the tree that had birthed her first real sword, Wormwood. It was enough for a tier two sword, but not much more. The tree was no longer useful to her. Turning on her heel, she walked briskly out of the quiet meadow.

Acanthus had one last stop on this floor. It was time for her to pay her respects to the people of Wanderer’s Rest, and finish what she came to do.

 

Spoiler

Acanthus | Lvl 55 | HP: 780/780 | EN: 58/92 | DMG: 28 | ACC:5 | AA | LD:12 | PROSP:6 | QTY: 2 | HELLFIRE: 80

Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG

Recovery. +4 EN.

Post Action: TECH-F -> Diseased Villagers 116-119 (-19 EN)
236529 | BD 9. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236528 | BD 10. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236527 | BD 1. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236526 | BD 4. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.

Looting Rolls
ID: 236533 | LD: 14+13=27 | CD:3+2=5 | Col:7488, Mats:2, [236533a] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236533b] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236533c] T4 Perfect Weapon     
ID: 236532 | LD: 5+13=18 | CD:11+2=13 | Col:4992, Mats:4, [236532a] T4 Rare Trinket     
ID: 236531 | LD: 16+13=29 | CD:1+2=3 | Col:4576, Mats:2, [236531a] T4 Perfect Consumable, [236531b] T4 Perfect Consumable, [236531c] T4 Perfect Armor/Shield, [236531d] T4 Perfect Armor/Shield     
ID: 236530 | LD: 19+13=32 | CD:5+2=7 | Col:6656, Mats:4, [236530a] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236530b] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236530c] T4 Perfect Weapon     

 

 

Edited October 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus ran back to the village in a state of near panic. If Greyson and the others couldn’t keep the village safe, then it was only a matter of time. She couldn’t have all this blood on her hands. NPC, player, whatever—she couldn’t do it.

Acanthus strolled along the path, slaughtering the occasional mob as she returned to Wanderer’s Rest. How long had it been since her failure with the caravan? In Aincrad, time did not flow like a river. It was a vast ocean at high noon, a merciless sun beating down on the drifting players, further adding to their disorientation. Each player was desperate for a current or breeze to guide them—but time remained stagnant. She didn’t recall the journey taking this long last time.

Acanthus sprinted; she was borderline hysterical. The caravan had died, and it was her fault. So if the people of Wanderer’s Rest suffered because the caravan died, that was going to be her fault too. She pushed herself to the very limit. Every minute mattered.

Spoiler

Acanthus | Lvl 55 | HP: 780/780 | EN: 43/92 | DMG: 28 | ACC:5 | AA | LD:12 | PROSP:6 | QTY: 2 | HELLFIRE: 80

Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG

Recovery. +4 EN.

Post Action: TECH-F -> Diseased Villagers 120-123 (-19 EN)
236537 | BD 3. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236536 | BD 5. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236535 | BD 8. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236534 | BD 5. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.

Looting Rolls
ID: 236541 | LD: 19+13=32 | CD:6+2=8 | Col:7488, Mats:2, [236541a] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236541b] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236541c] T4 Perfect Weapon     
ID: 236540 | LD: 7+13=20 | CD:8+2=10 | Col:6240, Mats:2, [236540a] T4 Perfect Weapon     
ID: 236539 | LD: 8+13=21 | CD:12+2=14 | Col:7488, Mats:0, [236539a] T4 Perfect Trinket     
ID: 236538 | LD: 14+13=27 | CD:12+2=14 | Col:5408, Mats:0, [236538a] Gleaming Scale (1) or Demonic Shard (1), [236538b] Random Dungeon Map     

 

 

Edited October 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus recognized some familiar ruins. Wanderer’s Rest was just beyond the bend in the road.

She tore around the bend in the road. All she had to do was warn them that the caravan had died, right? She could even bring back whatever they needed. She could help. She could still help.

But in the few short hours she had been gone, so much had happened. The settlement appeared abandoned. Vines and foliage crept through overturned seats and crates, and knocked over tents gave the impression that those who had been here left in a hurry. But they hadn’t left. Ambling through the camp were hosts of the diseased. She recognized many of the faces. Camp cooks, the elders, even some of the men and women training to venture out and bring back supplies. They had not noticed her yet.

“Hey,” Acanthus called out casually. “I’m back, everyone.” Attracted to the noise, the remnants of Wanderer’s Rest shambled back to her.

Spoiler

 

Acanthus | Lvl 55 | HP: 780/780 | EN: 28/92 | DMG: 28 | ACC:5 | AA | LD:12 | PROSP:6 | QTY: 2 | HELLFIRE: 80

Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG

Recovery. +4 EN.

Post Action: TECH-F -> Diseased Villagers 124-127 (-19 EN)
236545 | BD 2. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236544 | BD 2. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236543 | BD 9. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236542 | BD 10. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.

Looting Rolls
ID: 236549 | LD: 5+13=18 | CD:5+2=7 | Col:3744, Mats:4, [236549a] T4 Rare Consumable, [236549b] T4 Rare Armor/Shield     
ID: 236548 | LD: 15+13=28 | CD:7+2=9 | Col:3744, Mats:4, [236548a] Gleaming Scale (1) or Demonic Shard (1), [236548b] Random Dungeon Map     
ID: 236547 | LD: 16+13=29 | CD:4+2=6 | Col:8320, Mats:0, [236547a] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236547b] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236547c] T4 Perfect Weapon     
ID: 236546 | LD: 18+13=31 | CD:2+2=4 | Col:5408, Mats:0, [236546a] T4 Perfect Consumable, [236546b] T4 Perfect Consumable, [236546c] T4 Perfect Armor/Shield, [236546d] T4 Perfect Armor/Shield     

 

 

 

Edited October 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

She had been too weak to fulfill her promise last time.

“You’ll take care of Wanderer’s Rest, won’t you?” Grile smiled weakly. Too horrified to speak, she nodded. “Great. That’s great.” Grile exhaled. “You’re gonna have to kill me. I’ll turn soon. Can you do that for me?”

Acanthus was finally back to take care of Wanderer’s Rest.

She couldn’t do it. The faces, the people… Acanthus almost vomited from the anxiety as she stumbled out of the camp. She couldn’t bring herself to kill them all. Even one night at their camp was long enough to grow attached to them. Dead as they were, it was too close to the real thing.

Lining up her first strike, she plowed through the first set of monsters. Like pruning a tree, she thought as she ripped through another with her sword. Just weeds to be torn up and out of this useless garden.

 

Spoiler

Acanthus | Lvl 55 | HP: 780/780 | EN: 13/92 | DMG: 28 | ACC:5 | AA | LD:12 | PROSP:6 | QTY: 2 | HELLFIRE: 80

Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG

Recovery. +4 EN.

Post Action: TECH-F -> Diseased Villagers 120-123 (-19 EN)
236553 | BD 3. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236552 | BD 5. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236551 | BD 8. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236550 | BD 5. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.

Looting Rolls
ID: 236557 | LD: 7+13=20 | CD:2+2=4 | Col:4576, Mats:2, [236557a] T4 Perfect Consumable, [236557b] T4 Rare Trinket     
ID: 236556 | LD: 14+13=27 | CD:11+2=13 | Col:4576, Mats:2, [236556a] Gleaming Scale (1) or Demonic Shard (1), [236556b] Random Dungeon Map     
ID: 236555 | LD: 20+13=33 | CD:6+2=8 | Col:8320, Mats:0, [236555a] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236555b] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236555c] T4 Perfect Weapon     
ID: 236554 | LD: 10+13=23 | CD:4+2=6 | Col:5408, Mats:0, [236554a] T4 Perfect Armor/Shield, [236554b] T4 Perfect Weapon, [236554c] T4 Perfect Weapon     

 

 

Edited October 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

She crammed a fist into the nearest rotting villager’s mouth. With a firm downward motion, she ripped its jaw off. Then, taking the mossy jawbone in her offhand, she bashed in the softened skull of another nearby villager. The fallen creature’s stomach bloated as she stepped on it, caving it in as she approached the third villager. She recognized the face as the person that had handed her tea the morning she left. The last person from camp she had talked to. Useless, pathetic sacks of loot. Meant to be harvested by players. By real people.

She’d done the unthinkable. She had killed an entire village of people. Real people. Acanthus had been shaking silently in the Sour Rumor for a solid three hours after she had returned. Normally, she would drink to talk about her feelings. But there was no drinking allowed in Aincrad. And so there would be no talking either. 

She had whittled the population of the diseased village down to one last pack of mobs. If she had been more superstitious, she might have thought they still had some of their autonomy from when they were NPCs. When she got close enough to strike, she imagined flashes of fear in their eyes. It was almost like killing people. Not that she would ever kill a real person.

She crushed the windpipe of a final villager. He wheezed with an uneven air that almost sounded like a sob. I'M NOT A MONSTER, AFTER ALL. 

Spoiler

 

Acanthus | Lvl 55 | HP: 780/780 | EN: 0/92 | DMG: 28 | ACC:5 | AA | LD:12 | PROSP:6 | QTY: 2 | HELLFIRE: 80

Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG
Distraught Villager | HP 0/41 | 13 DMG
Diseased Villager | HP 0/416 | 132 DMG

Recovery. +4 EN.

Post Action: TECH-F -> Diseased Villagers 120-123 (-17 EN)
236560 | BD 10. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236559 | BD 5. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.
236558 | BD 5. Hit! 28 * 12 = 336 + 80 = 416 damage.

Looting Rolls
ID: 236563 | LD: 1+13=14 | CD:5+2=7 | Col:3744, Mats:4, [236563a] T4 Rare Weapon, [236563b] T4 Uncommon Consumable     
ID: 236562 | LD: 16+13=29 | CD:11+2=13 | Col:4576, Mats:2, [236562a] Gleaming Scale (1) or Demonic Shard (1), [236562b] Random Dungeon Map     
ID: 236561 | LD: 7+13=20 | CD:7+2=9 | Col:5408, Mats:4, [236561a] T4 Perfect Weapon     

 

 

Edited October 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus returned to Angel’s Point, her pockets much heavier than when she started. I could never have made this much strolling around picking weeds and flowers. She remembered how scarce the shards and scales had felt whenever she took her time, gently floating from gathering point to gathering point. It had been one of her many idiosyncrasies—that somehow, pretending she was in the real world would keep her tethered and sane. Without those strange little tics, she had amassed a small horde of end-game items. All it took was throwing away the things she loved about the game.

“You best watch yourself,” one of the guards growled as she strolled through the gate. “We’ve got an eye on troublemakers like you. One wrong move and you’ll spend a cold night in prison.”

Acanthus ignored them. The guards here were usually dour, but rarely vocal. It was strange for them to threaten her. Not that it mattered, she concluded with some satisfaction. The guards at the gate were no stronger than a diseased villager. She was almost tempted to test that theory, but she decided against it. There weren’t four of them.

—--

The streets were nearly vacant at this time of night. She had been out much later than she anticipated. But light crowds meant less attention, which she preferred. Plus, the two or three players she saw seemed eager to keep their distance. Nobody liked to interact late at night. You never know who might be friendly, or might be some awful player killer looking for their next target. She strolled by the Sour Rumor (@Oz), and took a brief moment to look in the window before continuing on her predetermined path.

End Acanthus_Slaughter.exe, she joked dryly. It was time to return to her villa to go through all the spoils. Most of the items would need to go to one of the many appraisers around Aincrad. Her first thought was Morningstar. He had always humored her by letting her tag along for easy experience. I’m sure he will appreciate the business if he has time for it. If not, I can always return to Riardon. “Floor twenty-four,” she said aloud.

As the last of her avatar crystallized, her cursor reverted to green.

[Acanthus 0]

THREAD SUMMARY

Experience: Acanthus | [Word Count: 8608/10 = 860.8] * [True Tier: 6] * [Group Factor: 1] = 5165 EXP
Col: 774 (Laurel Wreath) + 800 (Bonus Pages) + 767, 014 (Looting) = 768,588 Col
(282) Materials

Item totals

Perfect Weapon Spoiler [235651b]  [235660a] [235658a] [235658b] [235658c] [235665a] [235665b] [235665c] [235675a] [235675b] [235675c] [235684a] [235684b] [235684c] [235690a] [235688a]  [235688b] [235688c] [236155a] [236155b] [236155c] [236167a] [236165a] [236165b] [236165c] [236175a] [236175b] [236175c] [236199b] [236199c] [236207b] [236207c] [236215a] [236215b] [236215c] [236220b] [236220c] [236403a] [236403b] [236403c] [236402a] [236402b] [236402c] [236419a] [236419b] [236419c] [236435a] [236435b] [236435c] [236445a] [236442a] [236442b] [236442c] [236453b] [236460a] [236458a] [236458b] [236458c] [236465a] [236465b] [236465c] [236474a] [236474b] [236474c] [236481a] [236481b] [236481c] [236480a] [236480b] [236480c] [236489a] [236489b] [236489c] [236500b]  [236506b] [236521a] [236521b] [236521c] [236533a] [236533b] [236533c] [236530a] [236530b] [236530c] [236541a] [236541b] [236541c] [236540a] [236547a] [236547b] [236547c] [236555a] [236555b] [236555c] [236554b] [236554c] [236561a]

Perfect Armor Spoiler [235659a] [235657a] [236157a] [236156a] [236182c] [236182d] [236199a] [236207a] [236206c] [236206d] [236223c] [236223d] [236220a] [236404a] [236409a] [236428a] [236426a] [236444d] [236451d] [236450d] [236472d] [236482a] [236491d] [236500a]  [236499a] [236498a] [236506a] [236505d] [236514d] [236522a] [236531d] [236546d] [236554a]

Perfect Trinket Spoiler [235652a] [235651a]  [235650a] [236156b] [236164a] [236174a] [236426b] [236453a] [236467a] [236483a] [236498b] [236515a] [236523a] [236532a] [236539a]

Perfect Consumable Spoiler [235659b] [235659c] [235657b] [235657c] [236157b] [236157c] [236166a] [236182a] [236182b] [236206a] [236206b] [236223a] [236223b] [236404b] [236404c] [236409b] [236409c] [236420a] [236428b] [236428c] [236444a] [236444b] [236444c] [236451a] [236451b] [236451c] [236450a] [236450b] [236450c] [236472a] [236472b] [236472c] [236482b] [236482c] [236491a] [236491b] [236491c] [236499b] [236499c] [236505a] [236505b] [236505c] [236514a] [236514b] [236514c] [236522b] [236522c] [236531a] [236531b] [236531c] [236546a] [236546b] [236546c] [236557a]

 

Rare Weapon Spoiler [235667a] [235676a] [235674a]  [236183a] [236204a] [236411a] [236410a] [236461a] [236492a] [236524b] [236563a]

Rare Armor Spoiler [235649b] [235682a] [236158a] [236177a] [236176a] [236185a] [236198a] [236214a] [236417b] [236427a] [236549b]

Rare Trinket Spoiler [235673a] [235689a] [236184a] [236213a] [236212a] [236443a] [236557b]

Rare Consumable Spoiler [235649a] [235682b] [236183b] [236417a] [236524a] [236549a]

 

Demonic Shards Spoiler [235668a]  [235666a] [235683a] [235681a] [236197a] [236205a] [236222a] [236221a] [236401a] [236412a] [236418a]  [236425a] [236437a]

Gleaming Scales Spoiler [236436a]  [236434a]  [236452a] [236459a] [236466a] [236475a] [236473a] [236490a] [236497a] [236508a] [236507a] [236516a] [236538a] [236548a] [236556a] [236562a]

Dungeon Maps Spoiler [235668b]  [235666b] [235683b] [235681b] [236197b] [236205b] [236222b] [236221b] [236401b] [236412b] [236418b]  [236425b] [236437b]  [236436b]  [236434b]  [236452b] [236459b] [236466b] [236475b] [236473b] [236490b] [236497b] [236508b] [236507b] [236516b] [236538b] [236548b] [236556b] [236562b]

Uncommon Consumable Spoiler [235667b] [235676b] [235674b]  [236204b] [236411b] [236410b] [236461b] [236492b] [236563b]

 

Edited October 25 by Acanthus