[F21 | PP] Mined Your Own Business | <<Trouble in the Mines>>

Acanthus · December 4

Acanthus relaxed in the teleportation plaza of Tomoika. The twenty-first floor was not a popular floor, which thankfully meant less foot traffic. The foot traffic was even more scarce given that Acanthus had decided to arrive late in the evening. Aside from the odd stragglers and a few NPCs, Acanthus had the place to herself.

She knew she shouldn’t be out this late, but sleep had eluded her the past few nights. Between Edict’s disappearance and the upcoming boss raid, most of her waking time was clouded with anxious thoughts. She had noticed a discernible decline in her mental health over the last few months, which fed into the cycle of poor sleep. But more importantly, she’d fallen behind on her self-imposed experience quotas, so she combed through the info-brokers guide for a few hard-hitting adventures. Initially, she had hoped to undertake them by herself, but she quickly realized that the more challenging quests would be the most efficient. The only problem was who to invite.

She recalled meeting Wulfrin in Ronbaru, and how proactive he had been in offering his help. He seemed strong and dependable. She had also heard through the grapevine that he was now responsible for the Sharkbait training program. If Freyd was willing to hand the project off to him, then she trusted him.

Opening her messages, she hastily typed and sent:

@Wulfrin. Thanks for your help at Diwali the other day.

I apologize for the sudden message, but I need to finish a quest on floor 21 as a favor to a friend. If you have any time today or tomorrow, I would really appreciate your help. I’m sorry to impose, but the timing is unfortunately urgent.

P.S. A full party would probably be best, so if you know anybody else that would like to do this, please bring them along as well.

She hoped that he was enjoying a good night’s rest, and that he would receive the message in the morning. But she wouldn't ask questions if he answered at this hour.

-----

Acanthus | HP: 780/780 | EN: 92/92 | DMG: 26 | MIT:114 | ACC:7 | AA | EVA:4 | BH:26 | VAMP-D: 43 | REC: 8 | LD:5

Using Slime Farm! +10% EXP

Spoiler

Equipment and Consumables

Spoiler

All enhancements reflected in the stat block unless otherwise specified.

Weapon. botan. AA | ACC 3
Armor. Enduring Thistle VAMP-D | MIT | REC | FIREPROOF
Trinket. Evasive Charm | EVA 1 | REC

Abilities (Skills, Shifts, Masteries, Add-ons, and Mods)

Spoiler

All enhancements reflected in the stat block unless otherwise specified.

Skills:
- Light Armor R5
- Searching R4
- Straight Sword R5
- Battle Healing R3

Extra Skills:
~~- Assault Mode~~
- Disguise
- Forgotten King's Authority
- Hiding R5
- Parry
- Photosynthesize
- Survival

Addons:
- Ferocity
- Precision
- Resolve
- Stamina

Mods:
- Meticulous
- Night Vision
- Tracking
- Justified Riposte

Combat Mastery: Damage R3

TECH Shift

Battle Ready Inventory (7 Slots)
Dimensional Backpack + Item Stash

Spoiler

Lama Sabachthani | Soundtrack | 236687 | Hypnosis 2 | Lullaby 2 (Instant)
Pain deeper than words, engraved by a hand that does not know its own heart.

Edict's Threnody | Soundtrack | 236686 | Perpetuate (Instant)
If my suffering will not end, then neither will yours.

Dr. Pepper | ID: 231141a | T4 Perfect Potion | HP Recovery 3
Desc. This fizzy soda drink is made from an exquisite blend of 23 different flavors.

Housing

Spoiler

House Name: Villa of Coruscating Flowers (The Villa)
Location: Floor 24 - Paradise Islands
Plot Size: Estate - PK Accessible
Rooms: Listed below. All rooms are assigned to Acanthus.

Master Bedroom
- Well Rested | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat.
Greenhouse
- Green Thumb | +2 Gathering EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to gathering attempts.
Extended Workshop: Recording Studio (25,000 col)
- Hard Working | +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day.
Mega Slime Farm
- Advanced Training | +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.
Living Room:
- Relaxed | Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Attic (Bedroom)
- Skylight (Searching) | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill (Searching). Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
Basement:
- Multipurpose | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll.
Storage Closet: (10,000 col)
- Item Stash | +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
Master Bathroom: (25,000 col)
- Squeaky Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)

Crafting and Gathering

Spoiler

Crafting Profession:
- Performer[2638exp] R5
Gathering Profession:
- Forager[779exp] R5

Edited December 16 by Acanthus

Wulfrin · December 4

<<Floor 22, Wulfrin's estate>>

Wulfrin's mind was far too clouded for sleep. Diwali was a nice distraction for a time, but it had come and gone far too soon in his eyes. He lay in his bed staring up at his lakeside estate's ceiling. Sound asleep next to him was Ciela, his darling wife. Thoughts of countless possibilities flooded his already over active brain. Contingencies on contingencies. For the fifth time now, he attempted to induce sleep.

*DING*

A message alert chimed in his ears. With a few quick gestures, being careful not to wake his sleeping partner, Wulfrin hastily navigated to view his inbox. Acanthus needed his help, and it wasn't like he was going to sleep soon anyway. Wulfrin gently got out of bed and lay a gentle kiss on Ciela's cheek.

"I'll be back soon," He whispered before donning his adventuring gear and set out for floor 21.

<<Floor 21>>

Wulfrin prowled around the teleport plaza for a few moments hoping to find his summoner. Thankfully that didn't take long. Acanthus seemed just as out of it as she had during Diwali. Wulfrin unfortunately could sympathize all too well, though he wasn't sure if it was just the pre-raid jitters, or something else bothering her. He also couldn't figure out how to bring it up either.

"So..." Wulfrin made himself known. "Raid got you unable to sleep too huh? Can't say I blame you. Everything outside of that room is known knowledge that anyone can prep for, but that boss arena? It's uncharted territory. Let's see if we can't clear our minds a bit shall we? What's on the quest log tonight?"

* * *

Damage 3 Consumed - Ass Kicking Absinthe
Accuracy 2 Consumed [Filled] - Freyd's Gungir
Evasion 2 Consumed - Smores
Protein 2 Consumed - Skewer Roll
Mitigation 3 Consumed - Stalwart's Stew meal from Freyd
Field Rations 1 Consumed
Toxic Venom 1 Consumed - Kinsugi

Wulfrin | HP: 851/851 | EN: 110/110 | DMG: 26 | MIT:98 | ACC: 8 (+1 AA) | AA | EVA:2 | BH:28 | FRB: 40 | TXC-V: 32 | FRZ: 64 | LD:3

Note: CS Shades of the Gemini is in use. If a player objects, they should note so in their first post and the skill will be considered inactive.

Spoiler

"Name: Wulfrin
True Tier: 6
Level: 33
Paragon Level: 19
HP: 851/851
EN: 110/110

Combat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
- TECH Shift

Familiar Skill:
- Rending Familiar

Custom Skill:
- Shades of the Gemini

Skills:
- Battle Healing R3
- Charge
- Energist
- Light Armor R5
- Searching R3
- Straight Sword R5

Extra Skills:
- Disguise
- Forgotten King's Authority
- Survival
- Meditation

Inactive Extra Skills:
- Frozen Hide
- Brawler
- Assault Mode

Addons:
- Focus
- Precision
- Resolve
- Stamina

Mods:
- Meticulous
- Night Vision

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
- Crystal of Divine Light x5
- Imugi's Inspiration | Mass Healing x5
- Popcorn | T4 Vitality 2 x5
- Rhino's Horn x1
- TP Crystals x1

Housing Buffs:
- Basic Kitchen: 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.
- Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
- Attic (Storage): +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
- Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
- Master Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
- Master Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
- Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
- Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
- Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
- Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:
- Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
- Blacksmith[1896exp] R8
Gathering Profession:
- Fishing[509exp] R5"

Edited December 14 by Wulfrin

Freyd · December 14

Returning from a recent training foray against the Forgotten Time King, Freyd left @Typhoonflame with a few parting words of advice and hearty praise for her courage and discerning insights before pointing her back towards the central plaza. Taking another route, he'd planned on visiting The Knight Shift to check on Ren and drop him off additional supplies when he spotted two familiar faces nearby.

"What are you two miscreants doing out here," he began with a wry grin. "Do your moms know what you're up to? Do I need to call the brute squad in to keep you in line? GET OFF MY LAWN!" Sounding slightly unhinged, the Whisper was in a good mood after putting Bob (aka the Forgotten Time King) in his place, his armor having a few extra heft notches from the monstrous mob's greataxe. He was still chuckling at the thought of mowing a lawn in Tomoika by the time he closed the distance. Something in their faces seemed haunted, carrying the same look he'd seen in others as they'd prepared for their first raids. He'd felt it himself, not so long ago.

"Can't sleep, eh?" His cowl nodded to confirm its understanding. "Alright. I know the drill. What are we distracting ourselves with? And don't bother objecting. I'm not showing up to their two players short because you dipped when you should have lunged against Ugzeke. I might as well get my warmup beatings in now. They help loosen the joints." Rotating his left shoulder for emphasis, one might have thought the walloping he just took from FTK would have sufficed. But, that really wasn't the point. If it kept their minds busy and focus honed, it would be worth it.

***

Note: CS (Shades of the Gemini) and CSA (Beckon the Void) are in use. If any other player objects to these, please state in first post and it will be considered inactive.
Note: Freyd has previously completed this quest.

Freyd consumes and shares:

Freyd | HP: 1280/1280 | EN: 160/160 | DMG: 21 | MIT: 212 | ACC: 8 (incl. AA) | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:70 | VAMP-D: 70 | VAMP-O: 141 | PARA-V | LD:5

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, Kuro bara no kishi
True Tier: 18
Level: 33
Paragon Level: 141
HP: 1280/1280
EN: 160/160

Stats:
Damage: 21+3
Mitigation: 152+60
Accuracy: 4+2+1+AA
Evasion: 2
Battle Healing: 70
Loot Die: 5
Stealth Rating: -5
AA
TAUNT
VAMP-D: 70
VAMP-O: 141
PARA-V

Combat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
- AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
- Grappling Familiar (not dead yet)

Custom Skill:
- Shades of the Gemini (CS)
- Beckon the Void (CSA)

Skills:
- Battle Healing R5
- Charge
- Energist
- Extended Mod Limit
- Extended Weight Limit
- Fighting Spirit
- Heavy Armor R5
- Howl
- Katana R5
- Quick Change
- Searching R4

Extra Skills:
- Disguise
- Survival
- Hiding R4
- Forgotten King's Authority

Inactive Extra Skills:
- Meditation
- Lady Luck
- Photosynthesize
- Brawler
- Assault Mode
- Frozen Hide
- Parry

Addons:
- Focus
- Focused Howl
- Iron Skin
- Precision
- Reveal
- Stamina

Mods:
- Detect
- Emergency Recovery
- Impetus
- Night Vision
- Tracking
- Untraceable

Inactive Mods:
- Justified Riposte

Battle Ready Inventory:
- Crystal of Divine Light (Reusable 1/thread) x1
- Mass HP Rec [Inst] (+10% HP) x7
- Meathook (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Rhino's Horn (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Samael's Pride | T4 Katana | FLN II | HLY II x1
- Teleport Crystals x7
- The Bonded Word. | T4 Demonic Trinket - ACC III, REC I x1

Housing Buffs:
- Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
- Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
- Basic Kitchen: 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.
- Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
- Attic (Bedroom): +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
- Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
- Guest Room: Players can have one «Amenity» in a «Guest Room» and the «Amenity» cannot be recovered. Players are allowed to change which «Amenity» is in the «Guest Room». Multiple instances of the same «Amenity» do not stack. This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.
- Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
- Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
- Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
~~- Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.~~

Guild Hall Buffs:
- Trading Hall: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters and Rank 4 merchants/performers receive +1 crafting/identification attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters and Rank 5 merchants/performers receive +2 crafting/identification attempts per day.
- Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.

Scents of the Wild Totem:
- Tanos

Crafting Profession:
- Appraising[3478exp] R5
Gathering Profession:
- Fishing[576exp] R5

Edited December 14 by Freyd

Morningstar · December 14

"So, you've got the guts to show your face 'round here again, do ya?" A short, bearded fellow crossed his arms, scowling at Morningstar from behind a stall. Various odds and ends were held up by wooden shelves and sprawled out across every other surface imaginable.

A vial of Watcher's Extract caught his eye. Nobody had purchased it in the days that had passed—probably due to its ridiculous price.

"12,000 col. That's my final offer; take it or leave it," Morningstar leaned against the counter.

"Bloody brains of a human, you got! I told you once and I'll tell you again—I only deal in raw gold!" The dwarf was visibly angry.

"15,000 col. Final offer."

"Ya got rocks in your head?"

"Alright fine. 20,000. That's as high as I can go."

"Shove off, ya baby-faced fool!"

Morningstar dramatically shrugged as he stepped back from the stall. He turned, meandering back towards the heart of the town. All the way, the dwarf shouted rude remarks in his direction. Noticing a group of familiar (and much more pleasant) faces, he made his way over. Acanthus, Wulfrin, and Freyd seemed to be preparing for a quest.

"Why, hello there. What's it today? Drakes, dragon knights, or a time king?"

| MORNINGSTAR
| Lv. 70 >> P. 37, Lv. 33
| Status: [ // ]

Notes:
//

Hide contents

Morningstar | HP: 820/820 | EN: 118/118 | DMG: 22 | MIT: 60 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 43 | LD: 6 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | AA | PARA-V

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

skills

Hide contents

mod count: 4/5

STRAIGHT SWORD | RANK 5/5
- precision, stamina, ferocity
- shift: tech
MARTIAL ARTS | RANK 5/5
- precision
COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3
SEARCHING | RANK 4/5 (5)
- night vision, detect, tracking, reveal
BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5
UNHINDERED
ENERGIST
CHARGE

extra (active)

SURVIVAL
FORGOTTEN KING'S AUTHORITY
LADY LUCK
DISGUISE

buffs

Hide contents

statue

# | #

consumables

Gungnir Creme Brulee Tray | +2 ACC
Stalwart's Stew | +60 MIT

paragon

Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread.
Lv. 10 | +1 LD to looting.

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

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

#

Acanthus · December 16

Wulfrin arrived quicker than she anticipated. She fought the urge to apologize. Asking him for help and then immediately apologizing… the only word that came to her mind was “unbecoming.”

Quote

“What's on the quest log tonight?”

Acanthus opened her quest journal and rotated the window so that Wulfrin could see. “Info broker’s guide mentions a quest up here that has some pretty good rewards—or ok rewards, depending on your preference for danger. I thought that with you and one or two others, we could probably make short work of the hardest option and earn some good experience. Given the time frame, I suppose rousing another person is out of the question.”

Freyd appeared with a wry smile as if he’d been waiting for the opportunity to make an entrance. The man must have ears and eyes on every floor.

Quote

“Can’t sleep, eh? Alright. I know the drill. What are we distracting ourselves with?”

Acanthus opened her mouth to wave him off. Surely Freyd had better things to do.

Quote

“And don’t bother objecting.”

Acanthus’ mouth clamped back shut. Mind-reading must be an unlockable skill.

“Trouble in the Mines. Just a quick quest, and maybe something else after if there’s time. I’d say the quest is a long one, but I remember thinking that about Ki-Raion—and being very wrong. Then again, Morningstar isn’t—”

Quote

"Why, hello there. What's it today? Drakes, dragon knights, or a time king?"

Mind-reading was definitely an unlockable skill, then. She took a deep breath to clear her brain. “Drakes today. We have to find the Foreman of the Mines to start the quest. Then, we find the Drake Matriarchs and kill them both. I… don’t actually know where to find the Foreman here in Tomoika. I remember my source told me to ask for a ‘George,’ but then he laughed like it was a joke.”

Edited December 16 by Acanthus

Wulfrin · Saturday at 11:40 PM

"That's more than I have to be honest," Wulfrin shrugged. "Good to see Freyd and Morningstar are tagging a long. Pure happen stance that we've got four members of the raid team together for a quick quest."

Wulfrin scanned the immediate area. No NPCs stood out as quest givers to him, but that's pretty much par for the course in Aincrad. The NPCs didn't have floating exclamation points to signify you needed to talk to them. Usually you had to go off of either talking to each individual until you found the one you need, or you got your info from a broker. Unfortunately based on Acanthus's tale, it seemed she had stumbled on one of the shadier ones.

"I don't suppose the two veterans with us know where to start," Wulfrin casually attempted to nudge the conversation towards their end goal. "I'd like a little bit of guidance before I resort to asking each NPC in our vicinity for info and probably getting nowhere."

Freyd · 2024-12-29T00:44:44Z

Freyd just laughed at Morningstar's sudden arrival and Acanthus' startled reactions.

"I should probably start assuming that you have a sleeping cot in ever bar and gambling den in Aincrad, Star, and that you simply teleport between to them to whichever location is most imminently convenient." Judging by the size of the grin and delight on Freyd's face, it was meant to be a compliment.

"Maybe we got word you were up to something," he added, turning to Wulfrin, "and thought it best to intervene early before you went all 'Cave of Wonders' on us before the raid." Patting his shadow on the back, Freyd winked and pondered his words for a moment.

"NPC... no. I honestly can't recall. It's been too long and my memory's stretched across too many floors these days. But I do know a guy who might."

Excusing himself for a moment, the Whisper wandered to the nearby Knight Shift and spoke with its familiar white-haired proprietor. The two exchanged brief, friendly words before the smith donated an ample amount of gesturing and Freyd a corresponding measure of nods.

"Yup. Figured a business connection might exist there. Ren's been trying to unionize the local merchants and corner the market on ore from the best local providers for months. If anyone knew where the find the mining foreman, it had to be him. This way, chums. It's not far."

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