[F07 | SP] The Quest was Rigged from the Start | <<Case of Wurms>>

[Acanthus 0]

The entire clearing erupted with a wailing that could have woken the dead. A deluge of cascading strings and woodwinds cried out in perfect and terrible harmony. The sound drowned out every happy thought it encountered, pulling up anxiety and terror from the deepest parts of Acanthus’ soul. She had spent weeks pouring every last horrible emotion into that crystal in a desperate attempt to purge her own thoughts—a sonic portrait that only Dorian Grey could admire.

The Serpent’s eyes glazed over, overwhelmed by the cacophony Acanthus produced. Titania looked at Acanthus with terror as the music reached her. Even unaffected by the mechanics of the song,  it was designed to be a terrifying experience.

“What a worthless fight.” Acanthus took advantage of the lull to close the gap. She now stood directly underneath the belly of the dazed serpent. “At least it’s not a waste of resources.” She drove botan into the boss and twisted the blade free. The creature roared, attempting to fall back again. But Acanthus refused to let it go. She kept close and underneath the creature, slicing away with a ruthless efficiency. Each time the creature attempted to strike, Acanthus was already gone. The monster lashed out with increasing frustration.

Spoiler

Acanthus | HP: 740/740 | EN: 62/88 | DMG: 23 | MIT:54 | ACC:5 | AA  | EVA:2 | BH:24 | VAMP-D: 41 | REC: 8 | LD:5

Post Action | TECH-D -> Amphis Serpens (-13  (15-2) EN)
239331 | BD 9 | Minor Critical! Shatter applied. 24 * 16 = 384 - 35 = 349 Damage.

Monster's Action: Attack -> Acanthus
239331 | MD 7 - 2 - 1 (EVA, includes Shifting Sand) = 4. Miss.

Amphis Serpens | HP: 201/900 | DMG: 125 | MIT: 50 35 | Hypnosis 2 (2/2) | Lullaby 2 (2/2)

Serpent’s Poison | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the boss will make two attacks; each will target one of the two players with the highest Hate. The attack poisons them, dealing normal attack damage in addition to inflicting an unmitigated DoT [15 DMG] effect that lasts 2 turns. Against a single player, both attacks will target the player.
Shifting Sand | Due to the shifting sands and movement of the boss, players take a -1 penalty to Accuracy and Evasion.

 

 

Edited December 27, 2024 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus did her best to channel Freyd’s fearless attitude and actions from their fight with Terra Firma. If she closed her eyes, she could still see him leaping directly towards the mouth of the great shark, thwarting death with a swift kick to the teeth. The serpent’s teeth were not quite so kickable, but the method mattered less than the energy.

Her initial onslaught had confirmed her initial comment: it was barely a fight. Just looking at the boss, Acanthus had every right to be terrified. The designer made the thing bristle with a hatred for players; made it loud, made it angry and full of venom. But it didn’t matter. The creature was some no name quest boss on a lower floor, and that was precisely how it would die.

Amphis Serpens coiled for one last attack, putting every last drop of energy into one final effort. Acanthus squared up and tilted botan out to the side, inviting the attack. The snake unwound, flashing towards Acanthus—she thought she heard Titania scream—

A flash and three cutting strokes, and the Serpent fizzled into nothing. Titania came running out. “Canthy, that was… That was incredible! And not a scratch!” She patted Acanthus over, checking for wounds. “When did you get so powerful?! No, wait, we can talk about that at the villa, for now lets get out of here.”

“Titania you owe me some answers, and I’m pretty sure I asked for them right after the fight.” Titania gripped her hand, eyes pleading. “Listen, I know I said after, but please lets do this somewhere else, who knows how long before—”

“Not long at all, actually.” Acathus turned toward the cover facing the southwest end of the clearing. “We’ve got a friend here. And I’m assuming they are your guest.”

Spoiler

Acanthus | HP: 740/740 | EN: 49/88 | DMG: 23 | MIT:54 | ACC:5 | AA  | EVA:2 | BH:24 | VAMP-D: 41 | REC: 8 | LD:5

Free Action (Item). Edict's Threnody | Perpetuate (Instant)

Post Action | TECH-D -> Amphis Serpens (-13  (15-2) EN)
239333 | BD 3 + 5 + 2 | Hit! Shatter applied. 23 * 16 = 368 - 20 = 348 Damage.

Amphis Serpens | HP: 0/900 | DMG: 125 | MIT: 50 35 | Hypnosis 2 (2/2) | Lullaby 2 (2/2)

Serpent’s Poison | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the boss will make two attacks; each will target one of the two players with the highest Hate. The attack poisons them, dealing normal attack damage in addition to inflicting an unmitigated DoT [15 DMG] effect that lasts 2 turns. Against a single player, both attacks will target the player.
Shifting Sand | Due to the shifting sands and movement of the boss, players take a -1 penalty to Accuracy and Evasion.

 

Edited December 27, 2024 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

“Very observant, friend.” Shadows took the form of a gaunt, middle-aged man. He wore a long cloak that obscured most of his body. “Even with rank five searching, it takes a little bit of luck to pick me out.”

“Or skill,” Acanthus responded.

“This is a computer game. It’s all dice rolls behind the curtain. You’ve played RPGs, haven’t you?” Acanthus shook her head hesitantly, and the man scoffed. “You’re just proving my point. There isn’t any talent or skill in this game. It’s all about raw levels and equipment, and then hoping that the dice are in your favor.”

“... Dice? Come again?”

“Honestly,” the man sighed, exasperated. “You’ve chosen an odd person as your associate, Titania.”

“Associate? Titania, what’s—”

“This is your formal offer to join the Fifth Commandment.”

“I—just—” Acanthus was speechless. She looked at Titania, who appeared to be a strange mixture of guilt, fear, and… hope?

[Acanthus 0]

“It is truly a rare occasion that we induct a new member. There are few free players worth the time and attention.”

“Are you SERIOUS?!” Acanthus had hit her limit. For the third time in her life, she lost control of herself. Birds scattered as Acanthus began shouting at the top of her lungs. “Are you actually stupid enough to think I would join some—some random guild just because I took on some mid-level quest—”

The man tried to interrupt. “You soloed it, an impressive feat—”

“—No. Shut up. Shut the fuck up. I’m not done.” Acanthus’ voice pitched higher as she worked herself up into a feverish rant. “Some mid-level quest that you’re *bullying* Titania into—and then keeping close enough tabs on her that she reaches out to me in the middle of the night? The middle of the goddamn night! This isn’t—this isn’t a guild, it’s a cult.”

Edited December 27, 2024 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

The man’s face twitched; Acanthus saw his hand move ever so slightly to his weapon. “That’s right—a fucking cult. Go on; fight me about it, you lunatic. I’m warmed up.” She pointed her sword at the man. Titania paled. “Acanthus, please—”

“And you, Titania. I don’t understand what’s going on or why you’re here. Anytime I try to understand, you wave me off. You won’t give me straight answers, you insist that the Fifth Commandment is the reason you’ve made it this far. This is textbook manipulation! Every alarm in my head is ringing! How are the alarms not sounding for you too?!”

Titania opened her mouth to speak, but Acanthus cut her off again. “I can even forgive that. Being my friend doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything you say or do.” Her dad appeared in her peripheral vision. “I—I don’t have to like what you’re doing to care about you. But you—you lied to me, Titania. You lied to me. You knew more about the guild than you let on. You knew this was some weirdly intricate initiation ritual. Did you think I was just going to suddenly jump at the chance to join the strange, off-putting mystery guild after asking so many probing questions?”

Titania appeared to be on the verge of tears. “No, it was—”

[Acanthus 0]

“That’s enough.” The man said coldly. Titania fell silent. Acanthus fought an overpowering urge to kill him on the spot. Her voice dropped to a low, barely contained fury. “Do *not* talk to her like that.”

“She is a member of my guild. If I ask her to be silent, she will be silent.” Titania offered no defense, and the man offered a chilling smile to her obedience. “But I believe we have lost the plot. I merely came to offer you a chance to work as a group; one that seeks to end the suffering of the players. Despite your heated nonsense, we are not a ‘cult.’ Merely a guild that operates with structure in secrecy. It is clear you do not share those values, and that’s perfectly acceptable. We won’t bother you anymore.”

“Titania isn’t the one bothering me.”

“But her commitment to something greater than herself is. Come, Titania. We will need to debrief from this morning’s mission.” She began to edge away from Acanthus uncertainly.

Acanthus grabbed her hand. “You are always welcome at the villa. No matter what.”

Titania turned her face away as she broke from Acanthus’ grasp. The man wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and the two disappeared into the wilds of floor seven.

[Acanthus 0]

THREAD CLOSURE

Experience: [Word Count: 4877/10 = 487.7] * [True Tier: 7] * [Group Factor: 1] = 3414 EXP + 1000 EXP = 4414 EXP
Col: 400 (Bonus) + 512 (Laurel Wreath) = 912 col
Other: Rig may now be used as a safe zone.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Acanthus