[PP-F9] Expedition

[Morningstar 0]

Much to the vexation of Morningstar, all roads led back to Floor 9. He hoped that Bandit Camp would be the last of the arid wasteland, but the Furnace of Stylahm lingered on his mind. Atop the tallest volcano of all, he searched for a way to summon the Furnace. Hot wind blasted his sweat-soaked face. Alone, he feign enjoyment. He preferred mountains that didn't spew lava, and hiking in 1,200 degree weather didn't appeal to him either. As usual, there was nothing around but hot rocks and magma. No quest prompt appeared, no indication that there was anything special about Mount Stylahm at all. He pushed up the sleeves of his black undershirt and climbed to a higher point of the volcano.

The hellscape inside the volcano bubbled. It had risen since he'd last been there. He coughed, accidentally breathing in a plume of toxic steam. A status effect appeared on his HUD. He cursed between hacks, crawling a few feet lower. There, overlooking the vast, red flatlands that spread out across the Floor, he lingered until the poison ran out. He could see movement in a few areas near the base of the mountain. Little black pixels slugged around below, probably rock golems or a similar mob variant. He frowned. It was like a nightmarish rendition of Floor 1. The Volcanic Flatlands were more treacherous than the Plains, but the more he looked at them, the more he thought that they were the same.

He was running out of ideas. To begin with, there was little to work with. He had no luck with NPCs—none of them had ever heard of any "Furnace" in the mountains. He felt like he was going mad, which he probably was, considering that the idea of jumping into the volcano was starting to sound astonishingly reasonable.

Later, in Yōgan, Morningstar perused an out-of-the-way antique shop. He was missing something—the key to accessing the quest—and wondered if it was an item. The shop advertised rare items, but in truth it was mostly junk. Sure, nobody else had it, but that was likely because nobody else wanted it. There were ratty used books, some of which in custom languages left untranslated by Cardinal; weapons with basic enhancements, cursed to degrade on a dusty shelf; trinkets and artifacts with no apparent special properties.

His expectations had been low from the start, so when he left the shop empty-handed, he wasn't too displeased. He defaulted to a stone bench in the main plaza and plotted his next moves.

| MORNINGSTAR  | Lv. 74 >> P. 40, Lv. 34  | Status: [ working ]  Notes:  Tier-locked to T2.

Hide contents Morningstar | HP: 850/850 | EN: 110/110 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 47 | LD: 5 | REC: 4 | FLN: 8 | 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 x1 TP Crystal skills   Hide contents mod count: 4/5 STRAIGHT SWORD | RANK 5/5 precision, stamina, ferocity shift: tech MARTIAL ARTS | RANK 5/5 precision shift: aoe 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 data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs   Hide contents statue # | # consumables imperial quarter blend | Damage III breakfast fry | Protein II magical blue potion | Accuracy II 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 | x15 -> x18 | MA TECH-A | x16 | STUN | 13EN | SS TECH-B | x16 | DELAY | SS TECH-D | x16 | SHATTER | SS TECH-F | x12 | AOE STUN | SS TECH-G | x16 | BURN | SS 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==

 

[Baldur 0]

"Hey, Morningstar!"

The voice that suddenly interrupted his day was non-other than the blue haori clad gaijin samurai. He had just emerged from the same antique shop Morningstar himself had left only a few minutes ago. However, Baldur had a very strange item on him. It appeared to be a fishing pole, but made out of some heavy duty metal. When he noticed man see what Baldur was holding, he blushed slightly.

"Sorry, I've been craving some spicy tuna fish on @Snow's sushi, and the best place to get it is here. Gotta admit, I never would have expected to find out that it come from Lava Tuna... I guess that's why it's hot!" He gave an awkward chuckle and then put the item away.

"I guess I have to go find some lava to throw a line into, but it just burns normal fishing poles."

He rested his hand casually on the two swords at his side. Normally a samurai would carry a katana and a wakizashi, but instead Baldur had two katana. The <<Muramasa>> and the <<Ethereal Teather - Zanshin>>. One a legendary item from an old NPC quest, and the other made special for him by Firm Anima.

"What brings you to floor 9? It's not somewhere I typically expect to see Frontliners. Nice work, by the way, on the floor boss fight. You did good."

---

Spoiler

Name: Baldur True Tier: 10 Level: 34 Paragon Level: 65 HP: 1075/1075 EN: 122/122 Stats: Damage: 20 Mitigation: 54 Accuracy: 5 Evasion: 5 Battle Healing: 54 Loot Die: 5 Stealth Rating: -2 AA KEEN: 1 REC: 4 FLN: 4 BLI: 16/-10 BRN: 28 FRZ: 32 Equipped Gear: Weapon/Armor/Trinket: - Etheral Tether - Zanshin AA/Keen/Freeze/Burn Armor/Trinket: - Jade Magatama - Acc/Acc/Eva/Recovery Shield/Armor/Trinket: - Monstsuki Haori - Mit/Mit/Eva/Recovery Combat Mastery: - Combat Mastery: Damage R3 Combat Shift: - TECH Shift Familiar Skill: - Custom Skill: - Skills: - Battle Healing R5 - Charge - Energist - Extended Weight Limit - Fighting Spirit - Katana R5 - Light Armor R5 - Quick Change - Searching R5 Extra Skills: - Concentration - Survival - Forgotten King's Authority - Parry Inactive Extra Skills: - Meditation Addons: - Ferocity - Precision - Resolve - Reveal - Stamina Mods: - Detect - Emergency Recovery - Meticulous Inactive Mods: Battle Ready Inventory: - Basic Teleport Crystal x7 - Group Heal Crystal x7 - Hypnosis x1 - Medium Vitality Snack x5 - Misperception x1 - Safeguard Potion x2 - Warden's Fury x1 - Zanshin or Muramasa x1 Housing Buffs: - Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat - 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 - Dining Room: 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. - Living Room: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. - Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per fishing attempt Guild Hall Buffs: Scents of the Wild Totem: Wedding Ring: Crafting Profession: - Appraising[exp] R5 Gathering Profession: - Fishing[exp] R1

Baldur | HP: 1075/1075 | EN: 122/122 | DMG: 20 | MIT:54 | ACC:5 | AA | KEEN: 1 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:5 | BH:54 | REC: 4 | FLN: 4 | BLI: 16/-10 | BRN: 28 | FRZ: 32 | LD:5

Edited January 3 by Baldur

[Morningstar 0]

Hearing his name, Morningstar cocked his head. He recognized the recently unretired frontliner instantly. Katana-wielders were plentiful in Aincrad, but he found they never looked the part. Baldur, clad in his blue haori, fit into the samurai appearance as if he were born for it.

He wasn't sure who Snow was, nor why anyone would eat a lava fish, but he chuckled regardless. "Maybe try Frostbite. Can you put that on a rod?" he asked rhetorically.

"Thank you. I'm just glad we all made it out alive. A couple of our guys had me scared for a second," he said, leaning into the uncomfortably hard bench. "Honestly, I'm here on business. I hate this place. I'd rather be home, but guild duties call. You wouldn't happen to know anything about a boss on Mount Stylahm, would you?"

An involuntary sigh forced its way out of his mouth. "Anyway, I'll probably call it soon. My luck's shot. Spent it all on appraisals, I think."

Dying Sun, a longsword forged with dark metals, lay sheathed on his lap. He tapped mindlessly on a blood-red crystal imbedded in the hilt, and his eyes flicked to the time. "Are you in a hurry? I was thinking about clearing the local field boss a few times before heading out. Do you feel tagging along?"

[Baldur 0]

Baldur gave a slight chuckle at Morningstar's quip about his fishing pole, and gave the man another look. He would have to reappraise the man. In Baldur's eye, he was still the newbie who showed at the Valentines day tournament, but they had just fought in the trenches together, and in Baldur's world view, that made them brothers. There was also something about the man. While he seemed to be new to the frontline, there was something about him that said he was well prepared for the dangers that faced him. There was a certain special kind of respect that Baldur held for people that were truly competent. Perhaps this would be a good chance for him to really see how the man operated. He had already proved his character by fighting the boss, but Baldur could gauge his true mettle fighting side by side against a Field Boss.

"Sorry, I haven't heard anything about Stylahm. It's been a while since I've been down this far on the tower. A field boss, however, sounds great. Wulfrin spotted me a buff from down here that was very useful in the raid."

Baldur checked both of his katanas, a needless gesture in a video game, but something that seemed to linger. Perhaps a nervous tick from the before times. The gaijin samurai seemed satisfied by whatever it was he had done, and then with a gesture summoned his UI and send an invitation to join a party with Morningstar in a swift, casual gesture of old habits.

"I haven't hunted this one before though, do you have an idea where to start? I figure one of the mountaintops given its a bird, but with a phoenix you never know."

A slight pause, "Do you think that's where you can also get spicy wings?"

Edited January 3 by Baldur

[Morningstar 0]

"Oh yeah? It was probably from our batch then. I grinded Hellstorms for the raid party with Wulfrin and Hirru," he said. Another girl had tagged along, but he couldn't remember her name and she had no presence on the frontlines, from what he could tell. What he did remember was her attitude. She was standoffish and rude, but quite useful in a fight. Maybe those things went hand-in-hand.

"I don't know if phoenixes have enough meat on them for spicy wings," he smiled. "But we can see."

"It's on a smaller mountain though. Over that way," he pointed. "It's a little strange that it isn't somewhere like the Profaned Peak, but you know how it is. Lots of important-looking places are just empty."

He stood and cinched his longsword snugly on his waist. Instinctively, he tapped to accept Baldur's party invitation and led him to the edge of town. He was happy to leave Yogan, and would be even happier after hiking up the phoenix's mountain.

In the short time since Callisto had fallen, Star had taken to helping the tier 1's and 2's of the game. He kept them out of trouble, acting as a meat shield for them while they cleared quests and farmed items. He had seen his fair share of repeat quests and witnessed the gradual growth of hopeful frontliners-to-be. As amazing as it felt to be of use, it was a nice change of pace to form a party with someone experienced. In fact, Morningstar better fit the role of student in their case.

"You retired, right? You weren't at the raid on 27, so it was a surprise to see you on 28. I'm curious about what brought you back."

[Baldur 0]

"Ah, you know Wulfrin and Hirru well then? I just met him in my party for this raid, he was the only one I hadn't fought with before... he..." Baldur knew it was perhaps uncouth to bring up near death encounters, "was a very impressive fighter... I am... glad that he is still with us." He wasn't sure how much the other groups saw about what happened, but Baldur had had a front row seat to the near death of Wulfrin, and the death and resurrection of Freyd.

"I will have to extend to them my thanks."

They made small talk about the phoenix as they walked before Morningstar brought up his apparent retirement.

"I was never far away from the Frontline, so all it took was Jomei saying you guys needed my help. However, the last few floors... were a marathon that took their toll. 24, 25, and 26 were all difficult for various reasons, and not all of them were Kayaba's doing." He let out a breath that spoke volumes about the history that was there and how they weighed on the wanna-be samurai.

"So I take it you were at the previous raid. Wushin or something? What can you tell me about that boss fight? I have noticed there tend to be phases that the designers went through in making the floor bosses, and sometimes you can glean something of the future bosses by what came before."

Edited January 5 by Baldur

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar actively listened to Baldur's reply as they trekked through the Volcanic Flatlands. He hadn't witnessed the floor bosses the samurai spoke of, nor had he heard stories from other players who saw them fall. It was a blank space in his time as a player; a period where he had been too busy elsewhere to pay much attention to the happenings of the frontlines.

He needed to to think before answering the samurai's question. Wushen was a being still burnt into his mind. Ants against a god, they fought the dragon spectacularly. In the end, the players left unscathed. Morningstar found comfort in Floor 28 the first time he laid eyes on it. It was a warm floor--visually, anyway. The autumn weather still called for a jacket. He still felt that way, despite the misadventures in Glyndebourne that he and Freyd had stumbled into.

"Wushen was terrifying," he finally said.

"It was my first raid. It was this giant, six-headed elemental dragon. I remember its eyes best. It had this cold stare, completely void of emotion. Intimidating, I guess, is an apt description. I was lucky to have such a strong team," Star smiled fondly.

"Honestly, most if it is a blur. I'm not sure what I'd glean from it anymore. Callisto was different, though. It was more animalistic, while Wushen almost seemed intelligent. Maybe that's just how it was coded to feel though, I don't know. What did you think of the raid? I can't say I'm not worried about the next one."

[Baldur 0]

Baldur drew the sleeve of his haori across his sweaty brow. It did not bring the same relief it would have in the real world, but the effect it had on his mind still managed to give him a moment of relief. Thankfully he had endless amounts of stamina when it came to hiking across impossibly hot blasted landscapes like this one. Slowly they began to transition from the plains into the foothills on the way to the mountain he had pointed them towards.

"My thoughts on Callisto?" The samurai seemed to taste the words, as if evaluating the first sip of wine.

"It was kind of nice to find something simple again."

He worried that the phrase may leave Star a bit confused, and the gaijin samurai had to work through what he meant by that as well.

"You see, several of the floor bosses we had fought were not animal, but capable of conversation... such bosses seem to have a phycological effect on people who have lost track of what is real and what is not. They begin to sympathize with the humanoid bosses... unfortunately we had several of them in a row. It nearly tore the frontlines apart several times. Throw that together with the floor 25 boss, which was unlike anything before or since... and it was a lot..."

He gave Star a weary, half smile.

"So when we fight a beast that merely requires us to defend against damage and deal it back... such a simple fight is quite enjoyable."

He paused for a moment, taking a drink of water from a canteen.

"Just remember, when it comes to boss fights, you only want to take measured, calculated risks. Don't rely on chance to be savior or villain in your story. Wulfrin got hungry to end the fight, but he misgauged. It almost cost him his life. It was a risk not worth taking. We have only one life, one should not gamble with it like that. There was a time and a place for a gamble like that, but that wasn't it. The other groups who struggled were merely unprepared. It does, however, warm my heart to see so much preparation in the raid. It was not so many floors ago that people were not coming to bosses with nearly any preparation, or only enough to do more damage."

Jacob's Ladder had started off as a guild meant to help train and prepare people for fighting on the frontline. They had all worked together, especially with Firm Anima, to make sure that buffs, feasts, and healing items were supplied. He remembered delivering 100 group heal crystals to the floor 25 raid. Free crystals, but many people hadn't even paid enough attention to pick them up into their inventory. You could lead a horse to water, but you couldn't make it drink. Still, the mission was unchanged. They would work on gathering up consumables and potions and feasts in order to make sure the raid was fully supplied. Everyone didn't necessarily need a hellstorm, but everyone needed healing, mitigation, and the other basic buffs.

"I am a bit worried about this next boss. Changes in tier have historically come with challenging fights. And then the first battle once a new tier begins is a challenge as well... since fewer people have upgraded their equipment. Have you started to prepare for that?"

[Morningstar 0]

Bosses that could reason sounded dangerous. He could only imagine the position it put the previous frontliners in. He counted his lucky stars that his foes hadn't said a word.

Morningstar nodded. "Unintentionally, I'll admit. I keep mystic essence around my shop as much as possible, and I've collected more than usual since the raid. Upgrading equipment is expensive and there are only so many of us that can effectively farm uniques. It'll be a busy time for me, I think."

Their ascent came to an end and at the top of the mountain, they found their prey. The phoenix perched on a stony spire, cleaning its feathers. The chirp of metal caught its attention from afar. Morningstar's sword blade was freed from its shackles, taking its place in the player's firm grip. The fiery stone embedded in its crossguard sparkled, a beautiful contrast to its matte black blade. It was a display of both his mastery of appraisal and Wulfrin's mastery of smithing—one of the many masterpieces they had worked on together.

He met the phoenix in the middle of the flat-topped summit. As soon as Star engaged, it tipped from its ledge, swooping in on them. Hot embers fell from its wings as it glided, screeching dastardly. It tore through the sky quickly, but Morningstar had faced it before. He knew what to expect of it and played accordingly.

His positioning was acceptable. The phoenix dove, pulling up to swipe at the swordsman with sharp talons. A vertical slash against its unprotected torso, however, sent it reeling. It disengaged, but its wing flaps slowed until it couldn't sustain itself in the air. It slammed against the ground, stunned.

Spoiler

POST ACTION | Charge + TECH-A

ID239785 | BD10 | 21+2+3*16-50 = 366 DMG -> Phoenix

EN: -21

Morningstar | HP: 850/850 | EN: 89/110 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 47 | LD: 5 | REC: 4 | FLN: 8 | AA | PARA-V
Baldur | HP: 1075/1075 | EN: 122/122 | DMG: 20 | MIT:54 | ACC:5 | AA | KEEN: 1 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:5 | BH:54 | REC: 4 | FLN: 4 | BLI: 16/-10 | BRN: 28 | FRZ: 32 | LD:5

[2,0] Phoenix | HP: 609/975 | MIT: 50 | DMG: 90 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 0 2

Abilities:

• Ashborn | Upon dropping to 0 HP, the Phoenix’ health will go back to 225, and its DMG will be boosted to 110. This can only happen once per battle.
• Inferno | On an MD 9-10, the Phoenix will rain fire onto its opponents, hitting the Player with the highest hate for 150 mitigatable DMG and applying T2 Burn to the entire party.

 

[Baldur 0]

It was proving his instincts about Morningstar correct .The man knew what he was about, knew to prepare and look ahead into the future, and started fights off with a charge and a stun. All steps that Baldur himself normally followed. Now that it was stunned, it was wide open to any attack that Baldur would level against it. The option opened up to Baldur how he should proceed. He had recently replaced his combat focus from single target to technical. It meant his whole chain of actions was different now. How he would normally have opened up a fight was completely different now. Unlike what Morningstar had done, Baldur would have opened with a <<bull rush>> and a <<delay>> to both stun and debuff the boss. Since Baldur was following up the attack, it could mean that he himself would become the target, and he did have the <<Counter>> attack he could use to allow him to tank the boss better. However, this was a less than challenging fight and Baldur had consumed buffs that would give him an incredible amount of evasion. He could take a measured risk in this case, because even if the boss crit him he wasn't in danger.

So he stepped forward, gripping his katana the <<Ethereal Tether - Zanshin>> in his Iai stance, causing power to swirl around his feet, cascading through him from the blade and blasting the soot and volcanic dust away from him. However, there was no timing this shot, the mob was stunned so he released it as soon as it was ready.

The blade cut through the air, literally. The video game skybox, normally obscured by the terrain, was revealed in what was normally an arc of light that followed sword arts. Instead, the night sky was revealed, nebula and stars and all. As his blade struck the fire chicken, coldfire exploded on impact, blue fire that normalized the air around them for a moment encased the burning creature in ice, preventing it from being able to escape from Morningstar's follow up attack, while the cold burned it in a way it could not resist.

"Batter up!" Baldur called out while he was temporarily frozen by the post sword art delay. He wouldn't say a jinx again, but he was pleased to see how well he an Morningstar were synchronized in their fighting styles.

---

ID#239787 BD:9 (Crit), +1 damage, Freeze Proc, Burn Proc, Keen Proc
20+1+3=24x16= 384 RAW - 50 MIT = 334 DMG Dealt

[2] Morningstar | HP: 850/850 | EN: 89/110 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 47 | LD: 5 | REC: 4 | FLN: 8 | AA | PARA-V
[3] Baldur | HP: 1075/1075 | EN: 101/122 | DMG: 20 | MIT:54 | ACC:5+1[AA]+1[Keen] | AA | KEEN: 1 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:5 | BH:54 | REC: 4 | FLN: 4 | BLI: 16/-10 | BRN: 28 | FRZ: 32 | LD:5 | Charge [0/3]
Phoenix | HP: 247/975 | MIT: 50 | DMG: 90 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -1 2 | [Stunned] | Burned [1/2] 28 | Frozen (32)

Edited January 7 by Baldur

[Morningstar 0]

The phoenix wouldn't have the opportunity to fight back. Baldur and Star were too quick to unleash their plethora of status effects. They battered it like it was a Floor 1 boar and not a lethal field boss. Morningstar swooped in at the end of Baldur's sword art, a shade of green overtaking the length of Dying Sun. He swiped the fire bird on its way down and it burst into flames, fizzling until it was reduced to a pile of grey ash.

"Now we wait," Morningstar said, stretching his arm across his chest.

Star watched in envy as the bird's remains ignited once more. It started as a slow-growing ember and gradually expanded into the shape of a bird. It was a miraculous ability, and to fight against it was rather tedious. To have a skill like that... he could only dream.

He offered the last hit to Baldur while the phoenix regrew in its intangible state.

---

Phoenix takes 32 DMG from Freeze

+4 EN
ID239846 | CD1 | Recovery (Fail)

POST ACTION | TECH-D

ID239847 | BD10 | 21+2*16-30 = 338 DMG + SHATTER + PARA-V -> Phoenix

EN: -13

Phoenix activates Ashborn. +20 DMG, +225 HP

[4] Morningstar | HP: 850/850 | EN: 80/110 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 47 | LD: 5 | REC: 4 | FLN: 8 | AA | PARA-V
[3] Baldur | HP: 1075/1075 | EN: 101/122 | DMG: 20 | MIT:54 | ACC:5+1[AA]+1[Keen] | AA | KEEN: 1 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:5 | BH:54 | REC: 4 | FLN: 4 | BLI: 16/-10 | BRN: 28 | FRZ: 32 | LD:5 | Charge [0/3]
Phoenix | HP: 225/975 | MIT: 30 50 | DMG: 90 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -1 2 | Burned [1/2] 28 | Frozen (32) | Paralyzed | Shatter: 1/3 [-20]

[Baldur 0]

"Well isn't that a nice trick."

A moment later and the Phoenix was back in action, though its health bar was still low enough that it wouldn't last long. Baldur spun around, and before the Phoenix could get much higher into the air, drove his sword straight through to its core. It hovered for a second, its wings no longer flapping, and then exploded into a shower of multi-hued crystals, shimmering in the light of the floors volcanic glow.

"huh.." Baldur said once the last hit rewards popped up, "Doesn't look like it drops any <<Hot Wings>>. That's unfortunate. Are you a ranch dressing kinda person? It's unfortunate that Japan doesn't really believe in ranch dressing. I know some people have tried to recreate it here, but it tends to have a more... umami flavor... it just doesn't feel quite right, though the wasabi and soy sauce are spot on."

He whipped his sword around in a gesture that was obviously well practiced and ritualistic, before he slowly, and manually, sheathed his sword. A moment later, his hand left the handle almost reluctantly.

"So I think I have a <<spyglass>> in here somewhere." Without hesitation, Baldur opened up the UI for his inventory and a moment later something dropped into his hand. "Is this the only hilltop they spawn on?"

---

ID#239849 BD: 5+7 = 12 (hit)
20x12 = 240 RAW - 30 MIT = 210 DMG Dealt + 28 Burn + 32 Shatter = 270 DMG Total

[4] Morningstar | HP: 850/850 | EN: 80/110 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 47 | LD: 5 | REC: 4 | FLN: 8 | AA | PARA-V
[5] Baldur | HP: 1075/1075 | EN: 93/122 | DMG: 20 | MIT:54 | ACC:5+1[AA]+1[Keen] | AA | KEEN: 1 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:5 | BH:54 | REC: 4 | FLN: 4 | BLI: 16/-10 | BRN: 28 | FRZ: 32 | LD:5 | Charge [1/3]
Phoenix | HP: 0/975 | MIT: 30 50 | DMG: 90 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -1 2 | Burned [1/2] 28 | Frozen (32) | Paralyzed | Shatter: 1/3 [-20]

Edited January 7 by Baldur

[Morningstar 0]

"Ranch? It's a staple. I'm a blue cheese guy, though," Star slipped his blade away.

He flicked sweat off his face, melting atop the dry mountain. Eagerly, he took a seat. He had to make his own comfort in the rocks, since there was nothing soft in sight. "There's a range in which they can spawn, but for the most part it'll be up here. Pray we won't need to walk far," Morningstar chuckled.

Star's <<tracking>> activated in sequence with Baldur retrieving his spyglass. If it did spawn elsewhere, they would know. Regardless, they had some time to kill. "I like the way you fight. Of all the katana-wielders I've seen--and I can count about a trillion--you're a contender for the cleanest."

His sword, detached from his belt, lay at his side. Frontliners intrigued him. Weapon choice, fighting style, how much time they had in the field. Everything varied from player to player, with no one-size-fits-all playstyle. He and Baldur were similar in many ways, but far from exact clones. Star thought the samurai was closer to Wulfrin, actually. The burn and freeze combination was reminiscient of the newbie frontliner's own enhancement choices.

The sky was overcast, as always. A sea of grey, spanning from one corner to the other. 

"I've been on this floor for days looking for a boss in the mountains. I'm not even sure that it is a boss. I'm not even sure that it exists at all," he admitted. "If I didn't hate it before, I definitely do now. Do you do much scouting?"

---

Activating <<Tracking>>

Phoenix respawn timer reduced from 15 -> 10

1/10

[Baldur 0]

Baldur listened intently as Star taught him about the floor field boss and its spawning habits. Then the man pulled up a seat and so Baldur did as well, trying to find something that looked the least painful to sit on. His childhood had been filled with playing on lava rock, but he was much older now and that seemed to make a big different. He needed to remember to go find an artisan to make him a kyokuroku chair.

"Thanks, if you can imagine it, when I picked up the katana there were only three of us. A guy named Ryujin Sealord, Keith, and myself. It was seen as a bit of a waste of skill points at the time. I had planned to go with a different build, but when Kayaba announced it was a death game, I decided I should go with something I was already familiar with. Since then, I've developed my own style that's a bastardization of real sword fighting and the way the game works."

Baldur gestured and interacted with his menu for a moment, then a small bento box appeared before them. He took the top off and revealed a few lines of sushi.

"Please help yourself."

He took a piece and chewed on it, covering his mouth with the sleeve of his haori.

"I try to use the most efficient combat possible, even making use of lower level sword arts when I don't need the "big boom" skills. I know a lot of people like big numbers, but I've seen enough fights, even boss raids, where people run out of energy."

When Star talked about the boss he was hunting, Baldur looked impressed.

"That's dangerous work doing on your own, though I imagine you've got a good sense for when to use your teleport crystal. What do you know about this boss? Is it another Field boss? There's generally only one type per floor. Though the only scouting I usually do is for Labyrinths. I was never much for that type of skill, though I'm leaning into it more. Hirru is usually the one to carry my weight. I think I've found... I don't know... 5 lab guardians? Maybe more, maybe less. Were you involved in the last one?"

--- 

Using <<Spyglass>> 1/9
Phoenix Respawn Timer 10 -> 5
Post 2/5

Edited January 9 by Baldur

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar thought that it was pretty lucky for Baldur to come into the game with a weapon he was comfortable wielding. He picked up straight swords faster than many others he knew, especially with the system's assistance. Regardless, combat had a learning curve and his only experience with it was choreographed. In the early days, Star had struggled. Safe zones were his friend and when he did leave them, avoidance was far safer than engaging with mobs.

He picked from Baldur's bento box. Sushi was his guilty pleasure, unbeknownst to the samurai. "I know what that's like. I don't leave the house without a slot or two of <<recovery>> these days."

Star nodded. "I sort of fell into it. Freyd and I ran into trouble in Glyndebourne. We were separated and I ended up looking for him in the Fire Forest. Next thing I know, I'm fighting a giant moose.

"I'll say, I experienced the worst of scouting on Floor 28. That boss room was... horrific, to say the least."

Blood, gore, and filth invaded his memories. He tried not to dwell on it.

"Anyway, I don't think the one down here is a field boss. Like you said, there's only one per floor. I suppose it's not impossible, but I'd be surprised if it turned out that rule had changed. I'd wager it's a new quest, but I can't find anything that starts it. Oh well. It'll turn up, eventually."

He sucked down another sushi roll. "What's your take on 29? It's a freaky place."

[Baldur 0]

Baldur gave an unusually boisterous laugh considering his normally reserved demeanor when Star mentioned how unpleasant the labyrinth was. He didn't give any details, but it still gave Baldur a flashback.

"You know, when we scouted the labyrinth for the fight against the floor 26 boss, it was in the city sewers." He chuckled some more, catching his breath and then wiping a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye, "We fought a giant sewer rat, a la Master Splinter from the Ninja Turtles."

Baldur took another piece of sushi and popped it into his mouth, letting the last bit of his laughter wash away while Star talked about the field boss and then asked his opinion of floor 29.

"I hate floors like 29. The grimdark, edgy, trying to prove something floors. Whoever designed it probably read too much Steven King and HP Lovecraft as a child. The no safe zones though... that is new, and I don't like new when it effects the underpinnings of how things work. The one thing we can rely on Kayaba for is that he wants this world to feel real. He wants to watch us struggle through his sick little game, but I get a much more of a Deist, clockmaker sort of way. He built this world, and set everything into motion, and is now sitting back on his throne probably at the top of the tower and getting off by watching us jump through his 'cleverly' laid traps."

It was clear the thought of this sickened Baldur and he had nothing but complete contempt for the man.

"Killing us would be easy, but instead he made 100 floors. A marathon, rather than a sprint. He wants us to go through every floor, even if we die on the last one, he wants to see what the ants in his little ant colony will do. So when things change like floor 29 not having a central settlement or even a safe zone, it always makes me wonder. Is this to keep us on our toes, or is this a new trend, cause its gotta be one or the other."

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar laughed. "Splinter, huh? There's always something in the sewers. I don't know why they can't just be... sewers. I did a short dungeon in Taft's once upon a time. Not exactly a prime tourist location."

Baldur's summary of Floor 29 was more than appropriate. It was a vile floor full of vile creatures. Plus, it always seemed to be raining and the shipyard smelled bad. "The fact that there aren't any safe zones makes me wonder if the past twenty-eight floors were on easy mode. I guess we can only hope that this is a one time deal; that he's not pulling away our defenses. People rely on safe zones for more than just protection. They've built lives inside."

"I wonder about Kayaba," he added, continuing. "He's kind of a weirdo. You'd think he'd want to experience the world from a first person perspective. You know, actually play the game he built. I wonder if we're just one big human experiment."

Nearby, their fiery friend reappeared. "Ah, well. Back to it."

[Baldur 0]

When Star brought up Kayaba wanting to experience the game from front row seats, Baldur's mind's eye turned back to Freyd, and seeing him disappear into the boss's embrace, only to reappear somewhere else. Then to watch the man die before he was resurrected right before Baldur's eyes. Perhaps Kayaba was there watching from the front row.

"Ope, let's get to it then."

Baldur put the lid on the bento as the Phoenix grew closer, then slowly put the food back into his inventory and dusted off his haori before resettling it around his shoulders as the Phoenix screeched and moved into a dive attack. Baldur glanced over his shoulder at the bird, and then his form just... flickered, and was gone.

Then the bird came crashing back to the ground, with Baldur's katana sticking out of it as he drove it into the ground, his katana sticking out of it like he had pinned it to the ground.

"I feel like I still need to be able to stretch. I'm so used to being able to one shot these things."

---

ID#240373 BD:1 +5acc +1AA +1keen +1conc =9 -2 EVA -1 charge = 6 (hit)
Tech-A applies Stun 20+3x16=368 RAW - 50 MIT = 318 DMG

Baldur | HP: 1075/1075 | EN: 93/122 | DMG: 20 | MIT:54 | ACC:5+1[AA]+1[Keen] | AA | KEEN: 1 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:5 | BH:54 | REC: 4 | FLN: 4 | BLI: 16/-10 | BRN: 28 | FRZ: 32 | LD:5 | Charge [0/3]
Morningstar | HP: 850/850 | EN: 80/110 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 47 | LD: 5 | REC: 4 | FLN: 8 | AA | PARA-V
Phoenix | HP: 657/975 | MIT: 50 | DMG: 90 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 0 [Stunned]

Edited January 22 by Baldur

[Morningstar 0]

For a moment, Star thought Baldur looked awfully serious. His expression changed when Star pointed out the respawned phoenix, and so he ignored the hunch.

Baldur's quick reflexes brought the bird down. Morningstar moved in concurrence. Together, they chipped away at the field boss' shrinking health bar until but a sliver remained. The stun wore off and it shot back into the sky before either of the swordsmen could deal a finishing blow. 

"Yeah. She's tanky for a bird," Star replied.

The mob circled overhead, carefully searching for an opportunity to dive. It let out an ear-piercing screech, which Morningstar took as anger. He wondered if it had the intelligence to realize the severity of its chances. The bird was doomed to fall, and yet it kept on fighting.

Eventually, it made a move. It swooped down, darting towards the pair like a bolt of lightning. Morningstar couldn't tell who in particular it was aiming for, only that intended to deal damage. He readied his sword in preparation.

---

4 EN
ID240597 | CD8 | Recovery (+8)

POST ACTION | TECH-D

ID240598 | BD7 | 21+16*16-30 = 562 DMG + SHATTER -> Phoenix

EN: -12

Phoenix is stunned. Stun fades.

Baldur | HP: 1075/1075 | EN: 93/122 | DMG: 20 | MIT:54 | ACC:5+1[AA]+1[Keen] | AA | KEEN: 1 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:5 | BH:54 | REC: 4 | FLN: 4 | BLI: 16/-10 | BRN: 28 | FRZ: 32 | LD:5 | Charge [0/3]
Morningstar | HP: 850/850 | EN: 110/110 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 47 | LD: 5 | REC: 4 | FLN: 8 | AA | PARA-V
Phoenix | HP: 95/975 | MIT: 50 30 | DMG: 90 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 0 [Stunned] | Shatter: -20 (1/3)

[Baldur 0]

As the <<Phoenix>> dove down to attack them, Baldur stepped in front of Morningstar. It wasn't an act of bravery to protect the man, he obviously didn't need Baldur's help with the Phoenix, other than efficiency's sake. No, Baldur stepped in front of Morningstar so that they were was no question about where the bird would go. Rather than trying to target it with a sword art and guess who it might attack, Baldur put both of them in its flight path. As entered the part of its diving arc where it came straight at them, Baldur sliced the air once, then twice, and as he did so crescent arcs of light wobbled off from his blade into the air, cutting the mythical creature before it even got within arm's reach and crashed into the ground, where it promptly turned into a shower of luminous, rainbow colored polygons... that then slowly conformed into a large, fire shrouded egg, before a new bird burst forth from it, streaking into the air.

"So how many of these things do you wanna farm? I know this means we each get one, but I'm up for a few more if you are."

Baldur watched the phoenix soar through the air, then turn to face them once again with fire in its eyes.

---

ID#241139 BD:5 CD:6

5+7-0=Hit!
20x12 (ST-1)=240 DMG - 30 MIT = 210
Regain 4 Energy, -10 Energy

Baldur | HP: 1075/1075 | EN: 87/122 | DMG: 20 | MIT:54 | ACC:5+1[AA]+1[Keen] | AA | KEEN: 1 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:5 | BH:54 | REC: 4 | FLN: 4 | BLI: 16/-10 | BRN: 28 | FRZ: 32 | LD:5 | Charge [1/3]
Morningstar | HP: 850/850 | EN: 110/110 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7 | BH: 47 | LD: 5 | REC: 4 | FLN: 8 | AA | PARA-V
Phoenix | HP: 225/975 | MIT: 50 30 | DMG: 110 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 | Shatter: -20 (1/3)

Edited yesterday at 03:33 AM by Baldur