[SP-F5] Gloriae Invidia (<<Butcher Of The Sands>>)

[Kindling 0]

A splash of cold water was always a nice way to wake up to reality. There was nothing more refreshing than having those crystal clear, ice cold droplets hit your face, granting reprieve from the collected sand, and the merciless beating of the Sun's heat against one's skin. Kindling thought so, anyway. To him, at this moment, this was life's greatest pleasure. That feeling of ridding himself of each minute particle of silica and dirt, dispelling the irritation that came with having such embed within his pores was exactly the relief he needed. His expression relaxed, jaw slack to simply experience that wave of relief that came as a result of having splashed his own face several times with the water that now dripped back down into the pool. No sooner had that moment passed, than he had leaned down to cup another handful with just one palm, and bring it to his lips. Enjoying a refreshing drink from that same vibrant oasis while his other hand stretched out and helped maintain balance by finding purchase on a nearby stone. Only when the feeling of a parched throat had been sated, was he able to forgive the indignity of his current posture and stand up again. Wiping a hand over his face and halting the trickle of any stray droplets from his wash, considering that enough of a break from the determined goal. Now, blue eyes scanned over the length of the sand, attempting to peer through the smooth, delicate peaks of hills made by accumulated sand, as well as the clouds of dust made on this particularly windy day. Lip pursed into a half-lipped grimace, his brows furrowed, thinking about how unfortunate he was to have a day here where there was no breeze. No, instead, he was stuck with gusts of air that only took the warmth out of the sky and pushed it against anything that stood vertically. 

A minor annoyance that wouldn't put the brakes on his determined result. Even if he was currently stuck in a loop. Those blue eyes now drifted up to the top right of his vision, his head remaining still. The Minimap was there, as well as the shared map information purchased from a Broker back at the city of <<Fortaleza>>. Nothing of note there; seeing only the blue outlines of the pools of water he was standing by, as well as the grey lines of boulders and errant shrubbery placed throughout the endless desert. Which left this wanderer with the option of recalling the directions given to him. 

"West to the Firefly Oasis, a nice little spot of wildlife - at night."
A sight Kindling would miss on this particular visit. He didn't have a particular interest in waiting out the entire morning and afternoon until evening, simply to see bugs that light up. Even despite the sudden thought that he had never actually seen Fireflies in real life. His home back outside, supposedly, used to be their natural habitat. Yet, they were all gone. 'Maybe another time.'

<<Sando Satsu>> was waiting on the other side of this desert. Glory was waiting, more like. Casting his own shadow instead of watch the show put on by others.

"Northwest from there, who knows how many miles."
He finished reciting the instructions given, looking that way. Giving one last glance to the pool and thinking to materialize a waterskin-cannister from within his inventory. Bending down on one knee to scoop it through pristine water, filling it entirely, and wiping the excess across his forehead. He'd certainly need the extra help on keeping the temperature down in these conditions. A quick drink from that waterskin, before the cap was twisted back on, and it disappeared back into his inventory with a simple hand motion. That was it, it was time to carry on. 

---

Spoiler

Kindling's Stats, and Skills

Kindling | HP: 660/660 | EN: 82/82 | DMG: 18 | ACC:5 | EVA:4 | BRN-IM  | PARA-IM | BH:32 | HB: 26 | BLD: 48  | LD:4 | (Unhindered applied since it is not in sheet, giving +1 ACC, +1 EVA, +20 HP).                                                                                                                        
Equipment and Consumables
All enhancements reflected in the stat block unless otherwise specified. I stoled this format from Acanthus.

Spoiler

 

Equipment
Weapon | Hand Of The Mountain | +2 DMG, +1 BLD
Trinket | Sahelanthropus | +3 Evasion
Trinket | Koga's Wallet | Holy Blessing 2 | Fireproof | Para-IM 

Consumables
Water Cannister (x1)
+20 HP (5*Tier) Out of Combat Healing.

Unused Inventory
Tier 4 Blank Dungeon Map
Spyglass (x3)
Water Cannister(x2)
Teleport Crystal (x1)

 

 

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

Spoiler

 

Combat Mastery and Shift
Combat Mastery: Accuracy R3
ST Shift

Skills
Battle Healing R5
Unhindered
Addon: Precision
Mod: Detect (1/5)
Searching R4
Polearm R5
Addon: Ferocity

Extra Skills

First Aid R5            

 

 

 

[Kindling 0]

The sand made no sound at all beneath his feet. It wasn't needed to see that he was making painfully slow progress with each movement. No, instead of sound, the man's eyes could see it. A jacketed arm was folded as a visor in front of his face, rapped around such that most of his sightline directly ahead would simply be his elbow, and the cloth of his grey clothing. Using those two facts to shield himself from the gusts of wind that sent sand in a chaotic flurry, and filling the air with the sizzling of the particles hitting each other, and being picked up in large blankets. The time he had taken to wash his face off back at the Oasis was a pointless endeavor - the fruits of which having already been undone by the weather. Nature could be cruel like that. Every so often, Kindling would tilt his chin back up, to attempt to see through the veil of dust, to get a glimpse of his target. Or anything at all that stuck above the sand and could temporarily act as shelter, really. No such luck, his only option now was to press on, deeper into the desert and away from civilization. With his only company being the skeletal remains of other creatures who braved the sands, and had lost their fight.

It was one such sight that caused the man to stop. The sound of a dry branch breaking underneath his foot brought with it some amount of curiosity. There, something resembling a large femur-like bone was there, still wet with blood on one end. Urgency crept through his veins, immediately recognizing that something wasn't quite right. His arm moved away from his head, trying to get a better view of his immediate surroundings, and earning him the sting of sand going right into his eyes. Though he was fast to bring his thumbs up, wiping away what he could by rubbing them, and getting a glimpse of exactly what he had hoped he wouldn't see. Something of a massive bison-like camel. Was the best way he knew how to describe it. It's skin tight from dehydration, the set of six humps on its back all having burst and leaked their contained fluid. Limbs still twitching from it's fresh trip to the void, brought on by whatever had taken a massive bite from it's stomach. A bite that had cleaned this monster out of it's vital organs entirely. The gruesome scene itself wasn't what caused the man to flick his hand, and materialize his long black spear, <<Hand Of The Mountain>>, but rather, the implication of whatever had caused that damage.

In that moment of caution, Kindling caught the sound of shifting sand. It was subtle, quiet. Like the sand itself was a shifting feline, about to pounce on it's prey. He could feel the strange 'pulling' sensation one gets in their ears when something distant behind them makes a sound. The moment of stillness only made his thoughts louder. 

'Move.' 

He obeyed that inner voice in that exact moment, throwing himself in a semi-flip around so that he landed away from where he was just standing. At just the right moment too, having narrowly avoided the open jaws containing four sets of circularly aligned teeth of a large, aquatic looking monster. In the flash of it's lunge for his previous position, and then sinking back into the sand below, it's form could hardly be made out. The edges of its body blurred by it's color matching the thick cloud of dust in the air, and the speed by which it moved. He had reacted at just the right moment - having listened to that instinctual order to move at the exact same moment the predator had chosen to attack. But now, it was important to keep moving, and try to track the large fin in the sand. Intent on not becoming it's next meal.

---

 

Kindling | HP: 660/660 | EN: 82/82 | DMG: 18 | ACC:5 | EVA:4 | BRN-IM  | PARA-IM | BH:32 | HB: 26 | BLD: 48  | LD:4
<<Sand Shark>> | HP: 555/555 | MIT: 35 | DMG: 50 | BLEED: 1 slot of T1 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 | FIELD BOSS

[Kindling 0]

A Sand Shark, not the first time he had seen one. This one was the largest of them, though. A grin spread across his face, just as he moved again to dodge another dolphin-like leap from the surface of the sand into the air.

"Come and get it, buddy."
He taunted, just as he quickly planted his feet down, and threw himself back in a dramatic backstep. Clasping the length of black handle on his spear. It was the perfect movement in that moment. No sooner had he made the maneuver than he had predicted what the monster would do in response. Rising straight up from the loose ground like a shark-shaped rocket. It's body vertical, teeth gnashing as it wished that it had gotten a mouthful of human bone and skin. 

Instead, it got a slash of <<Hand Of The Mountain>>'s three star points for spear heads across it's exposed belly. Leaving behind not a bloody gash, but a pixelated streak that looked more like a thin red line. Kindling paused his momentum, swinging his left foot around and close to the ground in order to pivot. Ready for it's descent back to the sand. Just before allowing it make contact, the man met the trajectory of the shark with that of his spear. Making sure to maximize the time he had to deliver a series of fast, consecutive stabs into it. Just before the monster sank back into the ground. Proving to himself that he was faster than it. To solidify that fact, once more Kindling was relatively still. Spear again in both hands. Blue eyes sweeping, and head tilted to keep the increasingly thick dust cloud out from blasting his retinas. Counting to himself, 'One... Two...' and not allowing it to get to three. This time sliding low to the side with a motion of his spear just to add extra force.

Which only let the monster arch over where his head just was. The countdown was perfectly in tuned. Though his window to retaliate was extremely small. Instead taking the moment for his right hand to go down to his waist, double checking that the enchanted wallet of Koga was still attached to the silvery chain. Verified to be, that left the primary priority to be to simply get the sand armor potion from this pitiful animal. Only, to also be careful in not getting too carried away with his movements. The last thing he needed was to be steps off, or to get turned around. Keeping in mind to constantly scan over his entire UI. Watching the map, to be sure that he wasn't moving too far from the original point he had started this dance, just as well keeping track of his stats and HP. For now, he had been spared the buffering damage of the sandstorm thanks to the water of the Oasis. 

'Move.'
The instinct in his mind spoke up again to interrupt the status report. Once more stepping forward to dodge the flailing, stiff body of the Shark. Then it was back to double checking for debuffs. With no change there. That left just the HP bar of his current enemy. Already depleted from his first attack, though by an amount Kindling would consider insignificant. He could simply do better, and fully intended to on the monster's next opening. To which he was confident there would be plenty, this beast was nothing compared to him. Barely more than a scary story for children. Soon, not much more than an old tale for those who follow in the footsteps Kindling intended to create.

---

Roll: 241408   BD5    CD5    LD2    MD2
Rank 4, ST-I. -12 Energy. BD 5. +5 Acc -2 Eva = 8. Hit. ST Specialist.
18*13 = 234 - 35 MIT = 199 Damage

MD 2. +1 ACC - 4 EVA = -1, Miss.

 

Kindling | HP: 660/660 | EN: 69/82 | DMG: 18 | ACC:5 | EVA:4 | BRN-IM  | PARA-IM | BH:32 | HB: 26 | BLD: 48  | LD:4
<<Sand Shark>> | HP: 356/555 | MIT: 35 | DMG: 50 | BLEED: 1 slot of T1 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 | FIELD BOSS

Edited Thursday at 07:12 AM by Kindling

[Kindling 0]

If there was a way to record or stream gameplay like this, this situation would have made one hell of a short or story in some quick-video format app. Expertly waiting, reading, and dodging every lunge, bite, self-propelled shot, and swing by the <<Sand Shark>>. Slap on some shitty bass boosted music, mess with the filter, and everyone could lose their minds in the comment section about just how fucking good he was at this. Swinging his body around with admittedly strenuous use of his core and legs, while watching and maintaining perfect distance with the enemy question. Only to catch another opening as it thrashed it's way to the surface of the sand. This time, the monster opted more for the strategy that a rabid, diseased dog would choose. It's body zig-zagging itself along the spine wildly, while sticking close to the ground. Kicking the sand built up off it's body into the dust cloud, but instead of momentum, trying to go for more pointed snaps of its jaw left and right. Turning when he moved to get around it, or forcing itself forward with the power of it's mouth when he simply stepped back out of it. Kindling reached forward with his weapon, using the handle to tap the nose of sand shark while it chomped at nothing but dust and oxygen.

"Now, now. You gotta use that nose of your's to get me. You're not giving it your all."
Chastising the bundle of pixels and frankly, stupid code that made up this thing. As though it had any ability or need to comprehend what it was he was saying. The wisdom he was trying to impart fell on mostly deaf ears. Only being responded to with more wild snapping before it tried to move forward again and get him within those rows of teeth. An offer that Kindling simply declined, moving faster than it, his tri-tip spear jabbing down below, just past the bottom lip, before his hand retracted. Just in time to catch it's mouth closing, to cut away at the skin that tried to fold over his weapon. The steel getting caught in it's teeth, earning it the privilege of losing a few to the pixelated damage caused by the man simply yanking it back out before it used the hold to jerk his weapon out of it's grasp. 

That was enough to send it back under the sand. Back to this game, it seemed. Making it all the easier to just wait his two second count down again, and then another movement. A simply jump up with it, then to use its eruption out of the ground as more upward momentum. Which only lead to a reversal, allowing him to fly back down with the spear as his focal point. Slamming into the monster, and then flourishing it back over head for the two-birds effect of getting another strike in, and getting off it's back. Not really all that interested in being dragged underneath the surface to witness what it's like to swim through sand. That hit was a lot better. One that could help Kindling maintain his self-confidence. Though it was through the annoyance of having his ability to hit more reduced. Only able to get off smaller combos than what he had unlocked. Flicking away that irritation with the thought that it only meant he'd get to save some of his energy for his intended target. This would do well as a warm up for the day. A warm up that was hopefully over soon enough, so that he could spend more time to use water and get all of this sand out of his eyes.

---

Roll: 241409    BD7    CD5    LD19    MD6
Rank 4, ST-II. -15 Energy. BD 7. +5 Acc -2 Eva = 10. Hit.
18*16 = 288 - 35 MIT = 253 Damage

MD 6. +1 ACC - 4 EVA = 3, Miss.

(Just realized only Rank 4 Sword Arts can be used against this monster. Will Change math in a bit.)

Kindling | HP: 660/660 | EN: 55/82 | DMG: 18 | ACC:5 | EVA:4 | BRN-IM  | PARA-IM | BH:32 | HB: 26 | BLD: 48  | LD:4
<<Sand Shark>> | HP: 103/555 | MIT: 35 | DMG: 50 | BLEED: 1 slot of T1 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 | FIELD BOSS

Edited Thursday at 07:14 AM by Kindling

[Kindling 0]

It was more of the same. Lunging, dodging, thrashing, slashing. Repeat. The timing was entirely readable, one moment into the next, followed by that process with limited variation. It was fun for Kindling just to move around like he was, twisting his entire body around in order to skip the attacks of the creature. Absolutely flexing on it not just with his statline, but with his skill. A level of it that felt just so innate. Like destiny chose him specifically to end the short, undynamic life of this obstacle. If one could even call it a life. Nothing more than a set of instructions that commanded it to fling it's body at anything it could feel through the tremors in the sand, or smell within it's home. Why had he ever been worried about something just so simple? There was nothing to fear here. Three of these together would struggle to lay a scratch on him, let alone a singular one. The bite it had left into the other animal that Kindling now danced and moved over without so much as a second thought, had left a much more intimidating impression. The thought of it now only left him smiling. Of course this was no challenge. 

Play time was over, though. There was no point in just having fun dodging around other than to frustrate the monster. Something it didn't need much help with - that dial was turned up to one hundred the moment Kindling was within it's aggro range. He breathed in with this realization, letting out slowly to stifle a sigh that he felt in his chest. Another count to two, and then a dodge. This appearance only earning it a long drag of his weapon across it's body, and then a stab into it's tail just before it could submerge back into the sand. That final poke from <<Hand Of The Mountain>> caused it to stop in place, it's outer layer beginning to glow a white-hot color, and flake away. Before it burst into millions of pieces that faded as quickly as they spread. 

Blue eyes moved to the corner of their sockets. Finding that nothing at all had changed. The corners of his mouth lowered from their grin to a sour curl, mimicking the look he had given to the map back at the oasis. It wasn't worth anything. His numbers and gear were simply too much, and overpowered any challenge this floor could pose. A complete waste of his time. Go figure. His fingers went up to pinch the bridge of his nose, sliding down on each side to rub his closed eyes. Feeling the flakes of sand bundle up at the corners just above his tear ducts, and begin push out and away what had built up from the loose particles in the air. When that wasn't enough, he took his waterskin and dumped some into his eyes. A move that caused them to sting more, but only briefly. Wet sand was much easier to remove than dry sand was. Soon enough, his eyes were given as much relief as he could manage in this situation. Before twisting the cap back onto the canister, he took a drink himself, warding off some of the heat that the sand and sun were working together to accumulate onto his body. There was no loot to be gotten either, given his difference in stats from this floor. Another thing to encourage players to go play in their level, and push the boundary ever forward. Now it was just time to catch his breath, and continue on. Elbow just under his brows, head tilted down. It was time to continue Northwest, ever onward. Watching only as his feet appeared and disappeared in the dust and wind. His pants and clothes becoming increasingly caked in it.

---

Roll: 241410    BD7    CD12    LD11    MD5
Rank 4, ST-I. -12 Energy. BD 5. +5 Acc -2 Eva = 8. Hit. ST Specialist.
18*13 = 234 - 35 MIT = 199 Damage

MD 5. +1 ACC - 4 EVA = 2, Miss.

Kindling | HP: 660/660 | EN: 44/82 | DMG: 18 | ACC:5 | EVA:4 | BRN-IM  | PARA-IM | BH:32 | HB: 26 | BLD: 48  | LD:4
<<Sand Shark>> | HP: -96/555 | MIT: 35 | DMG: 50 | BLEED: 1 slot of T1 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 2 | FIELD BOSS

No Rewards. This enemy isn't within my Loot Minimum, even if I scale down to T1. Did it for the Glory.

Do I still get the Sand Armor Potion??

 

Edited Thursday at 08:16 AM by Kindling

[Kindling 0]

That would be it for hours. Slow steps trudging along, leaving craters in the sand where his feet made contact, and then lift again to kick some of it up and forward. Most of the time, his prints were erased. Lost to time by the storm not moments after he had left them, leaving no mark or legacy on this path. Just as there were no footprints in front of him, despite the fact that he knew hundreds of players likely made this same trek. No, that was more reserved for some of the dungeons of the world, the labyrinths. That, and the Monument of Life. Those were the ways players left their stain on history here. Either through the prompts that told who got the final hit on a boss in the tower that led on to the new floor, the emptiness of the dungeon leading up to each prompt, and then their name etched into the stone by an unseen force. There was a moment where he looked back to where he had come. Unable to see behind him through the whirling wind and dirt. All three of those required eyes to see it. It wasn't enough that the world had changed. Or that someone died fighting. Someone had to care. The prompts and the stone were just there for others to see. To remember their story.

History is a story told through the generations. Events that mattered so much people remembered, and talked about it. Passing it down to their friends, their descendants. Carved into their minds, their way of life. That fact also made it susceptible to exaggeration, and twisting of details. Because, ultimately, it didn't matter what actually happened. People would only tell about what they saw, or heard. He could lie about these footsteps in the sand. Tell a tale about how he fought four, or five, or a dozen of those sharks at once. How he bounded across the dunes at lightning speed and back, had gotten home before anyone was even serving dinner back at the city. 

'But no one would care.'
It simply wasn't a feat, or a story that History cared to write down into the minds and hearts of others. There was no lesson to learn, no idol to look up to - no villain to hate and be wary of. That story would simply be about one guy, walking across the desert. Who would ever read anything about that? Just a lone man, and the endless sand. That curl of his lip creeped back into his expression. This was just a first step. No one talked about what tutor Caesar had, or Napoleon's favorite place to eat lunch when he was a teenager. Those were just parts of their lives that led them to the greatness they became. His head turned back in front of him.

The windstorm had been braved. It wasn't long after the sun had set, the ivory moon rising in it's place to shower the desert in ivory light, that the wind had gone with the former. Slowing to a small breeze, and then eventually calming entirely. It had taken nearly the entire daylight, and his eyes went to the map in his field of vision. Still no red dot, still no circle of banners and awnings anywhere on this floor. Perhaps an hour into the evening, Kindling would stop briefly. Grabbing his clothing by the handfuls, and moving each article around in order to fan off, or shake away all the Desert that had accumulated on him. When that stopped working, he used his hands to wipe away what he could. When that stopped working, he gave up on it. Figuring this was a good enough result for now. Relieved to be able to take a more straightened posture. More dignified, less hard on his back and calves than having to lean forward against the turbulence. Free to listen to the yelling of frilled lizards, and whatever monsters in the night, as life continued now with the blazing sun gone. Having only left a vacuum of increasingly chilly air to seep down on the open land. He was much suited to those conditions, and happy not to have his crimson head of hair be completely covered in the beige and brown colors of this god-forsaken floor. 

[Kindling 0]

With some wild luck, or perhaps pre-determined destiny, there was something else walking in the night. Kindling saw first only the moving of shapes, registering mostly the change in lighting to catch his attention, however small it was. It caught his attention, causing the man to look, and examine it from his great distance. Some sort of massive rock formation, the moon lighting it up in long streaks as its craggy surface, painting every single elevation and depression granted by the winds and rains of time. Well, more like scratched on there by some underpaid visual artist, more likely. Or generated by preset of rules and guidelines by an algorithm for the purposes of the game.

Though cracks, pours, and piles of sand weren't the only things riddled on the rock surface. He'd see it again, the shapes moving around it. More clearly able to make out bipedal silhouettes, wrapped in light cloth that fluttered behind the figures, plural now. Of the two, now three, he saw, there was some kind of scarf or hat on their heads, allowing a long piece to hang down that floated behind them as they meandered through the night. He was much too distant to hear the echo or fleeting words of any chatter, or even of any sound at all. Another one emerged from the side of the rock formation that Kindling could see, the corner of wooden doors catching the moonlight, before disappearing into it's shadow again. Meaning now four. This recent arrival having something else that was noticeable, brought to Kindling's attention by the particular angle of his body. A long, curved blade attached to his hip. And now, the more he looked, the more it seemed another of the other two had similar weaponry. 

'Desert Bandits. Marauders?'
He smiled to himself at the deduction, realizing that this was some kind of base for them. There must be a mine, or a cave hidden in that rock, where they are given the ability rest and store any of their loot. At least, if they were more authentic. Rather, by the rules of the game, it meant that they had pre-stored loot in there. A treasure chest as a reward for clearing out the inhabitants of the system. There was a moment where he wondered if there was a village or something nearby, and if the existence of this operational headquarters had any bearing on the people there. Would theoretical villagers be glad to be rid of these profligates? Would they learn his name, and praise him? It was at least worth the opportunity to get some experience, col, and an item or two. If they had it.

A wave of his hand brought the UI up, quick to rifle through the menus and buttons until he found the label for consumables. From it, producing one of the supplies he made sure to get from a merchant back at town. A Blank Dungeon map. Which, at this moment, was nothing more than a rolled up piece of rough, dry parchment with the edges flaking and breaking. He sprawled it out, unrolling each side like a set of towels, and then held it parallel to the floor. Stretching his arms out and giving it a small movement up and down. Just like that, lines began to draw themselves onto the parchment. Creeping in, the tendrils of ink twisted and turn to make use of every minute detail. All until it centered on the rock formation, the home of the bandits. Where it drew it out in vivid detail, and then marked the door with a large, bleeding-red dot.

'Beautiful.'
He was entirely right, that was the only confirmation he needed. This would be worth coming back to, perhaps on his way back from this current goal. It was time to pivot back to his left, and continue Northwest. He'd be asserting himself over those weak men another time. For now, an arena called his name.

 

---

Dungeon Found!
Tier 4 Dungeon Map used to save it for later use.

Roll ID:241440    BD10    CD7    LD17    MD8

Edited 16 hours ago by Kindling

[Kindling 0]

An arena that would have to wait until tomorrow, it seemed to Kindling. For, as the night dragged on, so did the cold with it. Getting to a point low enough that if Kindling scoffed out a particularly warm breath directly at the oversized celestial body lighting up the sky at this moment, he'd be able to see the air in a light grey mist. That, coupled with the growing soreness in his abdomen, and feet meant that it was getting too late to continue on for now. He had to criticize himself; having gone too far when it came to the fight with the <<Sand Shark>>. Something that was hardly even an inconvenience, and he spent most of his time jumping around, throwing his legs to carry him through flips and leaps, all to kill it in a few smooth hits, and not get a single scratch on him. Scratches that he would have otherwise healed by now anyway. The fact that it wasn't worth anything made it all the more egregious. After walking all day, and battling the wind, his own boredom, and lack of shelter from the hot sun, the man was ready to settle down for the night.

He scanned the area both on his map, and the actual terrain for somewhere to call home. It wasn't terribly hard to find one, given his low standards at the moment. A collection of rock formations that made a nice cove. It didn't work super good for shelter, but the burning in his legs stopped him from being too picky. Inside the collection of red and orange rocks was a singular cactus, growing alone, likely due to the fact that it was hidden in the valley between two large dunes of sand. Getting ample sunlight while the Sun traversed the sky from east to west, while having protection to it's north and south. Kindling approached the home of the Cactus, using his hand to wipe away now chilled sweat from his forehead, then lazily stretching it out to shoo away the straggling lizards and ants that had the same plan he did for shelter. Watching them hiss, and scurry away to another crevice or corner within this small area. 

"You can have it back in the morning."
Kindling spoke half way through a yawn. He didn't intend to stay long, and then those small lizards could go back to this side of the rocks, and call it home. Finding a suitable place to set up and sleep for the night. An acceptably flat ledge of rock, that only had a smooth 'bubble' in the middle of it's surface, and slightly to one side. 'Good enough.' Came his mind in response, simply wanting to lay down and find some relief from the day of exertion. With a swipe of his hand, Kindling began to go through the bright UI of his inventory, coming eventually upon all he had for camping supplies. Which was mostly just a bedroll, and some water. The former materialized into a bundle for him. Making it easy to kick and splay out with his hands, and lay on the rock. There was a brief moment where he thought to start a fire. Only to remember that he had nothing to ignite it with. Let alone the lack of small stones for a pit, or tinder to actually getting it going. Devoid of all the things necessary for a fire, he'd simply have to curl up in his bedroll to stay warm.

He reached and unzipped the side. Stopping before crawling into it, Kindling went back through his inventory and retrieved his water skin. Tilting his head back to take a large drink of it, as well as dump some on his face. Sighing out as he felt the cold sand wash from his face for the second time, and using that opportunity to wipe what he could away with his sleeve. Then, going through to remove his articles of clothing one by one. Down to nothing but his white and black underwear, the rest of his body exposed. All to avoid his bedroll from becoming a sandbag, or one of those boxes scattered across every playground in America. It was much more comfortable to just hug himself than to fight sand for the rest of his life in his bedroll. Knowing he could never get rid of it. With all that done, Kindling slid into the opened side, pulling the zip back up and shot. Shivering for a brief moment before the warmth of his mostly naked body filled the space of the bedroll, making it much more comfortable. Left staring at the midnight-blue sky, painted with thousands of twinkling stars, and still celestial bodies. Not much time would need to pass before the exhausted man would find his eyes lulling shut, and the embrace of sleep finding him. The night just sort of slipping by.

-----

That wasn't entirely the truth. It was a bothersome night, where he woke up to the feeling of various animals moving over him, or curiously inspect. As well as to roll over back onto his back, or the other side once the feeling of soreness settled in from the uneven bubble in the surface. Still, each of those disturbances were light, barely even a register in the man's memory as he simply went back to sleep within seconds of each. It would prove to be something much more irritating that would fully wake him up. The Sun wasn't even above the horizon yet, it's profile nothing more than golden rays in the far east, and a dim, light blue sky overhead. Kindling felt a sort of repeated patting upand down his form, from above the bedroll. then came the undeniable sound if a ziiiip as his bedroll was being undone. Eyes shot open, immediately getting a glimpse of a man standing there. 

"Ahh, so sorry."
Came the voice of the stranger, as he leaned back up, and straightened his spine. Kindling got a much better look at him there. Covered in cloth that was thickly rolled in some places, and thinly spread in others. Wearing a sort of Middle-Eastern style armor, where he had chainmail over his arms and feet, poking out just above his knee-high leather boots. The white cloth forming a sort of hooded hat, and framing just his face. A face that was best described as a mess of lines, and a dark beard, connected to a thick mustache. His complexion tanned and dark from, likely from years of limited time in the shaded shelter in the Desert. He stuck a palm out, flat and upward, then gestured with his fingers all at once.

"Come on, get up. Money, Food or Water. Whatever you have."
His accent was thick, though strangely clear. Then reaching that hand to his back to draw the weapon he was carrying. A shorter blade, one that was straight from the pommel, to about half way up the steel. From there, it curved into a dramatic crescent, making an almost perfect half-circle hook, more of a sickle than a sword. Despite the fact that he was robbing Kindling, the stranger shrugged, stretching his jaw down with his lips closed. Almost apologetic, though only very mildly so with the grin on his face.

"You understand."
He gave as an appeal to his action. To which Kindling briefly closed his eyes, and rubbed them. Before slowly working himself out of the sleeping bag, and standing up to stretch. Knowing that with the Bandit not able to see anything but his underwear, he'd simply wait for his 'payment'. Getting to his actual equipment would be easy. That's what a Battle-Ready inventory was for in a situation like this. But his actual clothes, given their lack of effects, he hadn't thought to place on there. Never really expecting a situation where he'd be fighting moments after waking up. At the same time, it didn't really matter. He made a fast motion with his hand to his side, summoning his appropriate gear to him. Materializing <<Hand Of The Mountain>> straight to his hand, as well as the chain of <<Koga's Wallet>> to attach to the band of his underwear. Leaving him to be prepared to fight in nothing but that set of underwear, and the utilitarian boots <<Sahelanthropus>>. The swift motion immediately making the guarded, cautious Bandit change his stance. Expression hardening. Kindling found some amusement in that. A slight cock of his head to the side, eyes meeting his opponent.

"Give it your all."
He spoke without the slightest hint of irony. Unaware of the humor in being robbed, asked to 'give' something, and then telling his robber to 'give' him something. Much more interested to see if this would be a waste of his time or not.

 

 

---

So last fight was technically at Level 32, and not 33 because I was missing 400 EXP at the time of starting it. Kindling should have had +20 HP, and +2 EN, which will start this fight. Don't be too mad! please and thank you.
Post #3 out of Combat, Kindling restores all Energy.

Kindling | HP: 680/680 | EN: 84/84 | DMG: 18 | ACC:5 | EVA:4 | BRN-IM  | PARA-IM | BH:32 | HB: 26 | BLD: 48  | LD:4

Edited 13 hours ago by Kindling