[SP|F1] The First Few Lessons

[Kisodeth 0]

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

Name: Kisodeth
True Tier: 1
Level: 7
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 140/140
EN: 32/32

Stats:
Damage: 9
Mitigation: 42
Accuracy: 2
Stealth Rating: -3

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Winter's Discontent 
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Death's Embrace
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - 

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Accuracy R2

Combat Shift:
  - 

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:
  - Heavy Armor R3
  - Straight Sword R3
 

Combat Data: Kisodeth | HP: 140/140 | EN: 32/32 | DMG: 9 | MIT:42 | ACC:2

As the last rays of sunlight bled into the darkening sky, Kisodeth stirred, stretching out the stiffness from her limbs. She sat up, cracking her neck with a slow roll of her shoulders before pushing herself off the bed. Time to get moving.

Her fingers instinctively reached for her menu, summoning it with a practiced flick. She tapped through her inventory, re-equipping Death’s Embrace first, the black steel breastplate materializing onto her form with a faint shimmer. Next came Winter’s Discontent, the familiar weight of the greatsword settling across her back. Satisfied, she turned to the small mirror hanging crookedly on the wall.

With methodical precision, she traced the skeletal paint over her features, hollowing out her eyes, streaking lines down her jaw. A death’s visage staring back at her one that kept the unwanted away. At least, most of the time.

She made her way downstairs, her boots heavy against the wooden steps, and found a quiet corner in the inn’s dining area. A quick meal nothing extravagant, just enough to keep the hunger mechanic from becoming an annoyance. She leaned back against the chair, waiting for her food when something in her menu caught her eye.

Active Quests: 1

Her brow furrowed. She hadn’t taken on anything new, so what—?

She tapped the tab, scrolling through until she found it. A quest from… two nights ago? Tch. She had completely forgotten about it in the chaos of everything else, the duel, the information hunt, the stale experience with the Nepent…

Quest: The First Few Lessons are Free
Status: Incomplete
Reward: 800 EXP, 2000 Col

Her eyes lingered on the reward. 800 EXP. That alone was worth getting off her ass for. It would  push her to a level up, and it would make the grind a hell of a lot easier.

Her food arrived, but she barely acknowledged it, already planning her next move.

WC: 316

Edited 10 hours ago by Kisodeth

[Kisodeth 0]

Kisodeth stepped into the dimly lit streets, her boots clicking against the cobblestone as she moved with her usual languid stride. The town was quiet at this hour, save for the occasional NPC shuffling about their scripted routines. Just as she passed a fountain in the center square, a voice called out as urgent, yet polished.

“You there! Stop, please!”

Her gaze flicked toward the speaker, a man with neatly combed silver hair, an immaculate coat, and a monocle perched over one eye. He strode toward her with long, purposeful steps, his expression one of barely concealed distress.

“Ah, pardon me, but I am in need of some assistance, and you appear to be…” he hesitated, giving her an assessing look, his eyes briefly lingering on her skeletal face paint before he cleared his throat, ”…quite capable.”

Kisodeth crossed her arms, waiting.

The man heaved a quick sigh and ran his fingers over his perfectly groomed mustache. “My name is Dorian, and I am the mayor of this fine town. Part of my many, many responsibilities includes ensuring the economy remains stable, which occasionally requires me to issue small loans to aid local businesses. The issue is…” He grimaced. “I seem to have misplaced my records on one such loan. That is to say, I…well, I’ve completely forgotten who I lent the money to.”

Kisodeth lifted a single brow. “Seriously?”

“Yes, yes, I know how it sounds,” Dorian waved his hands as if swatting away the sheer absurdity of the situation. “But I am a very busy man! Keeping track of every transaction personally is…frankly…beneath my station. That’s what assistants are for. Or rather, what they should be for, had mine not quit last week.” He exhaled sharply. “Which brings me to you.”

Kisodeth let the silence stretch, unimpressed.

Dorian cleared his throat again, adjusting his monocle. “If you would be so kind as to track down the recipient of this loan and… retrieve the amount owed, I would be most grateful. And, of course, compensated.” He hesitated, lowering his voice. “Perhaps… we keep my little memory lapse between us?”

The notification popped up in Kisodeth’s menu.

[Quest Accepted: PART I | THE FIRST LESSON]

She exhaled through her nose, glancing back at Dorian. “And where exactly am I supposed to start?”

Dorian’s posture immediately lifted, relieved. “Yes! Excellent. I knew I could count on someone of your… presence to get things done. I would suggest starting with Zackariah, the town’s alchemist. He’s frequently working on projects for the community; quite possible he’s the one who borrowed the sum in question. If not, well…” He gave a flippant wave. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

Kisodeth muttered something in Spanish under her breath before turning on her heel. Time to go chase down debtors like a glorified collections agent.
 

WC: 469

[Kisodeth 0]

Kisodeth stepped into the alchemist’s shop, the faint chime of a bell announcing her arrival. The air inside was thick with the mingling scents of herbs, flowers, and something vaguely metallic. Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with jars of powders, vials of swirling liquids, and bundles of dried plants hanging from the ceiling like trophies of past experiments.

A bubbling sound drew her attention to the back of the shop, where an elderly man hunched over a small cauldron, his long snow-white beard nearly dipping into the sweet-smelling purple liquid he was stirring. He barely glanced up as he greeted her.

“Oh, hello,” he said absentmindedly, eyes still fixed on the bubbling concoction. “If you’re here to order something, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait. I’m absolutely swamped with requests, and my supplies are dwindling faster than I can restock.”

Kisodeth folded her arms. “I’m not here for an order. I’m looking for information.”

Zackariah finally looked up, squinting at her. His gaze lingered on her skeletal face paint for a second before he chuckled to himself. “Well, aren’t you a sight? You trying to scare off bandits or just the occasional shopkeeper?”

“It’s none of your business,” she said dryly. “I’m here on behalf of Mayor Dorian. He’s trying to track down a missing loan. Ring any bells?”

The alchemist scratched his chin, deep in thought. “Hmm… A loan, you say? That does sound familiar, but I’ve had so many transactions lately, it’s hard to recall details.” He suddenly snapped his fingers, eyes lighting up. “Tell you what! I could use an extra pair of hands. If you gather a few materials for me flowers, herbs, rare woods, whatever you can find outside the city I’ll have time to think it over. Maybe jog my memory.”

Kisodeth exhaled sharply through her nose. “So, a bribe?”

Zackariah grinned. “Think of it as an exchange of services. You help me, I help you. And, if you’re lucky, I might even show you a trick or two about potion-making. It never hurts to have a little extra knowledge, especially for someone who seems like they… run into trouble often.”

Kisodeth rolled her eyes but knew she had little choice. She was about to leave when she caught the scent of the bubbling potion again, sweet, warm, almost nostalgic. “What are you making?”

The alchemist beamed. “Ah, this? This is fondue…well, my special version of it. Packed with a few alchemical properties to invigorate the mind and body. Would you care for a taste?”

She eyed him warily, then the potion. “What’s the catch?”

“No catch! Consider it a sample for your troubles.”

She took the offered spoon, dipping it into the thick, purple liquid before bringing it to her lips. The moment it touched her tongue, warmth flooded her body, a subtle energy coursing through her veins. It wasn’t just a taste; it was an effect…like a mild buff.

[Status Effect Gained: +3 LD.]

Kisodeth set the spoon down and licked the residue from her lips. “Not bad.”

Zackariah laughed. “Glad you think so! Now, off you go. Bring me those ingredients, and I’ll see what I can remember about your little missing loan.”

Kisodeth turned on her heel, already planning her route beyond the city walls. This better be worth it.
 

WC:540

Updated Combat Stats: Combat Data: Kisodeth | HP: 140/140 | EN: 32/32 | DMG: 9 | MIT:42 | ACC:2 | LD: 3

[Kisodeth 0]

Spoiler

 

ID	Battle	Craft	Loot	MOB	Character
242210	10	9	18	8	Kisodeth

Kisodeth stalked through the fields outside the city, boots crunching over patches of dry grass and loose soil. The sun had dipped past the horizon, painting the sky in deep blues and purples, but her sharp eyes adjusted quickly to the shifting light. She muttered under her breath, cursing Zackariah’s errand even as she scanned the terrain.

“Gathering flowers like some damn forager. Not exactly my idea of leveling up.”

Her fingers grazed a cluster of pale blue blossoms growing between jagged stones. She plucked a few, recognizing them as Moonveil Petals, a common ingredient in stamina potions. The old man would definitely want these.

As she tucked them into her inventory, movement in the distance caught her eye. A lone creature shuffled near a tree line…a hunched, twisted thing with a bulbous body covered in dark, bristling vines. A Creeping Briar, a low-level monster known for its toxic barbs. Kisodeth narrowed her eyes, considering.

If Zackariah wanted rare ingredients, this thing’s venom sacs would probably be a prime alchemical material. But the real question…was it worth the trouble?

She rolled her shoulders, cracking her neck. “Screw it.”

Kisodeth exhaled sharply through her nose and broke into a sprint, closing the gap between herself and the Creeping Briar in seconds. The monster’s bulbous body quivered at her approach, its thorny tendrils twitching like it sensed the danger. Too late.

“Tch. No running now.”

Her sword glowed faintly as she activated a sword art thrust slicing through the thick mass of vines. The impact sent a burst of green ichor into the air as the Creeping Briar recoiled, screeching in a high-pitched, distorted wail. Its tendrils lashed out in retaliation, aiming to wrap around her arm, but she twisted out of range with practiced ease.

The monster shuddered, its health bar dropping by a third.

Kisodeth scoffed. “Not enough.”

The Creeping Briar suddenly rooted itself into the ground, its body convulsing. She recognized the motion, an area attack that would release a cloud of paralytic pollen.

“Not happening.”

With a sharp pivot, she activated another sword art, slashing upward in a brutal arc. Her blade cleaved straight through its pulsing core, severing the main body. The Creeping Briar let out one last gurgling screech before collapsing into a writhing pile of withered vines, its data fragmenting into bright, dissolving shards.

Kisodeth flicked her sword, letting the last drops of its sap-like blood splatter onto the grass. “That better be worth something.”

Without another glance at the fading remains, she turned and resumed her search, stalking through the moonlit fields for the rest of the ingredients.
 

WC: 434

Materials Collected: 1

Edited 2 hours ago by Kisodeth

[Kisodeth 0]

Spoiler

ID	Battle	Craft	Loot	MOB	Character
242215	9	1	6	8	Kisodeth

Kisodeth stalked up to the water’s edge, scanning the reeds for the next item on her list. The moon’s reflection shimmered on the lake’s surface, casting everything in an eerie glow. A quiet splash nearby caught her attention.

She turned her head slightly.

A trio of players sat along the shore, fishing rods in hand, their lines cast lazily into the water.

The moment they noticed her, however, their entire demeanor changed.

One nearly dropped his rod. Another flinched so hard that his bobber skipped across the water like a stone. The last one, clearly the most skittish, froze completely his hands locked in place, gripping his fishing pole like it was a lifeline.

Kisodeth narrowed her eyes slightly, cocking her head to the side. “…What?”

No one answered. They just sat there, stiff as boards, eyes darting between her skull-painted face and the wicked blade at her hip.

The tension thickened.

Finally, the skittish one blurted out, “W-We were just fishing, I swear!”

Kisodeth blinked. “And?”

“AND—uh…” He gulped. “…We’ll leave if we’re in your way!”

The second player, still gripping his fishing rod like a battle axe, gave an awkward, forced chuckle. “Y-Yeah, we were just about to wrap up, haha… ha…”

Kisodeth sighed through her nose, dragging a hand down her face. “Oh for…relax, I’m not here to drown you in the lake, pendejos.” She turned back toward the reeds, muttering, “Just looking for a damn flower…”

The three exchanged nervous glances but didn’t move.

After a beat, one of them whispered, “…So… she’s not gonna kill us?”

The first player shrugged. “…I dunno, man. She still could.”

Kisodeth shot them a sideways glare. They flinched.

Her lips twitched upward in amusement. 

Kisodeth plucked the last of the reeds she needed and straightened up, dusting off her gloves. The fishermen were still side-eyeing her like a pack of nervous rabbits, not daring to move too suddenly lest she actually decide to drown them.

She stretched her arms over her head with a sigh, then turned to them with a sharp-toothed smirk. “So. You guys catch anything big and juicy, or just drowning worms out here?”

The three exchanged hesitant glances before the second player—the one gripping his fishing rod like a lifeline, finally cleared his throat. “Uh… W-We got a few decent ones. Some Iron Scaled Bass, a Golden Trout nothing huge yet, though.”

The first player, still nervous but eager to shift the conversation, chimed in. “There’s supposed to be a giant catfish boss that shows up sometimes, but, uh… we haven’t seen it tonight.”

Kisodeth raised a brow. “Huh. Sounds like a hell of a fight. Maybe I’ll come back and wrangle it myself.”

They all chuckled, though it was laced with nervous energy like they weren’t sure if she was joking or actually considering murdering a fish just for fun.

Kisodeth dusted off her hands and tilted her head, getting to the real reason she was still loitering. “Say, you guys see any players running around in cloaks, not saying shit, just sending duel invites?”

The atmosphere shifted.

The first player frowned. ”…Cloaked players? Silent duel invites?”

The second furrowed his brows, muttering, “Now that you mention it, I think I did see someone like that a few nights ago. Thought it was just some weirdo looking for PvP.”

The third one shuddered. “Yeah, but something about it was off, right? No words, no taunts, just…boom, duel request. Almost like they were testing people.”

Kisodeth’s smirk thinned. “Testing, huh…?”

The first player nodded, rubbing his chin. “They dueled someone near the west gate of Tolbana. Didn’t stick around to see who won, but the guy they fought looked freaked out after.”

Kisodeth rolled that information around in her mind. West gate. Tolbana. Another duel.

Maybe she wasn’t the only one they were testing.

She clicked her tongue, then gave the fishermen a sharp nod. “Thanks. Keep those lines tight, yeah?”

They all nodded quickly, half in respect, half in relief that the conversation was over. As Kisodeth turned to leave, she could hear one of them mutter under his breath.

“Dude… she’s even scarier when she asks nice questions.”


WC: 695

Materials Collected: 2

Edited 1 hour ago by Kisodeth

[Kisodeth 0]

Spoiler

ID	Battle	Craft	Loot	MOB	Character
242241	5	8	2	5	Kisodeth

Kisodeth narrowed her eyes, scowling at the absolute lack of gathering nodes under the shaded tree. It was like the game itself was mocking her. No herbs. No materials. Not even a useless twig to kick out of frustration. Just a whole lot of nothing.

Then, movement. just off the path, she spotted another player hunched over, their hands working quickly. A gathering node! Her gathering node!

Without hesitation, she sprinted toward it, boots pounding against the dirt. If she could just get there before…!

Ding! [Node Expired.]

”¡Mierda!” she cursed, skidding to a stop just as the shimmering remains of the node flickered out of existence.

The player, a young guy in light armor, whirled around with wide, panicked eyes. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! I didn’t do anything! I swear!”

Kisodeth blinked, taking in his stiff posture, the way his hands were half-raised in surrender. He thought.

Oh. Oh, he thought she was about to kill him.

A slow smirk spread across her lips, wicked and toothy. “Relax, chico. If I wanted to gut you, you wouldn’t have seen me coming.”

That did not seem to help. The poor guy swallowed hard, shifting his weight like he was debating whether to run. “O-Okay? Then… what did you want?”

She sighed dramatically, jerking a thumb toward the now useless ground. “That node. I was trying to grab it before it expired, but you beat me to it.”

His tension evaporated instantly. “Oh! Wait, that’s why you were running at me? I thought I was about to get PK’d.”

Kisodeth rolled her eyes. “Please. I have way better reasons to kill people than gathering disputes.”

Again…not helping.

The guy laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. “R-Right… Well, uh, sorry about that. It was just some basic herbs. If you need gathering spots, there’s usually a good patch of them near the broken shrine down the hill.”

Her smirk softened just a fraction. “Now that is actually useful. Gracias.”

The player gave a stiff nod, clearly relieved to still be breathing, then awkwardly shuffled away. Kisodeth chuckled to herself, shaking her head as she made her way toward the shrine. Maybe she did need to dial down the murder aura…

…Nah.
 

WC: 370

Materials Gathered: 2

Edited 11 minutes ago by Kisodeth

[Kisodeth 0]

Spoiler

ID	Battle	Craft	Loot	MOB	Character
242264	10	4	16	7	Kisodeth

 

Edited 9 minutes ago by Kisodeth