[PP - F01] Fighting, Flailing, and Figuring It Out | <<The First Few Lessons>>

[KnightessCiela 0]

Ciela smirked mischievously as she turned to Wulfrin, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “Alright, honey, you get to be my pack mule today,” she declared, her tone dripping with faux innocence. Without waiting for a response, she offloaded a massive box filled with carefully packed tins into his arms. “Wow, what a load off my back! I should start bringing you on these trips more often,” she teased, stretching dramatically as if she had been burdened with an unbearable weight before.

As they started toward the orphanage on Floor 1, Ciela called for Perlita and Solaris, the two companions falling in step beside them. The familiar sights of the first floor stirred something nostalgic in her, and she glanced up at Wulfrin with a fond smile. “I’ll be honest, babe, it’s nice having you along. Feels like we haven’t had much time together lately.” Her fingers brushed his briefly before she chuckled softly. “Now that the raid’s over and the Cthulhu floor’s unlocked, maybe we can actually spend some time together without life-threatening chaos looming over us.”

The last time they had been on this floor together, they were standing in the cathedral, saying their vows, surrounded by their friends. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Before she could dwell on the memories too much, they reached the orphanage. Wasting no time, Ciela directed Wulfrin to where everything needed to go, making sure to take full advantage of her extra set of hands. “Right there! Perfect. Oh! And that stack can go by the kitchen.” With a satisfied nod, she turned back to him and kissed him softly, resting a hand on her hip after she pulled away. “Thank you, darling. You’re so sweet for volunteering to come along.” She grinned, knowing full well he hadn’t exactly volunteered, but she appreciated his help nonetheless.

* * *

 

* * *

Spoiler

KnightessCiela | HP: 545/545 | EN: 68/68 | DMG: 11 | MIT:121 | ACC:2 | TAUNT | THORNS:27 | BH:6 | REGEN: 24 | REC: 3                                                                                                                            

Spoiler

"Name: KnightessCiela
True Tier: 3
Level: 25
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 545/545
EN: 68/68

Stats:
Damage: 11
Mitigation: 121
Accuracy: 2
Battle Healing: 6
Stealth Rating: -5
TAUNT REGEN: 24
REC: 3

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Defender's Longsword | T3 Perfect Straight Sword | ACC II | DMG I
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Frightening Rosethorn | T3 Perfect Heavy Armor | Taunt | Thorns II
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Rejuvenating Kite Shield | T3 Perfect Shield | Recovery | Regen II

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Mitigation R3

Combat Shift:
  - 

Familiar Skill:
  - Protector Familiar

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:
  - Battle Healing R1
  - Heavy Armor R5
  - Howl
  - Straight Sword R5

Extra Skills:
  - Block R3
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Survival
  - Frozen Hide
  - Concentration

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
  - Focused Howl
  - Iron Skin

Mods:

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - Nepent's Ovule x1
  - T1 Rare Health Potion: Heals 10% MAX HP x5
  - T1 Uncommon Health Potions: Heals 5% of MAX HP x1
  - T1 Uncommon Overhealth Potion: Adds 5% of MAX HP to users x1
  - Teleport Crystal x3

Housing Buffs:
  - Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
  - Greenhouse: +2 Gathering EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to gathering attempts.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
 - Cooking[731exp] R7
Gathering Profession:
 - Forager[66exp] R2"                                                                                                                            

 

* * *

Spoiler

 

Edited March 2 by KnightessCiela

[Wulfrin 0]

"Wait for wha-" Wulfrin didn't get to finish his sentence before getting the box thrust into his arms. It wasn't terribly heave, largely due to his strength stats, but it still caught him off guard. "Where are we go-" Another question left unanswered as his wife Ciela led the charge out of their cozy cottage on Floor 22. Wulfrin was instantly relieved that he had yet to unpack his inventory from the day before. All his gear was still stored away so at least he could be ready in an instant.

Floor 1 was the destination of choice for their outing today, specifically the orphanage. Wulfrin had heard about Ciela's volunteer efforts there. She always talked about the smiles her baked goods brought in light of the horrible situations the kids were in. Wulfrin had faced off with some nasty foes on the frontlines. He couldn't imagine a child staring those threats down knowing full well that it could be their end. Wulfrin placed the box in the designated location and nodded in response to Ciela's thanks. 

"Anything for you dear," Wulfrin replied dusting off his hands. "As for the time. I plan to take it much slower now. My progression is basically stagnant now anyway. It's good to be home though."

* * *

Note:  CS Shades of the Gemini is active. if any player objects, they should note such in their first post and it will be considered inactive.

Wulfrin consumes Gungir Shard 239050 | Sharkcuterie Board | T1 Demonic Feast (6/6) | ACC II | EVA II | ID: 239171 - takes one portion shares the rest with party (5/6 remain)
[desc.] A daring spread featuring a variety of cured and smoked shark meats, paired with exotic cheeses, crackers, and a hint of seaweed garnish. This adventurous platter offers a bold flavor journey, perfect for those with a taste for the wild and mysterious depths.

Accuracy 2 Consumed - Gungir
Evasion 2 Consumed [Filled] - Gungir

Wulfrin | HP: 820/820 | EN: 114/114 | DMG: 21 | MIT:55 | ACC:6 | AA  | EVA:3 | BH:27 | LD:8 | PROSP:3 | QTY: 2 

Spoiler

"Name: Wulfrin
True Tier: 6
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 24
HP: 820/820
EN: 114/114

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 55
Accuracy: 6
Evasion: 3
Battle Healing: 27
Loot Die: 8
Stealth Rating: -5
AA 
QTY: 2

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Platinum Longsword | T3 S.Sword | AA | ACC 3
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Dragon's Hoard | Prosp 3 | LD 1
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Devil's Due | Quality 2 | LD 2

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - TECH Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - Rending Familiar

Custom Skill:
  - Shades of the Gemini

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

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

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

Addons:
  - Focus
  - Iron Skin
  - Precision
  - Stamina

Mods:
  - Impetus
  - Night Vision

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - Bear Trap x5
  - Crystal of Divine Light x5
  - Imugi's Inspiration | Mass Healing x2
  - Nepent Ovule x1
  - Popcorn | T4 Vitality 2 x1
  - Rhino's Horn x2
  - TP Crystals x1

Housing Buffs:
  - Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
  - Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
  - Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
  - Attic (Storage): +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
  - Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
  - Master Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
  - Master Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
  - Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
  - Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
  - Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
  - Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

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

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
 - Blacksmith[2250exp] R8
Gathering Profession:
 - Fishing[509exp] R5"                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                           

Edited March 2 by Wulfrin

[Himiko 0]

"....."



Himiko was slowly reading a book in her room, legs freely dangling through the air. A rather focused gaze as she remained completely engrossed, the book in question being a storybook chock full of fairy tales. Every single page in the book had been bunny-eared. And despite the cover being flawlessly preserved, the pages looked well-loved. The words worn and faded with time but Himiko didn't seem to care, but what did cause her ears to perk up was the sound of the orphanage's doors opening. Naturally, it piqued the interest of the other children too as they all got up to investigate what was going on. 

Himiko didn't move, however. Still reading the book...Brushing her ghostly white hair behind her ear. Only when she heard a certain someone's voice, did she choose to act. Ciela, the other kids adored her. All rushing to her and wanting her attention, trying to drag her every which way usually to show her whatever they wanted to show off. But Himiko...Well, she never approached. She was one of the only ones that didn't. Slowly, she hid the book under her pillow before walking down to the kitchen, her footsteps light and slightly on edge. 

Himiko stood, just shy of the doorway between the corridors that led to the bedrooms and the kitchen. Crouching down, she attempted to watch her and Wulfrin, her small frame making it easier to hide. Even among the younger children, she was still quite short. She observed the warmth practically radiating from Ciela's mere existence. She felt...Well, she wasn't sure what she felt. But it felt like a pit, a massive pit in her stomach whenever she saw Ciela smile; but, why did she continue to only observe Ciela? She never went up to her, after all. She never spoke. She just observed.

That was when she noticed the tins, no doubt her goodies that she always brought. One of the many reasons everyone in the orphanage loved her. Even merely looking at it caused Himiko's stomach to rumble, a weakness overcoming her feeling like a wave of lethargy, though it came as quickly as it left. Her eyes darting back to watching everyone, how much fun they were having...Then, another face caught her attention. 

Who was that man? He seemed to be close with Ciela, he matches the description of someone...But her mind couldn't conjure who he was. But he seemed friendly, but Himiko's eyes narrowed with scepticism, her breathing suddenly getting far deeper, taking elongated, deep breaths as she gently grasped onto the doorframe. Still, she just continued to stare. She wasn't hidden, but most of her body was behind the door. Certainly far more on edge...

 

Spoiler   FujikoHimiko2011 | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 4

[KnightessCiela 0]

Ciela knelt down, her face lighting up with joy as she greeted the children, ruffling their hair and giving each of them a warm smile. Their excited chatter filled the air as they swarmed around her, eager for not only the treats they knew she brought, but the attention she always paid them. With a playful flourish, she gestured toward Wulfrin.

"This is my husband, Wulfrin," she announced proudly, her smile widening. "He's the one I've been telling you all about, the one on the frontlines." Some of the children gasped in awe, their eyes going wide as they took in the sight of the formidable warrior standing beside her. Ciela grabbed his non-injured hand. "And, with the Floor 28 Boss defeated, he'll be joining me more often for these sweet deliveries." She added with a teasing glance up at Wulfrin. "So don't be surprised if you see his grumpy face around here more often."

As if on cue, Perlita began prancing around, hopping excitedly between the children, her playful nature taking the spotlight. Smiles and giggles erupted as Perlita nudged their hands for pets and attention. "If y'all want some treats for Perlita, let me know and I'll give you some of her special treats."

"Plus, Wulfrin brought a friend," Ciela continued, gesturing toward Solaris. The mini phoenix perched stubbornly out of reach, feathers ruffling as he eyed the children warily. "That's Solaris, Wulfrin's familiar. He's a phoenix." 

Some of the bolder kids attempted to inch closer, fascinated by the fiery bird, but Solaris simply squawked at them and fluffed his feathers as if offended by their enthusiasm. Ciela chuckled, shaking her head. "Don't take it personally, he's got a bit of an attitude. Thinks he's royalty or something." The children laughed, and Ciela felt warmth spread through her chest.

[Wulfrin 0]

"You think that's bad?" Wulfrin chuckled as he stretched out his back form the heavy lifting. "You should have seen him the day we met. He's mellowed out a lot since then."

Several of the kids had already started bombarding him with questions and swarming his feet like small sharks fighting over a piece of fresh chum. "What was the raid like?". "What weapon do you use?". "Did anyone die?". "Can you show me how to fight?" "Wow you're so cool!". "I wanna be like you some day!"

"Easy, easy." Wulfrin said with a chuckle in a desperate attempt to calm the little gremlins down. "We can do story time later. I don't mind answering all your questions later on, once the business stuff is handled."

Seemingly satisfied the small herd of stampeding children dispersed and focused on the box of sweets brought by his wife. Once attention had diverted from Wulfrin, his expression went sour fast. Guilt, sorrow, and pain all flooded onto him at once as he found himself massaging his bandaged left hand. Underneath he could feel the still charred skin crack and shift. Wulfrin knew the sensation was just a manifestation of his mind, jast as was the world around him. His gaze slowly drifted back to the cheerful kids, where he finally mustered the strength to fake a smile again.

You may have had a rough fight, Wulfrin thought to himself. These kids have had it worse though. Trapped in this game with no sign of their parents or guardians must have taken its toll. It's for people like them that you must shoulder your fear of death and regrets to keep fighting.

[Himiko 0]

Himiko remained at the edge of the room, lingering just beyond the reach of the warm atmosphere that had settled over the kitchen. Ciela was shining as always, her presence drawing in the children like moths to a flame, their eager voices overlapping in a whirlwind of excitement. Even Wulfrin, despite his initial hesitation, had been swallowed up by their energy.

But Himiko… she hesitated.

She shifted her weight, her pale fingers clinging lightly to the doorframe as she watched from her usual spot in silence. The way Ciela’s hand so naturally curled around Wulfrin’s, the way she spoke about him so fondly. It stirred something unfamiliar in Himiko’s chest. A tight, twisting feeling she didn’t quite understand.

Her gaze flickered toward Solaris. The phoenix sat apart from the children, perched in the high corner of a shelf, feathers fluffed in irritation. Himiko’s lips parted slightly as she considered him, watching the way he warily eyed anyone who got too close.

In a way, she felt like she understood him.



"Cie-Ciela...T-Tan, W-Wulfrin-Tan..."

Himiko's voice was meek, nigh inaudible above the other far more rowdy and excitable children. Himiko's small height and quiet voice made her blend into the crowd rather well. Himiko's arms clasped behind her back, her footsteps so light they wouldn't even disturb snow. Her only distinctive trait was her glistening ruby red eyes and strangely formal attire. Her eyes slanted downward, unable to smile like her cohorts, but even she wasn't sure why. 

Himiko's small fists squeezed, almost being angry at herself for being unable to express the same joy the others did. She took a deep inhale, trying to keep herself from causing a scene. She tried to raise her hand, in an attempt to get the mighty adventurer's attention. 

But she froze.

Fear began to overwhelm her, anxieties clouded her mind. Her mouth felt like it was sealed shut. So many people around, what if she got laughed at? What if she was an idiot and messed up? Would even the adventurers laugh at her? Mid-way through raising her hand, she put it back down.

"I-...I want to play alone with the adventurers..."

Her eyes closed, clasping her hands together as she whispered in a small voice. As if she was...Praying? It seems her reputation as one of the weirder children at the orphanage was not without merit. Given that she seems to be praying to...Nobody? Or was she simply wishing to herself? Before she could open her eyes, she felt the back of her hair being tugged, letting out a cry as one of the older boys seems to want her place closer to the adventurers, and sooner dip of the snacks. 

As Himiko tumbled onto the floor, hair frazzled and trying not to be pushed around in the crowd of children; she didn't make a peep, nor a scream. Almost as if she had come to acceptance, she just began to slink back away to her place behind the doorframe as before.

[Wulfrin 0]

Wulfrin's attention snapped as the faintest of whispers graced his ears. It was soft spoken and uncertain. Quickly Wulfrin's eyes scanned the room as the children scattered in all directions, hyped up on sugar and promises of stories. All except one. A small girl with hair so blonde it was almost white and reddish eyes peered from the doorway. They looked as if they had just recovered from being tossed around. Without missing a beat, Wulfrin grabbed a small tin of sweets and made his way over.

"Hey there," Wulfrin said as he crouched down making sure to reach her eye level. He reached up with all the care of a big brother and did his best to correct the tussled hair before handing over the small tin. "Was that you with the voice as quiet as a mouse? I take it you didn't get the chance to grab your snacks."

He looked over towards the group of kids that were playing rather rough and scoffed a bit. He wasn't a fan of bullies, and wasn't going to stand for that kind of behavior in his presence. His attention diverted to his wife still chatting away with the children's caretaker.

"Hey honey," Wulfrin attempted to grab her attention, his head turned over his shoulder behind him. "Can I steal you for a sec?"