SP-F1 <<Blades of Dreams>>

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu slowly walked up to the bar. This was one of the quieter NPC-run bars in Starting City and, as it was mid-day, there weren't many players or NPC's inside at the moment. Still, this is a good place to look for quest, info. Looking across the long bar, Reu could see a barkeep slowly, methodically cleaning drinking glasses.

 

"Barkeep, heard anything interesting lately?"

 

It was always interesting, posing questions to NPC's. For one, they were very lively, and so you couldn't always know just what to expect. Even the quest-givers wouldn't just 'give' you a quest. Sometimes, you had to pose your questions in a more creative manner.

 

This game really encourages you to feel like you are living in Aincrad, doesn't it...

 

Looking around, at the dimly-lit, dusty, out-of-the-way bar, Reu certainly felt like he had lived here awhile. He had spoken with this particular NPC several times and found him to be a good source of 'informational tidbits'. He never gave quests himself, or at-least, hadn't yet, but he was very good at giving you a piece of information you may have been missing before. Sometimes it was just a rumor, sometimes it was a bit of advice about where to find a certain crafting item, and sometimes he just spoke about lots of nothing.

[Reusririasuir 0]

The barkeep known affectionately as 'Darts' turned towards Reu and began making his way down to this side of the bar, Darts had a big smile on his face. "Hmmm, howdy Reusririasuir. I can't say I've heard too much lately, but maybe you could purchase a drink and I might be inclined to remember something."

 

Reu let out a long, hard laugh. Darts was a smooth-talker. Reu had once watched him convince a player to buy a round for everyone in the bar, not just once, but twice. Reu was certain the NPC's were good salesmen not just because it helps drain the economy, but because it also fits their supposed 'psychological profile' of who they were representing. In Darts case, he landed the role of a smooth-talking barkeep, and Reu loved him for it. "Darts, nice try! I really am cashed out right now, saving for something important. Come on big guy, you know I try and steer business your way." Reu was really reaching at this point, interacting with an NPC was nothing like interacting with a player. A player would have considered what he said because, in part, it was true. Reu loved sending Guilds out to this dusty bar, it allowed them to get a little rambunctious after the bigger adventures. Why did he send them to this bar? Well, it was out of the way and the Army guild protecting and policing the city usually didn't make their way down here; that helped keep the Guilds out of trouble, and Reu's pockets lined with information in exchange for buying the guild leaders a few drinks. An out of the way place like this made the Guild Leaders more relaxed, more at-ease, more...talkative...

 

"Hmm..." Darts went quiet for a few moments, but it definitely didn't sound like a good hmm, more of a stern, disapproving hmm.

 

Well, that's just great, there went any chance of me getting any good leads. Oh well, ya win some, ya lose some. Darts ya money grubber, I'll be back next time with cash. Reu stood up and turned to leave. "Sorry Darts, I'll be on my way."

[Reusririasuir 0]

"Wait just a moment Reu."

 

Reu turned just a few steps from the door. He about tripped over himself when Darts said THAT. Maybe I'll get some information after all, he thought to himself. Turning to Darts, Reu waited; very patiently. Darts continued to stand there, cleaning his glass. Suddenly he stopped. Reu stirred slightly and took a step back towards the bar. Darts reached up and grabbed another class to wipe down. Reu almost tripped over himself again. "Come on Darts, what is it?"

 

"Well, you see. I've heard rumor of a new blacksmith in town."

"Oh! A player?"

"No, not a player Reu, an NPC. Goes by the name SAI."

"And let me guess, you have no idea where this SAI is?"

"She's supposedly somewhere on this side of town."

Reu perked up. Darts didn't say that with even an air of mystery in his voice, the way he said it was a more confirming manner. This wasn't just a rumor, even though Darts was doing his best to present it as such, no Reu was certain...there was definitely a blacksmith by the name of SAI on this side of town.

 

"Hey Darts, that's one heck of a rumor. If you're sending me off on a wild goose chase, don't expect anything less than me coming back with a golden egg. Listen next time in here, I'm ordering your best drink. You have my word on that. I've got to go goose-hunting now, stay lively Darts!" Reu was too excited to sit still anymore, besides Darts had told him all he was going too; it was a small miracle that he even told Reu that much.

 

Running out of the shop, up the stairs back to street-level, he took a good look around. "Ok. Market Sector, Starting City...if I were an NPC blacksmith opening a shop, where would I put it?" It likely won't be back towards the main street vendors, and if it's not around here it must be a few streets west still....

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu moved West through the Town of Beginnings. The buildings here were made of a compact mud-stone. It resembled the clay-type buildings he had seen while he was oversea's in the real world. Don't want to think about that place anymore. Let's just find this blacksmith. Moving down the side-streets, popping in and out of buildings Reu was coming up empty. He had asked some local players about a blacksmith, but was being very careful to not reveal this SAI was supposedly an NPC, lest he draw attention to himself.

 

It was almost noon, the sun almost directly overhead. It's warm rays shined down on Reu's arms; amazing that he could feel the warmth like he did. It was nice. A little hot today, but still nice. It would certainly help though if he could hurry up and find this smith; the noon crowds would be out soon and he didn't want to deal with them. For all his social tendencies, Reu preferred time alone with his thoughts.

 

Turning the next corner Reu saw it; a tiny shop hidden just below street-level. He walked over to the stairs and slowly descended. The sign in the window read 'Weapons Shop'. Well, that couldn't be more NONDESCRIPT. Turning and walking through the doorway Reu was certainly in a blacksmiths' shop.

 

A short, innocent-looking girl wearing a heavy-blacksmith's apron, and thick gloves looked up from her anvil, where she had been hammering away on a heated piece of steel. She smiled and, in a very sweet voice announced, "Oh, hello. I'm SAI. Welcome to the Weapons Shop!"

 

Reu smiled, he was in the right place.

[Reusririasuir 0]

"SAI, I was looking to have a sword crafted."

 

"Say no more, I will craft you the Blade of your Dreams. I only ask that you retrieve the materials I will need to do so. What type of sword are you interested in?"

 

"A one-handed longsword. I have some specifications drawn up. I've been thinking of having this sword design crafted for awhile now. I want something which will do damage when it strikes, even if it means making it a pound or two heavier. Let's try and keep it under 3lb's in weight though. The Overall Length should be 40.5 inches, with a 7" handle. That would leave 33.5 for the Blade length, and the blade should be about two inches in thickness, at the widest point. At it's base, I'd like the blade to be around half an inch in thickness. Here in the specs, you can see where I'd like the Center of Gravity and the Center of Percussion to come out as. I want the Center of Gravity to be close to the guard. I know it's unusual to have it so close to the handle, but I think it will work out well for balancing the blade's attack strength with my tendency to use sudden changes in direction while I attack. Color isn't a big deal, standard steel grey with black speckles will be fine. As for the handle...I want it wrapped in a wrought-iron casing, and covered with blackened leather."

 

"I know that's a lot to ask of you SAI, do you think--"

 

"Of course I can do it!", she proudly proclaimed. "Let's see, I'm going to need some supplies they will be...4 pieces of Steel Ore, shouldn't be too hard to find if you are any good at mining, and those would be best mixed with a heavy glaze to reduce heat during the forging process, so bring me Thick Oaksap. Now I did say T-H-I-C-K, the regular stuff just turns black and melts; but if you get the thick stuff, it will work nicely with the heating of the blade. Finally, for the handle, I don't want to use blackened leather; I'd rather we use something a bit stronger. Hmm...how about a carcass from a moruuse? When the carcasses are stripped, tanned, and turned into a leather hide, they keep an excellent water-proofing ability, and we can still blacken it out to give your handle the color you are looking for. Oh but Maroose's are fairly rare around here this time of year. Tell you what, if you CAN'T find one, bring regular leather, but as a craftsman; I'd rather you brought the Maroose. Try checking the fields and cave's near the lake, sometimes they can be found near there, but sometimes they are just as likely as to be found in the forests; just keep your eyes open. What do you say, do you accept?"

 

On the words 'accept', a quest-acceptance popup menu appeared in front of Reu. It sounds like a lot of work, but I really want this sword. Ok, fine... Reu reached out and tapped the accept button. No, turning back now.

 

"Oh Reu, one last thing. You may use my pick-axe. You will find it by the door. But ONLY use it for mining what you need. I don't want it returned all beaten up and busted because you took it to the copper mines. That pick-axe head is best used for mining steel ore, and I'd like to keep it in good shape."

 

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you SAI. I will be back shortly." Reu added the axe to his inventory, and left the shop.

 

Let's go searching, I guess I'll head to the steel mines by the Lake first and see what I can do about finding the ore I need.

 

Quest Materials:

4 Pieces of Steel ( 0 / 4 )

Thick Oaksap ( 0 / 2 )

Maroose Carcass ( 0 / 1 ) OR Regular Leather Hide ( 0 / 1)

 

Sword Description : 

Sword Name: Ragnarok Enduring, Longsword of Eternal Love in a Burning World

 

Specifications 

Overall length: 40.5" (118 cm)

Handle length: 7" (17.78 cm)

Blade length: 33.5" (85 cm)

Blade width (at widest): 2" (5 cm)

Blade thickness (at base): 0.5" (1.27 cm)

CoG: 3.5" from cross (8.89 cm)

CoP: 20" from cross (50.8 cm)

Weight: 3 lbs (1.36 kilos) 

 

Blade Color: standard steel gray, with black speckles throughout the blade.

 

Inspiration: http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/johnsson/sword-museum-svante.htm(However, we've shortened the handle considerably, going from a two-handed sword, to a one-handed, and we've moved the CoG and CoP points forward to compensate. The shorter handle also helps to reduce weight.)

 

The handle itself will be wrapped in a wrought-iron casing, and then covered with blackened-leather.

[Reusririasuir 0]

...

...

In front of Reusririasuir stood a series of menacing caves. Off in the distance you could see rolling plains which lead down to the edge of a massive lake, but here it was dark. With the sun obstructed by the wall-face of cave openings, it left Reu standing in shadow. The most common entrance to the mine was marked by railroad tracks and mine-carts. Reu knew that the mines here had been semi-developed by NPC's, but if they wanted to take carts further into the caves, the players would need to spend the time running and laying track. Undeterred, Reu grabbed a mine-cart, attached a lantern to it, and began moving into the mines.

 

All around him was shadow, save for the few feet illuminated by his small lantern. The caves were a dark grey color and they were wet. Stalagmites and stalactites hung from the roof and the floors of the cave. Dripping water was the only sound Reu's ears could strain to hear.

 

Turning right at the first passage-way, Reu made his way deeper, slowly descending the footpath as it continued to slope downward into the darkness.

[Reusririasuir 0]

Here's some. Took me long enough. Now I just have to actually mine the stuff out.

 

Searching through the menu Reu found the pick-axe and went to work on the wall of shiny steel ore. After a few swings, a piece of steel ore materialized in front of him. I just need four really good pieces. Reu continued swinging, it was exhausting work. His arms grew heavy and his back grew sore. After much working, and after much deliberation, Reu had three pieces total of steel ore on the ground in front of him. He reached down and placed them in his cart. The carts were useful because they allowed you to save Inventory space while mining. When working with a team, you could go down and fill up and entire cart, send it back to the surface, while a partner brought you another cart. You never had to stop working! For solo players, carts were mainly useful because it allowed them to mine several pieces and bring them back to the surface before having to add them to their inventory. Oh and ore never lost its' durability while it was in a cart, so you could take a cart to the surface, take two pieces back to town, return, and if your cart had been undisturbed, you would still have access to those remaining ore pieces.

 

Reu took his cart and moved deeper into the cave. Just one more piece. There was a slightly darker background against the blackness ahead of him. What's that up ahead??

[Reusririasuir 0]

A small bat flew at Reu. Using the darkness of cover, it landed a deep bite into Reu's neck. Frustrated, Reu reached up and swiped at the small creature, but was only able to get the cursed beast off of him. THAT HURT! Ok, you caught me off guard the first time, but now I'm going to kill you.

 

Reu HP ( 4 / 7 ) -3

 

Small Bat (4 / 4)

 

ID 11641 BD 1 MD 10

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu readied his sword and struck with a vertical slash that ripped into the small bat. Not only did he slash a wound into the beast, but he also hit the bat so forcefully that the small creature bounced off the floor, and immediately flew itself right into the ceiling; it was obviously reeling from the blow. It attempted to attack Reu in return, but it wasn't even able to fly straight and so its' attack missed by a wide-margin. HA, I'm sure after THAT strike the creature must be seeing two of me! Reu howled with laughter, oh man, the way it bounced off the floor and then flew straight up against the ceiling, priceless!

 

Reu HP ( 4 / 7 )

Small Bat (1 / 4) (-3)

ID 11642 BD 10 MD 5

[Reusririasuir 0]

The bat suddenly turned, and zeroed in on Reu's neck. Landing a second deep blow into his neck, Reu winced in pain. He was beginning to feel light-headed from the damage he was taking. It was harder to stand, and he was beginning to feel very, very dizzy. Suddenly his vision was splitting, and he was beginning to hear voices, just fragments from his past. Voices that weren't really there. No, I can't go down like this. I need to focus.

 

Reu HP ( 1 / 7 ) (-3)

Small Bat (1 / 4) 

11644 BD 2 MD 10

[Reusririasuir 0]

I will kill you, you pest. You're just a bat; I won't lose to just a bat here in these caves. Reu gripped his blade tightly, putting his focus and his heart into one last slash attack. His efforts paid off! Reu landed a killer blow on the bat; and watched it crumple to the ground, a broken, battered mess. Reu reached out, and put his hand against the cave wall to steady himself. Way, way too close. Ok, let's wait here a moment until the blood returns. With that he slid down the side of the cave wall to  a sitting position on the ground, for a quick rest.

 

ID 11646 BD 6 MD 1

[Reusririasuir 0]

After a few moments Reu had regained his senses. He looked at the broken, mangled corpse of the bat and decided to see what he could salvage. Unfortunately, the bat hadn't left behind any loot. Reu was able to collect the batwings as a crafting material however. Let's just find that ore and get out of here. I'm way too low on health and don't have any healing poultices. He grabbed the mine-cart and continued moving down the dark passage-way, the creaky sound of the mine-cart his only company.

 

1 Material Gained - Batwings

 

ID 11647 LD 4

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu continued to move through the darkness, at long last he found what he was looking for-a rather large deposit of steel. Grabbing the pick-axe once again, he mined out what he wanted; a single piece of ore. He pulled up his map and marked the location, it would be good information he could sell to some of the information brokers back in town. "Ok, let's get the heck out of here and back to town."

 

The walk back through the mines seemed both more arduous and labor-intensive, and yet also seemed much quicker, then the descent had been. Once he arrived at the surface, Reu moved the ore from the mine-cart and into his inventory, finally turning and making his way back home. Home...no, I'm not going home, I'm going to the Starting City. Home is outside this game, back in the real world. He was able to hitch a ride with a party that was on their way back from the mines as-well, thankful for their assistance Reu gave them the location of the steel ore deposit as a thank you; they paid Reu for the information with safe passage and with a bit of col allowing Reu to spend the night in the Inn. Before stopping off at the Inn, Reu went by SAI's and returned the pick-axe as-well.

 

Reu laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Pulling up the materials requirements, Reu couldn't help but hope the next materials were going to be easier then today had been. He was dirty, he was dusty, Reu could feel blisters on his feet, and scrapes on his knees; it had been a very long day indeed. Reu fell asleep staring at the ceiling, with his clothes still on.

 

4 Pieces of Steel Ore ( 4 / 4 )

Thick Oaksap ( 0 / 2 )

Maroose Carcass ( 0 / 1 ) OR Regular Leather Hide ( 0 / 1)

[Reusririasuir 0]

Green. Above him, and below him, everything was green. Walking among the trees like this, I'm reminded of the absolute beauty of this world. Stopping and taking a deep breath, he could smell the forest all around him. He could smell the pines, and he could smell the wetness of...everything. He could hear the wind whistling through the trees as if it was the whispers of wisps hidden deeper within the woods, beckoning him to explore further. He continued walking along a small stream, the gentle sounds of the running water his only company.

 

Suddenly, Reu's silent world was shattered. Ahead, he saw the orange blaze. Fire! This FOREST, is on fire! He could hear the screaming cries for help of a young woman somewhere in the blaze ahead of him. Pulling his cloak over his mouth, shielding himself from the fumes, he readied his sword and moved into the flaming hell in front of him.

[Reusririasuir 0]

Walls of flame to his left, trees burning like geysers just feet from him. The ground was blackened, the air was thick and heavy and still he couldn't see the woman who was shouting at him for help. He continued to push farther and farther into the burning forest. The flames were circling him now, he wasn't even sure which way he had come from. "HELP, HELP, HELP MEE!!!!" the woman's cries rang out. They were getting louder, he must be getting closer. He continued pushing deeper into the blaze. His eyes visions of red and orange, he shouted out, "HELLO?!! I'M HERE TO HELP YOU! TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE!". The only reply being more screaming from the woman. Suddenly, a tree branch cracked and broke from above. Coming crashing down, the branch landed behind him sending burning embers and ashes in all directions. His return path blocked, he continued to push on; the forest splintering and burning all around him. As he continued following the screams, he could hear them coming from a small, burnt-out meadow. Knowing the field would at-least distance him from the burning trees and the searing heat, he entered cautiously into the meadow, looking for the woman crying desperately for help.

[Reusririasuir 0]

As he took step, after step into the blackened meadow, he picked up on an eerily stillness around him. Something isn't right here. Outside this meadow, the fire raged rampantly, but here it was calm, almost peaceful. Looking ahead he saw the woman he had rushed so recklessly to save. As he ran towards her, the woman slowly changed shape. She slowly changed into that of an ethereal figure, a ghost of a woman. Finally, only a few steps from her, Reu watched as the spectre's sad and solemn expression changed into that of a smile. Growing, the smile became sickeningly too large, finally the spectre herself erupt in flames and grew in size. A monstrous cackle emerged from the creature. "You're going to die!! You're going to die!!", it gleefully rang out. The meadow itself burst into flames, everything and everywhere at once. Reu now knew what had happened; he had been tricked. There was no woman, though the fires had been real. Readying his sword in his palm, to the demon he proclaimed, "This will not be my burning grave." Striking forward, he watched as his blade ripped into the demon causing it real pain. Suddenly, however, flames erupted from the demon and traced Reu's sword until they finally leaped from the sword to its' owner, scorching Reu.

 

ID 11738, BD 6 MD 6

 

Reu HP 6 / 7 (-1)

Flame Spirit HP 3 / 4 (-1)

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu howled with pain, and struck back with a mighty blow powered by determination and anger. He swung his blade deep into the creature and heard it howl with pain. Undetermined, Reu continued to drive his blade deeper into the spirit, looking to return it to where it came. He watched as the creature slowly died in front of his eyes. The flame spirit was a burning, hot mess of pain, anger, and murderous intent, but over the next several seconds it dissipated as if it was never there. Slowly Reu turned, the flames in the forest were quickly dying down as well, though the damage to the wildlife remained. Reu picked up his sword, and continued to walk among the ruined wildlife; the damage done brought him to tears, but he couldn't stop, he had to find what he came for.

 

Reu 6 / 7

Flame Spirit 0 / 4 (-3)

 

1 Mat Discovered

 

11739 BD 10 LD 8 MD 4

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu stripped the bark off yet another burnt-out tree. Darn, just more regular sap. I mean I don't THINK this stuff is that thick, how am I supposed to know!! At this point, Reu had been through three or four trees and he hadn't found what he was looking for. He took a seat on a fallen log, to rest for a bit. *sigh* "This is going to take all day." he lamented with frustration. Suddenly, he heard a rustle next to him. Peering over, he saw it. He couldn't believe it, right there, five feet from him, was a healthy, fat, maroose staring back at him. Reu looked into it's black little eyes, the maroose looked back into his...the moment felt suspended in time. Reu reached out to grab the little sucker and the maroose darted, moving through the forest with an incredible pace.

[Reusririasuir 0]

He was crawling, and then he was up, and then he was crawling again, scampering after the maroose that was attempting to desperately get away. Reu was so focused on looking down that he didn't see the tree branch he ran into, ...nor did he see the second one he ran into... Slightly dizzy, Reu continued his hot pursuit of the pesky vermin. Or, he thought it was a vermin. It didn't LOOK like a rodent, but you could never be too sure with the creatures of SAO. They darted across streams with Reu hurdling fallen logs that were in his way, they continued to run past the burnt-out sections of the forest and moved deeper into more luscious, green vegetation. This was actually making it even harder for Reu. He was running into vines, and what were probably spiders, and lot's of icky, creepy-crawlies. He would up-root stones, push weeds out of his way, and scamper back up to his feet from crawling on his knees just so he could attempt to keep up with the speedy creature.

 

Finally, after quite a long chase. Reu cornered the creature against a tree. Reaching down he picked it up in his hand. The terrified creature wriggled, wrangled, but it wasn't getting away again. It stared its' beady black eyes into Reu's dark brown. Oh man, don't do it. Don't start feeling bad now! Reu knew what he had to do, he pulled out his sword and slit the small creatures throat as fast as he could. And with that, Reu collected the carcass of a maroose.

 

4 Pieces of Steel Ore ( 4 / 4 )

Thick Oaksap ( 0 / 2 )

Maroose Carcass ( 1 / 1 )

[Reusririasuir 0]

Moving through the forest, Reu came upon two Grand Oak Trees situated side-by-side. These trees were much larger then the ones near it and as a result, nothing had grown in their shadows. It gave the trees both a regal look and a look of foreboding. Reu made his way to the tree, wary of any plant monsters which might be lying in wait. As he neared the trees, suddenly birds filled the skies overhead. Reu jumped, and then laughed, bemused, at himself. The birds just make their home in the tree, and I was the one to startle THEM haha.

 

Reu took a long, hard look at the two grand oak trees. Am I REALLY about to do this? I have no choice. He made his way up to the tree and slowly stripped the bark off the first, revealing what he was looking for underneath, the thick sap. The sap poured out of the tree like blood out of a wound. Reu winced at the thought, and hurriedly gathered what he could. When the work was done, he set on the second tree; repeating the same process. Finally, he had two jars of Thick OakSap in his inventory. He made his way to edge of the clearing and took one last look at the Grand Oaks. They were shadows of their former selves. The bark hadn't come off easy and it not only did the process of stripping it leave them bare, but it also but gouges into the trunk of the trees. Reu felt a deep sadness move over him.

 

I really am very sorry, but I must survive this game.

 

Turning, Reu made his way back towards the Starting City, a deep sorrow in his heart for what he just did.

 

4 Pieces of Steel Ore ( 4 / 4 )

Thick Oaksap ( 2 / 2 )

Maroose Carcass ( 1 / 1 )