[SP:F1] Herculean Tasks in Alchemy <<Earning a Living>> COMPLETED

[Mayuri 0]

While hunting for flowers, Mai came to the realization that this was not what she ought to be doing as a profession. Sure, being an Artisan would have been cool; she could make fun stuff like she did back home. However, she didn’t see how friendship bracelets and little figurines were going to help anyone get home let alone keep them safe in this world. As she wandered through the field she thought about the boy who had come to her aid while hunting Nepents. He had been to the front lines and he’s seen so many perish in front of him. Mai turned her bottom lip out frowning. She decided she needed to do something, not only for him, but for the others out there risking life and limb for her. The young woman opened her HUD and scrolled through the quest panel until she came to her current quest.

 

A screen popped up:

 

 

Cancel <<Arts and Crafts>> Earning A Living?

 Yes ?         No?

 

Mai clicked on YES and canceled out her current quest. With that out of the way, the young woman hurried back to the town of beginnings to locate the one who could teach her what she needed to know.

 

***

 

Mayuri found that the game had no healer class. This was a shame considering that was something she could so do to help everyone else stay safe. However, there was a profession that would still be able to help her with her goal: Alchemy. Alchemists were the ones responsible for creating health potions in game, but they also make other things that kept players from harm’s way. This is what Mai wanted to do: she wanted to save others and make sure she could save as many as she could with her skill.

 

Shay found the Alchemist’s shop; she’d been here once before when doing her research on professions. She opened the heavy wooden door and a bell jingled. A small female NPC approached her with a smile.

 

“Hello, what can I help you with?† she asked.

 

“Well I would like to know how to become an Alchemist.â€

 

“An alchemist, hmmmm,†the woman said and eyed Mai over. “No…not you… I can tell that you lack the discipline.â€

 

“I DON'T!† Mai replied defiantly.

 

“Oh… so you’ve some fight. Very well… prove to me this discipline. Bring me three berry bushels from Red Sumac. They reside in the forest area just outside this village. If you bring me these then I will know you’re up to the task on learning my trade.â€

 

“You’re on!†The young woman said flippantly as the quest box appeared.

 

She clicked YES, and then walked out the door to go look for these red sumac berries and show that mean lady that she so had the abilities to be an AMAZING alchemist.

 

[Mayuri 0]

25453

LD: 14 NOTHING

 

Mayuri marched into the forest in a huff. She’d been in a huff since she left town and she was still rather annoyed.  â€œHow dare that lady say I’m not up to the challenge!†She said as she carried her Hwando in her hand ready for a fight as soon as she found one. The young woman stopped on the path and opened up her HUD to see how much further she had to go. “Not too much further,†she said and sighed. She used to blade to hack away at the grass as she passed along walking toward her destination.  The young woman scanned the area for anything useful, but there was nothing for her to find.

[Mayuri 0]

Mai came to the area marked upon her HUD and there she found her first target: a Red Sumac. The girl rushed the plantlike mob turning her Hwando out and she slashed at the thing as she went racing toward it. Her blade cut through the mob and sent pixels into the air that rained down upon her and disappeared. The Sumac shook violently and tried to smack at her with its branches, but Mai was quick and she got away from the thing easily. She turned and turned her blade in again readying for her next attack.

 

25454

BD: 7 (6+1 ACC)     Mai hits Sumac for +2 damage

MD: 5     Miss!

 

 

Mayuri      15/15

 

Red Sumac     6/8

[Mayuri 0]

Mayuri was determined to show that lady what was what. Sure, she might have looked weak, but the young woman knew something that stupid NPC didn’t: Mai was not only persistent, but she also excelled when it came to learning physical abilities, which meant that she was a natural when it came to controlling her weapon (having gotten her weapon with accuracy didn’t hurt either). Shay swung her sword again cutting at the damn thing and sent more life flying away from the Sumac. It swung at her but the girl twirled away from the attack and ducked the branches that came swinging toward her. She bounced back several steps and slide back, steadying herself with her hand upon the ground; her blade extended back and overhead as she eyed the Sumac with the desire to cut the thing in two.

 

25455

BD: 6 (5+1 ACC)     Mai hits Sumac for +2 DMG

MD: 1     MISSED!

 

 

Mayuri      15/15

 

Red Sumac     4/8

[Mayuri 0]

Mai flew into action once more but the plant was ready for her. She went to strike at the thing but the mob dodged her attack in a similar fashion as she had only a moment ago. “Clever, so you learn then do you?† Mai said as she once more avoided being hit by ducking the attack of the Sumac. She engaged it several more times, but found she could not strike the mob. “You’ve gotten faster, but so can I!† Mai said accepting the challenge.

 

25456

BD: 1     MISS!

MD: 5    MISS!

 

 

Mayuri      15/15

 

Red Sumac     4/8

[Mayuri 0]

Mai deflected the small tree’s attacks, however, the young woman had spun out of the way of so many attacks that she’d made herself dizzy. She stood there in a bit of a daze holding her head waiting for the world to stop going round. As she did, the tree whacked her with one of its swinging branches. “OUCH! You jerk!†She shouted as she put her hand over her cheek, where the mob had slapped her. She turned her Hwando out and then sliced through the air hitting her target. They were even now, but Mai did not like that a plant had slapped her cute little round cheeks.

 

“I’ll get you for that,†she growled readying for her next attack.

 

25478

BD: 8 (7+1 ACC)     Mai hits Sumac for +2 DMG

MD: 7     Sumac hits Mai for +1 DMG

 

 

Mayuri      14/15

 

Red Sumac     2/8

 

[Mayuri 0]

The raven haired girl was mad for what the Sumac had done to her and so she attacked it like she meant business. She turned out her blade, and charged in bringing it into both her hands so she could hit it as hard as she could. Mai jumped and raised her Hwando overhead and drove it straight down through the Sumac, cutting the mob in two. However, as she was finishing the creature off it managed to strike her hard in the chest. She stumbled back but the job was already done, and the creature burst into a million pixels leaving behind her prize: a berry bushel. Mayuri skipped over and added the berries to her inventory.

 

"That’s one!" She said happily and bounced around. 

 

25496

BD: 10      +4 DMG to Sumac

MD:10      +3 DMG to Mai

 

 

Mayuri      11/15

 

Red Sumac     0/8 DEAD

 

FOUND: +1 Material

Red Berry Bushels   1/3

 

[Mayuri 0]

25497

LD: 20     Material Located

 

Looking at her health bar, the girl wanted to take no chances, so she decided to rest until her meter was back at full. She skipped a ways away from where she was and found a safe clearing to sit in. She sat down in the grass and began to pick the flowers around her. While she did, she plucked up an orange flower. It was marked “Calendulaâ€. Mai added it to her inventory and found that she had located another type of material she would need in her alchemy.

 

“How fortuitous,†she cheered as she continued to pick flowers around her hoping that maybe she would get lucky a second time.  

 

Mayuri   12/15

 

FOUND: +1 Material

[Mayuri 0]

25498

LD:  7   Nothing found

 

As Mai picked flowers, she didn’t find another material, which was fine. She had nearly collected enough flowers to weave them together. The girl sat there weaving the flower stems together and began to slowly form a chain. Mai loved making flower wreaths, especially since the blooms in SAO were rather hardy and wouldn’t wilt. Instead when the flowers lost their consistency, the wreath would merely shatter and disappear. It was kind of neat because it momentarily left a glittering halo around her head. It was this halo that Mai was truly after. It made her feel pretty, even magical, like for one second, she was an angel, or had fairy dust sprinkled around her.

 

  Mayuri   13/15

[Mayuri 0]

25499

LD: 16   Material Located

 

Mai weaved the flowers together happily. The field she sat in consisted mainly of sunny yellow and bright orange blooms and Mai alternated he colors so that her crown would look like sunshine. She grinned as she worked rather quickly, impressed with the way she had improved her abilities in something she loved to do for fun. It almost made her wish she had become an artisan; it would have been so much fun. But, artisanal goods would not save lives, potions would.  She was doing this for the greater good and to be helpful toward all those who might need her.

 

As she worked, Mai noticed she needed another orange flower; she plucked up the closest one and found it was another Calendula. “YAY!†she cheered as she added it to her inventory. 

 

 

  Mayuri   14/15

 

FOUND: +1 Material

[Mayuri 0]

25500

LD: 15   Material located

 

Mai had finished her flower crown. She quickly placed it upon her head and twirled about. “YAY!†she cheered herself as she felt lovely with the flowers adorning her dark hair. The contrast of the bright flowers, dark hair and brilliant eyes was a rather lovely indeed. Mai’s health bar was filled and it was time to get back to work. So she began to skip her way out of the field. As she did, she spotted another Calendula, and so she picked it. “WOO!†she shouted joyfully realizing what and easy time she was having of finding things she would need for alchemy. It was kind of nice. 

 

 

  Mayuri   15/15

 

FOUND: +1 Material

[Mayuri 0]

25501

LD: 13    Nothing located

 

Mai skipped her way back toward where she had fought the sumac before. It’d been quite awhile so surely one would have spawned by now.  The girl took her time as she skipped and twirled through the flowers. Enough though she was on a mission she was having too much fun playing around and finding other materials. Sadly, her fun came to an end when she spotted another Sumac not too far off from her.

 

Again, she pulled her Anneal Blade from her sheath, turned her blade out and got ready to rumble.  

[Mayuri 0]

25502

BD: 9    +3 Damage to Sumac

MD: 4    Missed!

 

Battle ready and hungry to win, Mai ran at the Sumac at full speed. She got the jump on the creature and hacked away at it with her fierce blade, landing a critical hit on the mob.  The thing had no chance to strike Mai however because the young girl bounced away and kept herself at a safe distance from retaliation. She was ready for more and hoped that this battle would go as quickly as her last.

 

 

Mayuri   15/15

 

Red Sumac   5/8

[Mayuri 0]

25503

BD: 6   (5+1 ACC)     +2 DMG to Sumac

MD: 3     MISSED

 

As Deadmou5’s Ghosts n’ Stuff came up on Mayuri’s writer’s playlist, the young girl smiled, ready to kick a little behind. Why? Because deep down, Mayuri longed to be a bit of a badass, she was getting rather good with her weapon and she had the drive that would lead her to win.

 

Ready and willing, the young woman went ahead to face her opponent once more. The creature tried to attack, wildly swinging its branches, but they failed to make contact with the girl’s person. She watched for an opening and the thrust her Hwando into the Sumac and pulled hr blade. She hopped back again and got into her ready position watching for her next chance to strike.

 

 

Mayuri   15/15

 

Red Sumac   3/8

[Mayuri 0]

25504

BD: 1

MD:1

BOTH SWING AND MISS!

 

The Red Sumac seemed desperate. It attacked Mayuri directly, charging the girl and flailed about trying to strike at her with its heavy branches. The attacks were slower than she was however and she was able to keep them from landing. With the branches flying, she saw no opportunity to strike. The Smac may have had her on the ropes for a moment, but it would not win. It would die, and Mai would get her goodies and show that Alchemist lady just how boss she was.

 

 

Mayuri   15/15

 

Red Sumac   3/8

[Mayuri 0]

25505

BD: 8   (7+1 ACC)      +2 DMG to Sumac

MD: 7     +1 DMG to Mayuri

 

Mai eventually saw her chance to attack the mob and so she did.  Turning her hwando blade out the girl slashed and spun about as she chipped away even more of the Red Sumac’s life. There was only one tiny little line of red showing and Mauri grinned at her success. The young woman should have waited to get cocky however as the Sumac retaliated and smacked at her. The girl growled and focused on the fight at hand remembering not to get too excited before her opponent was taken out.

 

 

Mayuri   14/15

 

Red Sumac   1/8

[Mayuri 0]

25506

BD: 1

MD: 2

BOTH SWING AND MISS

 

The mob had to know it was done for because it once again rushed Mayuri swinging at her violently moving much quicker than before, and swinging its branches with all the fight it had in it. She was able to keep the Suma off her using her blade to deflect blows, but she wasn’t fast enough to strike it outright and land the kill. “Come on… come on….†She told herself encouraging her body to try and move faster and work harder. 

 

 

 

Mayuri   14/15

 

Red Sumac   1/8

[Mayuri 0]

25507

BD: 8    (7+1 ACC)     +2 DMG to Sumac

MD:2    MISSED

LD: 18   LOOT AQUIRED: +5 HEALTH POTION (good item)

 

Shay cleared her mind of all doubt and all fear and focused solely on watching and waiting. There would come a time where the mob would screw up, and she would use that instant to kill it. The Sumac whirled its branches at Mai, but the girl twisted, turned and ducked each and every one of its strikes. The mob opened its branches wide to try and crush her between them, but the second it opened up, Maiyuri used that instant to strike. She once again thrust her Anneal blade into the creature, and in that instant it shattered and flew away.

 

The young woman sighed in relief and took a deep breath having won her match. Upon the ground she was pleasantly surprised with two rewards, red berries, and a bottle of a deep red liquid. She picked up both items and added them to her inventory. “Plus five health potion,’ she read as she inspected to the bottle to find out what it was. The girl jumped up and down and cheered as she found her first in game item. It would be something she knew she could use in the future to keep herself, or someone else safe from harm. It was a lucky find indeed.

 

 

 

Mayuri   14/15

 

Red Sumac   0/8 DEAD

 

 

 

FOUND:

+1 Material

+5 Health Potion

 

Red Berry Bushels   2/3

 

 

 

[Mayuri 0]

Mayuri’s celebration was cut short as another mob materialized. “So soon?†the young woman said. She wasn’t out of breath or even low on health, she was just surprised that there was another creature to fight. She supposed that now was the time that she learned to take mobs on back to back. Eventually, she would learn to fight them in groups.  Mai stood and readied her Hwando and went in for the attack. She brought her blade up underhanded and slashed diagonally through the creature. Its health fell as Mayuri put some distance between herself and the creature. It made no move to counterattack so the girl prepared for her next assault.

 

25540

BD: 7   (6+1 ACC)     +2 DMG to Sumac    

MD: 1   MISSED!

 

 

Mayuri   15/15

 

Red Sumac   6/8

[Mayuri 0]

The creature did not like the young woman’s surprise attack. The mob rushed Mai and began to thump against her with its heavy branches rather violently. She was able to deflect some of its strikes, but the young woman was just not fast enough to defend herself from a sound beating from the plant. As the Red Sumac moved closer to her, Mai drove the mob back by striking at it with her sword. She managed to make contact with the thing (which was easy since it was in such close quarter); she jumped back and circled around the plantlike creature ready to attack once more.

 

25602

BD: 7   (6+1 ACC)     Mai hits Sumac for +2 DMG

MD: 10   MAJOR CRIT!      Sumac hits Mai for +3 DMG

 

 

Mayuri   12/15

 

Red Sumac   4/8