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Baldur

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Posts posted by Baldur

  1. Baldur had been at a loss for words when Hirru had asked him if there were people at the raid other than their group of raiders, the people he described being unfamiliar to him. What could this mean? He knew of his friends memory issues, perhaps something was leaking through? How should he answer that? The gaijin samurai had opened his mouth, unsure of what to say or how to comfort his friend, when the man seemed to get embarrassed as the silence stretched a moment longer, and ushered them on.

    Should I have said something? What does this mean? Who could they be? How much should I pry?

    Perhaps they should go fishing sometime together and chat about it. Perhaps, just the two of them, his old friend would open up more to him.

    "It smells delicious Snow! Why don't we all take some of it once you've finished cooking and eat out in the gardens this morning? I think I saw @Calrex had just finished practicing as well. I'm sure he's hungry too."

    He gave a wry smile to Crow, who undoubtedly had been trying to sneak some of Snow's food out of the kitchen before it was done.

    "Crow, would you join us too? I'm assuming you haven't eaten your fill yet." The gaijin smirked, knowing that such a thing could never occur.

    Baldur clasped a hand on Hirru's shoulders, "I don't know how we'd get on without the two of you. Crow would undoubtedly eat me out of house and home, not that Cal-kun hasn't been known to eat an entire feast himself when he gets hungry."

  2. Baldur noticed Snow blushing prettily at his words, but he didn't let that stop him. Too often people were afraid or embarrassed of what needed to be said. The important words. People should be complimented, praised, encouraged, and friends should know you love them. Baldur wasn't afraid to say any of these words, or to say them with conviction. It was, perhaps, even more illusion breaking about him being a gaijin samurai than his being a gaijin. Contrary to popular belief, Baldur was not trying to be Japanese, nor was he role-playing at being a Samurai. Indeed, he had never once referred to himself as either. He merely used the situation they're in to reinvent himself, to be the him he could never have the courage to be outside of Aincrad. Perhaps, had the death game never taken place and it had been a true MMO, Baldur would have been a role-player, and played an actual Samurai, but this was something different.

    Then Snow shot off past him, and dug their NPC companion out of the rubble and brought the trio back together. Baldur looked at the NPC, surprised when he extended his hand to Baldur. Not surprise at the handshake, but as if he had completely forgotten about the NPC at all. The quest was complete whether they escorted him back to town or not, but it had never occurred to do anything of the sort. It was an NPC. Still, Snow looked up at him with a bit of pride on her face, and so Baldur took the NPC's hand. He had done a bit of role-playing in his day.

    "Yes, well, we'll let you get the killing blow on the next giant rampaging ape." he gave the NPC a half hearted smile.

    "But yes, Snow-dono is right. We should get back to town. You can let your people know that they are safe once again."

    The NPC's health was low, perhaps roughly a quarter or a tad more. They had come closer to losing him than Baldur had originally expected, but the thing's taunt was more annoying than Baldur remembered. And this was a quest I used to do regularly for the drops.

    The unlocked sword art and the drop from this quest would be useful for both him and Snow.

    As they walked towards town, Baldur smiled sideways at Snow, "Sorry I got caught up in the moment there. I'm excited for your potential." His lopsided smile seemed a bit sheepish.

    "Do you have any questions for me?"

  3. The day before:

    A hustle filled the large open square in front of the Dreamer's Temple, the guild hall of Jacob's Ladder. People were rushing about, gathering supplied, both food their own crafters had made, as well as those that he and Shield arranged to be bought from Firm Anima and other associated crafting guilds. They had a large storehouse of them, but constantly needed to be restocked. Part of their role with the guild was to hand out supplies to those who showed up at boss fights unprepared. It meant the divesting of tons of resources for which the guild rarely saw returned or compensation, but they were not in this for profit or compensation.

    "That's the last of the crafters and crates that were down at the docks, Baldur-sama." Takumi called out to the gaijin samurai. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." He bowed to the man in a blue and white haori, and then departed back through the gates.

    He's a good kid. Baldur said with an inward smile. Takumi was always helping them out. He was still young yet, and not interested in risking his life in a battle to the death with floor bosses, but he wanted to contribute to the front in any way he could. So Baldur gave him training to defend himself, and continue him along the path of self improvement, as well as letting him contribute as much as he could. His income helped to fund a fair bit of what they did here, as he loved to be on the water, he could often be found fishing from his boat while waiting for anyone who needed to come or go from the island.

    "Make sure we've got camping supplied and non-buff food as well. We don't want to burn the valuable stuff just because we're hungry, but we want to make sure everyone has enough to eat their fill while we're out there."

    It had been time enough. They had cleared the previous floor, and now needed to focus their sight ever upwards.

    The Day of:

    dc8j8nk-1e166609-a0c4-4821-a264-a2d18284fbd6.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzg1MGEwMjMyLTdhYWUtNGZiOC1hMGY0LWI4YTQ0NmIwNWMwZFwvZGM4ajhuay0xZTE2NjYwOS1hMGM0LTQ4MjEtYTI2NC1hMmQxODI4NGZiZDYuanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.Blgeshz_32IblORJuogc03Z8xDFcGM5oAtfsHjGOeCgAfter arriving at the settlement of Ronbaru, they had traveled east, into what was known as the territory of Srona.  While each of the settlements were mostly known for their variety of luminous stones, Srona had another defining feature... the forest. It was the crafting hub of the floor, and seemed the best secondary base camp for their expedition. While the floors themselves were not terribly large, the mountain nature of floor 27 was going to make the exploration a bear. The massive towers that normally gave a hint for where players could start looking for the labyrinth entrance were obscured by mountains and the darkness of the floor. It's beauty was a double edged sword.

    Their camp, however, was a simple things. A few pack animals had been rented to help expand the inventory of those in the group with the tremendous amount of logistical gear needed for a group this size. Typically a player could carry enough to be self sufficient on a floor on their own for days, but with a diverse party of this size, they had to take into account things like multiple meals, privacy, and due to the... uncomfortable nature of sleeping in mountainous terrain, bedding. The magical nature of their inventory certainly made backpacking through the mountains easier than Baldur had ever found in real life, but even their inventory wasn't infinite. Plus, managing buffs out in the field when you didn't have the housing effect was important as well. Once they started finding dungeons, they would be cut off from the world, unable to direct message anyone until they were out.

    They had spent the day exploring the glowing, gravity defying forests of the Srona area. Being that it was the first day out, they have done any real exploring, but they were nearing what Baldur thought to be the base of the first of the large support columns of the tower. Though the labyrinth entrance was rarely at the base of them, there were often dungeons nearby, and it wasn't uncommon that underground caves would be where they would find the labyrinth entrance.

    The fire burned at the center of their camp, a handful of tents set up in a circle around it. There were no safe zones around here, but a bit of scouting by Hirru had shown that there didn't appear to be any monsters that spawned here during the day. At least, that's what the clock on Baldur's HUD said, since the sun never rose on this floor.

    "Good job finding this spot, @Hirru" The Jade Hunter had been able to find them a nice little shelter in the rough landscape, where the floating trees, clinging to levitating rocks, broke the worst of the wind. They may not get chills in Aincrad, but it was no less uncomfortable to fall asleep. Sleeping in the field of the floors was not unknown to Baldur, but he rarely was in a place where it wasn't worth his time to just teleport home with a crystal and sleep in his own bed.

    @Snow, dutiful as ever, had leapt to the task of cooking them something good for dinner. Her specialty was Sushi, almost as if Baldur had recruited her for that specialty alone, but she was adept at just about everything she put her mind to. The gaijin samurai hadn't even been the one to recruit her... yet as if she had some kind of power over him, she pressed @Calrex into being her cooking assistant. He did notice a few blushes here and there on her part when she glanced at him.

    @Crozeph... Baldur gave out a bit of a sigh and tapped the top of the barrel that contained their rice, causing it to fall onto Crow's head.

    "Crow, get out of the rice until after Snow has had a chance to cook it.He really is like a trash panda without Yuki around.

    Baldur glanced over at @Cordelia. It was good to see her getting out and about again. She had been depressed for a while and not wanting to leave the island much, but she had talked with a few people at the Valentines Day tournament and she seemed to be coming out of her funk, and had even helped him with some of the students at the dojo. He thought she and Taukumi had even gotten a bit of a budding friendship, though it seemed mostly to be Cord giving him playful teasing and him trying, and failing, to one up her.

    He wasn't sure yet if @Zajcica would catch up with them or not. He had sent her a message, but they had spent a better part of this afternoon traversing a field dungeon, unable to receive messages, and having to fight off evil, red eyed monkeys from their pack animals. The larger, more fiercesome <<Wood Elementals>> were a bit easier to avoid, or at least to target since they didn't move in packs and generally didn't attack immediately. The worst had been when they tried to make a fire at the first campground. It had cause several of the creatures to attack them at the same time, as if burning wood was an offense to them.

    "Remember everyone, the real work starts tomorrow. So we need to make sure we have a good rest tonight. Even with the biggest system boosted search scores, it doesn't help if you can't keep your eyes open." Baldur smirked, his steel blue eyes looking over the faces of his guild, of his family. With a few exceptions he would have loved to add to the mix, this dysfunctional group of players were the ones he most wanted to spend time with. A pang of guilt gnawed at him though. The guild had been formed with four pillars, with the hope that together they could provide the guidance and leadership demanded not just by the frontline, but to be what those gathered here deserved. Mari had succumbed to her depression and hidden away in her cabin again, and Oikawa seemed to disappear, only checking in now and then. Shield, stalwart as ever, took a little too much to his role as quartermaster. It least Baldur to Captain the ship, and he felt he was not worthy of it. They needed more, someone to help push them forward, another leader. But whom?

    "We've only been here during the 'day' in game time, so remember that spawn rates can change in the night, and I don't know how this floor works well enough yet." His inactivity was leading to his ignorance, but they were in this together, and others had expertise Baldur lacked.

    He peaked over at Snow and Cal, "So, what's for dinner tonight?"

    Spoiler

    » Baldur, The Gaijin Samurai vWKwiqS.png

    » Base Stats

    • Base HP: 920
    • Base EN: 126 (includes 20 for Energist)
    • Base MIT: 78
    • Base ACC: 5 (includes AA and does not automatically miss on 1s)
    • Base DMG: 23 
    • Base EVA: 2
    • Battle Heal: 46 HP
    • Keen: +1
    • Recovery: +4 EN

    » Items Equipped:

    • Warden's Fury - Absolute Accuracy/2 Paralyze
    • Muramasa - Absolute Accuracy/Fallen/Blight/Burn
    • Ethereal Tether - Zanshin - Absolute Accuracy/Keen/Freeze/Burn
    • Montsuki haori - 48 DMG MIT/+1 EVASION/+4 EN RECOVERY
    • Emerald Matagama | Perfect | +3 Accuracy
    • Hammerspace Backpack (HB) +1 BR item (allows stacks up to 7)

    » Battle-Ready Inventory:

    • Medium Damage Potion x7 | Rare T2 Item | +2 Damage
    • Basic Teleportation Crystal x1 | Good Item | Teleports player to the Town of Beginnings
    • Max Mass HP Recovery Crystal x7 | Perfect T2 Item | +30*Target Tier (30/60/90)
    • Max T2 HP Recovery Crystal II x4 | Perfect T2 Item | +180 HP
    • Safeguard Potion x3 | Perfect Tier 1 | Safeguard
    • HB: Max Vitality Snack x2 | Rare Tier 2 | Grants +12 Energy
    • EWL: Medium Antidote Potion x1 | Rare Tier 2 | Immune to negative status effects for 2 turns
    • EWL: Muramasa or Warden's Fury
    • EWL:
    • SC: Emerald Teardrop - +2 ACC/+1 EVASION
       

    » Skills:

    • One Hand Curved Sword | Rank 1/5 | 
    • Katana | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Battle Healing | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Light Armor | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Charge | Purchased | 
    • Quick Change | Purchased
    • Extended Weight Limit | Purchased
    • Energist | Purchased
    • Combat Shift | ST Specialist
    • Searching| Rank 3/5

    » Extra Skills:

    • Concentration | Equipped
    • Survival | Un-equipped
    • Meditation | Equipped
    • Parry | Equipped
    • Forgotten King's Authority | Equipped
    • Shatter | Not Yet Unlocked

    » Mods:

    • Meticulous: Equipped
    • Emergency Recovery: Equipped
    • [Mod Slot Empty
    • [Mod Slot Empty]
    • [Mod Slot Empty]
    • ADD-ON Ferocity: Equipped
    • ADD-ON Stamina: Equipped
    • ADD-ON: Precision: Equipped
    • ADD-ON: Resolve: Equipped

    » Housing Bonuses:

    • Rested: -1 EN on first 2 uses
    • Tasty: Turns 2 food into feast for 4
    • Advanced Training: +2 SP to a thread 1/month
    • Filling: Add 1 extra tier 1 slot to food
    • Item Stash: +1 BR item slot
    • Relaxed: OOC regen 5*tier, recover EN out of combat after 2 turns in lieu of 3
    • Angler: +1 Mat when fishing

     

  4. Quote

    "I'm..." A pause of uncertainty. "I'm trusting my life to you... I'll take that next step..." She took his hand. "For me and for those I want to protect..."
    She tried to speak with resolve, but the words seemingly left her lips with the lack luster of a dull blade. In her eyes, her fear and nervousness hid. 
    She nodded with more conviction this time. Her grip tightened.
    "Yeah, I'm ready."

    Baldur squeezed her hand back. If glory and pride could have been made manifest, they would have erupted around the two of them. Pride for what Baldur felt for Snow, taking his hand and taking the next step forward. Always so hard. She pushed through her fear and frustration and guilt and all the emotions holding her back, but she made the choice with a purpose. The steel melted slightly as her resolve took hold, and she could see the pride in her eyes. Glory surged within him at the feeling of relief and exultation at his words seeming to reach her and have the desired effect.

    "I promise you this, Alyssa. I will treasure your life, I will be by your side, all of Jacob's Ladder will. But even as people come and go, as guilds come and go, I will always be in your corners and help you out. I can't promise there won't be danger ahead, but I can promise that you won't have to face it alone, that I won't put you in a fight I don't think we can win, and that I will always steak my life next to yours. I will honor your determination and sacrifice alongside my own. We're in this together now, come what may." His smile was fierce, and proud, and strong.

    "Together, we are more than the sum of our parts. That's what Jacob's Ladder is all about."

    He let out a sigh, a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding as the steel in his eyes settled to ocean blues.

    "I feel like celebrating now, but we have so much work left to do. We need to turn in this quest, we need to talk about builds and equipment. We need to talk about quests, unlockable skills, and combat practice." He had taken a few steps forward, back in the direction of town. His excitement and energy was enough to sweep people up and carry them along with him, but he suddenly stopped.

    He turned around, suddenly... not solemn, but there. Firmly in this moment right here, right now, with her.

    "Before all of that, Alyssa. What do you need. We can take a break, it's been a busy day, and we can go get something to eat and just crash from the emotion of the day. Or if you've got momentum under your feet, we can blaze ahead."

    His previous words, his excitement, may have made someone guess that he wanted her to blaze ahead, but there was something about the change in him when he turned back to her. It was the eyes. The clear pools of Jason. He spoke directly to Alyssa's heart, acknowledging her as a person, and what she needed.

    "The choice is always yours. No reason we can't start that stuff tomorrow." And then he gave her an earnest, peaceful smile.

  5. "Good." Baldur said half leaning, half sitting on a bit of a large fallen tree behind him as he saw Snow struggle with the feelings raging inside of her. He had to be careful here, she needed to redirect those feelings toward growth instead of towards self pity. He hoped that this combat would put a bit of shock into her, though perhaps with the hate shenanigans he chose a quest poorly.

    The girl did seem surprised at his choice of words, perhaps she was expecting more empathy from him, but while he did empathize with her, his heart aching at seeing her distraught, he was here to build her up, to turn her into who she wanted to be.

    "You should be angry, or frustrated, or both." His eyes were still steel, his words firm, but calm.

    "But be angry for good reasons, and let it drive you forward." A bit of of a smile curled the edge of his lip, breaking for a moment the sterm mentor face he had going on.

    "You know how I do it? Get knocked around a lot? I got knocked around a lot until I was tired enough to do something about it." He gestured at the trees behind himself, "And as you see I still get knocked around a lot, I'm use used to it now." His eyes got distant for a moment, "I was flung through the air, taking what seemed like forever to fall when a friend of mine died." He could remember the sight of Azide shattering in his mind's eye like it was yesterday.

    "But what are you, Alyssa, Snow, going to do about it? I'm ready if you are. I saw what I needed to see in that battle, but I doubt it's the same as what you saw."

    Baldur stood up to his full height, and took a couple paces forward, just enough to stand in the middle of where the two of them have been.

    "Snow, you are here because you deserve to be. Because we want you to be. Because Shield, and I, and Mari, and Oikawa, and Calrex all agreed you had what it takes." He jabbed himself in the chest.

    "What is takes is the will to not give up, to stand back up, and have the back of the person next to you." There was a bit of fire in his voice as he spoke those words.

    "If you tell me right now, you've had enough of fighting, that this is as far as the fire that burns inside of you will go, I'll think you're lying to yourself, but we will find a way to make use of you outside of combat, and make sure that you're contributing to keep people alive and pushing the frontline forward anyways. But I don't think you can look me in the eyes and say those words."

    He let a moment of silence hang, hoping she would meet his gaze.

    "But I think you're going to look me in the eyes, full of anger at yourself, full of frustration, but with that fire inside of you telling you that you can do better, that this isn't enough." He spoke with passion appealing to the heart he knew was inside of her, "then we will take that, and we, as a guild, will work with you and build you up, stand with you should to shoulder, and help you become the woman I know you are."

    He let out a breath, he had been building and building up, and he needed to release some of the emotion like a tea kettle.

    "I bought you out here so that you could see where the rubber meets the road. The anger and frustration mean you have room to grow. You needed to get a feel for what combat felt like again. I wanted something that was sufficiently... real, but not dangerous. You are stronger than you know. I promise you this."

    He held out his hand to her. Not as someone helping another person stand, but as one warrior holds out his hand to acknowledge another.

    "So look me in the eyes Alyssa, take my hand, and tell me you're ready for the most important step anyone can ever take."

    He paused for dramatic effect.

    "The next one."

  6. Quote

    The Monkey King should have attacked based on Snow's MD roll in her previous post ID#206672 MD10 - all participants are still stun immune

    "Sit down, you stuffy old fool before you get yourself killed!" Baldur barked at the NPC, but it was too late. The Monkey King had uprooted another tree and swung it at the three of them like a baseball bat and there was nothing they could do, all three of them were sent flying back into the dense forest like they were served on a t-ball stand to a major league hitter. The dense foliage and branches quickly rose up to meet them as the fell to the ground, taking fall damage on top of the tree. 

    As they hit the ground, Baldur rolled to his feet. He wasn't in any danger as Sewallus had a commanding lead on the hate gain, and he would continue to be until Snow had a chance to adjust her build and some of her gear. He looked around for Snow and saw the frustration on her face, but determination still held in her eyes.

    It was time to reset.

    Baldur sheathed his blade and ran in the direction of Sewallus. He was easy to find as a the giant Monkey King was barreling towards him, trees and brush be damned. The fool of an NPC wasn't even trying to get out of the way.

    Baldur didn't pause, he didn't need to anymore. He had practiced this for so long he could enter the zone at will. He practiced what he taught and sought the flame and the void. The fire welled up within him, the fury that burned, the grief that smoldered, the warm light of his friends, and the love he had to share with those around him. The world didn't fade away to nothingness like he would have expected to see in an anime, instead the world brightened. It was his focus that sharpened. Gone were his worries, gone were his distractions and doubts. They were fed to the fire. His purpose was singular. End the fight now. Complete the quest. Deal with the rest later.

    There was no pause, suddenly power welled up around Baldur. He had learned to incorporate the premotion of his sword arts into a charge, there was a slight stutter to his step, like a pitcher getting ready to throw, and then Baldur became a streak of blue haori, shot like an arrow through the sky towards the Monkey King. Mid flight, a tremendous arc of light exploded forth as Baldur drew <<Ethereal Tether -Zanshin>> from its saya, a swath of the night sky cut through the forest and through the Monkey King and the trees around him. Everything the night touched was covered in ice, and yet still somehow burning inside.

    For a moment, all was quiet in the forest. Baldur appeared, slowly sheathing his sword. And just as the katana clicked back into its saya, as if rehearsed and practiced to perfection, the Monkey King shattered into millions of glittering polygons and the trees, suddenly free of the ice, collapsed to the ground around the gaijin samurai. His face was solumn as he complted his ritual, slowly drawing his hand down the handle of the katana as if he was having a hard time letting go, and then he made a gesture as if throwing away the feelings of battle like discarded tissue.

    And then the man suddenly pumped a fist into the sky in triumph.

    "I did it! Did you see that? I timed it perfectly that time! Oh man! It feels so good. You have no idea how much I practice that."

    The man walked over to Snow with a smile, completely unconcerned with either of their health bars or the rush of battle that abruptly ended.

    "Sorry, I got a little carried away there." He rubbed the back of his neck with a bit of embarrassment. "How are you feeling?"

     

    Quote

    Monkey King MD:10 120 unmit to everyone, no stun due to immunity
    Baldur:
    ID#206741 BD: 10 CD 10 (ST-B Unlock) Crit +2 DMG, Burn Proc, Freeze Proc
    ID#206742 CD: 10 (Recovery Proc) +4EN, +46HP Battle healing
    23DMG *15 ST-1 = 345 RAW - 60 MIT = 285 DMG Dealt

    Turn Order:

    Monkey King | HP: -120/650 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 2 | ACC 1 (Stun Immune 1/3)
    [4] Snow | HP: 427/580 | EN: 74/76 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 71 | ACC: 1 | BH: 29 | BLD: 36 | REGEN: 23 | THRNS: 27 | Stun Immune (2/3) | F-Howl (2/4)
    [7] Sewallus | 160/400 HP | Howl: 2/2 | Shatter | Stun Immune (2/3)
    [4] Baldur | HP: 818/920 | EN: 109/126 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 78 | EVA: 2 | ACC: 5 | BH: 46 | LD: 3 | AA | BRN: 56 | | KEEN: 1 | REC: 4 | Stun Immune (3/3)

     

     

  7. Baldur smiled as Jomei complimented his choice of events and the success it seemed to be having at distracting everyone from their current predicament. He was glad that everyone seemed to be having fun, and that the tournament was a success.

    "Thanks, honestly it was a bit of a whim. But what I realized most was that we needed to be reminded that we're all people, stuck in this situation together. No a remember what we're fighting for, I think most people remember that every day, but we need to remember we're all people. I had hoped that by hosting this event, and the tournament, and giving everyone a chance to exist together as people, and not as soldiers, that we would form meaningful bonds, and at the same time, give everyone a chance to relax and refresh their spirits."

    He chuckled, however, when the ginger asked who he thought would win the fight. He was about to say something deflecting, he was the judge and couldn't be seen impartial after all, even if he was pulling for Lessa to win.

    However, at that moment, said blonde walked right up, cookie in her mouth, and addressed them as anything but what they were.

    "Gentlemen." She said, trying to look classy while eating her cookie.

    The smile that split Baldur's face was genuine and heartfelt, as it often was around Lessa.

    "Good work on the fighting today, and that kimono is beautiful as well. You really do have it all." He gave her a playful wink, "If you don't win this yourself, I think you'll have to bat away a suitor with a 12 foot pole." Baldur shared a conspiratorial grin with Jomei.

    @Lessa @Jomei

  8. Baldur smiled when Alkor stated he would join the Frontline. It hadn't been his specific goal, but it was a good one to win at none-the-less. There were so many things left that he wanted to say to the man, so many more words he thought Alkor knew but needed to hear. The man didn't respond to platitudes though, but maybe hearing them from people he trusted often enough would start to make them sink in.

    "Just remember, Alkor-san, you are surrounded by people who care about you, whether you want them to or not. And your journey, just like our quest to get out of this tower, cannot be completed alone. Strength is not eschewing help from others, it is admitting to ourselves that we need it, and asking for it. I know you know all of this, but even I didn't achieve all of this" Baldur gestured to encompass everything, "Without the help of my friends, and standing on the shoulders of those who came before me. Better men that I have tried and failed at going it alone." He took both of the bokken and walked over to the racks, putting them away.

    "But ultimately it is up to you to decide who you want to be. Don't judge that by the opinions of others. Set goals for yourself and achieve them. Like rejoining the Frontlines."  This is the second time I've had this conversation tonight. 'The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.' Baldur quoted to himself. Alkor had the right of it, always wanting to hone himself, improve himself, but he forgot to extend the grace his gives to others to himself. To love himself. To understand that he didn't need to be perfect, before he was worthy of love.

    He smiled as he turned around.

    "Thank you for the match." He bowed to the young man.

    "I hope that you will always feel welcome here, and that you would return again. I have enjoyed our conversation."

    Baldur walked over to the edge of the dojo, bowed to the kamidana, and then left to go and rejoin the rest of the festivities.

  9. Rules:

    Spoiler

    1. Remember, this site is PG-13, and this is a public thread and all posts in this thread are for public consumption.
    2. Please feel free to make spin off threads for private conversations, and therefore, feel free to "leave" and "re-enter" the thread as often as necessary, just please remember to do it so that we can try to keep track of some kind of fluid time
    3. Remember to post your character stats in this thread, specifically your character level and any paragon levels so that we are kind to the staff who are closing these massive threads for us.
    4. Once the sun sets, Baldur "locks the door" so to speak. People can leave, but new people cannot enter the island without Baldur unlocking the front door, so to speak
    5. Remember that Baldur's home is not a safe zone, Baldur does not have NPC staff, but rather a handful of NPC players, or currently inactive members of Jacob's Ladder/Baldur's Household/Baldur's Dojo

    OOC: This thread follows Observation thread 2. Observation thread 2 takes place during the second round of fighting on the first day of the Tournament, and the luau thereafter. These two threads bleed together and overlap each other to an extent, but the luau takes place at Sunset, and the Slumber party takes place after it's fully dark. The luau will continue to run for a few days. You do not need to finish what you had in the luau to post here. This is intended to be a clean start for people who have lost track of where the observation thread 2 went.

    Baldur once again stood up upon one of the central bridges that would allow his voice to carry over the water and reach as many people as he could with a large, bellowing voice. It was much deeper than he usually spoke in, but he had learned long ago how to make his voice carry, and that was before it needed to be heard over a battlefield. He clapped three times again to get the attention of everyone over all of the conversations being had, and hopefully reach those in the gardens as well. He would likely need to repeat the message from several other places for everyone to hear him clearly.

    "Thank you everyone for attending my, and Aincrad's first, Valentines day tournament day 1."

    He looked around at all the faces still here, many showing smiles, some still a bit uncomfortable being in a crowd, but none-the-less, trying to meet and make merry.

    "As you all know, the fighting shall resume tomorrow with the first two fights before lunch, and the final round after. Each fight shall be done in sequence, rather than all at the same time as we have done so far."

    He took a sip of the sake he had saved for the occasion of this tournament. His thought wasn't sore or dry, that simply didn't happen in SAO, but as many times as he had addressed crowds of this size, and bellowed this loud, his brain told him he needed to drink to save his vocal cords.

    "I know it is quite the hike home for many of you, and the seas are bit more dangerous in the evening. Therefore, I have teleport crystals available for anyone who needs one to get home. Also, I have several rooms here and in my guild hall which are unoccupied, and any who may wish to stay the night are welcome. It can be Aincrad's first slumber party as well." Laughed followed his words, amused at his phrasing. He had hosted many parties, and had intoxicated friends stay over at his home, both in Japan and in America, as well has having done so himself, but that was never phrased as a slumber party. However, many of these were little more than children. No, that makes light of their sacrifices. They had that childhood stolen from them, perhaps a bit of fun, levity, and youth restored would do us all a bit of good.

    happy_lantern_rite__alternate_ver__by_rayleighscale_dezo5ow-350t.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NzIxIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvMmVjMzlmZWQtMDdhNC00Yjg3LTkwMzQtMmQzZTk2MDlmYjY1XC9kZXpvNW93LTI4NmY4ZGUzLTcyZmItNGFkNi1iYjA3LTlhYjI4YTljOTBlMS5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.gW-0rl-8h9Y8YDCJJWA-fG7GwgaI3okJcrfnLQNkfZ4"For everyone's safety, I have locked the torii gate that brings people up here to the island. It does not prevent anyone from leaving, but any new arrivals will need my permission, or the assistance of a member of Jacob's Ladder to enter. I take my role as host seriously, you shall all be as safe as I can make anywhere here in Aincrad."

    He gestured up behind his home. There was a rise of gardens that went towards the back of the island, as far as you could get from the crowds. It was not a large island, but it was far enough away from the din of conversation at either Baldur's home, or the Guild hall. There were paths one could walk around in, and the gardens were dense enough you could feel like you were getting lost, even if it was not quite so large to be able to do that.

    "If you would like a private room, I have them available at the guild hall, The Dreamer's Temple. I also have large bedrooms and my livingrooms cleared away with several futons laid out in each for any who wish to have a slumber party, I only ask that you replace any pillows that have their durability reduced to 0 from any fighting." He gave another broad smile, "There is also a rotenburo, open air Onsen, towards the back of the island for any who wish it. Please, enjoy your time here, and let me know if there is anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable."

    With that, Baldur gestured to open his hud, navigated a few menus over, and hit a button. Suddenly, the grounds lit up. Paper lanterns on strings illuminated among the buildings, stone lanterns throughout the gardens and the estate lit up, and floating paper lanterns appeared on the waters of the pond, floating slowly from one to the other under the bridges.

  10. Quote

     

    "People are often looking for answers about themselves in others, but the answers I'm looking for can't be found anywhere else but inside of me. And every time I answer a question, I'm afraid none of the answers will satisfy me."

    "I told Mari that I couldn't help her. I couldn't be what she expected me to be. I couldnt save her. But no one wants to hear that," Alkor said. "Everyone wants the hero. They demand the fairy tale ending. When you categorically deny its existence, then what?"

    "I don't mind being the villain," he said flatly. "if my harsh or even cruel words or actions drove someone to find their own truth, to grow, and to heal- no matter how difficult that journey was- then I would gladly be the antagonist in their story."

    "When I came to this world, I did struggled to be someone. Anyone. I lied to myself about who I was, because for so long, I had no idea."

    "In many ways, I still don't," he said finally. "But I'm not going to lie about it anymore, or pretend to be something I'm not to fit into anyone's mold."

    "So, I suppose what I'm really asking......is anything ever good enough?"

     

    Baldur paused in his pacing and appraised the husk of the man before him. His words were so sad, and his question showed a depth of pain that Baldur wished he could say was surprising to him. He grave a slight frown weighing the man as Baldur lifted up the tip of his own blade and slapped the side of Alkor's in a way swordsmen often did to signal they were ready. He let Alkor's words settle about him like a weighted blanket. They were comforting to the man, but they were heavy to anyone else.

    "So, you're willing to be a villain, but not the hero? You reject the existence of one, but not the other. You tell the people in your life, who obviously have a special place for you in their hearts, that you can't be what they want, because it's not in you, but at the same time you don't know what is in you? Is that about the jist of it?" In any other man, there might have been scorn to those words, but to Baldur there seemed to a bit of sympathy wrapping his iron words as his sword threw them at Alkor, each blow hammering the man.

    "You can't save someone that doesn't want to be saved, Alkor, and that includes yourself." The man fought back, the fire inside still burned, but there was a hollowness to his strikes.

    Baldur began a series of goading attacked, non-committal blows that served only to harry him, not letting him close the distance or get a satisfying counter attack before Baldur moved out of range, constantly resetting the fight through a use of distance.

    "It's obvious to me someone hurt you, and that you've put up walls. I know that, you know that, I'm sure everyone in your life knows that. But you already know the answer to your question. The answer to the question you're really asking is that it will be good enough when you stop letting that person define you. Perhaps you haven't actually chosen to, but you are letting someone else define who you are, define what is good enough. I'm sure you've lived with it so long you don't even realize you've internalized it."

    Clack. Clack. Clack.

    The blows were coming heavy and faster now, but when Alkor got a chance to counter attack, Baldur retreated, not letting him get the satisfaction of an attack. It was a cowardly way of fighting between equals, something more reserved when someone who was outclasses, and could only fight by taking small bits out of a bigger target, and had to win through a thousand cuts.

    "It seems, to me, that you have decided what your role is to be in other people's lives. You may not be letting Mari or Lessa change you, or fix you, and nor should you. But you don't get to decide what your role is in their lives. They get to do that. At some point in the past, you were a hero in Lessa's story, whether you believe it not has nothing to do with the truth of it.

    Suddenly there was a glint to Baldur's steel blue eyes, as the man was outlined by the purple hues of the setting sun. He came forward suddenly, charging completely, refusing to back down. He abandoned defense and pressed forward, it didn't matter if Alkor counter attacked, or struck him, the gaijin samurai pressed forward with fire in his belly and pressed Alkor back. For every blow Alkor landed, Baldur returned it, every time Alkor tried to hold his ground Baldur would force him back through sheer stubborn force of mass and unceasing attacks. He was only a head taller than The First Sword of Aincrad, but he leveraged that size difference.

    "Stop letting the past limit your choices. Stop assuming your only role is who you are. Don't accept who you are as good enough, or the end of your journey. If you keep whittling away at a piece of wood, never satisfied, you end up with nothing in the end." Finally, Baldur clashed blades with Alkor and threw both of them back away from each others, taking a pause.

    "You don't know what is good enough, because you're still letting someone else define that for you. You can't ask them, you can't get their approval, or more specifically, they aren't here to give you their disapproval." Baldur put the point of the wood sword down on the floor of the dojo and leaned on it. Something he would have scolded any of his students for doing.

    "The answer, Alkor, is that you're already good enough. You have been for a very, very long time. Just because you could be better, doesn't mean you aren't good enough. And the moment you stop letting someone else narrow your options, is when you'll start to feel satisfied."

     

  11. Baldur smiled when he felt the strike on his arm from Alkor's blade, the tension of the air released and he took a few steps back. His steel blue eyes considered the man, their situation, and the words he was asking. It wasn't clear what he was asking, but Baldur would do his best to give him answer.

    "I have found that when people ask for advice, it's usually because they already know the right answer, but don't like it. They want someone to tell them that they're wrong."

    Alkor had gone for the blow against Baldur, it told him a lot about the man, but he had also sacrificed much to get it. If the blow hadn't finished Baldur, it would have given him a clean blow against the man as well. It was a zero sum move, but it was also how Baldur had opened the fight. You needed to know the margins, the factor of safety, and what you were willing to sacrifice.

    "Do you know why it's often more difficult for a swordmaster to fight a novice, than another swordmaster?" Baldur suddenly smirked, realizing the implications of his words, but he knew that Alkor would not take them the wrong way. They were both able to feel the skill in the other's blades.

    "Yes yes, the novice is unpredictable, we all know that bit, but the crux of the matter is, a swordmaster knows when he's putting himself in harms way, and is unlikely to make moves that will get himself killed. He's not going to expose himself in a way that gets them both killed, because that isn't really victory, is it? But the novice doesn't know that. The novice is just trying to win the fight they're having, rather than all the ones that come after it. In so doing, they don't realize how the attacks they make open themselves up. If you stab your opponent and they stab you, and you both die, then it wasn't really a very good move."

    Baldur slowly began to pace around the man in a circle, his blade held in a low guard.

    "It was a lesson I had to teach Mari." Baldur waited until he could see the mans face when he mentioned the woman.

    "She kept looking for a battle she could die in, to repent for all that she had done. I had to disabuse her of such a selfish notion. I don't want fighters that are going to go out there and die in every battle. I have 73 more floors to battle through. I need people I can trust at my back. If she wanted to repent, I told her she needed to fight in such a way that would get us to the 100th floor, not merely the next one. She had skill with her dagger, but our weapons aren't the ones in our hand. Our blades, the blades of the people we're trying to save. That's us. And what happens if you don't care for a blade? Maintain it. Treat it with respect? It becomes dull and then it breaks."

  12. There you go, you're getting this.

    He could see the battle shock in her eyes when he had walked back to them, but Snow was able to pull herself through, focus returning to her eyes even as the Monkey King slowly came out of his stun. As she found herself, she released her howl. It wasn't quite there yet, where it needed to be, and he saw that the hate hadn't transferred from Sewallus to Snow yet, but that could still change. If the Monkey King hit Sewallus again, he may day, or he may not, it was too close to call, however if Snow stopped to heal him, she wouldn't pick up hate. If they both hit, they may still be tied.

    Still, he didn't want the battle to be over already, Snow had only just gotten her feet under her, and he was rooting for her to do more.

    The best thing he could do would be to delay the find, go give Snow a chance. If the odds were with her and she was able to land a crit, then she could still get hate back. He would let this round play itself out now that she had forward moment.

    He drew his katana, and assumed the stance for <<Tech-B>>, he was carried forward by the system, and as he slashed his sword, the inky darkness of night followed the blade as if it cut through the word, revealing the night-time sky box behind the world itself, stars and nebula visible where Baldur had swung his sword, and as the night time arc of the sword art struck the Monkey King, rings of thorned vines seemed to appear around the limbs of the king, slowing his movements just a bit as the accuracy debuffing <<Delay>> took hold.

    "You've got this Snow, strike him with your ST-1 sword art!"


     

    Spoiler

     

    ID#206424 BD: 7 (hit)
    ID#206425 CD: 7 (Recover) +4 EN
    Tech-B: 23*12=276 RAW - 60 MIT = 216 DMG Dealt
    -11 EN (Rested 1/2), +4 Recovery, +4 EN Regen, +46 HP

    Turn Order:

    Monkey King | HP: 218/650 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 2 | ACC 1 (Stun Immune 0/3)
    [4] Snow | HP: 518/580 | EN: 74/76 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 71 | ACC: 1 | BH: 29 | BLD: 36 | REGEN: 23 | THRNS: 27 | Stun Immune (1/3)
    [5] Sewallus | 280/400 HP | Howl: 1/2 | Shatter | Stun Immune (1/3)
    [2] Baldur | HP: 892/920 | EN: 109/126 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 78 | EVA: 2 | ACC: 5 | BH: 46 | LD: 3 | AA | BRN: 56 | | KEEN: 1 | REC: 4 | Stun Immune (2/3)

     

     

  13. Once they had broken into the control room they came face to face with Emperor Razwell, perhaps the true floor boss. How this encounter played would set the stage for how future boss fights were handled. Would they consider the NPcs words, or would they take the more expedient path forward. How would this have been different had they executed Gabrandr and just proceeded to the next floor?

    Here and now determined if they would ever do this again.

    Without breaking a stride, Baldur unleashed his <<Iai>> attack, having locked onto Razwell and he zipped forward, faster than the human eye could see, but it was not teleportation, and one of the Kings Guard stepped between them blocking his way forward, and almost immediately he was tossed back towards the others by a powerful wind. Instead of being thrown against the wall, Baldur rotated, planting his feet on the wall and shifting his target to another of the kings guard. He launched forwards, his sword cutting through the shield and the knight entirely, leaving exposed the red wire mesh of its existence. He hovered in the air for a moment before the knight's shield crashed into the Samurai, releasing a grunt. The knight swung the blade down, but the blow would not stun the gaijin as it had hoped, lightning flared along Baldur's eyes as <<Forgotten King's Authority>> raged, burning away the stunned condition. Baldur raised his katana, taking the blade and stepping to the unshielded side, where another of the frontliners was keeping his opponent occupied. As Baldur maneuvered the blade and took a few careful footsteps, he was able to leave another slash in the King's Guard in front of him, this time returning the favor with a stun. Baldur lept up, sheathing the blade as he flew through the air and landed on top of the knight's shoulders. Once more Baldur tried to <<Iai>> the king, but just as his blade was about to be drawn and strike the king, the wind threw him back.

    "Just a bit more and we'll have him!"

  14. Before Baldur had a chance to respond to Snow and calm her nerves, the Captain warned them that they were there. The three quickly turned to take cover behind a boulder, but they were not fast enough. Sewallus stepped out to taunt the giant Monkey, but the creature threw at tree at them so large it was impossible to dodge.

    Tsk. Baldur cursed as he found himself airborne and stunned. I let the mob get the initiative on us, and now we're all stunned. This is not going to do well for Snow's comfort in fighting these things. 

    While still in the air, Baldur noticed some vines hanging around them and willed his body to move. A buff began to appear near his name, and then he forced the movement further, the icon for <<Forgotten King's Authority>> appeared, and then shattered before going to the cooldown area of his hud. Lightning struck the ground, and before Baldur could grab a vine, he found himself doing a superhero pose on the ground, kneeling with one fist striking the ground.

    So that's how that skill works.

    He had never been in a situation where he needed it, but he would always accept a little bit of system assisted bravado.

    "Now now, curious george. It's not nice to fling your [censored]"

    The Monkey King roared, and then turned around to face Baldur. It had been facing Snow and Sewallus, since its attack had sent him into the air and split the party. Raising its two massive hands in the air and moving to strike down at them Baldur stepped forward, his Katana shot out, a line of power striking like a thrust from his sword and into the gut of the Monkey King, stunning him and causing him to collapse onto hands and knees, coughing.

    Baldur took the moment to run around to the other side and rejoin the party, his katana still sheathed at his side.

    "Sorry about that." He said a bit embarrassed. He had heard Snow shouting for him, but the monkey was too big and too loud for either of them to have been able to see the other. Still, the ever present HP bars hung in the corner of their vision.

    "Alright Snow, remember the plan. You've got this!"


    Note: Everyone was stunned by the boss, but Baldur used <<Forgotten King's Authority>> to break free and attack

    ID#205572 BD:1+5=6 (hit) Tech-A (x12) Stun, 23*12=276 RAW - 60 MIT = 216 DMG Dealt
    Forgotten King's Authority -5EN, Tech-A -13 EN, CD: 10 ST-B unlocked, +46HP from Battle Healing
    ID#205573 CD: 11 Recovery +4

    Turn Order:

    Monkey King | HP: 434/650 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 2 [STUNNED]
    [0] Snow | HP: 489/580 | EN: 76/76 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 71 | ACC: 1 | BH: 29 | BLD: 36 | REGEN: 23 | THRNS: 27 | Stun Immune (0/3)
    [0] Sewallus | 280/400 HP | Howl: 0/2 | Shatter | Stun Immune (0/3)
    [1] Baldur | HP: 846/920 | EN: 112/126 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 78 | EVA: 2 | ACC: 5 | BH: 46 | LD: 3 | AA | BRN: 56 | | KEEN: 1 | REC: 4 | Stun Immune (1/3)

  15. Baldur smiled at Snow as she asked if she could sit in on the lesson, "I think it would be beneficial for us all to watch. We'll get the two of them started, and then we'll sit to the side and let Jon and Koga wail on each other for a while. Using Sword arts are different from the fighting you typically saw at the tournament, so it'll be an adjustment. Plus, the system affects us in subtle ways, with the enhancements of our equipment, so I think we'll witness quite the show today."

    After they had spent a bit preparing for Koga's arrival, Baldur would smile and greet the rakishly handsome man.

    "Koga-san, thank you for coming. No gi's are necessary, though I have some spare ones from the tournament if you wish to change. But yes, I am always with my haori, and Snow just recently picked hers out, isn't it lovely?" Baldur gestured at the woman and smiled proudly, showing her off. He was very proud of everyone in his guild and household.

    "As I just alluded, this is Snow-chan and Jon-kun." He gestured to the young, handsome man with blond hair and a track suit.

    "Jon fought in the tournament against Astralin and lost. He has told me he felt very awkward fighting someone without a weapon and wanted to get a bit more experience with it. I thought you would be an excellent teacher, as you have experience with both the katana and unarmed combat, both in and out of Aincrad."

    He then gestured to encompass the entirety of the dojo.

    "If neither of you mind, Snow and I shall watch from the side, and I may interject from time to time if I feel I have input that would help Jon out."

  16. Baldur was impressed as Alkor subtly changed his approach, responding to Baldur's change in tactics with a change of his own. As Baldur became fasters and rained quick, shallow blows on him, Alkor shifted to a firmly rooted defense, not giving rising to the baiting attacks and faints, and instead picking him moments to strike. The man was much more accomplished than even Baldur had credited him. He had seemed far more wild and feral in his fight with Koga, yet he was more contemplative in his fight with Baldur. It seemed either Alkor matched like with like, knowing the counter of each style, or that Baldur wasn't driving him hard enough to draw it out. The Gaijin Samurai was holding back, not much, but this was not truly a life or death fight, nor would he make it one.

    Baldur took as step back from the fight, giving them a moment of a breather as he considered his next steps. Alkor had solid footwork, but it was time to see if he could be put on a bad back foot. Few relished the opportunity of fighting in retreat, and when pressed tended to break rather than the constant reevaluation needed. So Baldur stood beside the sword rack on his side, opposite the one on Alkor's and added more of the wooden blades to his own battle ready inventory.

    "I am impressed, Alkor. I am quite enjoying this."

    Baldur raised his sword to indicate he was ready to re-engage.

    Once more Alkor tried to seize the initiative, but so did Baldur, letting the two of them clash in the middle of the dojo, both men baring down on one another in a ferocious charge. This time, however, Baldur used steps of the earth, and as he struck, the sound of his foot stomping the wooden floors filled the dojo almost as much as the clack of their blades. Again, Baldur struck, his fumikomi seeming to draw the strength of the earth, turning Baldur into an unstoppable force as their blades met, both of them shattering upon impact. The man did not stop at this, instead, summoning two swords from his battle ready inventory and tossing one to Alkor, and easy loft allowing the blade to seemingly hover in the air for a moment in front of the man. To his credit, he was not phased. Alkor grabbed the blade, but Baldur was just that little bit faster, driving his attack down and forcing Alkor to parry the attack.

    They were close now, closer than the ideal range of a sword, but Baldur continued his stomps, assaulting Alkor's footwork, not by trying to step on his feet, but by driving pressure. Any time Alkor was able to pick up space, Baldur's attacks went towards his legs. A relentless cacophony of blows, almost rhythmic in their attacks, until they weren't. Just as a rhythm, a back and forth, had been set up between the two, Baldur intentionally broke it. It left him open to a counter from Alkor, but more often than not, the break in the rhythm was jarring enough to a fighter that they wouldn't be able to capitalize on the maneuver. In fencing it was a called a disengage, and it was one of Baldur's favorite techniques. It worked wonderfully against AI, but against a human player it required them to be sufficiently skilled that they could feel the rhythm and attempt to anticipate their opponent, but not so skilled that they were familiar with the maneuver.

    How would Alkor deal with his sudden thrust?

     

    ID205567 CD:5 (Paper)

  17. "It's a bit tricky on the tongue, isn't it?" Baldur mused with wry smile, intentionally saying the name as infrequently as possible. Together, they walked through the small town towards the knotted longhouse that doubled as the city hall and guard post. It was not a large town, but there was something pleasant about the way the sunlight filtered down through the branches and the leaves. He cast a sideway glance at Snow, appraising her and her demeanor. He detected a bit of nervousness in her, but she seemed to be trying to psyche herself up for this as well.

    "Relax, Snow-san." Baldur tried to give her a knowing, encouraging smile. "I have done this quest before, and fought the Monkey king. Well, not since this was all changed and updated, but at your level everything will be fine. I'm still going to make you do the hard part, but I'm here to help. And once we get the unlockable sword art from here, and the levels this quest should grant you, I'll take you down to meet Costo-san, and help you plan out the next tier of equipment."

    As they reached the door of the longhouse, Baldur pulled open the elaborately carved wood. Carved? No, it's... grown that way. Baldur ran an appreciative hand over the detail in the wood, then returned his attention to the woman at his side.

    "I've tried to start a tab with him, but he insists it works better on an IOU basis. So since we have a partnership with Firm Anima, they take our orders as a priority, and then bill the guild. It's an arrangement we've set up to help the entirety of the frontlines. Even though Firm Anima is probably the single wealthiest conglomeration in Aincrad, I think mine and Shield's requests helped give them a direction. Regardless, unless you have a preference of crafters, we can order your whole new set of gear from them."

    A few more steps, and there was an NPC, imposing for one of this floor, standing off to one side.

    "Ah... Captain S... Captain, nice to meet you."

    Sewallus appeared to be a stern, rigid man. Not unfriendly, but obviously not a people person, at least when he wasn't on duty... which as a quest giver was never.

    The Elven man appraised the snow of them, giving them a nod of his head.

    "What can I do to help human adventurers such as yourselves. Have you come about my monkey business?" The NPC seemed unaware of his phrasing, and it caught Baldur off guard, only managing to keep his face from moving through complete and total will power, only being betrayed by a slight raising of the corner of his lips, and the humor in his eyes only someone who watched him closely over many months would recognize.

    "Indeed, Captain. What can you tell us about the Monkey King?"

    "It was not by the grace of our fleet feet that we escaped with our lives, that much is certain. The beast either became distracted, or was otherwise disrupted in some way."

    "Well then, Captain, could you join us and lead the way to the monkey's lair? We don't want to barrel through the forest blindly."

    The severe man nodded to the two of them and then made to leave without another word. Baldur raised a eyebrow as he shared a look with Snow. He was somehow less chatty than your typical NPC.

    "Just remember, focus on hate and staying alive, and I'll handle the DPS. Once you've got a solid threat lead, feel free to try out anything you want. If things get too dangerous, I'll end them, but otherwise I want you to learn to feel comfortable, to get hit. I'll wait for your signal before ending the fight."

    With that, he gestured for for Snow to take the lead following after Sewallus.

  18. Baldur smiled as Jon made a joke about being at a disadvantage when surrounded by Mina and Baldur. Truth be told, he was pretty good natured about being teased. In response to the gaijin's question, however, the man suddenly seemed a little embarrassed, using his common tell of ruffling his own hair. Baldur was going to be quick with a platitude, assuaging his student's confidence and ego, but then a thought occurred to him that he could kill three birds with a single stone.

    "Asymmetry is definitely a challenge that only improves with exposure and practice. When I was learning to fence, not kendo mind you, one of my good friends in the club whom I often sparred with, was a leftie. It was a very bizarre experience, but it stopped being an advantage for him because we fought so much. However, every person he fought was right handed. When, at tournament, we both fought another leftie, I was the one without a disadvantage. For neither leftie had ever fought one before." He chuckled softly.

    "All that is to stay, having practice against all different forms of combat is very important. If all you ever fight are mobs or other katana users, you're not going to know how to handle it when something new comes across your way.... aaaand I think I know just the person."

    He had been meaning to summon the man here after the floor boss, but he had gotten caught up in the events of the tournament and resuming his mid floor habits. There was always a cycle to the floor exploration, and now that they had cleared the previous boss, it was the eye of the storm. The low tide.

    With a gesture, Baldur summoned his HUD and opened up a message.

    @Koga

    Quote

    Koga:\> Koga-san, I have a student here that would like to have a match against a martial arts user. Would you please do me the honor of helping train one of my students? I will make sure that we have good food and drink as a reward for a hard days work.

    After sending the message, Baldur smiled proudly at Jon, feeling pleased with his plan.

    "Koga-san should be here soon. I saw his fight with Alkor, and I think he would make an excellent partner for you."

  19. Alkor chose to counter attack, crashing towards Baldur like a battering ram at the gates, or like the crashing of a massive wave on the shore. He redirected Baldur's blade to the side and threw himself at the wanna-be samurai, but the gaijin was somehow both light on his feet, yet always stable and well balanced. As he had learned many years ago, when the wave was too strong to fight against, to tall to go over, and too powerful to resist, you dove under. Alkor tried to knock Baldur off balance, but instead the blue haori whirled low, and would have taken a lesser man down and sent him crashing to his feet, but Alkor kept the momentum going, the two rolling against each other like a yin and yang of shadows and white fire, both of their blades whirled around once more, both men seeking the point to be gained by striking at their opponent's back. Neither one of them flinched as their blades played chicken with one another, until wooden edge met wooden edge in a blow that would have been exceptionally rare in any two other hands than these.

    And the blades shattered, leaving both men swinging wide as the grips they held on their weapons vanished as well.

    The moment's unexpectedness flashed across both men's eyes, gold and steel catching lantern light outside.

    Without a word, unneeded in the moment, Baldur and Alkor each walked to opposite ends of the dojo and picked up another sword then met close to the halfway point again. They both took a moment to hold a stance to show that they were ready for the fight, but this time it was Baldur who seized the initiative.

    Where before he had been water, crashing like a wave against Alkor, surging like the sea against the wild winds of the tai-fun, now he was the wind. Not the raging storm of Alkor, but the leaf on the wind. He flew across the distance between the, his blade darting in and out, seeking to keep Alkor on the defensive, always moving and never being where the dark knight expected him to be, their blades kissing, but never meeting with force as they two each turned aside the others blade until somehow Baldur had managed to close the distance between then, the handles of their blades locking against one another as Baldur attempted to use his not to strike, but to cut, drawing the blade against the man.

    They were both weapons, finely honed to their craft. The craft of fighting, of turning every situation to their advantage, of always persisting, because their lives were on the line. The change in the wanna-be samurai's style seemed to force a question upon the man, seeing how well he could adapt to changing situations. What would Alkor do when there was nothing to wail his force upon. When the target of his strikes just wasn't there to be hit.

    ID# 205443 CD: 5 Paper

  20. Upgrading the follow item to Demonic Quality, using one Demonic Shard to add 1 slot of EVA:

    From: 

    Quote

    Name: Emerald Teardrop
    Profession: Artisan
    Rank: (8) Master 
    ID: 64131
    Roll: 13 (12 + 1 CD) 
    Item Type: Trinket
    Quality: Perfect
    Enhancement: +2 Accuracy, + 1 Evasion
    Description: An upside down emerald shaped into half of the yin-yang symbol attached to a golden chain. To be worn around the neck.
    Post Link: Here

    to

    Quote

    Name: Emerald Teardrop
    Profession: Artisan
    Rank: (8) Master 
    ID: 64131
    Roll: 13 (12 + 1 CD) 
    Item Type: Trinket
    Quality: Demonic
    Enhancement: +2 Accuracy, + 2 Evasion
    Description: An upside down emerald shaped into half of the yin-yang symbol attached to a golden chain. To be worn around the neck.
    Post Link: Here

     

  21. "A noble pursuit..." Baldur echoed Alkor's words with a smile that showed he welcomed the fight, "My code, what I teach... it's not something you can achieve, but the striving for it is what makes us better. The most important step a man can take, it's always the next one. Otherwise, your journey is over and you've accepted defeat."

    With barely so much as a ready stance, Alkor was suddenly upon Baldur. Without having seen the man in action before, he would have been more unprepared for such a maneuver, but it seemed Alkor was not one to squander opportunity. In his casual one handed grip, Baldur didn't have enough leverage to parry the blow and instead took Alkor's wooden bladed attack deep on the blade near the tsuba where he had the most strength, their blades locking for a moment as Baldur used his left hand to support the back of the blade before Alkor's power threw him back even further. Had they been fighting in a ring, the man might have pushed him out, or at least to the edge where his maneuverability would be limited. As it stood, they had the whole of the large dojo at least.

    h6QFgWE.jpgThere was no relenting, no quippy back and forth, as soon as Baldur had distance, Alkor was on him again, giving his all to show. But Baldur had been put on his back foot before, he had been beaten within an inch of his life by player and monster and floor boss. He had fought in losing battles and in winning ones. He knew as soon as he felt the first blow that Alkor would give him no quarter, and none was asked. So when Baldur's feet struck the ground, Alkor wasn't greeted with a man on the defensive, he was face with a man on counter attack, interrupting the traditional rhythm of the fight, striking in such a way that forced Alkor to choose if he would be willing to trade blow for blow, or to defend himself and relent on the attack. Baldur knew. He had taken that blow before.

    ID205435 CD4 Rock

  22. uvTUeaI.jpgOne of the shoji panel doors slid open, and Baldur walked in dressed in the same haori he always wore. The first sight he saw was Snow, dressed in her haori, and picking up a handful of weapons to put them away. He was beginning to feel that she played the role of cinderella in their home. He would have to make it up to her. Then his eyes slide over to @Morgenstern, his errant student. He did not come regularly, but his coming and going of the island wasn't uncommon either.

    "Jon!" Baldur called to the man with a smile, bowing to the kamidana before stepping fully into the dojo.

    "It is always a pleasure to see you here at the dojo. When are you going to bring @tricolor_mina by for a meal?" He walked over and clasped Jon on the shoulder in friendly camaraderie. 

    He turned, making sure his body language included Snow in the conversation and didn't close it off to omit her from the gathering.

    "What brings you by the dojo today?"

    Spoiler

    » Baldur, The Gaijin Samurai vWKwiqS.png

    • Base HP: 920
    • Base EN: 126 (includes 20 for Energist)
    • Base MIT: 78
    • Base ACC: 5 (includes AA and does not automatically miss on 1s)
    • Base DMG: 23 
    • Base EVA: 2
    • Battle Heal: 46 HP
    • Keen: +1
    • Recovery: +4 EN

    » Items Equipped:

    • Warden's Fury - Absolute Accuracy/2 Paralyze
    • Muramasa - Absolute Accuracy/Fallen/Blight/Burn
    • Ethereal Tether - Zanshin - Absolute Accuracy/Keen/Freeze/Burn
    • Montsuki haori - 48 DMG MIT/+1 EVASION/+4 EN RECOVERY
    • Emerald Matagama | Perfect | +3 Accuracy
    • Hammerspace Backpack (HB) +1 BR item (allows stacks up to 7)

    » Battle-Ready Inventory:

    • Medium Damage Potion x7 | Rare T2 Item | +2 Damage
    • Basic Teleportation Crystal x1 | Good Item | Teleports player to the Town of Beginnings
    • Max Mass HP Recovery Crystal x7 | Perfect T2 Item | +30*Target Tier (30/60/90)
    • Max T2 HP Recovery Crystal II x4 | Perfect T2 Item | +180 HP
    • Safeguard Potion x3 | Perfect Tier 1 | Safeguard
    • HB: Max Vitality Snack x2 | Rare Tier 2 | Grants +12 Energy
    • EWL: Medium Antidote Potion x1 | Rare Tier 2 | Immune to negative status effects for 2 turns
    • EWL: Muramasa or Warden's Fury
    • EWL:
    • SC: Emerald Teardrop - +2 ACC/+1 EVASION
       

    » Skills:

    • One Hand Curved Sword | Rank 1/5 | 
    • Katana | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Battle Healing | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Light Armor | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Charge | Purchased | 
    • Quick Change | Purchased
    • Extended Weight Limit | Purchased
    • Energist | Purchased
    • Combat Shift | ST Specialist
    • Searching| Rank 3/5

    » Extra Skills:

    • Concentration | Equipped
    • Survival | Un-equipped
    • Meditation | Equipped
    • Parry | Equipped
    • Forgotten King's Authority | Equipped
    • Shatter | Not Yet Unlocked

    » Mods:

    • Meticulous: Equipped
    • Emergency Recovery: Equipped
    • [Mod Slot Empty
    • [Mod Slot Empty]
    • [Mod Slot Empty]
    • ADD-ON Ferocity: Equipped
    • ADD-ON Stamina: Equipped
    • ADD-ON: Precision: Equipped
    • ADD-ON: Resolve: Equipped

    » Housing Bonuses:

    • Rested: -1 EN on first 2 uses
    • Tasty: Turns 2 food into feast for 4
    • Advanced Training: +2 SP to a thread 1/month
    • Filling: Add 1 extra tier 1 slot to food
    • Item Stash: +1 BR item slot
    • Relaxed: OOC regen 5*tier, recover EN out of combat after 2 turns in lieu of 3
    • Angler: +1 Mat when fishing

     

  23. Baldur approached Alkor, an amused curl to his lip when the man commented about being as flesh and blood as anyone could be in Aincrad. No one had ever given him reason to doubt the system designated marker over their head other than Alkor. The man had been dead. Baldur had helped people grieve for him. He had visited and left flowers for the man at the Monument of Life, yet here the man stood. It was something worth investigating, but he would not interrogate the man who as a guest in his home at their first meeting. His curiosity, at least over this, would have to be sated another day.

    "Believe it or not," Baldur said with an amused smile as he leaned against the door frame opposite Alkor, the lights and sounds of a party on one side of the pair, and the quiet darkness of the dojo on the other, "I am an introvert. I need quiet moments to recharge, even in the midst of my own party."

    He looked back over at the shadowy man. His combat displays had been quite impressive. He fought in a pure way that Baldur taught his students was a piece of fudoshin, it was all fire with none of the restraint that Baldur taught. It gave Alkor a wildness about him, and energy that was almost palpable. Perhaps lacking restraint wasn't the right word. Alkor was restrained right now, but when he fought, he took the gloves off and released the hulk inside.

    "I apologize, I have you at such a disadvantage. I know so much about you second hand I almost feel like I know you. I have helped people, well... Mari and Lessa... grieve over you. I have left flowers, and poured sake at the monument of life for you, and now here you stand. It is a... strange, surreal sense that is hard to reconcile in a game."

    The gaijin let his head rest back against the frame of the door behind him.

    "I am glad you joined us here tonight." He thought back to the fight with Koga, and then the fight with Lessa. "The whole point of this evening  is healing wounds. Healing wounds in the frontlines, healing wounds in the community, healing wounds of loneliness. I hoped that by coming together with something like this, building bonds between people who had never seen one another outside of a fight, might remind us that we're all human, and we all are in this together."

    He turned his steel blue eyes back on the shadow of a man before him.

    For a moment, he just let them stand there in companionable silence. How did he talk to this man? How did he introduce himself? It felt strange to introduce himself to someone he already felt he knew. So perhaps that's where he should start, forget what assumptions he had, and get to know the man himself.

    So Baldur turned, and walked over to the weapon rack, picked up the sword he had seen Alkor use in his duels, picked up a wooden katana for himself, and when he knew the man had seen what he did, he tossed the wooden weapon to him.

    Then he stood to the side, lit by the red light of the setting sun coming through the doorway, and held up his katana in a basic one handed guard stance. 

    "If you would mind indulging me, I'd like to get to know you." 

  24. Quest:

    Spoiler

    Floor 8
    <<Monkey King>>
    Party Limit: 3 | 20+ Posts
    Repeatable for standard thread rewards and <<Monkey Agility>>

    6BwZaAh.jpg

    Quest Rewards:

    • 1000 Experience Points
    • Each player receives:
      • Monkey Agility (Uncommon Consumable [potion])
        • A strange potion that boosts the user's Evasion by 1. Lasts for one thread.
    • POTENTIAL REWARD | If Sewallus accompanies the party and survives
      • Unlock <<TECH-D>> collected sword art.

    Requirements:

    • Roleplay speaking with Remington.
    • Roleplay speaking with Sewallus.
    • Accept or reject Sewallus' offer to join the party for the quest.
    • Defeat the Monkey King.

    Summary:

    For years, the residents of Florenthia Village have feared a legendary creature that skulks about the forest below. Dubbed the Monkey King, this monster has claimed the forest as its own, its territory stretching far and wide. It is rumored to be utterly gigantic, with glowing scarlet eyes and intimidating musculature. Its menacing appearance isn't just for show - the Monkey King is capable of striking with such force and tenacity that the denizens of the floor built their homes into the canopy of the forest, lest it find their camp and decimate it in a furious rage.

    When the citizens of Florenthia caught wind that powerful travelers had their made way into the eighth floor, they reached out for help. Though they imagined even the most powerful of warriors would succumb to the likes of the Monkey King, their desperation forced them to swallow back their morals and ask the unthinkable; go out and risk death to bring about peace for our people. Will you accept the challenge and put your longevity at stake for the NPCs of Florenthia?

    Outline: 

    NPCs:

    f9e26903b602a78fce24e45fbb1f585c6ba01833_hq.jpg

    <<Remington>>
    Remington is the zoologist of Florenthia, tasked with studying and categorizing the seemingly endless fauna that populates the eighth floor. While Remington is sarcastic and will usually act as though the Player is wasting his time, he is actually quite talkative and enjoys the rare company. He is a habitual smoker, and will puff away regardless of whoever it may annoy. He is intelligent, but has taken this to mean he is always the smartest person in the room.

    He will explain to the character his encounter with the Monkey King alongside Sewallus, and his observations of the oversized ape as they fled. The Monkey King's behaviors can be best described as ape-like and overly aggressive. When it has a target in its sights, it will not relent under any circumstances, and will let nothing stand in its way.

    If asked how strong or fast the Monkey King was, Remington will always reply with, "All I know is no matter how far or fast we ran, it was never enough. There are now craters instead of trees where we were attacked, and rivers instead of forest where it moved."

    Remington will make it abundantly clear to the players that he refuses to leave the village while the beast still lives, which has put his very important research on hold. He urges the players to discover the Monkey King's weakness - or better yet, put it to an end. Only then will the citizens of Florenthia know peace, and he will be able to return to his passion.

    When his dialogue has been exhausted, Remington will direct the players to Sewallus for more information.

     

     

     

     

     


    Allies:

    24f1c4ee564b0971cde1bae94fa028f4.jpg<<Sewallus>>
    Sewallus is charged with the duty of acting as the leader of Florenthia's Guard. Though not rude in his speech or mannerisms, he is not overly friendly, and will always stick to the point. A man of few words, he'd rather save his breath for combat than waste it chattering away with the citizens or players. He wields a two-handed battle axe as his weapon, and those with a high aptitude for speech and clever dialogue navigation will prompt Sewallus to reveal that he was a lumberjack before being convinced to join the Guard. His pride and sense of responsibility won't allow him to say so, but he secretly wishes he could return to those simpler times.

    If the players asks Sewallus how he and Remington escaped from the Monkey King, he will reply with, "It is difficult to say. It was not by the grace of our fleet feet, that much is certain. The beast either became distracted, or was otherwise disrupted in some way." He will leave it at that, offering no more details.

    Sewallus will offer to aid the players in their hunt for the Monkey King, expressing shame for having fled originally, and a desire to extract revenge from the creature. The Player(s) may either accept or deny adding Sewallus to their party. If they choose to accept, Sewallus will not engage in combat with any mobs aside from the Monkey King, and will use Florenthian Howl as a post action for his first turn. He will attack any turns he is not using Florenthian Howl. Should he become stunned at any point, he will resume his order with the action that would have occurred on his stunned turn.

    HP: 400/400 | DMG: 75 (100 on crit) | MIT: 50 | EVA: -1

    Abilities:

    • Florenthian Howl | Grants Sewallus +5 Hate against the Monkey King. Requires a Post Action. Sewallus will use this ability on his first turn, and every second post thereafter.
    • Shatter Upon a successful attack, reduce target's Mitigation by 15 before damage is calculated. This effect can stack up to three times. Shatter from outside sources will not increase the stack count, but will refresh the duration. Effect lasts three turns.

     

     

     


    Enemies:

    rajang small.jpg

    <<Monkey King>>
    Players don't find the Monkey King - the Monkey King finds them. It is aggressively protective of its domain, and will ferociously hunt down any entities that trespass within its territory. Once it has its prey in its sights, it will stop at virtually nothing in its pursuit to annihilate them. So fearful of this creature are the residents of the eighth floor that not even mobs are willing to exist in any locale in which the Monkey King claims ownership. Wild and animalistic, this boss seems to go full offensive with wild abandon.

    HP: 650/650 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 2

    Abilities:

    • If a Tree Falls | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the Monkey King will pick up a large tree and throw it at the party.  This replaces the Monkey King's normal attack, automatically dealing 120 unmitigatable damage and inflicting stun to each target.

    Baldur:

    Spoiler

    » Baldur, The Gaijin Samurai vWKwiqS.png

    » Base Stats

    • Base HP: 920
    • Base EN: 126 (includes 20 for Energist)
    • Base MIT: 78
    • Base ACC: 5 (includes AA and does not automatically miss on 1s)
    • Base DMG: 23 
    • Base EVA: 3
    • Battle Heal: 46 HP
    • Keen: +1
    • Recovery: +4 EN

    » Items Equipped:

    • Warden's Fury - Absolute Accuracy/2 Paralyze
    • Muramasa - Absolute Accuracy/Fallen/Blight/Burn
    • Ethereal Tether - Zanshin - Absolute Accuracy/Keen/Freeze/Burn
    • Montsuki haori - 48 DMG MIT/+1 EVASION/+4 EN RECOVERY
    • Emerald Teardrop - +2 ACC/+2 EVASION
    • Hammerspace Backpack (HB) +1 BR item (allows stacks up to 7)

    » Battle-Ready Inventory:

    • Medium Damage Potion x7 | Rare T2 Item | +2 Damage
    • Basic Teleportation Crystal x1 | Good Item | Teleports player to the Town of Beginnings
    • Max Mass HP Recovery Crystal x7 | Perfect T2 Item | +30*Target Tier (30/60/90)
    • Max T2 HP Recovery Crystal II x4 | Perfect T2 Item | +180 HP
    • Safeguard Potion x3 | Perfect Tier 1 | Safeguard
    • HB: Max Vitality Snack x2 | Rare Tier 2 | Grants +12 Energy
    • EWL: Medium Antidote Potion x1 | Rare Tier 2 | Immune to negative status effects for 2 turns
    • EWL: Muramasa or Warden's Fury
    • EWL:
    • SC: 
       

    » Skills:

    • One Hand Curved Sword | Rank 1/5 | 
    • Katana | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Battle Healing | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Light Armor | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Charge | Purchased | 
    • Quick Change | Purchased
    • Extended Weight Limit | Purchased
    • Energist | Purchased
    • Combat Shift | ST Specialist
    • Searching| Rank 3/5

    » Extra Skills:

    • Concentration | Equipped
    • Survival | Un-equipped
    • Meditation | Equipped
    • Parry | Equipped
    • Forgotten King's Authority | Equipped
    • Shatter | Not Yet Unlocked

    » Mods:

    • Meticulous: Equipped
    • Emergency Recovery: Equipped
    • [Mod Slot Empty
    • [Mod Slot Empty]
    • [Mod Slot Empty]
    • ADD-ON Ferocity: Equipped
    • ADD-ON Stamina: Equipped
    • ADD-ON: Precision: Equipped
    • ADD-ON: Resolve: Equipped

    » Housing Bonuses:

    • Rested: -1 EN on first 2 uses
    • Tasty: Turns 2 food into feast for 4
    • Advanced Training: +2 SP to a thread 1/month
    • Filling: Add 1 extra tier 1 slot to food
    • Item Stash: +1 BR item slot
    • Relaxed: OOC regen 5*tier, recover EN out of combat after 2 turns in lieu of 3
    • Angler: +1 Mat when fishing

    After the events of the Floor 26 Boss Fight/Event, post Sunshine, post Fishing
    "The most important step a man can take. It's not the first one, is it? It's the next one. Always the next step,"


    "All I know is no matter how far or fast we ran, it was never enough. There are now craters instead of trees where we were attacked, and rivers instead of forest where it moved."

    Remington pantomimed moving like a giant gorilla. It was something straight out of what Baldur imagined an old black and white silent film movie would try to do. The laughter of human, elven, and treant children rang through the little square of the sleepy forest town. It was a bit of a bridge between the two peoples, one separated from the war in a way that made it seem both a remote, outskirt rural village, but also metropolitan in a way more homogenous cities just couldn't replicate. Sure, you might have more fancy, urban cities in some of the more monoculture Main Settlements, but there was a power to accepting those different from you, from welcoming all those disparate points of view. This sleepy little village tucked away in a forest along a river and a waterfall embodied aspects of that. If only it had been more on the main path. There was little reason to come here anymore. Perhaps the odd player had a home here, or needed to do this quest, but people were not coming here for the quests and the resource farming or the beauty. There were higher, sexier floors to go to for that. The lower floors did not have the same draw.

    But this floor was special to Baldur. There were three reasons he had brought Snow here. The first, was to take her on this quest, to help her get her combat feet under her, and help her feel more comfortable with combat and in control. The second was that if they kept an NPC alive through this quest, he granted them a special Sword Art which would be useful to them both. The third reason, the reason why they chose this floor, chose this quest, chose this sword art to start on, was because it was precious.

    He had met Oikawa on this floor. He had met Crowzeph on this floor. He had met Ariel on this floor. Those three, plus Baldur, Tyger, and Rayliff, had gone on a quest together deep into the forest to find a hidden temple. The search of it had been the hardest they had ever pushed themselves, on what at the time was the second highest floor. Their levels had all been in the single digits at the time, and it had forged an eternal bond between them. Even to this day, Baldur knew in his bones, that none of them would ever betray him, no matter what happened. Snow was now a part of the guild that many of them had helped forge. And so now, he wanted to bring snow here, and go on this journey with her, to help build not just the bond between the two of them, but between her and the group. A shared experience, forged on this floor, in these forests.

    He turned and smiled at the slight blonde woman beside him. He had told her they were going on a quest which would help her out, and help her get her levels and push her forward, but Baldur had not given her more details than that.

    "Are you ready Snow? He told us to go and speak with Captain Sewallus. You'll need to convince him to come with us, and we'll need to keep him alive to unlock a special sword art for you."

    The gaijin samurai smiled at her, his steel blue eyes hinting at a bit of excitement at taking Snow along on this adventure with him.

    @Snow

  25. The dojo was dark at this hour, though the sun was still setting, it was obscured by trees and the buildings of Baldur's home. It was meant to greet the rising sun, not the setting. A subtle symbol that there was always a dawn to another day. Practice was for the morning, and rest for the evening. When first light hit, it came through the open panels and met the small Kamidana, and below it, the rows of wooden nafuda, showing the names of all those who were recognized members of Baldur's dojo, along with the name of the dojo: Musha Shugyo - Training in Warriorship. The eastern equivalent of a knight errant's quest for nobility.

    Baldur passed through after getting everyone settled for food. His papers had been cleaned up, and someone attended the weapons, putting everything back in an orderly way. The gaijin samurai was already half a dozen paces into the room, when he noticed a solitary figure standing aloof in the room, wrapped up in the shadows of the setting sun. Watching the crowd, but apart from it.

    The wanna-be samurai slowed his otherwise hurried pace, stopping handful of tatami-mats into the room.

    He hung there a moment, trying to make out the figure. It wasn't that it was too dark to see him, but rather than the lights and the noise of the party were all around them, but did not exist in the room. They were both backlit, by noise and by light.

    "You're Alkor-sama, aren't you." As he had been without the party, he did not have his sword at his side. He moved to rest his hand there, as he normally would have, but found its absence a bit uncomfortable in this particular moment. He didn't feel threatened by Alkor, but it made him feel their footing was off.

    "I must say, it's not often a ghost visits my home." A smirk twitched at Baldur's lips, imperceptible due to the backlight. That's a lie. Ghosts visit here most of all. He felt the need to say more, however.

    "Please, be welcome in my home."


    Baldur:
     

    Spoiler

    » Baldur, The Gaijin Samurai vWKwiqS.png

    • Modified HP:
    • Modified EN:
    • Modified MIT:
    • Modified ACC:
    • Modified DMG:
    • Modified EVA:
    • Battle Heal:
    • Search:
    • Temp Buff:
    • Temp Buff:
    • Temp Buff:
    • Temp Buff:
    • Temp Buff:

    » Base Stats

    • Base HP: 920
    • Base EN: 126 (includes 20 for Energist)
    • Base MIT: 78
    • Base ACC: 5 (includes AA and does not automatically miss on 1s)
    • Base DMG: 23 
    • Base EVA: 2
    • Battle Heal: 46 HP
    • Keen: +1
    • Recovery: +4 EN

    » Items Equipped:

    • Warden's Fury - Absolute Accuracy/2 Paralyze
    • Muramasa - Absolute Accuracy/Fallen/Blight/Burn
    • Ethereal Tether - Zanshin - Absolute Accuracy/Keen/Freeze/Burn
    • Montsuki haori - 48 DMG MIT/+1 EVASION/+4 EN RECOVERY
    • Emerald Matagama | Perfect | +3 Accuracy
    • Hammerspace Backpack (HB) +1 BR item (allows stacks up to 7)

    » Battle-Ready Inventory:

    • Medium Damage Potion x7 | Rare T2 Item | +2 Damage
    • Basic Teleportation Crystal x1 | Good Item | Teleports player to the Town of Beginnings
    • Max Mass HP Recovery Crystal x7 | Perfect T2 Item | +30*Target Tier (30/60/90)
    • Max T2 HP Recovery Crystal II x4 | Perfect T2 Item | +180 HP
    • Safeguard Potion x3 | Perfect Tier 1 | Safeguard
    • HB: Max Vitality Snack x2 | Rare Tier 2 | Grants +12 Energy
    • EWL: Medium Antidote Potion x1 | Rare Tier 2 | Immune to negative status effects for 2 turns
    • EWL: Muramasa or Warden's Fury
    • EWL:
    • SC: Emerald Teardrop - +2 ACC/+1 EVASION
       

    » Skills:

    • One Hand Curved Sword | Rank 1/5 | 
    • Katana | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Battle Healing | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Light Armor | Rank 5/5 | 
    • Charge | Purchased | 
    • Quick Change | Purchased
    • Extended Weight Limit | Purchased
    • Energist | Purchased
    • Combat Shift | ST Specialist
    • Searching| Rank 3/5

    » Extra Skills:

    • Concentration | Equipped
    • Survival | Un-equipped
    • Meditation | Equipped
    • Parry | Equipped
    • Forgotten King's Authority | Equipped
    • Shatter | Not Yet Unlocked

    » Mods:

    • Meticulous: Equipped
    • Emergency Recovery: Equipped
    • [Mod Slot Empty
    • [Mod Slot Empty]
    • [Mod Slot Empty]
    • ADD-ON Ferocity: Equipped
    • ADD-ON Stamina: Equipped
    • ADD-ON: Precision: Equipped
    • ADD-ON: Resolve: Equipped

    » Housing Bonuses:

    • Rested: -1 EN on first 2 uses
    • Tasty: Turns 2 food into feast for 4
    • Advanced Training: +2 SP to a thread 1/month
    • Filling: Add 1 extra tier 1 slot to food
    • Item Stash: +1 BR item slot
    • Relaxed: OOC regen 5*tier, recover EN out of combat after 2 turns in lieu of 3
    • Angler: +1 Mat when fishing

     

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