[SP-F12] Mats, Mats, <<Lord of the Seas>>, Mats

[Birdie 0]

Up until that moment, she'd never set foot on the twelfth floor of Aincrad. Given its bland theme of muggy air and murky waters - of which the second tier floors were in no short supply of - she wasn't given much reason to make the venture save for the promise of area-unique crafting materials and generous experience points from a well-known quest, Lord of the Seas. She'd taken the liberty of paying an information broker for the boss' statistics, only to be told it would survive no more than two well-timed Grandmaster Sword Arts. She'd run the risk of succumbing to its insane damage by taking a direct hit, though risks just weren't her style and she'd taken steps to mitigate them; Firstly, the consumption of a safeguard potion prior to entering combat and secondly, evasion-enhancing gear. 

Standing ankle-deep in muddy water, the storm obscured the Sea Wyvern's lecherous screams as it moved swiftly across the water's surface. Pre-fight jitters surged through her veins but at that point, with the beast rapidly closing in, there was little else to do than raise her blade and fight.

-----

Birdie - HP: 680/680 - EN: 68/68 - MIT: 39  - Safeguard Active

Sea Wyvern - HP: 300/300 - Damage: 300

Spoiler

Stats:

• 680 HP
• 68 Energy
• 39 Mitigation (36+3)
• +3 Accuracy
• +3 Evasion
• 12 Base Damage (1[base] +5[weapon skill] +6[familiar])
• +3 LD

Items:

• <<Tempest Fleuret>> [T2:Rapier]: +1 Paralyze/+2 Accuracy
• <<Seasilk Vest>> [T2:Light Armour]: +36 Mitigation, +1 Evasion
• <<Vanguard Signet>> [T2:Lucky Charm]: +1 Accuracy/+2 Evasion

Buffs:

• <<Diamondskin Potion>> [T1:Potion]: Safeguard

Battle Ready:

• 2x <<Diamondskin Potion>> [T1:Potion]: Safeguard
• <<Finder's Keeper MK-II>> [T2:Lucky Charm]: +3 LD
• <<Seeing Eye Bracelet>> [T2:Lucky Charm]: +1 Expertise [S&D]
• <<Pilferer's Delight>> [T1:Trinket]: +3 Prosperity
• <<Potion of Vicious Dragon Fang>> [T2:Potion]: +6 Damage

Skills:

• Rank 5 | Rapier: +5 Damage w/ Rapier
• Rank 3 | Search and Detect: +3 LD
• Rank 1 | Light Armour: +3 Mitigation
• Rank 1 | T.H.S.S: +1 Damage w/ T.H.S.S
• Gatherer: +3 Materials per successful gather
• Concentration: +1 BD upon activiation, 5 post cooldown
• FM: Fighter: +6 Damage

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The Sea Wyvern was first to strike, grinding to a swift halt atop the water's surface to swing its tail and strike her in the chest. Unwise to the water's evasion decreasing properties, she was struck with heavy force and forced a few feet backwards, though no harm came of the pseudo dragon's attack thanks to one of Zandra's safeguard potions. In retaliation, Birdie rose from the muddy waters and brushed her wet and mucky bangs aside. Tempest Fleuret abode to her will as she forced it from its scabbard and brandished it forwards, and she held it forwards and true, slanted slightly to the left. As she drew her free hand back, the blade's tip glowed with an iridescent blue sheen and she shot across the water's surface in a blur.

Emerging on the other side of the Sea Wyvern, which happened to be its face given its back was turned, many thrusts and jabs had littered part of the beast's body with holes and she finished with a fast-thought dash, avoid damaging from its helpless flailing.

-----

ID# 87065 - BD: 7+3 - MD: 7-1

Birdie - HP: 680/680 - EN: 55/68 - MIT: 39  - Safeguard Broken

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: 12*14=168]

Sea Wyvern - HP: 132/300

• Damage: 300 (negated by Safeguard)

Edited July 22, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The bluebird gave herself an unintentional advantage by moving to the beast's front side. A Wyvern's wings and tail were its most dangerous tools and seeing as the fighting area was so small, the boss was given no room to dash away and circle from an attack. Realising her advantageous position, Birdie didn't hesitate in setting up another one of her most powerful Sword Arts, Over Radiation, and she appeared in front of the target in a flash of light. Her blade pierced the Wyvern's thick digital skin again and again and again, and as she was about to deliver the thirteen thrust of the combo, its health points hit zero and an explosion of pixels and data took its place.

I kept my eyes on the empty space, hesitantly pulling my weapon back. That was it...? That's why I wasted a Safeguard potion? For what it's worth, I shouldn't have been surprised. The information broker had told me that boss would fall quickly, I knew the likelihood it would drain my health before I depleted its own wasn't high. Birdie sighed, once again realising how wasteful she'd been by approaching a situation with too much care and caution. A cautious player is a living player, I suppose...

-----

ID# 87066 - BD: 8+3

Birdie - HP: 680/680 - EN: 43/68 - MIT: 39

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: 12*14=168]

Sea Wyvern - HP: -36/300 [DEAD]

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

She turned her back on the murky waters which once homed the Sea Wyvern, the same beast that fell by her hands not two minutes prior. The fight took far less effort than she was counting on, and with little else to do for the evening (as she'd imagined being knee-deep in stormy waters for quite some time), it only seemed logical to gather as many second tier materials as possible on the trek back to <<Lazarus>>. After equipping her luck-boosting gear and activating the Search skill within her menu, she performed a surveillance sweep of the immediate area, hoping to see a little flash of white in the not-too-distant distance.

As luck would have it, one such sight showed up due East of the path, behind a few shrubs and moss-infected trees. Watery dirt squelched beneath her boots as she made her way over and retrieved the materials, knowing them to be common Clumped Moss. How lovely... its appearance sums up this floor nicely.

-----

ID# 87076 - LD: 17+3 | Found 4 <<Clumped Moss>> [T2 Mats]

Energy Regen: 1/3

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Before moving onwards, she looked around at her surroundings once more on the off-chance another sparkle of light lingered near. Luck appeared to be on her side as she spotted another set of materials not so far off, situated on a vine which hung like rope from a tree. One short trek later and she was the proud owner of four more clumps of rotten moss.

Thinking nothing else of it, she returned to the path to continue the long walk back to town. Any player with a brain might've been in the possession of teleportation crystals- usually, she would too. In Birdie's haste to leave for the Lord of the Seas quest, however, she'd left most of her usual inventory stored within her shop. Although nobody would be able to enter or access Odds and Ends' inventory without her permission, her foolishness cost her an hour trek to the closest teleportation gate.

Whatever, she sighed, pushing on.

-----

ID# 87079 - LD: 20+7 | Found 4 <<Clumped Moss>> [T2 Mats] (8 total)

Energy Regen: 2/3

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Swampy waters began to subside as Birdie drew closer to the twelfth floor's, though an inch of soaked dirt still squelched with every step she took. She shuddered to think how anybody could suffer spending more than a few hours out here; She wondered if anyone even had.  "At any rate," she said aloud and low. "I certainly won't be the first."

Her blue eyes glowing due from the activated Search skill, she saw it fit to do another brief sweep of the area for materials. The Gods blessed her once more with a pillage of four mossy clumps, much to her delight. As the woman's eyes surveyed her health and energy bar in the corner of the screen, she was elated to see it tick onto the full. She summoned her menu and switched out searching gear for combat gear; If she was to be efficient about gaining levels and reaching her goal of 61, slaying monsters between long journeys home and material gathering were going to be her best bets. Remaining weary of crocodiles and swamp monsters, she continued through the murky waters.

-----

ID# 87086 - LD: 19+7 | Found 4 <<Clumped Moss>> [T2 Mats] (12 total)

Energy Regen: 3/3!

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

In order to get set up properly for a few monster kills, she thought it best to consume one of Zandra's Potions of Vicious Dragon Fang to grant the best amount of damage possible. It might have been excessive but if she was shooting for efficiency, the more damage meant the quicker she could fall an enemy and the less time she would spend on the sickly twelfth floor, the better.

She went about sorting her inventory, rearranging the most important items to sit at the top should she need some assistance. The main items of interest were her Safeguard potions, Pilferer's Delight - a lucky charm granting additional Col per kill - and the damage potions, though they were of little use to her if she'd consumed one already. She mulled over equipping the prosperity item in favour of the Vanguard Signet and in the end decided to do just that, meaning she was armed with Tempest Fleuret, Seasilk Vest and Pilferer's Delight prior to entering combat.

<<Potion of Vicious Dragon Fang>> consumed - +6 Damage

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

A light red cursor faded in from the left. The monster's body was obscured by the water but the top of its jaw protruded from the water, revealing it to be a <<Crocodile>> before it'd even shown its name. Birdie didn't wait around and immediately took hold of her rapier, acting upon basic instinct as she moved into the position to initiate the Over Radiation Sword Art. Tempest Fleuret's surface beamed a great blue light as she was propelled forwards, unleashing a dozen plus two thrusts into the very tip of the Crocodile's snout in hopes of doing critical damage.

Once the final attack struck, she'd hope to have enough time to recover from the attack and back away before the Croc could strike; As luck wouldn't have it, however, a jaw wrapped around her leg and dealt about a tenth of her health bar in damage before letting go. She yelped in pain and dashed backwards, red marks running from her ankle to her shin.

-----

ID# 87088 - BD: 6+2 - MD: 10-1 (Crit)

Birdie - HP: 615/680 - EN: 55/68

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: (12+6)*14=252]

Crocodile - HP: 252/504 - DMG: 102

• Damage: 102+2=104

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

She winced from the lasting pain, though its effects didn't linger for much longer. For a player who exercised excessive caution at all possible times, Birdie grimaced at the fact that she'd been so reckless as to jump into the jaws of an enemy; a Crocodile at that.

Knowing better than to focus on trivial matters in the midst of battle, Birdie calmed her nerves and focused on the enemy. Its lumbering pose was little a facade to cover its terrifying lightning-like reflexes, though even the quickest foes would have trouble following a nimble rapier user. The iridescent sheen of Over Radiation blessed her blade as she moved in to attack, and four seconds later, the beast succumbed to its depleted health points and shattered in a keen display of pixels and digital shards. The loot window popped up; Three thousand col. Not too shabby. The crocodile skin went unnoticed as she dispelled the screen, and another red cursor caught her attention.

-----

(The accidental second roll, #87090, is invalid).

ID# 87089 - BD: 10+2 (Crit)

Birdie - HP: 615/680 - EN: 42/68

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: (12+6+2)*14=280]

Crocodile - HP: -28/504 - DEAD

ID# 87114 - LD: 8+3 - CD: 9

• Dropped 3,024 Col
• Dropped 2 Crocodile Skin [T2 Mats]

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Within the murky waters, yet another Crocodile made its debut, a teensy bit smaller this time around. Its size likely didn't play a factor in its health points, however, and she raised Tempest Fleuret in the appropriate position - blade held hip-height and angled to the left, free hand neatly folded backwards - and darted toward her enemy at light speed. A sudden urge of uncertainty overwhelmed her as she approached her enemy but thankfully the system had detected her faltering and allowed Birdie to strike the target just barely with all fourteen hits, at the expense of activating Concentration and inducing its lengthy cooldown timer.

Although she thought her angle to the beast was better this time around, its mighty jaws managed to snap at her leg and drain another 10% of her health bar; She was sitting at 80% health after just one and a half enemies. T-this isn't good...

-----

ID# 87091 - BD: 3+2+1 (Concentration used) - MB: 10-1 (Crit)

Birdie - HP: 550/680 - EN: 29/68 - Conc.:  5 posts left

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: (12+6)*14=252]

Crocodile - HP: 252/504 - DMG: 102

• Damage: 102+2

 

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

She turned on the balls of her feet and jumped away from the Crocodile, gaining some much-needed distance to think of another approach. Attacking from the beast's front had earned her a chomp on the leg, as did approaching from the side. Moving in from behind would require to sneak up a target, though it would take a lot of time and patience to pull off such a move... rather than allowing her mind to deviate, she shook those distracting thoughts from her mind and returned to the battle at hand.

The battle ended in victory. Birdie reared Tempest Fleuret for another attack and struck the target before it could strike her; Another reckless move, but the risk was at least calculated. Another loot window popped up with the same amount of Col and an unidentified rare weapon this time around, meaning she'd need to take it a to a merchant... I don't know a single merchant...

-----

ID# 87093 - BD: 7+2

Birdie - HP: 550/680 - EN: 16/68

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: (12+6)*14=252]

Crocodile - HP: 0/504 - DEAD

ID# 87115 - LD: 8+3 - CD: 4

• Dropped  3,024 Col
• Dropped 1 Rare Weapon

-----

Loot:

• 6,048 Col
• 2 Crocodile skin [T2 Mats]
• 12 Clumped Moss [T2 Mats]
• 1 Rare Weapon

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Seriously, who in the hell do I know that's a merchant? There has to be somebody?! Birdie racked her mind for any knowledge of an active merchant as she stumbled through the murky wastes, heel-deep in goopy dirt and God-knows-what. The twelfth floor was fast becoming her least favourite - with all the gloominess and swampy overtones, she wondered how anyone could stand such a place. Her attention was stolen by a pile of nearby materials which she promptly swept up and she hastily swapped out her combat gear for luck-enhancing gear.

Birdie huffed. She was letting her thoughts run away as per usual. Then again, there was very little else to think about; Her only goal at present was to grow stronger, and she was returning directly from a quest to do just that. She hadn't heard much from the Ascendants other than what the few people she'd spoken to have told her, and it wasn't anything remarkable in the first place. Another guild seemed to have cropped up in the shape of Emerald Harbingers, a group of players which had a seemingly all-around purpose. Atzo, their leader, was nice enough, but she wasn't in a good place to think about leaving 'solo-playership' - not yet.

-----

ID# 87086 - LD: 19+3 | Found 4 <<Clumped Moss>> [T2 Mats] (16 total)

Energy Regen: 1/3

Loot:

• 6,048 Col
• 2 Crocodile skin [T2 Mats]
• 16 Clumped Moss [T2 Mats]
• 1 Rare Weapon

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Another four materials, another potion from Jonathon. The blue-haired fencer trudged onto the first semblance of dry land she'd encountered for a mile; A small island, barely twenty metres in diameter. There wasn't much besides a small school of sickly trees and vines cascading from them, and a few bushes adorning the very centre of the isle. She'd decided to take temporary refuge and spare herself another minute of wading through copious amounts of muck, moss and God only knows what.

She browsed through her inventory for something to put on the ground, acting as a barrier between herself and the dirt. The only piece of fabric she'd come across was the Scouting Garbs, the old armour she wore prior to disappearing before. Her eyes fell, recalling the many good memories and bad moments it had endured with her. Without another word, she materialised it and tossed the garbs to the floor, laying them out flat. With their durability, she would have at least fifteen minutes before needing to worry about damaging them; Just enough time to recuperate. 

-----

ID# 87108 - LD: 13+7 | Found 4 <<Clumped Moss>> [T2 Mats] (20 total)

Energy Regen: 2/3

Loot:

• 6,048 Col
• 2 Crocodile skin [T2 Mats]
• 20 Clumped Moss [T2 Mats]
• 1 Rare Weapon

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Birdie gazed out into the open vastness of the eerie twelfth floor. As the faux Sun grew heavy over the horizon and a Moon began erecting in its stead, beams of light struck the grey clouds in such a way that bled holes of holy rays upon the water's surface, highlighting gentle waves which flowed carelessly in the distance.

... I hate this God damn place.

The air was depressing. The water was depressing. The land was depressing and, perhaps most taxing of all, she was depressed. It began as minor distaste toward the qualities - or therefore lack of - which the dozenth section of the hundred-level-high castle boasted. It wasn't a very nice place, nor a clean place, nor any place she would ever think to place herself by choice save for quests boasting bountiful rewards. Perhaps there were nice locations to be seen - a hidden gem, as it were - but she certainly hadn't happened upon one yet.

Amidst her thinking, she spotted a small flash of white in the distance. Materials, she thought, swiftly rising to her feet to retrieve them. The energy bar had refilled to its fullest, meaning she was free to fight once more before reaching <<Lazarus>>. In preparation for such an event, she swapped out her search gear for combat armaments once again and made way for the trail.

-----

ID# 87109 - LD: 12+3 | Found 4 <<Clumped Moss>> [T2 Mats] (24 total)

Energy Regen: 3/3

Loot:

• 6,048 Col
• 2 Crocodile skin [T2 Mats]
• 24 Clumped Moss [T2 Mats]
• 1 Rare Weapon

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The road to Lazarus grew shorter with each step she, accompanied by the disgusting squelching of wet mud beneath her feet. Four materials had caught her attention since departing the island, the only piece of dry land she'd seen since leaving the floor's main settlement. Her unease and temperament grew worse as the minutes passed by, though she was finally on the cusp of returning to the quest NPC and reaping massive amounts of experience.

As if the Cardinal's algorithms were purposefully trying to amuse her, a red cursor loomed in the distance. Its colour was more akin to crimson than bright red, meaning this enemy was likely stronger than the others she'd thought. In all likelihood, the monster would still be a crocodile - Everything in this swap is a crocodile - she unamusedly reminded herself. Birdie drew her blade from its scabbard and decided to take a different approach, circling around the beast to strike from behind instead of taking it head-on.

-----

ID# 87111 - LD: 14+3 | Found 4 <<Clumped Moss>> [T2 Mats] (28 total)

Loot:

• 6,048 Col
• 2 Crocodile skin [T2 Mats]
• 28 Clumped Moss [T2 Mats]
• 1 Rare Weapon

-----

Birdie - HP: 550/680 - EN: 68/68

Crocodile - HP: 756/756 - DMG: 102

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

As light as a feather, Birdie waded through the water without making a single sound to alert the monster of her presence. The crocodile's back was almost entirely facing her, and she crouched in place upon reaching a satisfactory position. The place was simple; Sword Art, back off. Knowing very little should go wrong, she repeated those four words in her mind on repeat and carefully rose into a standing position, her blade pointed eagerly toward her target.

Rapier forwards and freehand backwards, a surge of light swallowed Tempest Fleuret and she charged towards the back of the beast, catching it off guard with a mighty flourish of thrusts and jabs before finishing with a step backwards - her foot caught on a vine and she toppled to the floor, leaving her wide open for the crocodile's tail swipe retaliation. A groan escaped her gritted teeth as her health was knocked down to 70%. though no great harm came to her as the monster demanded crucial seconds to regain strength.

-----

ID# 87112 - BD: 4+2 - MD: 8-1

Birdie - HP: 487/680 - EN:  55/68

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: (12+6)*14=252]

Crocodile - HP: 504/756 - DMG: 102

• Damage: 102

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

She didn't waste any time by letting the crocodile recover - as the cooldown timer for Over Radiation's usage ticked down to zero, she unleashed a back-to-back attack assault on the crocodile and dropped its health to 30%, dropping its bar in the yellow. Another 5% and it would be red, meaning another well-placed attack would kill the beast for certain. She was hoping one more would still be enough to do the job, though it was an honest gamble at the time.

The crocodile swiped toward her once more, catching the bluebird off-guard as she succumbed to another 10% hit - her health points dropped dangerously close to the yellow, a point she certainly didn't want to cross. A sense of urgency surged through her as the fight's final seconds drew nearer, and she created some space between herself and the beast to plan out another attack. Attacking from the front had resulted in a counter attack, as had the sides and back. She squinted, entertaining the thought that she simply wasn't quick enough to evade the enemy's retaliative attack... it was probably true.

-----

ID# 87113 - BD: 8+2 - MD: 9-1 (Crit)

Birdie - HP: 423/680 - EN:  42/68

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: (12+6)*14=252]

Crocodile - HP: 252/756 - DMG: 102

• Damage: 103

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Birdie moved into position for another Sword Art and the beast hadn't any time to react; A dozen and two thrusts of Tempest Fleuret's tip pierced the Crocodile and felled the beast, causing its body to explode into thousands of tiny pieces which evaporated into thin air. The loot window popped up at chest height and she gave it a passing glance, taking note of the Col and additional material which made up the fruits of her labour. It wasn't the best reward she'd ever gotten but given the circumstances, she wasn't in the spirit of arguing and sticking around any longer than necessary.

The town of <<Lazarus>> loomed in the distance, its unappealing appearance inducing a fresh wave of disgust. She found solace in the fact that her time on the floor was almost up, for better or worse, and the welcoming embrace of anywhere else would soothe her perturbed soul.

-----

ID# 87116 - BD: 4+2

Birdie - HP: 423/680 - EN:  29/68

• Sword Art Used: Over Radiation [Damage: (12+6)*14=252]

Crocodile - HP: 0/756 - DEAD

ID# 87117 - LD: 7+3 - CD: 9

• Dropped 4,536 Col
• Dropped 1 Crocodile Skin [T2 Mats]

Loot:

• 10,584 Col
• 3 Crocodile skin [T2 Mats]
• 28 Clumped Moss [T2 Mats]
• 1 Rare Weapon

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

One final objective stood in Birdie's way; A steep, muddy hill with no sign of a traversable ramp or alternative means of getting around it. She huffed, knowing full well something like this was going to separate her from completing the quest and going home. She cursed the game's director and the Cardinal system for making her go so far out into the murky water, wading ankle-deep through dirt and muck to slay a beast which had barely lasted two full Sword Arts before falling to her weapon. Though the trip there and back brought with it a bountiful selection of materials - rugged crocodile skin and clumps of moss - she felt as if gratefulness was an inappropriate response to such hospitality.

Birdie stared at the slope, running all of the options through her mind. She could attempt to march over it and run the risk of falling face-first into the mud, get a sprinting start and leap over it whilst running the risk of falling face-first into the mud, or take it carefully and run the risk of slipping face-first into the mud. She grimaced, not appreciating her odds.

(CD: 1-6 she trips and gets muddy, 7-12 she walks away dry)

 

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

"... huh."

Birdie turned her back on the muddy hill. She'd taken the safest approach, slowly and carefully climbing up the steep muddied hill to massively lower any risk of falling face-first into the dirt. To her surprise, the cautious move paid off massively, and a twinkle of light appeared on the ground not so far away signalling some materials were nearby. Accepting the earth's gift in earnest, she wore a smile for the first time since arriving on the dreaded twlefth floor and finally crossed into the town of <<Lazarus>>, where the quest giver had sent her on the venture in the first place. Despite knowing the NPC had nothing to do with her misfortune, she felt bitterness towards them and barely spoke during the exchange. With the quest handed in and the experience points hers, she released a sigh and headed straight towards the teleportation gate, knowing there was nothing else for her there. Good riddance.

-----

ID# 87119 - LD: 13+3 - CD: 11 | Found 4 <<Clumped Moss>> [T2 Mats] (32 total)

Loot:

• 10,584 Col
• 3 Crocodile skin [T2 Mats]
• 32 Clumped Moss [T2 Mats]
• 1 Rare Weapon

Edited July 23, 2017 by Birdie