[SP-F1] <<The Second Lesson Is Also Free>> Following the Lead

[Calypso 0]

Spoiler

Level: 6
HP: 120
DMG: 7

Skills:

Weapon/Armor skills:
»2H Straight Sword [5/50] (Novice)

Extra:
»Familiar Mastery: Fighter [0/18] (Novice)

Inventory:

Equipped:
»[Rare] Polished Claymore (+2 DMG)
»[Vanity] Basic Light Armor

Battle Ready:
»(3) Starter Healing Potions (Heals 50 HP)
»5 Tier One Health Potions of Uncommon Quality  (+40 HP)
»1 Tier One Damage Potion (+1 Damage)
»1 Tier One Over-Health Potion (+50 Temp. HP)

"So, would you mind delivering that, Miss?" Another quest prompt appeared in front of Callie that resulted in a look of mild annoyance taking over the woman's features. She wasn't in the mood for more quests, and so although she tapped on the option to 'Accept' and was given a dismissive thanks from Zachariah, paired with a gentle wave as the bundle of potions was added to her inventory, Callie didn't follow his directions to the smithy down the street. Instead, she was headed for an inn at the south side of town, one that she would frequent during the weeks that she decided to stay in the starting city. Her legs carried her while Danesh rested across her shoulders as was typical of the wingless dragon hybrid whenever the pair was in town. Danesh seemed to take well to the lower floors, save for the busier sections of the cities.

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

It wasn't until another two days had passed that Callie felt enough motivation to continue with the quest chain and had made her way towards the smithy that Zachariah had described to her. Its coordinates were entered into her quest log, and so she checked them over to ensure she had the right place before she pushed open the heavy wooden door to the shop that was advertised to be run by an NPC named Lyle Tealeaf. She quickly spotted the man, hammering away at a hot piece of metal over an anvil. His thick eyebrows raised in slight interest at the player that had entered, but he gave her no more than a glance before his attention turned back to his work. "Ah, you must have those potions I ordered from Zach." His gruff voice sounded over the continued strikes of his hammer. "Thanks for bringing 'em over so quickly." Callie held back a snicker at the scripted speech's inaccuracy.

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

"Just set the package on the table over there." His eyes shot up to a wooden surface standing beside the woman before once again turning back down to his work. "Now," He brought his hammer down three more times before pulling the still-unformed metal up in the hold of a thick pair of iron tongs. He turned to the lit forge beside him, sliding the block of steel into the intense heat before turning back to face Callie properly. His hard brown eyes looked over her frame while the hand that gripped his hammer turned and his knuckles met his hip. "Since I've got your attention, can I get you to do a job for me?" As the dialogue hadn't yet triggered a quest prompt, he didn't wait for a response before continuing to describe the task he would ask of her. "I'm short on boar tusks for a build I need done. They're dropped by the pups just outside of the gates here, would you fetch me five of them? The little creatures are annoying, but harmless as a garter snake." He scoffed.

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

"I'll let ya have something basic from my stock in exchange." He offered to finish revealing the details of the quest. It was at this point that Cardinal presented her with the option to accept or decline his request, and with a small shrug of her shoulders Callie tapped on the button to take the quest. The window disappeared, and Lyle moved back to the forge to retrieve the block of metal and set back to hammering, leaving her to wonder if the steel block would have say in the fire indefinitely until she had provided a response. Unlike Zachariah, this man offered her no parting words or well-wishes, but that hardly bothered Callie. She turned to leave the shop and step back out into the streets of the Town of Beginnings, casting a glance to her right before turning left down the street towards the nearest set of city gates.

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

Making her way out into the sprawling fields of the first floor, she was far from a stranger to the landscape. She'd ventured out among the rolling plains and forest beyond on her hunts for materials and whatever few 'rare' items she might be able to get her hands on in the bottom-most floor. While it usually wasn't much, she made sure never to head back to town empty-handed. Combat, however, was a different story. Callie couldn't say she was experienced, although it wasn't like she'd never swung her claymore before. Not interested in wasting time, she cast a glance at the wingless dragon on her shoulder that had stood up and shook himself off before taking flight and snaking through the air beside her. "Let's go, Dani." She prompted, reaching over her shoulder to pull the two-handed sword from its scabbard. Steadying the weapon in front of her, she was quick to spot a single Boar Pup and rushed towards the monster.

ID#: 91727 | BD: 10 | MD: 4

• Calypso - HP: 120/120: EP: 5/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3

ID#: 91729 | LD: 13
[1/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

Her longsword sliced cleanly through the boar's flank, and the combination of a blast of slicing wind from Danesh was overkill. The boar squealed as its health bar depleted completely before it had even gotten the chance to strike back at the player. Bursting into shards of light, Callie smirked in satisfaction while she brought the flat of her blade to rest on her shoulder. She dismissed the dialogue window that appeared before her to detail the experience, col, and single quest item she had obtained from the monster before she pulled her chin to the side and looked over her shoulder at her small companion. "Not bad." She commented. "If that's how weak they all are, we'll be done in no time. You want to stay out a bit longer, in that case? We haven't been to--" Before she could finish her sentence, an unexpected force ran itself into the backs of her knees.

ID#: 91728 | BD: 1 | MD: 9

• Calypso - HP: 117/120: EP: 4/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

[1/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

Callie's knees buckled beneath her and she felt a faint tingling across her calves to indicate the substitution for pain. Her left palm hit the ground to catch her, and the steel of her blade fell to the grass in her weakened grip. Danesh turned towards their new enemy, his tail twitching lightly as his long body bobbed lightly through the air. Callie worked to recover quickly, noting that her health bar has hardly been scratched despite the unpleasant fall that came as a result. She picked herself up to her feet and spun around, spotting an identical Boar Pup that snorted back at her angrily. It dragged its small hooves against the dirt in defiance, rearing back as it prepared for another attack. Callie simply smirked, only the thought of how easily her sword had pulled through the last pup in her mind as she raised her weapon to take this one down just as quickly.

ID#: 91730 | BD: 4 | MD: 9

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 3/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

[1/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

Gripping her claymore in both hands, she brought the blade to the side once more in order to take the same action against her new foe. Having already engaged her, the small boar that stood across from her had a chance to react to her attack. Its hooves moved quickly beneath itself, carrying the pup as quickly as they could past the length of Callie's weapon in a half-circle to leave it behind the player. She faltered, unable to adjust the position of her steel before her opponent cleared its reach. She caught herself and straightened both her spine and her weapon as she turned to face the boar now dragging its hooves across the dirt again at her back. A frown worked its way over her lips, and Callie cast a sideways glance to the dragon hovering in the air nearby. "What, are you done helping now?" She let out a small huff in a feigned pout.

ID#: 91731 | BD: 1 | MD: 5

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 2/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

[1/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

Not expecting to receive a response from the familiar, Callie gave a roll of her shoulders and figured she didn't have much of a choice but to keep swinging until she could land a hit. Unless its health pool was startlingly larger than the last pup she had fought, it would only take one hit to fell each of them. A generous distance away, far out of Callie's and Danesh's attention and earshot, a snicker grew into a chuckle and soon reached a full-blown laugh. "You serious? That first one-shot had me a slight bit worried, but now she's gettin' her ass handed to her by one that sneaks up on her?" The player with short, messy blonde hair clutched his stomach as he recovered from his bought of laughter. The same trio stood in the fields again today, not looking out of place among the other low-level players taking on the boars, wolves, and other weaker monsters outside of the city gates.

ID#: 91732 | BD: 4 | MD: 3

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 1/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

[1/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

"Oh my god, this is gonna be easier than I thought!" He let out another breathy chuckle, averting his gaze as if he might start laughing again just watching the cerulean-haired woman failing to trade blows with the tiny boar. "D'you think she really goes out without any defense or accuracy equips?" He turned to the hooded woman standing off to the side as he continued to wear a confident grin. "Probably." The raven-haired player responded flatly, her expression unamused compared to the blonde who had been cracking up seconds ago. "Accuracy buffs aren't cheap, so if you're not investing in them as a long-term combat piece, you're better off not spending that much on it. And we all know that trashy beginner gear doesn't do anything." She frowned in distaste as she rattled off explanations the blonde man didn't seem to be really asking for, judging by his dismissive wave.

ID#: 91733 | BD: 3 | MD: 2

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 0/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

[1/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

"Yeah, okay Ran, I don't need a lecture." He growled, to which Kirana simply shrugged her shoulders with the same blank expression. "You asked." She muttered under her breath. The blonde gave the hilt of the shortsword he held a half-turn, his brow furrowed in concentration as if he was mulling something over. After a few long seconds in silence, he turned his attention over to the third player who, up to this point, practically hadn't existed between the two. "Well? Can we just jump her yet?" He asked with a clear note of impatience in his rough voice. The last one to make up the trio was a boy standing a few inches under his blonde companion with a younger-looking face and straight black hair that hung down to nearly obscure his left eye. His stormy grey eyes turned over to meet the bright red of his companion's with a dullness similar to Kirana's expression.

ID#: 91734 | BD: 9 | MD: 3

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 0/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3

ID#: 91735 | LD: 14
[2/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

"No." He said simply, the dismissive response only eliciting a dissatisfied growl from what had originally appeared to be the trio's leader. "Why not?" He demanded in return, the grip on his shortsword tightening. The two men stared each other down in short silence before the younger player broke his gaze off and turned it towards Calypso. The woman had just taken down her third boar after finally recovering from her earlier mishaps, although it appeared as though she hadn't received the amount of quest items she needed, and so she continued hunting the small monsters. The reserved stranger stared at her for an equally long few seconds before he finally opened his mouth to offer some kind of explanation. "Too close to the city." He stated, causing the blonde to give irritated glances around them while he caught sight of other players off in the distance--at least within sight and earshot in case their target made too much of a fuss.

ID#: 91736 | BD: 8 | MD: 1

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 0/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3

ID#: 91735 | LD: 2
[2/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

As if trying to quell the blonde's short temper, Kirana gave a shake of her head and paired it with a shrug. "Cae's right, but if she came back for the second quest that means she'll probably keep going. Even if the third is too risky, the fourth is out by that lake where no one ever is." She spoke as if she was trying to reason with the blonde, but the flat tone that persisted in her voice seemed to be taken closer to condescension than a sound observation. The blonde scowled, clearly impatient as he shoved his sword back into the scabbard at his left hip. "This better be a good payoff, or Rhonzo's dead." He mumbled, resulting in a short sigh from Kirana. "Your temper is going to get us in real trouble one of these days." She muttered, and her words were quick to reward her with a rough shove as the blonde placed a hand on her shoulder and roughly pushed her aside.

ID#: 91736 | BD: 8 | MD: 1

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 0/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3

ID#: 91737 | LD: 2
[2/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

She stumbled backwards at the unexpected force, and her avatar bumped into Caesura as their blonde companion passed them both by. Kirana stiffened up at the realization of who she had run into, and she quickly spun around while distancing herself from the player than nearly matched her in height. In stark contrast to her earlier deadpan expression and disinterested tone, Kirana's eyes were widened slightly with a look not too far off from dread as she stammered out an apology. Caesura's gaze had turned onto the hooded player, though his face and eyes hadn't changed from when they had stared at the explosive blonde just a minute ago. There was a moment of thick tension hanging in the air before the raven-haired boy looked away and moved to follow after the one who had begun to leave. Kirana's bottom lip stiffened while she exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding during the silent exchange before she seemed to collect herself and follow after the two players as well.

ID#: 91738 | BD: 6 | MD: 5

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 0/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3

ID#: 91739 | LD: 10
[2/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

"Finally!" Callie exclaimed with a grateful sigh. Danesh's onyx eyes shifted from where the Boar Pup had stood before it burst into pixels and the his cerulean-haired owner acknowledging the prompt that notified her of the third and final quest item she needed. She brought her broadsword to the scabbard at her back, sheathing the blade behind her. "Besides that rough patch, that wasn't actually that bad." It was never clear sometimes whether she was talking to herself, or if her words were meant for the dragon familiar that was gravitating towards her. No doubt looking for a perch to return to now that they were done fighting, Danesh placed himself back across Callie's shoulders where he always rested. She turned back in the direction of town, carrying herself forward and back towards the gates while she quickly gave up the idea of staying out and hunting for more materials before turning in the quest.

ID#: 91741 | BD: 7 | MD: 5

• Calypso - HP: 114/120: EP: 0/6 | DMG: 7
• <<Boar Pup>> - HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3

ID#: 91740 | LD: 11
[3/3 Tusks Obtained]

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

She had her fill of the outdoors for the day, and as the sun was slowly beginning to set and paint the sky with a deep orange hue, Callie's agenda now consisted of only turning in this quest and retiring to an inn room for the night. "You know, actually fighting monsters isn't so bad." She spoke up to the familiar hovering beside her. She continued her one-sided conversation as Danesh snaked lazily through the air, "How long has it been, Dani?" She asked with a small, wry smile. "I don't remember if I was ever keeping track, but if I was I stopped a long time ago." Her golden eyes studied the pristine white walls of the sprawling city that stood a short distance away. When they drew closer to the gates and the boundary that marked the edge of the safe zone, Danesh drew closer to her and took his regular perch across her shoulders.

[Calypso 0]

She had grown observant enough to the familiar's silent cues to know that he preferred to be outdoors whenever possible, with a preference for the areas outside of the safe zones. While he warmed up to Callie just fine after she had tamed him, he seemed to stay wary of other players, especially if her owner showed any signs of unease. She hadn't had regular interaction with any one individual that didn't consistent of a greeting and trade since she had first bonded with Danesh, and so he hadn't the opportunity to warm up to any other players. Still, that seemed to reflect Callie's own lack of meaningful relationships in the game, and as long as it didn't seem to bother Danesh, she didn't put a priority on making any friends for either of them. After a few minutes of walking, she had reached her destination and made her way to the inn room she had secured for the week a few days ago.

Edited December 5, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

Up a set of dark oak stairs, the game's permissions allowed her to open the door that had been assigned to her without a fuss. Not wanting to keep her small companion waiting, Callie walked over to the single window that the room possessed just as soon as she had closed the door behind her. Unlocking and pushing open both panes of the casement window, Danesh stood and promptly hopped from the woman's shoulder. His long body snaked down as if gravity had been delayed and lessened. As his paws made contact with the windowsill, his tail flicked to one side and hung over the edge while he got comfortable, laying down and looking out over the city from his new perch. Callie brought a hand up across the back of her neck to pull her long hair over her left shoulder. She combed through it with her fingers a couple of times, glancing at the sky-blue locks with an amused smile.

[Calypso 0]

"Work would never let me get away with a color like this." She chuckled to herself, taking a seat on the single bed resting in the corner of the small room. Her legs swung up over the side and she spread her arms out to her sides as she lay staring up at the slanted wood panel ceiling that hung above her. Her lungs filled with a deep breath through her nose, and she held it for a few long seconds before letting the air spill out from her lips. "This is okay, right?" She mumbled, for once wishing that she might hear a response. 'Just living like this, pretending like everything is normal.' Her mind's eye recalled the faces she sometimes caught sight of on the lower floors. All kinds of people with stains on their cheeks or worried creases in their brow. So many people that longed to escape.

Edited December 10, 2017 by Calypso

[Calypso 0]

Her eyes closed, but she could only hold her lids shut for a minute or two before her imagination brought such unsavory visions to life in the darkness. "Ugh," She groaned, furrowing her brow in irritation at the nagging touch of guilt that pulled at her heartstrings. "Honestly, what good would it be to risk my own life like that? I just know a thing or two about MMOs, I'm not a fighter, I'm not a tactician, and I'm not some brave hero." Her tangent ended in a scoff as she glared up at the ceiling. "Let the people who want to get back so badly be the ones to fight the floor bosses." The words left her in a mumble as her bottom lip stiffened and her forehead creased with discomfort. Callie turned on her side, the heavy feeling of the knot pulling tighter in her stomach almost too much to bear.

Thread Summary:
Calypso: +3 SP, +400 col, +T1 Light Armor (1 MIT), +Safeguard Potion (for next quest)

Edited December 10, 2017 by Calypso