[F01-SP] As Good a Start as Any <<TFFLAF>>

[Masutado 0]

Spoiler

<<The First Few Lessons Are Free>>

This quest takes place on Floor 1

Players over level 15 are ineligible for SP rewards.
This quest is non-repeatable, however any player may participate in a thread to accompany the quest-taker.

Background Information - An old NPC man, dubbed 'Zackariah', is in the Town of Beginnings. He plans on helping the new players of SAO by helping them understand the basic's of Sword Art Online.

Quest Objective
-Go fetch five(5) Tier one materials and give them to Zakariah.

(Go into the wild and gain materials though non-combat gathering and by rolling the LD, and linking it to a post. These materials are then given to the NPC)

-Help Zakariah in his workshop by crafting a Healing Potion.

(Roll the CD by linking it to a post.)1-3 fail, try again| 4-6 (Good Quality- Success)| 7-9(Rare Quality-Success)| 10-12(Perfect Quality-Success)
[Zackariah will give players materials until they roll a success, but the player is helping him, so he keeps the crafted potion(s).] [Zackariah is kind hearted, and will not berate the player should they fail, merely try to talk them through to process and help them]

-Zakariah asks you to deliver a package to Lyle Tealeaf, a local Blacksmith

-The Blacksmith, Lyle Tealeaf, thanks you and says he could use your help on another matter 

 

Requirements:

-At least one [1] Pages (20 or more posts)
-Players can find Materials by rolling the LD(11+)
-Must RP traveling to his workshop and from Zackariah's place to Lyle's workshop
-Maximum Party size of 4.

(Please note, this only works for quest materials. If you find more than you needed this way, you do not get to keep them because this LR roll amount is reduced for the quest only. All other non-combat gathering needs to conform to the standard rules. You CANNOT selectively choose whether it's a quest material or not. )

Rewards:

1. Questers will be rewarded the following items
   - 5 Tier One Health Potions of Uncommon Quality (+40HP)
   - 1 Tier One Damage Potion. (+1 Damage)
   -1 Tier One Over-Health Potion (+50 Temp. HP)

2. 2 Additional Skill Points

If a party of players undertakes this quest together, each must succeed on their own task list (e.g. each must gather 5 materials)

Recommended Level: 1

Masutado walked along one of the many cobbled streets of the Town of Beginnings, the thunk and crunch of his heavy boots on the snow keeping rhythm as he travelled. He pulled out his map and peered at it for what felt like the hundredth time today, and pulled his cloak a little tighter to his large frame. He had come to find out he was terrible with maps.

“I seem to be in the right place,” he mumbled to himself, his large finger gently jabbing at the street he believed he was walking along. “Must not be much further.”

Feeling reassured, Masutado stowed the map and continued down the street, keeping an eye on the shop fronts. It wasn’t much longer before he found what he had been searching for. A quaint and simple little shopfront constricted of dark wood and grey stone stood before him. An older man, assumably the NPC shopkeep, waved from inside and called out to him through the half open door.

“Come in, traveler! I have a fire going and a favor to ask.”

The information broker hadn’t swindled him after all.

[Masutado 0]

"Yes, greybeard," Masutado called back and bounded his bulk up the couple of steps leading into the shop. He immediately thought the term (greybeard) sounded silly coming from himself, but he felt as though trying to get into character a little may help distract him from the terrible predicament he found himself in. He shut the wooden door behind him and sidled up next to the fire; the warmth was very much appreciated. 

"What can I help you with...?" Masutado left a sort of pregnant pause. He hadn't caught the NPC's name and now felt a bit awkward, knowing that sometimes the NPC speech patterns could be limited.

"My name is Zackariah, and I have need of an extra pair of hands. It would certainly be a learning experience for you!"

Masutado quickly worked his way through the conversation, finding out the basic requirements of the quest and accepting it. He chided himself a moment afterwards, feeling he should have taken his time. But really, it was because he didn't want to leave the fire for the cold outdoors again, but he left swiftly after the conversation was over.

[Masutado 0]

Masutado exited the work shop and pulled his cloak around him again. 'Already miss that fire,' he thought to himself. But he shuffled his bundled bulk along anyhow. He headed toward one of the city's main gates, his boots crunching snow as he moved through them. As he passed through the large portal, he took in the scene before him. Winter had given a nice coating of snow to all the field areas just around the Town of Beginnings and the beauty took him back for a moment. He hoped this meant it might be a bit easier to find the materials he needed, but felt a slight sinking feeling that it would actually hinder him.

He set off along one of the exceeding tall walls around the city keeping his eyes peeled for anything poking out of the snow. Before long, he came upon a little wildflower poking it's way out of the frozen snow. He knelt over it and inspected if for a few moments before registering it was nothing of note.

"Drats."

Spoiler

 ID# 111665 results:

 Loot: 6      Failure

0/5 Materials Acquired

 

Edited January 16, 2019 by Masutado

[Masutado 0]

Slightly discouraged, Masutado trudged on through the snow as new flakes began to slowly drift from the grey sky and a sharp cold wind cut through his cloak. He shivered and turn away from the wall, thinking he might have better luck further out. He did his best to sharpen his mind, now he was on double duty. The further he got from the wall, the more likely he was to run into monsters, but it was a risk he needed to take.

Masutado continued, weaving a snaky trail through the snow going from point to point that caught his eye. He traveled quickly for a man of his shape, and did his best to keep vigilant watch. "Perhaps I should have found a companion for this..." he said aloud to himself. But he quickly changed his mind, happy to be alone for a bit outside of the busy city.

That's when he saw it. Masutado rushed forward a bit, and found a golden flower, not dissimilar to a buttercup, proudly towering over the snow. He plucked it from it's perch and stowed it away. One down, four to go.

Spoiler

ID# 111678 results:

Loot: 15 Success!

1/5 Materials Acquired

 

Edited January 16, 2019 by Masutado

[Masutado 0]

Riding the high from a swift success, Masutado began searching with a renewed fervor and vigor. He quickly made his way around the immediate area, stomping most of the snow flat in his investigation. He soon found himself doubting his searching ability after all, but this was no time to give up hope. And so, he steeled himself and decided to head out to a new area.

Setting his sights northwest, Masutado began crossing the snowfields towards the forest region. The bare trees looked like broken teeth against the gray horizon. He shivered and pulled his cloak close about him again, finding the sight ominous. Keeping an eye out for anything of interest, he weaved his way between mobs, preferring to avoid combat for the time being, and found himself quickly approaching the foreboding timberline. He soon crossed beneath the waves of two trees, their arching branches creating a natural “doorway” into the depths of the forest.

Spoiler

ID# 111680 results:

Loot: 10 Failure

1/5 Materials Acquired

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Masutado

[Masutado 0]

Masutado confidently crossed the threshold of the treeline, convinced that moving to a new area further from the Town of Beginnings would be more profitable for his search. Once he had passed a few trees, his pursuit of flowers and herbs began anew. The blanket of snow was bit thinner here among the trees in most areas, but drifts seemed to form along one side of the trees. This allowed him to narrow his inspection to particular areas as he avoided where the snowfall was thickest.

He meandered around the clearer side of the base of the trees in the immediate area, focusing on the ground nearest the trunks. And before long, this method payed off. He soon found a sweet and earthy smelling herb growing along the foundation of a particularly large tree with branches like clawed hands stretched skywards.

"Success!" Masutado said aloud to himself, taking a moment to enjoy a second triumph. 

Spoiler

ID Results#: 111737

Loot: 12 Success

2/5 Materials Gathered

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Masutado

[Masutado 0]

Masutado continued his urgent search of the area and before came upon a broad patch of thorny shrubbery. His thick gloves provided protection for his large hands as he pulled the branches this way and that, searching for some hidden gem in the plot of prickly bush. After a little thought, he abandoned the search in that particular spot, preferring not to wade into the waste deep sea of thorns. He took a moment to stretch his limbs and take stock of the area, glancing about staying aware of any mobs and his position. The last thing he wanted was to get lost.

After a few moments of this, Masutado began his search again. Shortly he found a small clearing in the trees, a round glade that was empty save for snow and a small plant in it's center. He cautiously looked around, this seemed like some sort of set up. After a minute or so of waiting and listening, he felt confident that was it just luck. He inched his way into the clearing and found another bundle of herbs there in the middle. He happily collected and stowed them away.

Spoiler

 ID# 111738 results:

 Loot: 19 Success

3/5 Materials Gathered

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Masutado

[Masutado 0]

After gathering up the herbs, Masutado quickly made his way back into the trees from the dell. Unsurprisingly, he did not enjoy the feeling of such an open space surrounded by the shadowy wood. It made him feel awfully vulnerable. He proceeded with his search, feeling positive about being so close to finishing the first goal of his quest. Snaking his way through the thick trunks of the timber, he returned to the method of investigating at the base of the trees' less snowy side. 

Masutado spotted a hint of yellow through a crack in the trunks for a moment and stopped. That seemed promising and he moved towards where he thought he had seen it. He happened upon another of the golden flowers he had found before. He smiled to himself, and picked the flower. He was nearly done gathering up ingredients, and he was looking forward to the warmth of the fire once again.

Spoiler

 ID# 111739 results:

 Loot: 20 Success

4/5 Materials Gathered

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Masutado

[Masutado 0]

Thinking of the blazing hearth waiting for him, Masutado again became acutely aware of the cold wind cutting through the trees like a dagger. He pulled his heavy cloak close to his bulk, bundling himself up and blowing hot breath on his hands. He was certainly ready to be back inside, but he took a moment to collect himself and rest while trying to gain some warmth. 

Masutado's breath was like that of a smoking dragon when he set out at last; the tiny drops of water crystallizing into little clouds of fog. He did a once over the immediate area before moving on to another location. It was then that he noticed a soft gurgling, like that of a brook, and began to follow the noise. Before long, he came upon a small stream cutting it's way through the snow covered ground. The water did not sparkle or shine, there wan't nearly enough sun breaking through the cloud for that, but he found the scene altogether pleasant despite that.

Spoiler

ID# 111740 results:

Loot: 7 Failure

4/5 Materials Gathered

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Masutado

[Masutado 0]

Masutado breathed in the peaceful moment, standing there of the edge of the brook, listening to its soft splashing and babbling. He blew out a long, deep breath and began to follow along the brook. Keeping a weather eye out for mobs, he began to investigate along the banks of the stream and among the foundations of the trees along it. After several minutes of hunched searching, he found a bundle of the same herbs he had seen before. He collected them and stowed them in his inventory. Then he began to backtrack.

Along the stream, back through the wood, past the empty clearing, around the broad and thorny shrubbery, and back into the snowfields Masutado mentally planned his journey back. Then something he hadn't thought of before occurred to him. 'I made the trip all this way. Perhaps I'll look for some materials for myself while I'm here.' And with that, he had a new goal.

Spoiler

ID# 111749 results:

Loot: 13 Success

5/5 Materials Found

 

Edited January 22, 2019 by Masutado

[Masutado 0]

 

Spoiler

ID# 111870 results:

Loot: 15 Success

1 Material Found

(1)

 

Edited January 22, 2019 by Masutado