Mortambo

Following the girl out of town he thought “How strange that she sent me a message instead of speaking. Ah well, she seems to know what she’s about so I’ll just follow.” He took the Toast she gave him out of his inventory and took a bite as we walked. “This is…delicious! WOW. I mean, I’m sure it was for the buff, but still it’s one of the best things I’ve eaten in the game so far. You must be a great Cook! Thank you for sharing!” I grinned at her as I finished it up. “So where can we find a good fishing spot? I actually hadn’t thought of picking up fishing but I guess if I want to be a serious crafter I need to invest in ways to gather more materials.” As we continued walking I occasionally glance nervously around for monsters but stick close to Neopolitan to stay safe.  

@Neopolitan

As they walked for a little while through the forests, I slowed down to walk next to Kirbs and said "Hopefully we can find something relatively easy. I need to test my skills some before we take on harder stuff. " 

Right at that moment, in a clearing not to far ahead of us was a Dire Wolf. Ducking behind some bushes, I said "It seems like he's alone, I guess it's now or never." Rushing into the clearing and quickly clearing the ground between us I wasn’t being stealthy at all. Hearing my headlong charge the Dire Wolf turned and growled menacingly at me, but using a tactic that seemed to work with the boars I had fought, rather than meet him head on and slash at his face, at the last second I dodged to the side and slashed at his flank instead. As my axe solidly connected I grinned, “Well at least so far this is going well,” I thought to myself.

Attack Roll:

@Kirbs

As I was waiting I suddenly received a message from someone who wanted to join me, and told me to look for her strawberry pink and dark brown hair. As I scanned the area near the edge of the village, I began to think about what I was doing here. This floor was WAY beyond my level and I was a little scared to venture out. Hopefully, my companion could easily handle whatever nastiness we might run into. Not that I wouldn't help, of course I would! But this place filled with fire and lava and all kinds of monsters was not a floor for inspiring much confidence. After this sobering thought, I looked up and spotted the girl I was looking for with the two toned hair. Approaching her, I said “Hello. I’m Mortambo. I really appreciate you helping me out with this quest and some material gathering,” and I smiled offering my hand to shake.

Grinning as she geared up, I responded "Good, I was a little worried when I only got a single response, I know it would be safer with more. I'm glad you're familiar with this floor." As she scrolled through her inventory I continued to answer her, "I'm only level 6, and I've still just got my starter armor. I really need new gear, but that's kind of hopefully what this hunt will help me with. I can take some hits though...but with your better gear I'm sure you're tougher. I'll just let you tell me what you think we can handle and I will start the fights."

As she introduced herself and her familiar, I smiled, "I might do the quest to get a familiar myself soon. I'm guessing Scarfy comes in handy?" 

Then I looked up at the wilderness beyond the gate, "Well if you are ready, let's go! Just point the way." And I confidently strode in the direction I was pointed, not betraying the nervousness I felt being on a higher floor than I probably ought to be.   

@Kirbs

I kept looking around rather nervously at the gate hoping I could catch someone's eye. I did not really want to go hunting alone on this floor. Just as I was going to give up and go back to floor 2 a girl walked up to me. As she approached  she asked about hunting and I said "Yeah, I can solo floor 2 stuff but I thought it might be more interesting finding a group for this floor. It didn't seem like many others were interested though," I said looking around not noticing anyone else approaching. "So I guess it's just the two of us," I smiled." I'm sure we'll be fine if we are careful." I checked my axe and armor and other gear really quickly to be sure everything was in place and said "I'm ready when you are."  "Oh! And my name is Mortambo," I continued extending my hand to be shaken, "It's nice to meet you. Hopefully we'll have a lot of fun on this trip. It's my first time hunting in a group." 

@Kirbs

On the first floor, as I was looking for materials, I ran into an old gypsy woman that just appeared out of almost nowhere. "Well hello, young man. I see your trying to work on your Blacksmithing." I replied rather warily "Um, yes, why do you ask?" She smiled a rather off putting kind of smile and said "Well, I have something that will help you make the most out of all your hard work. A familiar." I had briefly heard of familiars. They were creatures in the game that could be trained to help with certain tasks either combat or healing you. "How will a familiar help me with crafting?" I asked the old woman. "Take this food, find a suitable familiar, and train it to work at your forge and you will see." "All right", I responded still a little weirded out, but I put it in my inventory and looked up and the gypsy woman was gone. Where could I find a suitable companion? I pulled out the New Player's Guide to the floors that were handed out. Level 9 was filled with fire and lava and so something good for working with steel and the forge would probably be there. But Level 9? I needed someone to go with me and be sure I didn't get killed. Heading back to the Town notice board, I put up a post about wanting to form a group to gather materials and search for a familiar. I got a response almost immediately and headed out to meet them on Level 9 right outside Yōgan Village.

@Neopolitan

Quest Objectives:

Quest Mechanics:

Quest Rewards:

Quick Stats

I laughed with Dustin, and then my face sobered when he mentioned his enemies. “I don’t think I’ve made any yet. Not that I know of anyway. I’ve just been in the Town working on my blacksmithing.” Walking down the path managing to keep up this time, I responded “Wow, Floor 22? The frontlines only just made it to 24. That’s amazing!” I chuckled a little to myself, “Well the hardest thing I’ve fought so far were some boar pups, but it made me realize if I’m going to end up soloing I need to do a little more damage. Which is why I decided on Martial Arts.” Seeing Dustin lost in thought for a moment, and then telling him to run, I look right into his eyes and say “Yeah, okay, if you tell me to run I definitely will. I think any thing you’d tell me to run from is probably beyond me.” The mountains got steeper as they climbed, and any time now they should be getting to the NPC with the quest. 

@Dustin

Scrambling after Dustin’s sudden departure, I jogged briefly to catch up to him, my armor making a rather loud sound. “Yeah I guess they aren’t coming, but I’m sure you’re right about it being easy. You’ve already done this before so it should be a piece of cake.” For a while, there was just silence as they traveled to the south as I struggled to keep pace with Dustin’s confident stride through the wilderness. After a little while, the foothills began to give way to the Southern Mountains and I piped up again, “So what is the furthest floor you’ve explored? You seem a lot more experienced than I am. Well, obviously since you’ve completed this quest and it’s a pretty low level one.” Looking around warily for anything moving in the wilderness, I looked back at Dustin, “And should we be worried about getting ambushed around here?”

@Dustin

Name: Jagged Edge
Your Profession: Blacksmith
Your Rank: 1
Roll ID: 111182
Roll Result: 11
Item Type: 2H Assault Spear 
Tier: 1
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: +1 Bleed, +1 Damage 
Description: A two handed assault spear whose tip has a wicked curve designed to rend and tear at your enemies 
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/17427-f1-blacksmith-shop-the-unbreakable-anvil/?do=findComment&comment=567023

My eyes snapped open and with a grin on my face I jumped out of bed to face the new day and try my hand at making a new weapon. My routine was starting to become normal. Clang. The sound of hammer on anvil waking me up and giving me life every morning. Clang. I actually really enjoyed crafting and making something with my hands. Clang. This two handed assault spear was going to be awesome. I began tapping it more carefully to form the bladed edge  and very carefully finished forming it into the spear. I did some quick stabs and thrusts before starting my next item, a two handed straight sword. As I heated up the material to begin to form the blade it cracked and blackened. Well maybe I would be more lucky tomorrow.

Crafting Attempts:

Total EXP: 14 + 6 = 20 EXP

ADVANCED TO RANK 2

Created Items: 

As I waited at the gates I checked my gear again briefly to be sure everything I brought was in good repair still. From my axe, to my armor, everything seemed to be okay. I checked my brace of potions and luckily I still hadn't used any of the healing potions I got from the starter quests. I might need them up here since this was a significant step up in difficulty. I put a notice on the board for anyone interested in hunting some wolves and maybe a dire bear or two to meet me here the following morning. I probably should have checked if anyone replied instead of just waiting here like a dweeb. Oh well, if nothing else I’ll just go hunt things by myself. I’ll have to be a lot more cautious but that will be okay. I began to look around nervously hoping someone at least would show up to watch my back.

Combat Stats:

Battle-Ready Inventory:

Enemies:

@Kirbs

As the other player approached me, and I realized he was one of the ones who accepted my invitation to party, I nodded and returned his wave. "Hey! Yeah, I am Mortambo and I heard this quest was a tough one, so I thought I might need some help with it. I really appreciate it. It's my first time grouping up and ..." I trailed off briefly and looked beyond the walls of Urbus with a bit of nervousness, "my first time beyond the first floor. Until now I have just been doing basic quests around the Town of Beginnings. Anyway, I really appreciate the help." I offered my hand to him to shake, and then looked around again, "I think we had one more person who offered to help. As soon as they get here we can head out. I know this quest is probably really boring for someone who has already completed it," I said indicating Dustin's hand-wraps. "I actually bought some of those for after I unlock the skill, but I guess they will come in handy," I say quickly pulling up my inventory and switching out my axe for my hand-wraps. 

@Neopolitan

@Dustin 

Name: Serrated Blade
Your Profession: Blacksmith
Your Rank: 1
Roll ID: 111131
Roll Result: 10
Item Type: 1H Straight Sword
Tier: 1
Quality: Uncommon 
Enhancements: +1 Bleed
Description: This blade made of black steel has a harsh serrated edge that creates large wounds in anything it strikes.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/17427-f1-blacksmith-shop-the-unbreakable-anvil/?do=findComment&comment=566940

As I started crafting for the new day, I decided to start on a different kind of weapon. Maybe I’ll try a one handed straight sword today. As I took out the material and began to form it into a sword, it began to coalesce in front of me. It seemed like I made a good solid sword but as I swung it around a few times, it shattered and broke. Well that was a waste of good materials. I started forming another sword from a new material and it came out the same way. After a few test swings it seemed to hold up really well. The edge was serrated and it would likely make a really ragged bleeding wound. I am really getting better at blacksmithing finally. Maybe soon I’ll be able to make even better weapons.

Crafting Attempts:

As I stepped foot out from Urbus, a nervous chill ran down my spine. While the second floor was still far from the front lines, it was the furthest I had dared to venture. I still was finishing up some quests on the first floor, but I had heard that if you sought out a certain NPC in the Southern Mountains of this floor you could learn the Martial Arts skill. I put out an open call to form a group as I heard this quest can be particularly hard to solo. Very quickly, I had plenty of responses and we formed up and headed out to the spot in the southern mountains. As Urbus fell away in the distance, my anxious energy turned into excitement. As the hills to the south of town began to turn into the foothills of the mountains I realized my adventures had finally begun and I didn’t have to live in fear anymore.

Quest Objectives:

Combat Stats:

Party:

@Dustin

@Neopolitan

Punch Results:

As Hei returned from his back room and placed my items on the counter, I jumped up from where I had been sitting. "Thank you so much for getting to this so quickly, sir. I really appreciate it, and I know your wares will help me in my adventures beyond the Town. I'm kind of late to adventuring, but I just recently decided I couldn't just sit around anymore. So thank you," I said stumbling quickly through my words as I bowed slightly to him and added the items to my inventory. “If I need anything else, I’ll be sure to come again. And if you ever need a Blacksmith…well I’m still learning but my shop is on this floor as well. I’ll do my best to make whatever you need.” Nodding to Hei again in a slightly bow, I turned and headed out of his store almost eagerly since he was ready to try out my new hand wraps.

Transactions:

-1100 Col

+ Bloody Hand-wraps and Lucky Shirt

This time I executed a rapid series of blows slamming my fists at the same spot I had already caused a small crack with my hits so far. Hit after hit, my arms had become numb to the pain, or my brain was doing better dealing with the feedback from the game. I slammed them again and again into the boulder my vision narrowing to just that tiny crack and my first slamming into the same spot over and over. I’ll make it through this boulder in no time at this rate. Suddenly I realized my fists were missing the spot. I couldn’t get them to hit it precisely any more. Stopping for the moment I flexed my fingers. Both of my arms had gone numb below the elbow but my knuckles were broken, bloody, and painful. Taking out some cloth I wrapped my hands in it to hopefully help some and continued to hit the boulder.

Punch Results:

This time I went for a punch with my left hand, my knuckles cracking again against the rock and the shock of pain shooting up my arm into my shoulder. Immediately, I hit the same spot with my right fist as well, feeling the same shock. I had to go faster if I was going to complete this any time soon. Slamming my fists repeatedly into the boulder over and over I saw the tiny crack I had started grow just ever so slightly larger. After about ten punches I had to stop and rest though and let the pain subside at least enough to try again. As I looked back at the Sensei, he nodded slightly in encouragement. At least I seemed to be doing all right so far. It just…hurt so much. Oh well, I might as well get back to it. Stretching my arms and back to shake off the last of the pain I steeled myself for the next round.

Punch Results:

“What can I do for you, sir?” I responded. “Well there’s this girl Hannah, she makes jewels and rings and all kinds of crafts. In one of the gardens on the eastern side of the Town you can find her. If you could take this,” Lyle said as he slid a small package across the table, “to her then I would be eternally grateful. It’s quite a walk for my old bones.” I responded, “No problem, sir. I will do it immediately.” Lyle smiled, “You’ve made this old man very happy today. Now get out of here so I can be grumpy again!” I smiled back and looked over the weapons and armor picking up set of Heavy Armor that seemed like it would do a great job protecting him before taking his leave. With a contented smile, he started heading towards the Eastern side of the Town to find the garden where Hannah was to deliver this package.

Thread Summary:

Though I was tired, I immediately headed through the winding streets to Lyle’s workshop. Stopping briefly, I got a roll of hard bread to munch on at one of the vendors. It was strange wandering the streets after being afraid of fighting the monsters outside for so long. I almost felt too…big…for this place. I felt like I had begun to outgrow it. Finding myself once again in front of Lyle’s door I knocked. “Oi, what do you want?” Lyle exclaimed as he opened the door. “Oh it’s you again. Did you bring my Tusks?” he continued. “Yes, sir, I have them right here, and an extra one dropped from the last group I fought so you can have that too.” “Well thank you, lad. You can have any weapon or armor you see along my walls,” Lyle replied easily, “but I do have one final request. Well a favor to an old man really.”

As I wandered back through the hills, I began to replay the battles I had just experienced in my head trying to analyze them to see what I could do better. It hadn’t gone horribly wrong, but I think that was mostly because these were starter quest monsters. They didn’t seem to hit very hard, but it had been very good practice at actual combat. I think I had done fine interpreting and predicting the boar’s movements. There had been a few missteps tripping over myself but after a while I settled into a good and natural rhythm of attack and dodge back and forth. Lost in his own thoughts, he hardly noticed wandering back through the hills until he saw the gates of the Town of Beginnings. Standing before them I realized that passing through these gates had always been a horrible source of anxiety. But now, I felt nothing but excitement and relief to be home.

As the final Boar Pup charged, the timing was so easy now. Time seemed the slow as I stepped out of the Boar’s charge lane and I slashed downward making the Boar Pup slam into the ground and de-rez. Panting from a final surge of adrenaline, I gathered the loot from the kills and added them to my inventory. Taking stock very quickly, even though my energy was tapped and I had to use basic attacks to take most of the Pups out in this fight, my armor held up great. I waited a little just to be sure I had calmed back down before I started on my way back towards the Town. I had gotten all the Tusks Lyle needed for his work and hopefully he could teach me a trick or two about blacksmithing when I returned to him as well. I was rather excited to learn from him.

Combat Round 11:

Loot Roll:

Falling into a groove now, I easily sidestepped the Boar Pup’s charge and slashed him in the side. The Boar Pup flew to the side and landed in a heap his flanks heaving as he gasped in pain. Slowly it got up and began to circle me to try and find an advantage. It snorted and lowered its head, the beady little eyes narrowing to see if it still had a chance to attack me. After a moment of circling, and with me not backing down, it suddenly cut and run to go for another charge. Quickly lowering his tusks, it came at me in full ramming speed. Bracing myself, I was hoping of ending this quickly. So bring it on Boar Pup, I’m not afraid of you monsters anymore. I got ready to sidestep again to slash the Boar Pup with my axe for the final time.

Combat Round 10:

I darted forward and slashed at Boar Pup 3 and as I did I immediately jumped back reflexively hopefully out of the way of the charge. The Boar Pup let out a squeal as it de-rezzed and I let out a brief sigh of relief until I suddenly was slammed into by the last remaining Boar Pup. Stumbling back and grunting I briefly saw stars. As I shook my head to banish them I saw the Boar Pup was doing the same thing. It immediate flipped around and started running away so it could get to a safe distance to try and charge again. With just one left, I just set myself to attack. This should be easy now. Hopefully, I can head back to Lyle soon and get this quest finished. The boar turned around at an easy lope and then quickly lowered his tusks and sped up to full charging speed.

Combat Round 9:

Loot Roll: