Mortambo

Jumping to the side again, and performing the side slash into Boar Pup 3 I once again avoided both of the Boar Pups charges. Boar Pup 3 was a little thrown off and hurt, skidding to the side and stopping to pant a little before shaking its head and turning to face me again. Boar Pup 4 just spun around but this time they were coming at me in an X pattern rather than parallel lines. Bracing myself, I tried to think of a way to react to this new attack pattern. Maybe if I faced them head on, it would risk getting hit but it would let me get a good solid chance to strike back. As they stomped their hooves and lowered their tusks to charge, I set myself to slash the already injured Boar Pup and then jump aside at the last minute before the last one hit me.  

Combat Round 8:

This time instead of a head on slash, I jumped to the side and slashed the first boar pup across the throat. It cried out as it de-rezzed and as I followed through my attack moved me through their charge lanes and safely out of the way. The two boar pups charged straight past me and flipped around very quickly setting themselves for another charge. This time I recovered very quickly and I set my stance again to try and pull the same dodge to the side and slash. The two boar pups stamped their hooves on the ground as they lowered their tusks for another charge. Their beady red eyes still burned with anger as they snorted and tossed their heads as they began to charge again. Hoping the same move would work again I tensed ready to dodge to the side and hit the leading Boar Pup with my axe.  

Combat Round 7:

Loot Roll:

I slashed again for the lead Boar Pup, this time my foot twisting which threw me completely off balance. This caused me to stumble out of the way of all three of their sets of tusks but I missed completely with my return strike. There was a small twist in my ankle but a sigh of relief escaped my lips. At least they missed me as well this time around. Shifting my weight off my ankle I waited for the pain to subside. Bracing myself again I spun around setting myself for the next charge. Quickly I looked around for anything that I could do to help this fight go more quickly. Looking around, the hilltop was nearly empty except for a couple of bushes. I guess I’ll just have to keep dodging around so I gritted my teeth and braced myself for the boar pups charging again.

Combat Round 6: 

As they charged, I tried the same move going for a slash on the first boar and spinning out of the way of the others. This time I misjudged the slash and the boar pup gored me with his horns. Stumbling back, I was caught off guard as another of the boars slammed into my back. I fell to my knees as the final boar narrowly missed me and took a shaky breath. That last hit had actually knocked my breath away some. Standing, and wiping a little blood away from my mouth I gripped my axe and squared my shoulders facing the wheeling boars again.  Gripping my axe I braced myself for the charging boars, and loosely set my stance to attack again. The red beady eyes of the boars seemed filled with rage and about midway across the intervening space and as they dropped their tusks to gore me again I leapt into action.

Combat Round 5:

Running forward again, I slashed at the nearest Boar Pup and then tried to dodge out of the way of the other two. I mistimed my slash, but the spinning dodge motion did a great job of getting me completely out of the way of all three of the charging boars. I grunted in frustration and finished my spin and set myself as the boars rounded the area and set themselves again ready to charge. As I waited for my chance to attack again, I thought about what I could do better. Right now my options were limited since I was out of energy, but in the future conserving my energy is probably a much better tactic. The boars let out a frustrated huff the air rushing out of their noses raising up little clouds of dust. They began to charge again, their flanks heaving with exertion as they snorted and lowered their heads.

Combat Round 4:

Darting forward, I went to slash the already wounded boar with a basic attack. It might not have been the smartest thing to blow all my energy in a single attack like that but well…this was all a learning experience right? Luckily, these monsters were just for the practice quest so they weren’t really hurting yet.  The first boar de-rezzed and the others continued charging. I managed to dodge one and the other two slammed him back a few steps again. Shaking it off, I set my feet and got ready to attack again. Very impressed by how well my armor was holding up, I scanned the boars as they set themselves for my next target. All three were fresh and ready to go, so it doesn’t matter much but I still set my sights on one of them and charged forward again to meet them in battle again.

Combat Round 3:

Loot Roll:

As I planned my next move, the boars all began to circle around into a half moon shape around me. Well it worked so well last time, I prepared the beginning of the Crescent Thrush Sword Art and leaped forward as the boars charged me to release a massive sideways slash that would hit all of them at once. At the last moment I realized I misjudged the distance and my slash sped by inches from the boars faces. They finished their charges into me and this time bowled me over goring me with their horns. Still not much worse for wear thanks to the armor and my training, I staggered back to my feet in time for each of them to turn around and set themselves to charge again. This was certainly turning into a much more interesting fight. My energy bar blinked at me in the red, I guess that means I’m stuck with basic attacks for now.

Combat Round 2: 

As my energy topped off I shook my head and realized I had been wandering through the fields rather aimlessly. At this rate I’d get myself in over my head again fighting something crazy! Snapping out of my reverie I began to look around again for the boar pups for their tusks. I noticed a group of four of them not far off, and suddenly without a thought I was in motion, swinging my axe in a slash across the first boar. It was a solid hit! The first boar reeled back, but in my enthusiasm I hadn’t kept track of his friends. One after one each of them slammed into me, driving me back a few steps each time. Luckily my armor helped me shrug off most of the blows but it still left me off balance for a moment. Quickly recovering I set my feet for the next attack.

Combat Round 1:

I was and still am pretty scared of dying. The stakes of a game have never been higher than they were, but after shaking off the fear and then the depression of being stuck in this game where I can die, I have to do something. I wish I was the type to just sit around but if I’m left to my own devices with nothing to do it drives me crazy. Even wanting to be a master craftsman meant I had to venture beyond the safety of the walls of the Town eventually to find better and better materials. Once I realized that nothing in this game would let me just stay behind the safety of the walls I decided to gear up. Here I was, ready to move up the ranks. I wasn’t exactly hyped yet to join the front lines, but if I could at least keep up with them and keep them supplied with the best gear I could make I will feel like I am doing my part.

ENERGY REFILLED TO FULL. 

Even though these were very basic monsters for this quest, it still gave me a surge of confidence. After this I should go up against some stronger foes and try my luck. Looking around, I started looking for another place the pups would be. I began to circle around the Town sticking to the places near the wall that seemed similar to the place Lyle first led me. Wandering up and down through the hills avoiding the harder monsters, I kept thinking about that first experience. For weeks afterwards, I just stayed in the tavern where it was safe and panicked. After a while, I began to think of other ways I could help like becoming a blacksmith to help people on the front lines. I then had to work odd jobs to get enough col for the training. It had been just recently that I had started training with the axe and bought a suit of heavier armor to be ready for more serious questing.

I stood there for a moment shocked as the boars disappeared. I guess my training paid off. Checking the loot very quickly I was excited that I had already found two of the three tusks I needed. Looking around I gave my axe a few more test swings. As I stood there I had flashbacks to the last boars I had fought. Their horrible eyes, and their twisted snouts with their tusks trying to gore me as I ducked and dodged away trying to swing with my sword. With no armor, and only the most basic starter weapon I had headed out into the wilds to try and level on the basic boars right outside town. Luckily I was rescued, almost dead, by a group of other players. They led me back to the Town of Beginnings and left me at one of the inns to recover. I hadn’t left town since until deciding to try Zackariah’s quest.

I was very tense as I began looking around for the place that Lyle had told him about that the Pups spawned. I hadn’t ventured out beyond the walls to hunt things since I had nearly died about a week after being trapped in SAO. But taking a deep breath and closing my eyes I pushed on to the spawn point Lyle told me about. There I found three of the boar pups wandering around and honestly they were kind of cute. I unlimbered my axe and checked my armor ready to charge in. I had been training for just this moment. Rushing forward I let the boars sense me coming and as they grouped up I activated one of my Sword Arts called Crescent Thrust hopefully eliminating all of the boars at once. I performed the activating move and let the system take me through the rest of the motion striking in a wide arc across all three of the boars. All the boars instantly derezzed as my axe slashed through them.

Round 1:

END OF COMBAT

Loot Rolls:

As I arrived at Lyle’s workshop and knocked at the door, the old man opened the door “Good to see you this morning, my boy. Ready to go find me the materials I need?” I nodded to the old man and entered his workshop. “What is it you need? Zackariah said something about boar pups?” Lyle nodded, “Yes, well he was exactly right. Right outside the Town you can find young boars, and I need 3 of their tusks. It should be easy enough for an adventurer like you. But it’s a bit difficult for an old man like myself. After that, I might know someone else who could use your help.” Nodding, I accepted the quest and headed out towards the outside walls of the Town. As I reached the gates, I took a deep breath and stepped beyond the safety of the Town for the first time since the first few days he had been trapped.

Taking another crack at the same spot, this time I felt my knuckles crack against the rock and there was an audible snap. The pain was so overwhelming that I was becoming numb to it. My knuckles were dripping with blood where the rock had sliced open his skin. Very slowly opening and closing my fist I walked back to the Sensei. “So how big of a crack do I need to make?” I asked. “Until you have proven that you are strong enough. You may continue.” I walked slowly back over to the wall and began to look meticulously around for another point of weakness. The one spot I hit before was still the best place to strike. I just waited patiently for the pain to subside so I could strike again. Closing my eyes I concentrated to make the swelling go down. Slowly, the pain leaked away and I opened my eyes ready to hit this boulder again.

Punch Results:

I took a step back and shook my fist waiting for the pain to subside. I guess if it was going to be that easy everyone would be up here cracking this rock and gaining this skill. I began to look around the rock for weakness or structural abnormalities that would let me crack it more easily. Following a vein through the rock I found a spot that looked like it would be the best to aim for. This time I pulled back and channeled my whole body’s power into my closed fist. Sharp pains shot up my wrist, to my elbow, through my shoulder and right into my brain. I stumbled back for a second unable to even see because of the pain coursing through me. But as my vision cleared I could see it! A slight crack. I looked back at my teacher and he was still watching silently. I guess I’m not done yet.

Punch Results:

The man grinned and stepped out of the hut bowing slightly as he did so, “Many come to learn, few succeed. See that Boulder there? Simply crack it with your fists and I will consider you worthy enough to learn my Skill.” I looked at the boulder and looked back at him and saw no joking in his eyes. “Okay, just simply crack a boulder with my fists, I can do that.” I put my gear down on the ground, and took off my gauntlets as I slowly approached the boulder. How do you go about just, I mean, punching a boulder. I guess you just get to it. I leaned back and put all the power I had into this punch and just let the boulder have it. Suddenly there was a crack but it wasn’t the boulder. Pain began shooting down my knuckles. I looked back at the man who was silently watching.

Punch Results:

As the climb began to steepen I began to wonder what exactly the test would be to learn this rare skill. Keeping an eye out for wild animals, I began to think over what the possible tests could be. In the real world there were all kinds of strange practices for different forms of martial arts. It could be meditating and clearing your mind, or it could be something more physical like balancing on a pole for a length of time. I guess it didn’t matter much until I knew what the actual test was. Eventually, checking my map now and then, I made it to a small flat area on the edge of the mountains. There was a small hut, and a large boulder and not much else. Approaching the hut, I knocked politely and a man responded immediately. “Yes, can I help you?” “Yes, sensei, I am here to learn the Martial Arts skill” I responded.

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. Even though I plan to eventually fight with my axe and a shield it might be nice to have a fall back if I need to do more damage and be less of a tank. 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 adventure had finally begun and I didn’t have to live in fear anymore.

Quest Objectives:

Combat Stats:

Name: Razor Axe
Your Profession: Blacksmith
Your Rank: 1
Roll ID: 111066
Roll Result: 10
Item Type: 1H Battle Axe
Tier: 1
Quality: Uncommon 
Enhancements: Keen
Description: The blade on this battle axe is honed to a razor sharp edge and it seems almost
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/17427-f1-blacksmith-shop-the-unbreakable-anvil/?do=findComment&comment=566836

Name: 
Your Profession: 
Your Rank: 
Roll ID:
Roll Result: 
Item Type: 
Tier: 
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Enhancements: 
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Post Link: 

As I woke up for the day I yawned widely. Maybe I should do my crafting first thing instead of trying after a long day of questing? Nodding to myself I headed to the front room to start my crafting. The clang of my hammer on my anvil rang out and I was overjoyed at that sound. Slowly I began trying to form a battle axe as I had the past two days. This time I formed the blade and everything seemed to come out perfectly. I backed up and gave it a few test swings, and CRACK! It shattered in my hands. I began to try again, this time going over and over everything I had learned from my mentor. Shape the blade just like this, form the handle like so, combine the two pieces together and again I had what appeared to be a working battle axe in front of me. The edge was so sharp I cut myself on it a bit. “I’ll call you Razor Edge,” as I gave it a few test swings.

Crafting Attempts:

As Mortambo walked into “The Hanger” he took in his surroundings kind of hesitantly. Seeing Hei, and the order forms he quickly walked over to him. “Hello, sir. I saw your posting for a free item for new people. However, I was also wondering if you could make me another item as well? I’ll gladly pay for it.” He began to fill out the order forms as he continued. “I would like a shirt, and a set of hand wraps for fighting hand to hand. Hopefully I’m filling out this form correctly.” He smiled kind of half-heartedly as he concentrated on the form in front of him.  After he finished, Mortambo opened his inventory and transferred the col for his hand wraps immediately. “Anyway, thank you very much, sir! I look forward to your fine craftsmanship. I can see you put a lot of love and passion into your work by the fine pieces on display here.”

Shirt:

Hand-Wraps (Price - 1100 col ?):

My eyes popped open and I bounded out of bed this morning. Finally, I felt like I had a purpose. It was barely light outside but I was ready to face the day. Hopefully, Lyle was already up as well. I made his way through the streets of the Town of Beginnings with the sun starting to barely peek over the horizon. The shadows cast by the buildings were long and dark and I grinned as I thought about the day ahead. “A hunt! Finally! I haven’t been hunting since my first few days here. When I almost died,”I thought. Checking my gear as I walked, I nodded to himself, “I’m much more prepared than before though.” I stopped again to get some bread for breakfast so my stomach wouldn’t be rumbling while talking to Lyle and began to eat as I walked the final stretch to the blacksmith’s workshop.

Quest Objectives:

Quest Requirements:

Current Stats:

“Lyle? Zackariah sent me with this package. I apologize for the lateness of the hour I stopped to get something to eat,” Mortambo replied as the door flew open and an older man looked him up and down. “Well, get on in here, boy. I don’t begrudge you your dinner. And ol’ Zack sent you with my ointment did, he? He knows how my old bones creak. It’s a wonder he’s in such good shape!” Laughing Lyle ushered him in and took the package putting it on the counter of his shop. “I guess he told you I had another task for you too? He’s always sending you new people around to help me with the fetching and carrying.” Mortambo smiled and replied, “Yes, sir. He sure did. What is that you need again?” Lyle chuckled, “I commend your eagerness to get started, young man, but why don’t you just come back in the morning and I’ll send you to get what I need for my day’s work.”

Thread Summary:

As he finished the last few bites, he jumped up to his feet. “Let’s hurry and get this delivered and see about Lyle’s quest too. It will be nice to hunt something instead of just looking for herbs. Although the potion making part was awesome.” He began to wind his way through the streets following Zackariah’s directions. As he found his way to the blacksmith’s shop the night began to darken and the street lamps began to glow with a soft light. He began to quicken his pace hoping he could catch Lyle before he went to bed. Most NPCs weren’t very active after dark. He stopped for a moment and checked his map and cursed silently to himself for missing a turn. Backtracking he found his way down the correct street and made his way up to the blacksmith’s door. Knocking smartly on the door caused a gruff voice to reply “Aye, I’m coming, what do you want?”