Baldur

"While I don't think she couldn't be convinced to play the role of healer in this boss fight, the role of whom she would play healer for is the next question. You or Calrex. And if she heals for Calrex, that would make Zandra your healer, and we would only have 2 groups for the floor 25 boss. Considering you are the most self sustaining tank, if we backed you up with consumables, then Hestia and Calrex could tank. If we could convince Cal to go full tank for this fight, we could probably pair him up with a lesser healer as well, or have Zandra follow his team. But that would also leave Hestia without a healer... it would at least give us 3 groups. I think the more likely combination would be to have Zandra player healer for Hestia and her squad, and take some of the younglings with them. Then we back up you and Cal with strong off tanks. Macradon for one, and use the switch mechanic if we need to pull someone back from the frontline while they recover."

Baldur realized he had neglected his line, and was a bit embarrassed by how much he had just gone into lecture mode on Shield.

Turning back to the fishing pond Baldur began to reel in his line, pulling up a small fish, but a bounty of those event eggs. The whole thing looked fairly ridiculous.

"If need be, I could be your off tank. I don't have any hate mechanics, but I did pick up the quick switch skill. I could get a sword with Taunt on it, or pick up <<Fighting Spirit>> for the battle if need be. I'm not built to be tanky, but I'm not a glass cannon like Beat is either. With my high evasion and not insignificant mitigation, I could probably survive a few rounds for you to be able to refresh." 

ID#139142

CD5 LD11+5=16

1 mat, +1 housing bonus, +8 eggs

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 58
T3 Mats: 23

"Yes, we'll have Calrex, and Macradon. Hestia will still probably show up to the floor boss. Zandra will be there as a healer who also does damage. But Zandra and Hestia are our only healers and honestly, that doesn't bode well for you as a tank." The gaijin samurai chuckled.

"If we could load up the other members of the party with full stacks of group heal crystals, and we all used them in sync, then we could probably double for a healer, if coordination was achieved. I love the idea of having Mac as an off tank, but not as a main one, and I don't think he relishes the idea either. We need you to come back as tank..." Baldur suddenly felt sheepish, calling on his friend to return to the frontlines like this.

"If you're up for it and bring your A game. But we also need a healer, and from what I can tell, there are no others... Ruby... Ruby is dead." Baldur shook his head sadly. He didn't know her well, but she seemed to be a dedicated healer who always came perilously close to dying in every event or boss they fought. Still, she kept pushing forward, apparently until she couldn't any longer.

"So I really don't know what to do."

Baldur let his line linger in the water with no bites yet, but he was lost in thought and would have missed one anyways.

"That's why I like the idea of a guild. I wanted the guild we had planned... but ever since that floor meeting... It seems to have crushed everyone's disposition to working together. It just feels like there's nothing left. But friendships remain... that's why I was thinking if I ever started a guild again, it would be a family one. There just aren't enough frontliners."

ID#139096 CD: 1 wah wahhhh

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 50
T3 Mats: 21

Baldur ignored his fishing pole for a moment as he watched Shield open the chest and lament the lack of a current direction. He had hit the nail on the head.

"That's exactly how I feel. I don't really know what to do going forward. Especially without you I just felt... lost. We had a good plan. We built up a good team. I was really feeling optimistic about what we could do, and showing what a coordinated, thought out team could. Just like the synergy you and Beat had, but team wide."

The gaijin let out another sigh.

"There really aren't any guilds that aren't trade guilds now. I've been thinking about starting one up, but just with a small focus. A family focus. My students and I. But I really do want to put together a frontline group. Meant to be a frontline group. Meant to not just lead, but coordinate and assist all the disparate groups. We were on the verge of having that."

Baldur whipped his line out of the water and then cast it back in like he was fly fishing.

"Even if we could get most of the band back together, we need another healer. Not just for an A team, but for the raid in general. Hestia has... more or less become a recluse, leaving Zandra the only one who is really actively involved in the front."

ID#139092 CD:3 LD: 4+5=9 No fishes, +4 eggs

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 50
T3 Mats: 21
(1) Treasure Chest

Baldur opened his mouth to respond to Shield comment after a few minutes of introspection, when he felt the heavy tug of his line again.

"Kayaba damn it, not again."

Baldur took a moment to brace himself and get solid footing and a good angle to push and pull on the reel lever, pulling another chest out of the water. He was really surprised it hadn't broken from this. And how many chests were at the bottom of this lake to begin with.

"Man, I feel like the dragon just dumped all of her treasure in the pond, for all these chests I'm dragging up."

Baldur dropped the pole for a minute, and rubbed his fatigued arms. Though he didn't have muscles, you could get tired in this game from exerting yourself. Maybe this was akin to massaging the section of his brain that would be involved in the task. Maybe it was all in his imagination.

"Is this how fishing usually goes? I feel more like a garbage collector than a fisherman at this point.

He threw an amused smirk at Shield, knowing how much the man had fished.

Baldur decided to open this one up. It looked like a much poorer version of the last one, and it wasn't even locked. Be inside, he found several more eggs and a few crafting supplies.

Well I can always use more mats.

ID#139089 CD: 12 LD: 1 - no chest - +4 mats, Eggs +4, Housing Bonus Material +1

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 46
T3 Mats: 21

Baldur wanted to be mad, but the anger just leaked out of him as Shield started laughing. It grew as a slow chuckle, rising into a full belly laugh, that ended up scaring away the fish Baldur had just about been to hook, but it was just as well, as he almost dropped the pole as he doubled over laughing. Finally, as it began to secede, Baldur wiped away a tear from his oceanic blue eyes. The steel was gone from them.

"I just... I really don't know. I mean... floor 23... we had a PvP fight in the middle of the boss raid, while people were debating saving the floor boss." Shield had been with him to hear of Hirru's revelation, and his reasoning, and they had been working with him to repair his honor and his trust, when everything fell apart.

"It really has been a [censored] show for a few floors. I mean... it hasn't been this much of a [censored] show since the Azure Brigade was trying to boycott raids because they weren't in charge of planning them."

Baldur shook his head and reeled his line back in so he could cast it again.

"I honestly though, after our conference, we had the consensus and good will to move forward stronger than ever... and yet we seemed to break so easily, over something so petty."

He shook his head, but another chuckle surged up from within him.

"I mean, Kayaba damn, we're all on the same side, aren't we?"

ID#139086 CD 1 LD 16+5=21 (No Monster due to Nature's Treasure, no eggs due to CD<3)

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 42
T3 Mats: 16

"It wasn't just you... I... I lost it in there." Baldur didn't blush at the statement, but he did feel heated about it still.

"Hestia was someone I trusted, that was the entire reason for bringing her into the small council, but instead she betrayed me... not just me, but any effort trust, good will, or cooperation that was brought to that meeting. The Labyrinth boss fight didn't help, with the hypocrisy..." Baldur was building up steam, his words coming faster, and his tone becoming more and more laden with emotion, and then he stopped.

He closed his eyes.

He took a deep breath.

And then he let it out.

"Yeah... I still have strong feelings about that. I hate hypocrisy more than anything else, and betrayal is if anything just barely not tied with it."

Baldur cast his line far out, almost too far, when a fish practically jumped out of the water and caught it. Baldur quickly reeled it in. He could feel his blood pressure rising. Which was concerning because they didn't have blood pressure here.

"I still haven't spoken to her, nor addressed the elephant in the room with anyone else. I still don't know how we're supposed to do this, what with her and Cal being the only tanks left, and Zandra and her being the only healers. It's... going to be tough."

CD 10 LD 11+5=16 Materials +3, Eggs +8, +1 Mat housing bonus

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 42
T3 Mats: 16
1 Treasure Chest

"You're not wrong. The burn out it is real, that it is." He smirked. He had almost lost his line when Shield had... not quoted, but mimicked Kenshin. He didn't know that anyone else here would have gotten the reference of such an old, classic show. But among gaijin who practiced the art in the outside world, it was impossible not to.

"It's been... hard. I have no good justification for walking away, other than I just like the rug had been pulled out from under me, or like I had the wind knocked out of my motivation. I was a ship stilled in ocean, stuck in calm waters.'

He cast his line out again, but this time something really stuck.

"It took me a long time to be able to face--- urgh.. to face them again." Baldur struggled, hauling something very heavy.

"It helped that Macradon stepped away as well, and he and I came together to push things forward."

Slowly, and worried that his fishing rod might back, Baldur pulled a treasure chest ashore. It was a feat that could only be accomplished inside of a video game.

"Well... aint that something. Do you mind giving me a hand with this? I seem to remember you being quite good with these, and I left my keys at home."

ID#139074 CD12 LD20+5=25: Treasure Chest, Eggs +8, +1 Mat housing bonus

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 34
T3 Mats: 12
1 Treasure Chest

The gaijin fisherman let out a long sigh when Shield asked how he had been. Not perturbed by the question, but most the weight of the emotions Baldur felt. There was silence for a long moment as Baldur thought about how he would respond to Shield's question. So many thoughts and feelings running through him.

"Probably about the same as Beat, I'd imagine."

He cast his line out again into the water.

"I kinda vanished for a while. I only recently started to kind of come back out and help out."

Baldur wasn't really sure how to say what he wanted to say, so he said nothing.

"I bought a house... I'm going to open a dojo to help people. I seem to be a magnet for people needing help or finding repentance." Perhaps it's because I'm so used to seeking it out myself. Baldur left the final words unspoken.

"I'm going to call it... Katsujinken... literally, the Life-Giving sword. I thought it was a fun philosophical... pun? I will teach them how to use a weapon of death, not just to save themselves, but to save everyone but getting us all out of this game."

ID#139069 CD5 LD12+5=17: Material +1, Eggs +6, +1 mat housing bonus

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 26
T3 Mats: 11

Baldur was pleased when he saw Shield cast his line again. They may not be particularly chatty, but him remaining here to continue conversation, or just being near each other, brought some warmth to Baldur's heart that he hadn't realized had been hurting. The gaijin fisherman had carried the burden of floor 24 with him, seemingly on his own, for all this time. The loss of his friends, the breakup of his team, the stalling of the frontline. These were all burdens on his shoulders. Not that they alone were responsible for it, but they had certainly played their part.

But more than that, the loss of Shield as Baldur's peer and comrade had left the player feeling more alone than he had for a long time, even as he was generally a solo player. The guild they had been building towards was one Baldur was going to be proud of. But now, he had retreated. Back to solitude, back to isolation, and back to introspection. It was only when he saw that the frontlines weren't moving forward at all, that he had begun to put himself back out there, and fight for some type of normalcy and redemption for his part in things.

But he still carried a twisting knot of anger in his belly for Hestia, and that made fighting along side her difficult.

"How's the wife?" Baldur tossed him a bit of a playful smirk, but Shield was looking forward and might not have seen it. Shield was married to Beat, and though it was a marriage of stat bonuses, Baldur enjoyed poking at his friend over it.

ID#139064 CD10 LD16+5=21: 3 mats, 8 eggs, +1 Mat housing bonus

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 20
T3 Mats: 9

"Ain't it?" Baldur said as he reeled in his fish, but then after a moment, it struck him. He glanced to his side, almost missing the fish as he pulled it from the water. The man who stood before him had that kind of unkempt look that somehow managed to look kempt. It had been a long time since he had seen his old comrade. 

A mix of feelings washed over Baldur. Chief among them was relief. He had certainly missed the man, one of the few players Baldur felt like he could truly speak with on an even tone. They were of an age, or close enough, and Baldur considered Shield his equal in matters of strategy, planning, and acumen. Shield has a disposition that matched Baldur's, which allowed them to debate ideas back and forth, thinking aloud and brainstorming, without the usual frustration that Baldur could sometimes feel with others.

"Shield-kun." Baldur said, with a bit of a smirk as he reeled in another fish, and a much better haul than the rest.

"I..." He was busy handling the fish, and Shield seemed to be intent on his own line, so rather than hug the thorny tank, Baldur turned back to his line.

"It is good to see you, my friend. Your presence has been sorely missed."

Not since the dreadful fight with Hestia that not only broke the front line, but broke their alliance, and Baldur's spirit. Instead of going into the Floor 24 fight with high spirits and fully prepared, Baldur and Shield's team disbanded and left for isolation to think things over. And the raid went on unprepared and disorganized in one of the worst displays without someone dying that had been faced by the front line.

@Shield

ID#139060 CD7 LD14+5=19: 2 Mats, 8 Eggs, +1 Mat housing bonus

Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 12
T3 Mats: 5

Baldur put on his straw hat. He hadn't worn one since he was a kid, and he picked up his brand new fishing pole. He hadn't been fishing since he was a kid either. Probably since his feet hadn't touched the floor boards of his dad's truck. But it didn't matter here. He had the <<Fishing>> skill, which meant he was just as good as everyone else... at least, mechanically speaking. He didn't know if there was some special way to choose locations, but that's what the quest had picked up was for. <<Nature's Treasure>> was supposed to make it easier, and cut out some of the annoyance, like fishing up monsters.

He tied up the sleeves of his kimono, and in an almost unique exception, wasn't wearing his trademarked blue and white haori.

Floor 21 was also not a floor he frequented. He didn't care for the grim dark edge lord, or underground floors. But this is where the magic happens.

The gaijin fisherman made his way out of the settlement and tried to follow some underground rivers had had seen on his map. Eventually he came to a cavern that seemed remote and unoccupied. A waterfall fell into a pond, and it seemed big enough and deep enough that he could fish there all day and not deplete the pond. Better than that, while he was scouting it, a fish jumped.

"Well, this looks about like the perfect spot."

He set down his tackle box and interacted with it, loading the <<Bait>> onto the pole and casting out into the pond.

"Winner winner chicken dinner."

ID#139041 CD: 6 LD: 2+5=7 Materials +1, Eggs +4, +1 Mat from housing bonus
Baldur's Haul:
Eggs: 4
Mats: 2

@Shield

Quest:

Baldur:

Event:

Fishing:

Baldur gestured for Jon to follow him with a sideways nod of his head, and began to lead his newest student back down towards civilization... or at least what passed for it on this floor. The nearest settlement was The Last Tower. A lonely tower atop a hill on the opposite side of the floor from the main settlement, and only a handful of buildings surrounding the hamlet. This floor, however, was one that Baldur frequented. He was determined to figure out what happened on this floor.

And so it just so happened that Baldur knew every restaurant in both settlements.

"There's a good pub here... it's...very traditional. But in the, 'My D&D party is going to start its adventure here, and everyone wants to sit in the corner' kind of traditional." Baldur said with more than a little bit of mirth his tone and a smirk on his face.

"But the food is good. I recommend the Shepherd's Pie, or Lamb Stew."

As they wove up the hill along the long worn path, as if generation upon generation had worn it down with foot traffic, they came upon the very classical European style country hamlet. The buildings were low, with white wattle and daub sides, and thatched roofs. It was only when they were upon the building which seemed indistinguishable from any other save for the sign above it, that the smells hit their face. Baldur took in a long, pleasing wiff of the food that awaited them inside.

The inside itself was all wood, with a dirt floor that had been worn smooth but thousands of feet, and many years, and rushed thrown on top to help with the dust and the spilled food and beer. The wood tables, polished to shine, reflected teh amber glow of the fire and the sconces on the walls. One perk of this not being the real world, is that the interior didn't get as smoky as it should have. Baldur lead Morg over to one of the few booths, and took at seat on one side.

"So, what do you think? Have you eaten here before?" Baldur summoned an NPC waitress by targetting her, and then making the gesture which, much like a sword art, triggered a specific action from the system.

"I'll have the Shepherd's Pie, and a mulled cider."

He let his student order, and then leaded down on the table.

"I've thrown a lot at you today but.. how do you feel? Are you interested in learning more?"

Baldur's eyebrows seemed to almost climb off of his forehead when Oscar pointed out Tesseleth's Fury. That wasn't just Zandra's axe, it had almost seemed a part of Zandra's personality ever since they had reached the third teir and fought that dragon. Baldur had not been there for that one, but he had heard about how much of a slog that was. It, like the most recent boss fight, had stretched the frontlines thin.

"She... gave that to you?" Baldur, almost subconsciously, pulled down his friend list to check and see that Zandra was still on it, and alive.

"That... I... wow..."

The Samurai was speechless for a moment as he tried to process that change of pace. Who was Oscar to Zandra that she would give him that let alone the fact that she would give it up.

Did she find something even better?

It took him a moment to reboot his brain, and get his train of thought back on track, and he accomplished this by closing his eyes for a heartbeat and shaking his head slightly, as if waking from a dream.

"Well then.. um... yes. Food. Hot dogs. Cord definitely needs some mit, hell, it might not be bad for all of us. We definitely need at last a couple points of evasion each. Antioxident to resist the paralyze. And accuracy. Accuracy because with the fight being so long, energy reserves will run low. And if you don't have good accuracy, then the fight will stretch on and we'll start having people run out of energy and start dropping out of the fight."

"Why don't we gather up our supplies and we can head up there while we continue to plan."

Baldur slid off of the stool and glanced towards the door way. Not wanting to rush the couple, but waiting for them to do whatever they needed before packing up supplies and heading up to the 21st floor, for one of the most challenging quests in the game.

Baldur was a little surprised when he heard that Oscar and Cordelia were dating, through more so because with all the questing they had done together, she hadn't mentioned a boyfriend or Oscar in that way. Maybe that was how I found out about this place the first time? Well, it was not as if they had discussed Baldur's complicated relationship status either, so... tit for tat. It made sense. They had merely been fighting together, discussing builds and strategy, not the distractions of every day life. He would have to ensure he was better at keeping up and being interested in, those he chose to be close to.

"I didn't know you had created your own shop, either?" It had been a little bit since they last completed their quest together, but the shock that he didn't know Cordelia had a shop was more of a blow than not knowing she had a boyfriend. Perhaps he was not as observant or as attentive as Baldur thought himself to be.

Then, as these surprises tend to come in threes, Oscar suggested the Forgotten Time King.

"You mean the <<Betrayal of the King>> Quest?" His dark eyebrows raised in surprised that he would suggest something like this out of the blue. It was not something Baldur would have considered normally. The quest had not been especially difficult when he had Hikoru and Hestia had attempted it, but now he would be going in with someone who was completely unknown to him.

Baldur slid over into one of the chrome stools, and considered the thought.

"Well, there are a few things we need to know and consider. First, the <<Forgotten Time King>> has a strange hate mechanic. Everyone will need to load up on mitigation and evasion enhancements. I'd strongly suggest Cordelia acquire a safeguard as well, because he can hit decently hard, and has a paralytic effect. Secondly, I am not a tank, and while I can take the hits, I don't have means of holding threat other than DPS and the lucky crit. The third and most challenging is his raw amount of HP. It can drain most people's energy reserves before he ends up dying, due to his above average mitigation. "

Baldur tapped the counter as he continued to think aloud.

"What is your build Oscar? And if I may be so bold, if you're asking to take on that quest, you must be at least tier 3, correct?" The steel had returned to Baldur's gaze, as he ran through in his minds eye what he felt was an acceptable factor of safety for not just himself, but for Oscar and Cordelia as well. Worst case scenario, I can give Cordelia one of my safeguards...

Baldur swiped open his menu, and checked his inventory.

Damn. Only 3 left. Still, I wouldn't want anything to happen to her. It's worth it.

Baldur raised his eyebrows when he saw the completed list of food buffs from the man. It was impressive. He and Shield had only dreamed of the day when something like this would be possible, and is seemed like that man was Oscar. Returning his steel blue eyes to the chef, Baldur gave him a smile that says he was delighted and impressed in equal measure.

"Then please, I insist. Take these and consider them a... quest reward."

At that moment, the door to the back opened up again, and Baldur saw a familiar young face.

"Cordelia-chan. I think you still haven't told me about it." His eyes spoke of amusement, and that perhaps this was a common event.

"I heard about your shop when I asked around for cooks. I'm afraid I can't remember who it was that told me, but I've been long overdue in coming down here. I am one of those whom you might call a prepper... or perhaps a boy scout. I always come prepared. I wish it were more common, but at this point it might as well be a Unique Skill." Baldur gave a slight smirk that said bemusement, but hinted that it was a point of annoyance.

"So, does Cordelia work for you? I imagine it must take a lot of work to fulfill an order this large for the frontline... ah, and speaking of which, I would like to buy some of your accuracy food. And perhaps some Tier 3 overhealth and mitigation, if you have any in stock."

Well $#!7.

The scene that played out before the gaijin samurai would have been unlike anything he had ever seen, had he not attended the floor 23 boss fight. This, however, was completely unparalleled for a labyrinth guardian fight. Still, exposition through NPCs was one thing.

The chunk of HP it knocked out of Hestia was quite another. She wasn't as burly as humanly possible for a tank, but she could absorb damage like the best of them, and usually anything shy of a floor boss would only chip away at her HP bar. He didn't recall ever seeing Hestia take such a heavy blow before.

The lights. It's a shadow. Makes sense.

Before anything else could happen, Baldur rushed off towards one of the strange pillars.

"Zee, Mac, Hestia. Pull the Shadow spawn away from the lights while we try to turn these bloody things on."

Baldur scrambled over the darkened surface of the large mechanical device. He wasn't able to make out any details, but he did finally throw something that felt like a lever. He threw it, and he heard something happening, but he couldn't tell what.

"Jon, Ariel, help me with this light."

Baldur HP 1540/1540  | EN 108/130 | MIT 94 | EVA 5 | ACC 6WF/5MM5 | DMG 24WF/27MM | BH 62 | ANTIDOTE 0/2 | Conc 0/3 | Parry 0/2 | QChange 0/3 | TOX (9-10) 23
@Hestia HP: 1634/1970 [-336] EN: 100/176 DMG:17   MIT:214  THRN: 99 ACC:1 Eva: -1  BH: 98 Rec:+3 Stonewall: 25% DoT redux 2-1=1 Snowfrost: 1/2 fire dmg   Antidote: 3
@Ariel - The Crowned Lion HP: 1630/1630  | EN 84/140 | 24 DMG | 103 MIT | AA +4(6) BD | +1 EVA | 16 BH | 24 HB | 50 THRNS | +4 Fallen (8-10) & 24 DoT3 (8-10)  | 2 Antidote | Conc 0/3 | Parry 0/2
@Morgenstern HP 1680/1680 | EN 81/138 | 22 DMG | 171 MIT | 4 ACC | -1 EVA | 84 BH | 91 THRNS | Para. Venom (8-10) | 25% DoT Reduce | 3 Antidote | 24(3) Poison (9-10)
@Macradon HP 1689/1885  | EN 184/187 | 23 DMG | 127 MIT | 4 ACC | 1 EVA |  94 BH | 50 Immolation THRNS | 36 Frost THRNS (21 on crit) | 6 Freeze 0/2 | Antidote 1 | Justified Riposte | +12 Holy | Phase | Disguise | +1 Hate | -1 Energy Cost 0/2 | -3 Energy Cost | 6 Recovery
@Zandra HP 2,020/2,020 [-425] | EN 145/187 | 22 DMG | 144 MIT | 7 ACC | 2 EVA | 101 BH | 70 THRNS | Toxic venom (9-10) 24(3) | 25% 1st DoT Reduce | 2 Antidote | 12 Fallen | 36(2) BRN(8-10) | Probiotics -27 | Antioxidants | Well rested 3/3

Baldur ID#138642 LD: 15
Light #1 Total: 15
Light #2 Total: 0
Light #3 Total: 0
Light #4 Total: 0

And then, with the final flourish of his sword, it was over. The final AoE cut them down where they stood, and left Baldur alone at their campfire.

He warmed his hands at the fire for a long moment, enjoying the peace and quiet that settled over the small clearing down. The sky was turning a deep purple and headed to night.

"I guess I'm going to see what this place looks like after dark." He smiled to himself and let the fire burn. Soon this campfire would probably despawn and go back to the clearing it was, but it might not if he stayed here, so Baldur layed back on the dirt, with his head propped up on one of the downed trees that served as a bench and just relaxed. He would let the time go, watch the sky changed, and then see what he thought of the view from what may end up being his own island home.

<<Baldur>> HP: 1296/1350 EN: 83/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC -13 EN, +1 EN, +54 BH
<<Brigand Squatter 1>> HP: 100/700 DMG: 200 ID#138555 BD3 MD (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt 
<<Brigand Squatter 2>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138556 BD5 MD (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 3>> HP: 116/700 DMG: 200 ID#138557 BD8 MD (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 4>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138558 BD4 MD (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt 
*note: Baldur cannot miss. On a BD1+6 absolute accuracy =7 so even with -1 from charge = 6 (hit)

Std Col = HPx3(+4x prosperity) =7x 

ID#138558 LD 3+3=6 CD 9  : 4,900 Col + 1,400 Col & 1 Rare Trinket +2 Mats, +2 Mats
ID#138559 LD20+3=23 CD4: 4,900 Col + 1 Perfect Trinket, 1 Perfect Weapon + 1,400 Col, +1,400 Col
ID#138560 LD2+3=5 CD11  : 4,900 Col + Nothing + 1,400 Col, +2 Mats
ID#138561 LD2+3=5 CD11  : 4,900 Col + Nothing + 1,400 Col, +2 Mats

Loot Thus Far:
80,180 Col
24 Tier 3 Mats
2 Perfect Weapon ID: 138540b, 138559b
2 Perfect Armor/Shield ID: 138518a, 138540a, 
2 Rare Armor/Shield ID: 138538, 138539b
2 Perfect Consumables ID: 138518b, 138518c
1 Rare Consumable ID: 138539a
1 Uncommon Consumable ID: 138541
2 Prefect Trinket: 138520, 138559a
2 Rare Trinket ID: 138519, 138558

"Oye!" One more the bandits said as he stood up from where Baldur had left him, but it wasn't the one Baldur needed to be watching, and a spear suddenly pierced through Baldur's form, erupting from his stomach as he was pierced from behind. Thankfully, no pain flooded Baldur's mind, only thing tingling discomfort that wracked him, and the shock that blossomed from such an action. It was rare that anything this visceral hit him. The wolves and baboons were one thing, but to see a weapon pierce  you was more mentally traumatic. It rarely happened to Baldur unless it was a boss monster.

With He tried to move, but when he couldn't free himself from the spear, he instead moved the sword to activate his sword art. The system assisted him in ways he could never do on his own, and moved him with a speed and power that whipped the spear used around until it pulled back and the shaft of wood and metal was ripped from Baldur's form, but now they were almost all dead.

<<Baldur>> HP: 1242/1350 EN: 95/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC -13 EN, +1 EN
<<Brigand Squatter 1>> HP: 100/700 DMG: 200 ID#138550 BD 2 MD 6-3 (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt 
<<Brigand Squatter 2>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138551 BD 5 MD 7-3 (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 3>> HP: 116/700 DMG: 200 ID#138552 BD 7 MD 4-3 (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 4>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138553 BD 5 MD 10 CRIT Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt | 202 DMG - 94 MIT = 108 DMG Dealt to Baldur
*note: Baldur cannot miss. On a BD1+6 absolute accuracy =7 so even with -1 from charge = 6 (hit)

"Oye!" One of the Brigands shouted as it broke free from the paralytic lighting that bound it in place previously. He draw a sword but was not fast enough. Baldur cracked him once more with the <<Warden's Fury>> and sent another surge of lighting into the brigand, sending him crashing back to the ground.

"Anyone else?" Baldur taunted to have a little fun.

"Oye!" Another brigand tried to emulate the first now that it was on its feet, and Baldur hit that one, also sending it to the ground paralyzed.

I really am starting to love this sword.

The other two charged Baldur as one, but the gaijin samurai charged them as well, ducking under their attack and taking the legs out from both of them with one large, curved attack and flipping them onto the ground. They weren't paralyzed, but they weren't going to be much danger to him for much longer.

<<Baldur>> HP: 1350/1350 EN: 107/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC -13 EN, +1 EN
<<Brigand Squatter 1>> HP: 276/700 DMG: 200 ID# BD 10 CRIT MD PARALYZED  Amatsu = 22+2x8= 192 DMG Dealt 
<<Brigand Squatter 2>> HP: 308/700 DMG: 200 ID# BD 1 MD 4 (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 3>> HP: 292/700 DMG: 200 ID# BD 10 CRIT MD PARALYZED  Amatsu = 22+2x8= 192 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 4>> HP: 308/700 DMG: 200 ID# BD 5 MD 5 (miss) Amatsu = 22x8= 176 DMG Dealt
*note: Baldur cannot miss. On a BD1+6 absolute accuracy =7 so even with -1 from charge = 6 (hit)

As Baldur snuck through the foliage as only someone without stealth could do, he came upon a team of squatters. They were NPCs, given away by the crystals floating above their heads, and they were sitting around a fire eating. There was no question of morality to Baldur. They were NPCs, this was an island he wanted. Their purpose was either to kill him, or give him exp and allow them to clear the tower and escape.

He crouched down, charging up his sword art, power whirling at his feet, before he shot forward through the darkness like some kind of magical pinball, bouncing from one target to the next as his sword roared with thunder twice, paralyzing two of the numbers as they reached for their weapons. The two he didn't managed to lock in place swung at him with whatever they had on hand, throwing rocks and coals from the fire and jabbing at him with a pointy stick one of them had been playing with.

Baldur just swatted them all way.

<<Baldur>> HP: 1350/1350 EN: 119/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC -13 EN
<<Brigand Squatter 1>> HP: 468/700 DMG: 200 ID# BD 10 CRIT MD PARALYZED Amatsu + Charge = 22+2+5=29x8= 232 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 2>> HP: 484/700 DMG: 200 ID# BD 5 MD 7-3=4 (miss) Amatsu + Charge = 22+5=27x8= 216 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 3>> HP: 484/700 DMG: 200 ID# BD 5 MD 6-3=3 (miss) Amatsu + Charge = 22+5=27x8= 216 DMG Dealt
<<Brigand Squatter 4>> HP: 484/700 DMG: 200 ID# BD 8 MD PARALYZED Amatsu + Charge = 22+5=27x8= 216 DMG Dealt

Baldur sat there, watching the sun slowly set and then begin to drift down to the 22nd floor. And then he heard some movement further ahead on the next island. The large island where he envisioned the main house going. This wasn't the sound of wolves or baboons though, this was the sound of men.

Orange Players?

Baldur reprimanded himself for jumping to the conslutsion that it was orange players because they were lurking at night. It was always good to be cautious but even a roving band of orange players weren't going to come after him. Not here. Not the Baldur. He wasn't a famous frontliner, unless you were in the frontline circle, but most people knew about him because of his distinct appearance. They would know he was a frontliner. Orange players would tend to avoid those. Even though Baldur wouldn't kill them, they didn't know that.

So Baldur snuck over to the island to see what he could see.

2/2 out of combat turns

<<Baldur>> HP: 1350/1350 EN: 132/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC

The island was beautiful, though the light was growing brighter. That meant that the sun was about to descend below the sky horizon line of the upper floor. It would shine straight in from the side here. He wanted to see that, the whole island painted with the red light of the setting sun.

I bet it would look beautiful.

He smiled to himself and found a nice rock to sit on, where the lagoon water lapped near by.

That smell, was that salt? No, it was too faint. The salt smell was from the water below.

The gaijin samurai reache down into the water with a finger and then tasted it. No salt. Was this a fresh water lagoon? That idea struck Baldur as something he hadn't considered before. That meant that he could turn this whole thing into quite the fishing pond. Maybe stock it with some koi fish.

I would like that. It would remind me of home.

1/2 out of combat turns

<<Baldur>> HP: 1342/1350 EN: 42/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC +1 EN, +45 OOC Healing

With all of the babs laid out from their previous charge, Baldur took a step back and activated his sword again, this time it carried him through their remaining forms, shattering them into pixels of luminous color, catching the afternoon sunlight and sprinkling it onto the ground around him, though they winked out of existence before they could alight somewhere.

Baldur took the moment to sheath his sword, ritually, with a noto. He took a deep breath, letting go of the adrenaline of combat, and then refocused his eyes on his mission here. The island.

"Alright, where were we again?" He walked along the water, seeing the outline of each of the smaller islands that ended up here in this lagoon of a floating island. He wondered if maybe this is what the early venetians thought when they had been out scouting for a new, safe home. Away from the raiding celts. What would that have looked like? If only they could have known what that city would turn into.

<<Baldur>> HP: 1297/1350 EN: 41/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC -13 EN, +1 EN, +54 BH
<<Corrupted Baboon 1>> HP: 124/700 DMG: 200 ID#138534BD 1 MD Dead Amatsu  = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 2>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138535BD 6 MD Dead Amatsu  = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 3>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138536BD 9 CRIT MD Dead Amatsu = 23=27x8= 184 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 4>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138537BD 3 MD Dead Amatsu  = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt

LOOT IDs
138538 LD 12+3=15  CD 11 | 4,900 Col + 1 Rare Armor/Shield & 1,400 Col, +1,400 Col (even), +2 Mats (odd)
138539 LD 14+3=17    CD 7 | 4,900 Col + 1 Rare Consumable & 1 Rare Armor/Shield, +1,400 Col (Even), +2 Mats (odd)
138540 LD 19+3=22    CD 1 | 4,900 Col + 1 Perfect Armor/Shield & 1 Perfect Weapon, +2 Mat (odd), +2 Mat (odd)
138541 LD 5+3=8        CD 4  | 4,900 Col + 1 Uncommon Consumable, +1,400 Col (even), +2 Mat (odd)

Std Col = HPx3(+4x prosperity) =7x 

Loot Thus Far:
53,580 Col
16 Tier 3 Mats
1 Perfect Weapon ID: 138540b
1 Perfect Armor/Shield ID: 138518a, 138540a, 
2 Rare Armor/Shield ID: 138538, 138539b
2 Perfect Consumables ID: 138518b, 138518c
1 Rare Consumable ID: 138539a
1 Uncommon Consumable ID: 138541
1 Prefect Trinket: 138520
1 Rare Trinket ID: 138519

The <<Corrupted Baboons>> did not seem to want to take this sitting down anymore. They were on their feet and charging at Baldur, but they were not coming in any sort of formation like the wolves did. They were random and chaotic which both worked for and against them.

The first baboon came at him in a leap, but Baldur cut down from a Jodan stance and struck it with such force that it procced his lighting and threw it to the side, paralyzed.

The second came at him swiping at his leg, but Baldur took a step back and brought the sword up, cleaving through its form but not killing it.

Third came at him from the side and Baldur shoulder checked it before it was in position, and then cut it as it fell to the ground.

The last one finally got him, dropping onto him from above and cracking a coconut over his head, but Baldur grabbed it by the scruff with his left hand and threw it to the ground, piercing it with his katana.

<<Baldur>> HP: 1243/1350 EN: 41/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC -13 EN, +1 EN, -107 DMG
<<Corrupted Baboon 1>> HP: 124/700 DMG: 200 ID#138530 BD 9 CRIT MD 2 (miss) Amatsu = 23=27x8= 184 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 2>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138531 BD 7 MD 1 (miss) Amatsu  = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 3>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138532 BD 6 MD 6 (miss) Amatsu  = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 4>> HP: 132/700 DMG: 200 ID#138533 BD 7 MD 10 CRIT Amatsu  = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt | Babs 201 DMG - 94 MIT = 107 DMG to Baldur

The baboons seemed to be startled by Baldur's immediate rush on them, the force of his charge blowing each of them down onto their colorful ass. Without waiting for them to move, Baldur struck at each of them once more. They tried to jump at him, but he was already moving and they collided into one another.

If only I had a barrel right now.

His two attacks had already put the baboons below half of their health, but that was due to the power of his charge.

It would be another few attacks yet before he could clear them off the island.

I wonder what their respawn timer is? The gaijin samurai mused as his steel blue eyes surveyed the messy knot of monkey cousins. They did untangle themselves fairly quickly, though one screeched in annoyance and slapped another one. It was interesting that they acted in a way he would have expected them to. Did they take programming from animals for some of the monsters?

<<Baldur>> HP: 1350/1350 EN: 53/132 MIT: 94 ACC: 6 DMG: 22 EVA: 3 BH: 54 LD: +3 PSP: x3 | Paralyze BD8-10 | Abslt ACC -13 EN, +1 EN, +54 BH
<<Corrupted Baboon 1>> HP: 308/700 DMG: 200 ID#138526 BD 7 MD 1 (miss) Amatsu = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 2>> HP: 308/700 DMG: 200 ID#138527 BD 6 MD 1 (miss) Amatsu = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 3>> HP: 308/700 DMG: 200 ID#138528 BD 2 MD 4 (miss) Amatsu = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt
<<Corrupted Baboon 4>> HP: 308/700 DMG: 200 ID#138529 BD 4 MD 1 (miss) Amatsu = 22=27x8= 176 DMG Dealt