Hirru

It wouldn't be long until they found their first obstacle of the labyrinth, two mobs.  At least, that's what NIGHT was signaling, and Cro more or less confirmed to him.  Hirru wouldn't have to waste a search ping to see the beings either, as they would see them in all their splendor, soon enough.  The creatures of this place were not too similar to their surface elemental variants.  Not a true elemental, but it may be that the caves have interwoven the areas.  The mobs in here maybe mixed breeds, with minor parts belonging to different locales.  Guardian like, with their earthen body, but they seem to have metal patches.  It's as if they have armor from their metal elemental halves.

Hirru would run to the front, just slightly before NIGHT so she could be within the art when it is performed.

"Let's give these creatures no time to react!  They surely have a gimmick to them that'll mess us up!"

He would think carefully on what needed to be done first.  If he burst off with the damage buff, it would be the most ineffective now.  They would need to burst some of that armor off first before going in to cause huge damage.  Both NIGHT and Cro were proficient in Area of Effect, but Hirru didn't know anything about Nari's fighting style.  It would be a good time to learn.

"Lessen the armor on them as we go!  Quick bursts!  We do not want them to hit more than once!"

Hirru called out as he slapped his hand to the top of his shield, then watched as large barrier would emit from it.  This will give them some protection, for now.

Post Action: Barrier // -15 en // -15 % True Damage for All (1/1)

It seemed that there was much more to this story than what the hunter had once thought.  Of course, that was usually how it went anyway.  Nothing was that black and white, anymore, as there were motives and reason behind even the oddest of claims.  Still, the issue came about that this one had killed before.  Even with a clear motive for it, it seemed odd that there would even be such a circumstance to happen.  Much more was beginning to be questioned, than what was being answered.  Obviously, if the hunter wanted to know more about their eavesdropper, but the way she wanted to get away from the area; it didn't seem right.  That is, the gaze of the dead seemed to be bothering her.  Though, it bothered him too, but not too harshly.  They were not people he knew, but NPCs created for this place.  

"Well, I can give you peace of mind, if your story wishes to be followed.  Though, I think our conversation partner would rather take her leave."

He would nod to Nari, before going back to the 

"I'm sure a far better venue than this would probably good, don't you think?  I never got your name, either.  Ah, sorry.  Jade Hunter, Hirru, at your service.  Although, I'm sure you have already heard that from my conversation earlier."

He would greet the shadow before gesturing towards the warp vestibule.

"Would a different floor be more your fancy?  Possibly someplace with a large safe zone?"

They would reach their destination before Hirru could reveal too much more.  What was wrong with him?  He was sure that she would be receptive of the things that had happened to him.  Why he did all the things that he had done, and what it brought out from him.  It would become much more clearer about the things that had happened previously.  Why he was always helping the NPC's that showed human like emotions?  It was something that he was still wondering, at this point.  What was it that really makes him continue this train of thought?  Was he generally a good person, or was there more to it?

It wasn't until his thoughts were pulled from his head from out to his surroundings did he really see the garden, as it was.  They stood before a large tree, set aglow by the hundreds of fireflies and golden flare of the flowers underneath.  It seemed like a scene that he had seen before, though that would be impossible.  The flora and fauna of this floor were not exactly like the other floors, so where would he have seen something like this. 

"It's rather awe inspiring."

NIGHT was asking if he would tell her, if he saw anything supernatural, or ghostly.  He would smile at the thought, before looking towards her.  Her visage was nothing more than the friendly NIGHT that he fought along side.  He was half expecting the blue haired girl once more.  That would definitely count towards an unnatural sighting, but that would be for another time, thankfully.

"That's something wild to think about.  Most of the ghost like things I've seen have been.. on the 10th floor, if I remember right."

Which was a rough lie, but how else could Hirru say 'hey, you sometimes become someone you're not.'  He really didn't want to go that route, at least that was something his mind was telling him.  He wondered if it was something he was taught on the other side, or just something he picked up out of nowhere.

While looking back around to take in the rest of the garden, something red came into view.  A feint glow, but bright beside the yellows and golds that burned bright.  This was a red that seemed to bleed into your peripherals, and take over your awareness.  Soon, your sight would want to look in it's direction, but it would be gone.  This happened twice before Hirru started to walk around the tree.

"What the.."

Something hung from the tree, a sight that looked like a head of.... red........... 

Tears seemed to fall from the hunter's eyes before he could stop his next actions.  A step forward would turn into a straight sprint through the golden flowers and fireflies.  Petals would scatter as the lightning bugs would rise and fly away from the disturbance.  Hirru would wheel around the tree to see what the hell that was, but would stop in his tracks when he saw it.  It wasn't what he thought it was, at all.  A low hanging stem would hold the red glowing thing, it was a flower.  Red in glow, on closer inspection, it seemed a darker pink.  Fushia, maybe.  The petals seemed to flow long and down, over a second pair of purple petals.  It's outlook, if seen from afar, could be construed to look like a hanging woman.

"I.. I thought.."

Looking up, the tree seemed to have much more of these flowers hanging from it.  It must be the flower of this tree.  It looked familiar, or at least it should.  The trees and flowers were wildly different from anything he had seen before.

A quick slap to the face after giving some of her own potions to the group, it seemed that there was something going on with these two.  Was Hirru in the wrong for bringing these two together?  Of course not, he wouldn't know about everyone's business.  That's Hik's job to know all of that.  Where was the master of shadows?  He needed to knock on his door some time.  Most of the hunter's information from brokers have been from his network, but not him specifically.  Though that was one thing and this is another.  Looking back at the two of them, it seemed they were in embrace.   At least one sided, as it would seem that NIGHT did not want to reciprocate.

"I guess you found your people, as we were talking about.  Though, I more asked you here to help in information.  I've heard from a friend of a friend that you got fairly far before you had to turn back.  This will help greatly for our hunt.  Especially if there are any weird things or mobs to watch out for."

He would grab a bottle of the Axintori Alcemitanti, pop the cork, and pour a slight filler.  Something he gets from Snow every day to fill out his health, just incase of combat.  She always preferred us to stay alive out there, which made sense.  He would down the mess of a potion, and watched as his health would skyrocket.  Nodding that it was all good now, he would look on to Cro.  He was wondering about his fiancee, which would be a cause for concern, though Hirru didn't know anything from Zandra's team, nor if she was on there.

"You know.. I actually haven't heard any word from the other team that went in.  DIdn't Zandra go in with a few?  Got an invite from her, but been busy, so didn't reply."

Hirru sighed before readying all of his gear and set his helm upon his head, the paladin motif was complete.  The only thing that was odd was that he wasn't wearing the signature red gauntlet, but a simple bracelet emblazoned in gold.  He stood proudly with this and felt the nature of a Vice Commander once more.

"If we're all ready, then let's head out.  NIGHT, I need you as a forward scout.  Your stealth will help us detect things faster than they see us.  Nari, any information that you can provide will be helpful, but you're also gonna be one of our damage dealers, I'm sure.  Cro, stay by me, but be ready to rip and tear.  I will be your lead buffer, healer, and secondary scout, so let me know if anything requires my attention.  We have no tank, per say, but we will be able to prevail."

He nodded to NIGHT before he would start making the first steps into the cave.

Hirru consumes Axintori Alcemitanti -> 15% (Filling +5%)= 20% Max HP (+184)

[Hirru | HP: 1104/1104 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | EVA: 2 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 44 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76 | LD: 14]

The whole of the island had been turned to it's 'night sky' setting, as the lanterns signaled the end of the day.  The lanterns were also a sign to the hunter that he had a couple more hours before he had to turn in.  This was usually the time he would take to do some night fishing, if he wasn't already venturing out into the wilderness again.  There was quite a few promises made for the hunter to live here, although Baldur was clear that he could stay freely.  Hirru wasn't one to make an action so freely, even if his unconscious efforts to save NPC's was becoming a heavy part of himself.  He would fish for the dojo and the guild in general, to keep the pantries filled, and to fulfill his usefulness.

A few of the lanterns hovered slightly in the air before him, on strings that were barely visible from their feint light.  He always loved this time of night, as the flames that filled the lanterns from the inside would flicker softly.  Their being would almost make the lanterns look like they want to float up and become one with the stars, or what should be stars.  The ceiling of the floor was just above them, so.. maybe those are just all the little lanterns.  Flickering in the night, to guide us all to the next day.

Hirru tapped one that was close by and would go back to the ledge he was leaning his elbows against.  Supposedly, this whole scene was something that was seen in Japanese festivals, or what ever Baldur had told Hirru.  The customs and culture of the outside world were odd things, but Hirru liked them.  There were so many things that were supposedly related to the outside world that Hirru liked.  Did..

^{Did the one sleeping on the other side like them too?}

The sound of footsteps behind the hunter would bring him out of his thought process.  He would look back and see the familiar robes of his friend and mentor, the samurai, Baldur.

"Good evening, Hirru.  You seemed to have much on your mind."

Hirru nodded before looking back out on the lantern filled night.

"Far too much, but I've reasoned out a fair deal of it recently.  I've begun thinking more about myself lately.  What I can do?  What will I do?"

He would lean more into the railing until he was basically laying on it.

"I've been burdening myself with keeping face and trying to be me, as I have made myself.  However, I'm stating to wonder if that is really 'me', or if I'm trying too hard to be something else."

He lifted his head to his friend.

"Sometimes, I wonder what the me that's on the other side is like.  Did he experience things like this before, and find them just as enjoying?  Did he love care about the changes that he caused?  Did he worry?"

With a quizzical look, he asked his final question.

"I honestly don't know anything about him.  What do you thing the other me was like?"

This sent a rather strange look to be brought upon his old friends face.  It was first a look of slight worry, before it turned into a stern look, which then turned into his most iconic look: solemn wisdom.

"My friend.  There are many people that seem to think upon those very lines, but they are more about their past selves that they remember faintly.  Usually, this is to try to find where they went wrong, from their old selves.  Though, this is only an excuse, to look upon their experiences leading up to the now and see them as wrong.  We are the products of our experiences; various cultures, and by small part of genetics.  Everything that happens makes us, who we are.  Both the good and the bad, and should not be shunned for it.  That is growth."

Baldur would begin to explain to the hunter about what makes the current him, the only one he has to think about.  Some of what he was talking about were things too out there for the hunter to understand, but they seemed familiar enough to figure out.

"Your being is still who it has been from when you first donned that NerveGear.  You may have lost your memories that made up the Hirru out there, but that does not mean they were gone forever.  Amnesia patients do not forget everything.  They can still walk, talk, and perform to nearly the same ability as before their incident.  The 'who' you were has not changed, but you have gained an equivalent to a 'fresh start'.  You have become unburdened from the chains that bind; the experiences, social constructs, and responsibilities that would normally weigh on your actions.  Starting over, and reinventing themselves into something new.  To live on in a true form that was created, using the template that was themselves.  For nothing can change, who you were."

He would place a hand on Hirru's shoulder, which made the hunter get up from the railing.

"You haven't changed, so take what may have been, and look at what will be.  As they are all what will make up the 'Hirru' of now."

Hirru chewed on that for a moment.  He never really thought about it like that.  That regardless of what happened before, and who the one sleeping on the other side was; the experiences that both had created and saw have formed the him of now...

..and that was okay.  For this is the real him.

"Thanks, Baldur..  That helps."

He would smile before patting the hunter's back.

"A soak in the onsen, with some lively chatting will also help.  Why don't you go join everyone?"

"Sure.."

Hirru stats (keeping stats from the previous two threads, even if my stats are higher now)

As they waited, the hunter would look at his meager consumables being consumed by Cro.  He was pretty sure that a second portion of the gungnir got taken too.  Thankfully, it easily replenishes itself after 24 hours.  There isn't much else he had, so his part in the supply chain was done.  He hoped everyone else had brought what they needed, and if they had anything to give everyone else, that would be great too.  Their wasn't much information out there about the area, except random encounters, which was going to happen anyway.  Hirru didn't want to have any exceptions or any surprises.

Although, the surprises were sure to come.  The violet haired scythe user, Nari-Lanreth, had joined them in the northern mountainous area; a place fruitful by the tireless work of the Dagan dwarves, and the aggressive nature of the Earth Elementals.  The flora that thrived were something that the hunter could come to love, if he wasn't going to be steamrolled by a charging boulder.  He was glad to see her here, instead of where that girl wanted.  

"Aye, it is good to meet in a place where the threat is more well known."

Next would be his fellow two handed sword user, and one of the few that, if time willed it, she would know more about him than himself.  Be that from the mysterious book that he carried in his inventory that knew more about him than he did; or, the strange matter of her own feelings towards the experiences that they have had.  Hirru could not tell, but there was much to see from their interactions.  Today, she seemed silent.  He didn't understand why, nor did he remember anything that would cause it.  Not that he could remember much at all.  She did seem to deliver on the items that they would probably need.

"Alright, let's get these buffs set up before we head out.  Did anyone bring any Overhealth?  If not, I have field rations."

Hirru takes

• 5 Imugi's Inspiration 164865-1, 164865-2, 164865-3, 164876-1, 164876-2,
• 1 Smore - +2 EVA (Consumed)

Stats updated

[Hirru | HP: 920/920 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | EVA: 2 | BH: 46 | HLY BLS: 36 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76 | LD: 14]

Alternate Methods Required
<<Scouting the Labyrinth>>

The time for waiting had long been over, and the hunter was patient for that entire time.  Many different scouting ventures had been sent out into the floor, that he had heard about, but none have borne fruitful measures.  This day would be different, as the hunter was going into the fray.  He had scouted a bit of the floors, but nothing too extensive within the caves that wrap throughout the floor.  They would start through the northern mountain cave entrances, then head their way through with the hopeful help of his and his teams search capabilities.  Though, the team needed to be assembled.

With her valuable knowledge of the floor that she had expressed many times during their venture, it would have been a crime not to indulge the unique curiosity of @NIGHT.  They're ability to stealth and search would also be a fairly capable interest too, as the hunter was anything but stealthy.  Still, his range finding capabilities weren't something to scoff at, NIGHT's would at least be far more mobile than his own.  Going even farther, her combat capabilities inside and out of stealth would be paramount.  He would send a message her way asking for her assistance in searching for the labyrinth once more.  They would begin in the Dagan mountains.  With that information sent, he would go on to message the second one.

He would need someone that had been through the caves at least a little bit.  He had heard of two different ventures through the caves to find the labyrinth: one headed by Zandra; another headed by a most recent addition to his friendly list, @Nari-Lanreth.  Although, the hunter knew the chaos sister more than the new girl; Hirru had already had a large order of crystals that had to be made through Zandra, so he didn't want to pause that for a moment of combat.  Besides, she would come recommended from Lessa, a friend of Baldur's, so Hirru would send a message to Nari for her knowledge.  Even if a little bit, it will be immensely better than nothing.

The last member of the party would be a no brainer, as he was standing by the angelic adornments that comprised the hunter's armor, @Crozeph.  Jacob's Ladder had made a full deployment into the twenty seventh floor to investigate the place.  Due to Hirru still keeping the majority of his searching capabilites, he was still known as one of the scouts of the guild, even if he still had not joined yet.  The issue with that was that he was no longer an attack type player anymore, or DPS, but a healer, which was another valuable role.  To safeguard the hunter, Baldur asked Crozeph to be Hirru's bodyguard for any long scouting ventures.  The hunter was glad to have someone there with him, even if he had to keep his interests towards something, or else he would run off and fight something he shouldn't.. or eat something he shouldn't..

"Let's await our friends, Cro.  In the meantime, eat up."

With that, he added in each message to bring whatever you can from a list of consumables.  Even if this was just a scouting mission, they would have to be prepared to fight field boss level creatures.  He would look at his meager consumables that he still kept on his person and sighed.  He really needed to buy more stuff.

Hirru provides and consumes

Hirru stats [Hirru | HP: 920/920 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | BH: 46 | HLY BLS: 36 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 36 | LD: 14]

There are many that call the fourth floor their home, and for good reason.  It is a beautiful place to live, as long as they didn't care much about the cold.  Hirru was not one of those people.  Having to switch between his main extra skills and his survival skill, just to not die of extreme cold or heat was a burden for him.  Still, the people that lived here and made shop within the floor were some great people, and some of his well known friends.  He was about to find himself in a shop of someone that he had only briefly befriended not long before.

In search of someone that can make some healing methods for them, the hunter had searched around the shops, but not many were open at this hour.  He was planning something big, and would need some help for this.  Finding a quant little home out on the outskirts, he would find Morrighans Songs.  Stepping into the open studio, he was amazed by the level of instruments that this one had.  Whenever the proprietor would show themselves, or their NPC store clerk, he would give a boisterous greeting before going on to make a custom order.

Hirru nodded out to Nari.  He had not much else to talk about to her.

"Until then.  Now let me hear out this one."

The spoken words seemed slightly foreign to the hunter, but there was something about them that wasn't quite right.  Who was this Princess that their assailant was on about, and why was she so on guard about it?  Was she really on the run from this person?  Did they have any other people after her?  There were many questions going on in the hunter's head that he could not express too well, at the moment.  The only thing that would come out as their guest said that was..

"..Princess?"

As the one that came out from the shadows sheathed her weapon, seemingly deeming them non-hostile to her; Hirru would do the same, lowering his shield slightly.  Around this time, the final light from the last torch went out, and the glow from behind Hirru would fade away.  All that was left was the ever growing mass of glowing ghosts that were still there, staring at them.  With the light gone, the main tree behind Hirru would shimmer and flow from the low illumination that the walkers of the floor emit.  Oddly, there seemed to be shades that have been behind Hirru the entire time, though they seem different from the others that lived on the floor.  Nine in total, they would appear for a moment before Hirru would look back.

"Oh.. the light is out.."

He would only see the dead torch as it burst into polygonal crystals into the sky.  The shades disappeared from sight as he had looked back, as if they were not there to begin with.  Turning his head back, he would address the cloaked one.

"Listen, I do not know who this Princess is, nor does it seem like we are after each other.  I can understand if you're wary, but I have no plan to harm or to chase anyone.  If you have business with me, then I will listen.  Otherwise, I do wish to leave before the residents cause an uproar."

White powder fell softly all around the crimson cloak, as the hunter found himself in an odd venture, indeed.  A social based event had been presented to those that would like to attend.  All one had to do was to head onto the fourth floor, walk into one of the frost covered fern forests, and find a clearing filled with other players.  Everything would be explained later, but the event did call itself, "Snowball Fight".  What in the hundred floors was a snowball fight?  Were they going to fight gigantic balls of snow that have come to life, by the system's guidance?  That seemed like a very odd and silly thing to think of, but that's all Hirru could think of.  What else could it be?  He couldn't understand as he gathered up his form from the cold.  He would have to change up his extra skills for survival, if this was a proper battle.  Probably have to let Leadership fall to the backburner, if healing was required.

It didn't take him very long to find the clearing, as the event marker sprung up soon after entering the frozen tree line.  Within, there were some rather familiar faces there.  Somehow, he found himself on one side of, what seemed to be, a decently sized battlefield, but it was all covered in snow.  Large amounts of snow seemed to be piled in several points.  On his side, he saw the recently befriended Nari, as she hucked something white out of her hand towards someone on the other side.  Another would fly out from above, as Hirru looked up to find the familiar emerald cloak of his frontliner friend, Jomei.

As soon as he was about to ask what was going on, a window would pop up in front of him.

Quote

 

Snowball Fight!

You have been assigned to Team A

Use your wits and tactics to lob snowballs at your opponents.
Each ball that hits an opposing player with deal a point against their teams fortitude.
The team with the highest fortitude at the end will be proclaimed winner!

Players are allowed to use only the freshly lain snow, on the ground, to create throwable balls.
The piles can be used for offensive or defensive purposes.
Use your imagination, work with your team, and have fun.

Physical combat is not allowed.
Therefore all combat / damage inducing skills and enhancements are not allowed.
Any violations will bring about the wrath of winter.

 

This was something else, but if this is what the event wanted him to do.  He guessed he would have to work with it.  Bending down to grab some snow, he would try to make it into a ball.  It seemed weird to do, but that was what was required.  Though, with the matter of no physical harm being placed upon the players, it seemed that he didn't have to worry about healing, so he swapped out Healing with Survival, just so he could survive the cold weather better.  Still, that meant that his leadership skills probably wouldn't mean anything either.  He would just have to do things the old fashion way.

"Nari!  Let's concentrate our targets!  Go for Astreya until they find cover!"

He would shout before hucking his snowball in the air, trying to go for at least a body shot.

Hirru stats??? //Team A//

"What in the world are you guys doing?  Snowballs?  Fighting?  Forts?  Hmm.. I guess."

// Team A!

It looks like that's what brought out their hidden adversary.  Dark hair, couldn't tell the exact color with the current lighting, but that didn't matter much.  Their clothing, though simplistic, seemed to help them blend in, although the hunter didn't think that was impart by any specific enhancement or design.  The stealth skill was quite well known to hide even the largest of great sword wielders, if done correctly.  This one didn't need that, it seemed.

"Well, if it isn't our third party."

Hirru was not going to let this opportunity get away from him, although he really didn't have much of a plan to do anything with them.  Though, he was interested in her being a stealth user, especially the fact that she's holding them up right now.  She certainly didn't seem like someone Hidden would know, or be Hidden themselves.  Hirru had begun to recognize her voice, this was not it.

"I don't see much issue here, unless the residents of the floor want some.  Though, with you eavesdropping on us; I'm sure that you have your reason for this."

He would say while keeping his shield between him and their assailant.

The glow of shades and ghouls that inhabited the realm were starting to come out more and more, as a lantern became dark leaving a single smoldering remnant of light, from the last remaining one.  It cast its glimmers upon Hirru's back, shining upon the silver plating that was his armor, leaving a feint outline from behind his shield.  It was the only light that he could properly use, as the glow of the shades were not something to easily go by.  They were known to cause imagery that may not be real.  Making the dead seem to be living residents of the world.  Some times, they would look upon the players on passing, but the look was cold longing.  Emotionless stares before the individual walked away, but what if the individual didn't leave?  What if, the shades just stood there.. staring.. longing..

Hirru was starting to take notice.  They have been standing here for a while, and as the shades started reappearing, they started doing their little stares.  One after another, until a large group was starting to form.  The 'programming' of these beings seemed to make them want to stop and stare.  It's almost trying to say 'you're not welcome here.  You do not belong.  Leave before it is too late.'  It made sense to do so in this floor, as it is known as the undead and spirit floor.

"We should probably head out then.  I'll talk with my people, if you want to talk to yours."

Hirru would open his menu with his non-shield hand, and search up the name Nari Lanreth.  The search brought up a Nari-Lanreth, to which the hunter figured that the name would be different than the search.  A friend request was sent out to them.

"I'll message you about any new information."

He would say as the crowd kept growing and growing.  All looking upon them.. except a few.  There were some that had seemingly found their gaze upon something a bit closer than when he last checked.  A quick ping would be sent out to confirm.  Sure enough, there was our hidden eavesdropper.  What were they waiting for?  If there was a time to strike, it would be now.

"At this point, there are too many eyes, and their gaze is too much."

Search Roll (Stealth search)
[ID: 210118] [LD: 10+7=17] Hirru sees through the stealthy one.

"I'll let you know that the heat is unbearable without taking proper precautions.  It gets to the point where you are boiling in your armor."

Hirru would continue on the information that he still had of his old hunting grounds.  There was so much to talk about that there probably wasn't enough time in the day to talk about it all.  Where to go and what to do were all things that he had to figure out on his own, mostly.  Although, he had to figure out everything anyway..

"Your health starts to drop, if you don't seek shade or shelter when the effect is upon you.  It's not something you can 'drink water' to get rid of.  You have to endure a quest."

The information for the quest was his own recollection, which was unfortunately very dated at this point.  The recent recreation of the world seemed to slightly change the layout of some floors and their quests, so the quest itself may be different from what he knew.  All he knew was that he couldn't do anything about that.  You can't go through the same quest for the first time again.  Doesn't quite work out.  A tug at his line would give him some time to figure out what to say about it.

"Hey now!  I didn't intentionally flood the place.  It.."

He remembered that to have himself be recognized by the player known as Jevi, the hunter would have to do something drastic, but he didn't really mean to leave the water on.  He was just in a hurry, as she seemed to be leaving and he didn't want to catch her leaving without a proper means.  Rubbing the back of his head with his free hand, Hirru had no weapon to be a threat with the entire time.  What was keeping their hidden stalker?  This was not Hidden's M.O., so who was it?  

"..It just kinda happened.."

There was also the tournament that was just as good as any other gathering.  Though, he could have sworn there was a slight issue part way through.  Who even won that tournament, anyway?  He couldn't quite remember that either.  All he remembered was the fishing, talking on a near-personal level with Freyd, and the banquet.  What happened during the last few days?  How long has it been really?

"But, no.. we can definitely work something out.  Just need to get the right people in, and they'll usually flock the rest in.  Birds of a feather, if that's how the saying goes."

He figured that if he could work around the big name guilds.  Maybe, just maybe.

He looked around a bit in a quizzical manner.  Where did that ping go?  Did they finally leave..

..or did they finally figure out how to bypass his search pulses.  His quizzical gaze turned into a serious one.  The lanterns that were fading from before were fading into embers now.  Light was becoming a commodity now, and it wasn't in the hunter's favor.

Search Roll (Stealth search)
[ID: 209968] [LD: 6+7=13] Hirru lost sight of the hidden one

It seemed that this one was having some troubles.  Quite a bit more than the hunter was really willing to work out, but the talks would have to be a timer.  Whomever was skulking about in the dark isn't really attacking either of them.  Was it a matter of numbers?  It is true that two versus one is not usually a good tactic to face against, although the hunter has faced greater odds while fighting for his loot and lore.  It was best not to dwell on it too much though.  If it was a matter of numbers, then the moment that the had a chance, the hidden one could attack them once one of them walks out of the town.  Was this individual here to be alone too, or were they here for a different agenda?  There were too many factors to tell.  He would have to let things either run their course, or wait until one of these two leave.  Hirru was not going to leave Nari here, if the one hidden was targeting them for some reason.

Continuing the conversation while keeping search bursting at ten second intervals, the hunter would answer the seemingly lonesome player.

"Most of the players that I know are working on the repair efforts happening on the 26th floor.  The floor boss fight and the event that happened after seemed to cause quite a bit of damage to the area.  Though, if I've been in contact with them, I have not."

It seemed that after the event, there was much to do after the rebellion took care of the old king, well more so the others took care of him.  Hirru couldn't say much about the matter, as everything got hazy during the final assault on the king.  How did they survive that? 

"Some have gone to the new 27th floor, to scout out the floor for the labyrinth.  Though.."

There was some pause in that speech as he really thought about it.  He remembered Ariel recruiting for that, but had been trying to figure out his new role on the front to really be effective.  All it seemed was that he was a getting nowhere, as he could only progress, if someone else was there to carry him.  Hirru hated to think that.  He always fought side by side with his quest and dungeon partners, and now.. he was at the side lines.  In that though, Ariel should have brought a proper team with her.  What were they doing?

"..I haven't heard anything from them for a while."

Thinking about it all, it made the hunter want to make another party.  Maybe he could ask Baldur... Oh right, all of Jacobs Ladder went to the twenty seventh floor for the recon work.  That brought on a completely different thought.  Why was he here on the tenth floor?  Sure, he was here to see if the event was open, but why was he here?  Shouldn't he be up top with the others?  Why was his memory of it all that hazy?  It's like that time during..

Hirru winced his eyes loosing focus over his search pulses for a second later.  An unwelcoming memory seemed to play out for him, but it was incredibly broken.  With the sudden laps of concentration, Hirru quickly blinked search back on, but that would probably give their guest enough time to move about.  Sure enough, it seemed to moved quite a bit from the pings and blips he was picking up.  He would keep from looking in their direction too much.  Just to keep from announcing their presence, in case they didn't want to be known; or if they were prone to attack if attention was brought to them.

"Yeah, it would probably be good to start a gathering.  Just need someone that knows how to make good food, and someone that can gather some people.  I'm... I'm neither of those.  Though, I would probably do it on a less..."

He made a small gesture around the area.

"..dreary."

Search Roll (Stealth search)
[ID: 209966] [LD: 18+7=25] Hirru sees our hidden guest

"Ah, it's a pretty dangerous place, but it starts with some of the most useful skill from throughout Aincrad."

Hirru would start out as he recounted the layout of the fifth floor, also known as, the desert floor.  Although many things changed after the twenty fifth floor incident, it still mostly kept the same motif.  Hirru would talk about the main town, Fortaleza, being a minor stronghold before, was now just a fair sized town.  The desert, which took over all of the floor, seemed to have worn away some areas, giving vision towards a large chasm that wasn't there before.  The multitude of mobs that would ambush anyone that crossed the stone slabs that barely marked the 'known' paths.  Hirru could still feel the paralysis in those stingers.  The shifting sands were known to reveal quite a bit more than just missing chasms.  There are several hundreds of old ruins that could be found underneath the sand.

Going off of that, the hunter would continue..

"Those old ruins are also the first instances of dungeons, in Aincrad.  Smaller labyrinths that pit you against ever aggressive waves of enemies as you delve deeper in them.  Those are where my treasure hunts always took me.  One can find some of the strongest gear, that you can't get from floor bosses, that is."

The entire time, Hirru kept watch over his line.  He would adjust it slightly while continuing the talk.

"Of course, you gotta find the bloody dungeons first, which requires massive amounts of luck, or a map.  Though, it won't do you any good, if you can't survive the desert's environmental damage."

The sight of the individual that was not seeming to hide their position would come into view, and it was not someone that he was expecting.  He didn't really remember the name of the one before him, but he did remember her from the party at Koga's.  She was with Astreya, while he was trying to deal with a flooding kitchen.  He couldn't really remember if she was anywhere else, though he had a sneaking suspicion she was at the tournament too.  So odd for another player to be here, though that could say the same for him.

"Aye, usually so.  Was expecting something else to be here, but not a player."

Hirru then gave it some thought.  Events usually bring people anyway, so he should have expected someone or another.  He figured that logic was sound and continued on.

"Was hoping there would be another event for the season, but I guessed wrong, or I was too late for it."

He undid the helm on his armor, letting it disappear to show his face.  His jade hair sprung outwards from the confinement, still held up by the red bandana that hide much more.  When he did so, the hidden ping would fall silent once more.  They used their skill to hide again?  A quick blink would send another detect burst out, locating their hidden guest.  Odd, what did they want from them?  The ping only gives a vague outline, but Hirru can tell a weapon when he sees one.  He would stay weary, but not call attention.  He isn't the same damage dealer, as he used to be.  Besides, there was no need to fight in a town.  They just had to worry about being lead towards the outer rim. 

The individual gave there name and he nodded in an understanding manner.

"Ah, now I get a name to the face.  We met slightly some time ago, back at that party.  Jade Hunter, Hirru, at your service." 

Search Roll (Stealth search)
[ID: 209957] [LD: 15+7=22] Hirru sees our hidden guest

The sounds of a woman's voice called out in the distance.  Although the murmur of the dead were not that uncommon, they were not that clear to begin with.  Just moans and cries, really.  No, this one was inquisitive and farther away from the center of town.  Hirru wasn't really expecting anyone to be coming here, especially one of the worst floors to venture into without night vision.  Unfortunately, Hirru never learned that modular skill.  Although, what he did have was a certain set of skills to find the unknown.

Getting up, his quick change allowed his equipment to be set in an instant.  Shining silver armor, like that of a paladin.  An angelic shield to ward off evil and to heal wounds.  The only thing off was the red gauntlet that carried over from his old armor.  In all, he looked like a tank.  In reality, he was a healer with heavy resistances.  His search skills immediately activated sending and receiving information throughout the main part of the town.  Before long, two pings would send him all the information he needed.  So far, there were two person, other than himself.  He lowered his guard, but kept his helm on.  The other one seemed to be hiding, while the other wasn't doing so much.  It would be better to let the other know where he was, even if the hider wants to stay in the shadows.

"Central Square!  Don't worry, we're in a safe zone.  Even if this place don't feel like it."

"Believe me when I say that this is only a sign that my next hunt will end with not but col."

He shook his head as the items disappeared into his inventory.  The chest, having dissolved, also took the bait with it.  The bleeding scoundrel could've left a bit of it for the fishes, but not so much of a morsel was left.  The hunter wrestled with another bit of bait from in his inventory, and cast it back out into the calm flowing water.  After making sure it wouldn't catch something in the next couple of seconds, Hirru would continue on.

"I guess you're testing the waters, or so they say.  Nothing wrong with that.  Gotta explore your surroundings before you can brave the unknown."

The hunter reeled in a bit to make sure nothing was nibbling away at the bait.

"There are currently 27 floors unlocked, as of now.  There are a few different places, lots of caverns.  A few places with large masses of water for fishing."

Hirru remembered his time on the first floor.  Although he couldn't remember all of it, there were plenty of things that happened that shaped his very being now.  From meeting Xion, going through the completed first floor dungeon with the original members of the, soon to be, Crimson Blades.  He could only give a small grin to those days.

"Whenever you feel ready, there are plenty of opportunities to get stronger the higher you go.  Not too many quests are down here, so your only option is to go up.  My personal favorite is the fifth one, but that's more for the treasure hunting that I used to frequent around."

He would then look at the rod, but nothing seemed to be biting.

How long has it been?  Time seemed to flow so oddly from the norm, at least that's what the jade haired hunter thought, as he walked through the silent streets of Yomi.  It seemed to be that time of year once more, where the streets were slowly reverting back to normal after the holiday season.  Only during the last couple weeks of the tenth month, a slightly livelier tone could be felt from the central square and the main roads leading in and out of the town.  Normally, there is no light nor any sense of life on the floor, even in Yomi.  Everything is a spirit or undead type mob.  Though, during this time, it seems even spirits want to celebrate a day.  The main street and square are lit up just slightly with little lanterns and carved pumpkins.  It's almost like someone still lived here, but there is no one here.  Even the skeletal dragon guardians seemed to have a slight change to them, but Hirru could never tell the differences.

Though, that all changes back as the 'day' ends.  Slowly, the lanterns fade out, and the pumpkins rot away and dissolve into particles.  The only place with anything left is the central tree that is shedding its leaves during this time of the year.  A few lanterns still light the square, but the glow is fading and will soon be nothing more but a memory, as is what this entire town is.  Just a forgotten dream.

He didn't feel like having his search skills on, as there is no one that would ever come to this floor, without good reason.  It's just a dead floor with nothing but darkness covering the entirety of it.  At least, with Yomi, the figments of the shades seem to give off an odd glow.  The same glow seemed to fill the town itself, so it more or less was a dimly lit place.  The only proper light was the flickering flames that were slowly dying in the last two lanterns upon stone walling that surrounded the central tree.

Hirru looked around the area, but there was no one else in the vicinity.  The two kids didn't seem to be here this year, which could only mean that there wasn't anything going on, or that he was late.  Either way, he was here in time to watch the final lights fade.

"I guess there wasn't an event this year.  Would have liked to vent more to that flower.  I wonder if it is growing well off of that verbal thrashing."

He chuckled as he sat down with his back to the wall, looking up at he falling leaves.  Sighing, he let his eyes close.

Hirru stats
 

Hirru let out a slight chuckle and nodded to the company.  The one going by the name Kana pulled out a fishing rod, intending to join the hunter.  By the look of the rod, it would seem that he had only just started his fishing venture.  It was a small time hobby, but something that was suppose to yield one of the most treasured unique items, a gleaming scale.  These scales that could be gathered from Rainbow Fish, were incredibly rare, all due to the fact that you had to catch a rainbow fish to begin with.  He remembered the quest giver telling him as such, but looking at his own inventory, he had much more from hunting mobs than anything else.

"That's good to hear.  Soon you'll be up there, fighting the good fight."

He said as he pointed towards the ceiling, but the gesture was obviously meant to talk about the higher floors.  Most people he knew were fighting to survive, but a fine few fight to join the front.  He wondered what this ones goal was.

"Just gotta train hard, but take care to not exhaust yourselves."

The secondary thing that one could get out of this profession though, as Kana excitedly pulled up a small chest from the water, was the amount of unidentified treasure one could fish up.  Hirru would smile at the business deal coming up.

"That's one of the reasons why I picked up fishing myself.  As a merchant, it's a good idea to have many items to choose from.  This way, I can have as many items as people could ask for."

He cast his line back into the water, allowing the line to slacken a bit before continuing on.  The bobber would cast ripples upon the water once more.  Up and down.

"That way those of us that are working their way up, have a way to get their equipment fast and easy.  They might not be the best equipment, but the runes are finicky."

Just then, the bobber would go down once more and stay there.  Quickly reeling in, the weight of it seemed like more than just a simple fish.  Standing up, the hunter would reel in more while stepping slowly inbetween each pull.  As Hirru could see the little waterlogged box, he pulled it out of the water to reveal the little chest.  Though, as wood would do, it disintegrated as the box was pulled out, with the contents spilling out.

"Just about as finicky as my luck, apparently."

The waters surface seemed to tremble as a disturbance comes about from around the bend.  The sound of clanking metal on metal of the heavy armor classes; the hunter would know them quite well.  It would seem that someone was walking towards him, although with how many still lived on the first floor, it could be anyone.  With a slight turn of the head so that he could still see the bobber in his peripherals, he eyed up the individual that would be coming so close to a lone individual.  Long black hair and armor that seemed to be familiar.  It was only then that the hunter would recognize the individual.

"Ah, hello there!  Kana, was it?  I apologize if the name is off.  Don't have much of a memory for all the faces."

Hirru would snicker before looking back at the bobber, which was now underwater.  He immediately flicked his rod back and began to reel a bit to see if anything snagged.  Instead, the bobber would come back up, as if the fish were scared away.  The hunter would sigh at the lack of fish so far.  Reeling the line back in fully, he would find that the bait had been taken, possibly while he was distracted.

"So far, I'm having no luck in fishing anything up.  What brings you around here?"

Fishing Stats & Roll

Diverging Streams Flow Into One

The fight to keep everyone's hope alive still rages on overhead, upon the newly founded floor twenty seven.  A tireless assault that tests even the strongest of individuals.  Everyone's lives that have been trapped inside the floating castle, Aincrad, hold these players in high regard, even if none know their names.  These men and women, children and adults, are all there to complete the every growing challenge.  These are the front liners, the hope of this world.

However, hope can falter and fade, and so has the determination of many of the once strong front liners.  At this moment, only a handful of the elite have planned to push through this new floor.  They are still holding on to what little value they see in the progress, as is.  The rest have decided to rest and train.  The last floor boss was far too much of a shock for many of those that had joined in.  Not just the boss fight itself and the moral implications that arose from it, but the escalation of events that took place after.

One such player was now sitting upon a riverbank near a prominent merchant town, on the first floor.  He had had enough of the constant grind to further better himself, to no avail.  He was no longer the fighter and hunter that he used to be.  No, his strengths lay in the arts of healing and protection.  That was not a skill for one to go hunting alone, anymore.  This required him to venture out with other players to get any training and experience.  Unfortunately, the ever declining urge to risk dungeoneering has brought a bit of his training to a crashing halt. 

There was thought into joining the rest of the front liners that were pushing forward, but they seemed to have everything handled.  Although, he had trained a bit to learn the layout of the twenty seventh floor, the Jade Hunter was nowhere near ready to have anyone else join him in a search of that caliber again.  It seemed things were starting to get a bit more serious, in these searches, at least.  If the hunter was going to be some some worth, he would have to find ways to be both a fighter and a healer. 

That training was going nowhere.

Up and down.  Up and down.  The bobber lay upon the water's surface.  A fine line would find its way leading towards the rod the hunter had cast out.  The motion of the current situation was starting to be one of the hunter's go to calming methods now.  Up and down.  Up and down.  Another day of wasting the day away.  The jade haired individual had taken his armor off and was only wearing his old black sleeveless turtleneck, slacks and boots.  He didn't need any of his armor for anything on this floor.  Maybe there was a floor boss or two that could complicate things, but everything else was far too low level for him to be worried that much.  Instead, the hunter reeled a bit to move the bobber.  Up and down.  Up and down.

Player Stats

• Shop Post: Traveling Flame
• Transaction Date: 10/13/22
• Cost of Transaction: 1280
• Crafter's Profession: Appraiser
• Crafter's Rank: R4
• Item Name: Guardian's Hold
• Item Tier: 1
• Item Type: Heavy Armor
• Item Rarity:  Perfect
• Item Enhancements: Mitigation III (+18 MIT)
• Craft/Appraisal/Obtainment IDs & Rolls: 
  • Found ID: 209890b 
  • ID  209898 | LD 19 | Mitigation
  • ID  209899 | LD 17 | Mitigation
  • ID  209900 | LD 17 | Mitigation
• Item Description: A plate mail chest piece that gives great protection against heavy blows.

• Shop Post: Traveling Flame
• Transaction Date: 10/13/22
• Cost of Transaction: 1280
• Crafter's Profession: Appraiser
• Crafter's Rank: R4
• Item Name: Butcher's Axe
• Item Tier: 1
• Item Type: Axe
• Item Rarity:  Perfect
• Item Enhancements: Damage II / Bleed I (+2 DMG / +12 BLD per 2 turns, on Crit)
• Craft/Appraisal/Obtainment IDs & Rolls: 
  • Found ID: 209890a
  • ID  209901 | LD 20 | Damage
  • ID  209902 | LD 11 | Bleed
  • ID  209903 | LD 14 | Damage
• Item Description: A hand axe with a rough serrated edge.  Not much use for chopping, but it will rip a chunk out regardless.