Hirru

Hirru was lying in the fields where the boars roamed.  He was at such a level, that they didn't aggro him even if they were right next to him.  Though, if one accidentally touched him, he would just have to stick them with the pointy end of his Anneal Blade, and they would be dead in an instant.  That is, if he could hit them.  Even now, sometimes boars will dodge his attacks.  That wasn't a real problem though.  They didn't do much damage, and he could heal that instant when his battle healing kicked in.

Life was sort of easy, but that didn't mean he didn't have his own hardships.

Without a profession to get Col, he would have to hunt to get his earnings, and that meant going out to bigger and badder monsters to gain enough to live.  Boars didn't give anything anymore, and he needed the coin.  Though, that really didn't matter as long as he was having fun with it, which is weird to say.

How can you have fun, when you can die at any moment?

Name: Kun Fur Hat

ID: 27226

Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/8554-sp-fl1-what-lies-within/?do=findComment&comment=408817

Item Type: Leather Armor

Quality: Uncommon

Enhancements: Evasion +1

Description: A hat made out of the hide, fur, and tail of a Rakkun.  An uncanny instinct to scurry away from danger can be felt from the fold of its fur.

~ "You would think that a Rakkun would be smarter than to just run straight into a blade?  Oh well, I got a new hat!" ~

I watched as the Rakkun tried to come towards me again, and yet again, my blade found its mark.  The poor creature squeaked before bursting into a bunch of light shards.  I looked around for anything else before letting my guard down.  The fox was still out there, and could be the one that was messing with me while the Rakkun was distracting me.  I needed to keep my concentration up unless I get attacked again.

At that moment, I got a notification for the Rakkun that I killed.  It appears that I got something out of it.  Looking at the item, I had to chuckle a bit.

Name: Kun Fur Hat

ID: 27226

Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/8554-sp-fl1-what-lies-within/?do=findComment&comment=408817

Item Type: Leather Armor

Quality: Uncommon

Enhancements: Evasion +1

Description: A hat made out of the hide, fur, and tail of a Rakkun.  An uncanny instinct to scurry away from danger can be felt from the fold of its fur.

~ "You would think that a Rakkun would be smarter than to just run straight into a blade?  Oh well, I got a new hat!" ~

I equipped it immediately, which appeared on my head.  It fit snugly and comfortably as though it was truly made for me.  Moving my head from side to side, I could feel something on the back of my neck.  Feeling with my hand, I found something furry hanging from the cap.  Pulling it into view, I could see the distinct features of the Rakkun's tail, in fact, it WAS the Rakkun's tail.

"I better not have any Rakkun's thinking that I'm a friend anymore."

[ID = 27226][BD = 8][MD 5 -1= 4]
[LD = 19] Uncommon Item Get! + Mat

[Hirru = 25/25]
[Rakkun = 0/13]
[Mats = 1]

Hirru had to shrug at the question.

"I'm not really sure about a 'job' as there isn't really any jobs per-say."

He had to joke about that as SAO didn't have a job class system, it was all skills and levels.  Levels could make you powerful, but if you didn't have the skills to back it up, you were just a punching bag for the enemies.

"I don't exactly have a 'profession' if that's also what you're asking.  Nothing really interested me.  I see way too many of each type, but not many are pure combat types.  I'd prefer to stay a swordsman and have that as my focus in life."

Hirru began to wonder if he should look into a living, but killing mobs is a fairly good way to earn Col, and he liked it.  It was at that time that Hirru realized something.  He leaned in while putting his elbows on the table.

"You know, you've been asking me all these questions, but I know nothing about yourself, except that your name is Vasth!  What about you?  Ambitions?  Profession?  Anything you wanna tell me about your life before?"

Hirru went into the questions a little hard.  In all reality, he was kind of jealous of those that could remember the past, but it was true.  He didn't want the bad memories, just the good ones.  Hirru leaned back in his chair.

"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine."

It was then that I remembered what those reports said.  These creatures would lure someone towards a trap, or stall them long enough for a trap to ensnare them.  It would make sense as these monsters had a more likable appearance and could easily trap someone in a sense of security, if they didn't know any better.

Figuring that this is the case, I readied my blade against the Rakkun.  It came towards me cautiously again, but I wasn't having any of that.  My blade flashed forward hitting the Rakkun, making it roll backwards.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not dying because of an adorable trap."

((That came out wrong))

[ID = 27217][BD = 6][MD  3-1= 2]

[Hirru = 25/25]
[Rakkun = 1/13]

As I talked to the little guy, something felt off.  Not the rakkun, but something else within the forest.  It was then that the instincts of a wolf hit me which made me move out of the way of a spiked log that came flying by on vines.  The Rakkun scurried away from me as I made the sudden movements.

"Either you're trying to kill me with adorableness, or something else is trying to kill me with thorns.  I don't know which one, but I won't allow either."

[ID = 27215][BD = 5][MD  6-1= 5]

[Hirru = 25/25]
[Rakkun = 4/13]

"Do you want to attack me, or just cause me deep confusion?"

I asked it, but since it was a monster, it wouldn't really respond.  In the meantime, it came towards me more cautiously this time.  I didn't know what to do about it, and decided to let it get near.  It didn't really do anything as it came towards me.  It stopped before my leg and started rubbing itself on my leg.  I don't know if it was the amount of adorableness in this creature, or the battle healing skill, but my HP recovered to full.

"Well, aren't you the weirdest one.  Usually, monsters try to attack me when I hit them."

[ID = 27212][BD = 3][MD  4-1= 3]
[CD = 10] +1 HP

[Hirru = 25/25]
[Rakkun = 4/13]

I kept my eye on the creature that looked like a raccoon.  It's name popped up showing a rather hilarious name, Rakkun.  It's like someone was too lazy to name it the actual thing, or someone wanted to make it cuter than it already is.  I wouldn't lie, it kind of was.

It rushed towards me, but I caught its attempt to attack me with a well timed <<Slant>>.  It was thrown back into the same tree and looked at me with solemn eyes before it raised a paw to wave goodbye.  My eyebrow raised before the floor under me broke to reveal a shallow pit of thorns.  I instantly took damage from them before I could get out.  Before I could, however, the Rakkun jumped on my shoulder and rubbed its head on my cheek before jumping back to the surface.

"I'm deeply confused"

[ID = 27208][BD = 10][MD  7-1= 6]

[Hirru = 24/25]
[Rakkun = 4/13]

I found myself going through the forest on a message that there were creatures out here that would trick people into following them.  Reports also say that some were able to lead players into deathtraps that would kill the players.  I don't know why I entered on my own, maybe I wanted to know more about these monsters that could trick anyone into following them.  As I walked, something about the woods didn't seem right.  I pulled my sword from its sheath.

"What goes there!"

A small fox like creature stepped out from behind a tree and stared at me.  It looked like a blue furred fox, with what looked like small wings.  It came bounding towards me, but it didn't look like it was going to attack.  When it finally came into focus, the cursor and name indicating that it was an enemy.  Held my sword between me and it, but it continued towards me.

At that moment, something moved at the corner of my eye, and my instincts told me to swing my sword up.  As I did, a small creature that looked like a raccoon lunged at me, but my blade caught it first and flung it off course into a tree.  It hit the tree in a comical manner before falling to the ground.  I guarded myself from the two, but the fox had disappeared by that time.

[ID = 27204][BD = 9][MD = 1-1=0]

[Hirru = 25/25]
[Rakkun = 9/13]

Hirru listened to what Vasth had to say and had to agree.  To remember your past, you learn to not make the mistakes that you did back then, however, speaking about the outside world was apparently taboo in SAO.  People have their past, and some were not very happy.

"Well, our pasts are our own story.  Even if everyone could remember them, there are things that some don't want to talk about.  Even me, I guess."

He chuckled a bit before going on.

"Heck, if I lost my memories from back then and everyone else didn't, wouldn't that mean that I had an extremely bad experience.  I'd rather not recall it, if I had.  Wouldn't you?"

"Alright, just let me know when you want to"

Iggy grinned leaning away and going back towards the food before it burnt.  Hirru looked between the two wondering what just happened.  He had heard that there were specialized skills for players that wanted a more supportive role.  It kind of surprised him to think that all that Iggy was doing was technically a sword skill within the world, even if he watched her do it before.

*******************************

The food was soon served to them, and was quite good, regardless of the weird concoction that Iggy would have cooked up for it.  Hirru couldn't get enough of it.  He ate the entire thing before speaking.

"Wow, you certainly improved since last time."

"What can I say?!  I'm a........wait, what did you mean about last time?"

"Nothing, I mean you...GAH!!

Before Hirru could say another word, a sword skill propelled frying pan came flying at his head.  It knocked him across the head and he was flung off his chair and into the streets.  Iggy stared at him with the nearest glimpse of death towards him, before taking a deep breath to calm down.  She turned to Starrine during the time that Hirru was getting off the ground.

"Don't get involved with this guy, Starrine.  We, girls, need to stick together!  Oh, that's right!"

The young cook quickly opened her menu, and searched friends to add.  Clicking the blue 'yes' button made a request to befriend to appear in front of Starrine.  She smiled before going on to clean out her equipment.  Hirru finally got back to his seat as Iggy looked up to speak.

"Also, Hirru, you're paying for that!"

"For what?"

Just then a shattering sounded out behind him which would have only been the fry pan.  He groaned as he brushed his hand through his hair.

"What do I owe you?"

"50 Col for the meal and 300 for the frying pan."

"Okay... wait 350?"

"50 each, sooooo.. 400 Col"

Hirru groaned again as he traded his Col to Iggy.  As he did, he got a message from someone.  

"Time for me to go.  Duty calls!"

Hirru soon stood up and opened his friends tab.  Another prompt for a friend request would appear before Starrine.

"You've done well so far!  Just remember what I taught you, and you'll be fine.  If you need my help..."

"..or mine..."

"...Just let us know, okay?"

((I'll let you finish it with your post.  Since we have about 22 posts in the thread, we can end it here.  At the end, a summary is always posted to let the Mod that looks at it, a figure of what exactly happened.  

Each thread will give 400 total Col per page, to the party of that thread.  That must be exchanged evenly to the entire party, so for the two of us, we will both get 200 col for a full page of posts.  

Also, we both get 1 skill point for completing the thread.  No matter the amount of pages, or the type of thread, you will always get 1 SP for completing a thread.  So, if you went on a quest and finished it, you would get the skill point for the quest and another for finishing the quest.  It's a good method to strengthen your character, other than items.

Anyway, getting off track!  After you're done, just put at the end of your post:

Completed

Hirru 200 Col + 1 SP

Starrine 200 Col + 1 SP

Afterwards, I will edit the first post to make the title [COMPLETE] and ask a Mod or Admin to lock the thread forever.  

Also, don't forget to add your RP's to your journal as you will need the log of RP's to advance in Aincrad.  You can't ascend past the 10th floor without a Benchmark.  That is only possible after getting 10 full RPs logged in and completing the Benchmark RP.  Unfortunately, I have not completed my Benchmark so I don't know what happens from there or how, so I may have to get back to you on that, or you can contact any of the Mods or Admins.  They will know more about it than I do.

Anyway, hope you do well in Aincrad, and meet many more of the players here.

Have fun, and see ya around!

~Hirru))

Hirru thought about it for a bit before a bringing his hands up in and shrugging in a manner meaning 'Don't worry about it'  Taking another bite from his breakfast, he was reminded of the things that happened before he got here, and the small amounts of memories he could recall.

"It's nothing too big.  I just can't remember my past self from the real world.  That's all!  I remember everyone that I've met so far.  Xion, Jevi, Youno, and others."

Taking another bite, he could remember the adventures with them.  It felt like a good while since he saw them.  He wondered how they were.

"I don't think I'm going to forget them, and I'm getting some memories back from my adventures.  Not too long ago, I recalled my mother.  At least, her image and the feeling of a... family."

Hirru felt a little melancholy, but shook it off to finish off his food.  He raised his hand before swallowing the food.

"Check please!"

ID: 27196

MD: 4
BD: 1
 

Hirru watched as the ensuing plan went along fluently.  Xion's Howl drew the beast towards him which gave Mack the opportunity to flank around and attack with his axe.  A good chunk of the Kobold's health dropped before the axe wielder dropped back from range.  Beoreson stayed ready just as I commanded.  I wouldn't attack until Xion had a better hold on the Kobold.

Speaking of Kobold, it growled out in anger and tried to slash at Xion, but it was a wide shot and would miss him entirely.

"Xion, attack!; Mack, Hold fast!; Beore, flank left around and attack.  I'll follow around the opposite side."

[Xion HP = 38/38][Hate - 3]
[Mack HP = 21/21][Hate - 2]
[Beore HP = 16/16]
[Hirru HP = 25/25]

[Kobold HP = 14/20]

What Lies Within

There have been rumors lately that have been causing people to become concerned over going into the forest alone.  People have been seeing things that seem like foxes, raccoon's, and other creatures that don't seem to attack the player, more than play tricks on them.  This wouldn't really be a problem, if some of those tricks didn't turn into full on deathtraps.  A hunt would have been made, if the people of the first floor weren't so scared to even fight.

Taking only his Anneal Blade and Wolf Pelt Vest, a warrior in wolves attire would be the one to take on the denizens of the forest.

Hirru rubbed the back of his head before he answered.

"I'm not really sure, but I do remember everything after that.  Everyone that I've met so far.  Everyone has been so helpful, and I try my best to help them out.  Hopefully, I can do the same for someone out there."

As the food came, Hirru gave his thanks and started into the food.  If there was one thing that he couldn't get used to in this world, it was that food could be one thing and taste like another.  Here the regular was just a plate of eggs and ham, but you could tell that they were something different at some point, except the eggs.  Eggs are eggs.

"I'm pretty sure its a form of.. amnesia?  I don't really understand, but I get the concept of it."

Iggy smiled before pulling open her menu which caused a bunch of ingredients to materialize.  She also took out a pot, a bow, a cooking knife, and a spatula.  In rapid succession, Iggy tapped all the ingredients causing some to be cut into pieces or minced in a flash.  Placing the pot which contained water on a furnace, she set it to boil and returned to the other ingredients.  They were then put into a bowl and mixed together, while another was put in the pot to simmer covered by a lid.

Looking towards Starrine, she could see the twinkle in her eyes in amazement.

"Cooking is a little easier than in real life.  Kind of takes the fun out of it, but that doesn't mean a thing as long as you're doing what you like."

Hirru had to shrug and finally spoke.

"Well, I'll have the same.  I don't think having the 'chicken' would be good for me right now."

Giving Hirru a cold look, Iggy returned to her cooking which would be done in a few minutes.  Hirru looked back towards Starrine and nodded when she asked if this was fun.

"It is pretty fun, huh.  Sometimes dangerous, but fun none the less."

Iggy sighed and leaned into Starrine.  Her eyes looking directly into the young woman's.  Hirru's eyebrow raised in question, but was ignored.

"Hey, if you want, I could help you learn to be a cook in SAO.  It's fairly easy, and the NPC quest giver is actually in town, so if you ever want to become a cook like me, then just let me know."

((Beoreson, in my last post, I already invited the party.:D))

"I agree, Xion, we should keep ourselves focused if anything goes awry."

Hirru could tell from the concern on Xion's face.  They were all lower leveled than Xion, and if anything happened, his friend wouldn't be able to hold out long against a multiple enemy assault.  That is where a leader needed to be, to command the team towards a goal.  Hirru exhaled before getting in position.

"Team, forward march!"

Crossing the threshold of the entrance, the inner walls looked of marble and would be quite smooth if he wanted to touch them, but now was not the time.  Watching intensively searching for anything out of the ordinary.  Current map data showed that this place was a literal maze with twists and turns that could lead anyone towards a dead end or an actual end to life.  As they came to a split in the corridor, he motioned for them to take the right.  There was a small room there that seemed like something would be there.

As the team approached another split, a Kobold came into view.  First monster of the dungeon!  It was equipped with nothing but a rusty machete and some cloth armor.

"Team, halt!  Xion, ready Howl!; Mack, switch in and attack when possible; Beoreson, if Mack doesn't land a hit, I want you to attack, otherwise ready an attack and await my signal!"

((If you didn't understand that: Xion will Howl | Mack will attack | Beoreson will attack ONLY if Mack misses.))

[Xion HP = 38/38]
[Mack HP = 21/21]
[Beore HP = 16/16]
[Hirru HP = 25/25]

[Kobold HP = 20/20][2 Base DMG]

"It's nice to meet you, too."

Iggy smiled at her before bringing a glaring look at Hirru.  What was he doing now?

"I see you're getting along fine then.  What can I get you, before my oven gets cold again."

Hearing that he was on a time limit, Hirru began to think.. and think.. thinking about food was never his strong suit.  After some time, Iggy gave up on him and turned her attention to Starrine.  It would be some time until he actually chose something anyway.

"So, what can I get you?  I got curry rice; chicken cutlet, egg, corn, beef, pork."

She smiled her most sincere smile that Hirru has ever seen on her.  Though that made him lose his focus on what he wanted.  Did he want the thing that wasn't chicken, but tasted like it, or something else.

((Posting order is as such  Xion > Mack > Beoreson > Hirru.  MOBs will be controlled by Xion and myself, if more than one appears.))

Hirru nods in agreement to all said actions.before turning to Xion.  He smiled at the person he could call his friend before pulling out his menu and selecting all present into the party.  Once they all pressed 'yes', three new hp bars appeared under his with the names of all of them.  Hirru stood firmly before them and addressed them.

"Team, the situation is thus: the first floor dungeon has been a proving grounds for the lower players ever since the lead group defeated the boss.  Our mission is to clear out the first floor dungeon in search of anything that was left behind, or missed by the lead group, and continue on to the second floor.  Execution will be as follows: Xion our tank will take point and lead the team into the dungeon.  Mack will the second to cross followed by Beoreson.  I will take rear post as leader."

Hirru paused for a second to make sure that they were following along.  He opened his menu to pull out the players guide redux, a new guide that came out for the first ten floors after they were beat.

"In case of being attacked by multiple enemies, I will act as a secondary tank.  As of now, our only equipment is what we have on us now, and what we can find.  Information about the dungeon is as follows:  Humanoid beings from the look of them.  Named Kobold, most of them have HP from 19~20 with a possible 2~3 DMG.  Many tunnels leading to dead ends, and traps."

Hirru closed the book before reading onward, the rest of it was about the boss which wasn't an issue anymore.

"On my command, we move out!"

((I didn't know if I should keep it towards the original, or towards the sites version of the dungeon.  Both are very vague on everything before the boss fights, though.))

Hirru focused back on Starrine to assess how she was doing.  Her health should gradually heal from eating the food, but her fighting needed some work.  Not that he could say anything, he literally had to fight with one arm once.  Hirru chuckled at that memory.  Seeing the young woman looking at him, he waved it off.

"Its nothing.  Old memories popping up.  Anyway, you did good out there, if not a little rusty.  You'll do fine though."

Soon after that, the female waitress/chef came to the other side of the small wall to greet them.  She looked to be around nineteen years of age with long brown hair tied in a ponytail.  

"Welcome!  What kind of curry would you like today?  We have a large assortment of condiments to filled your curry needs."

Her hazel eyes stared into his soul as she realized who it was.  She looked from him to Starrine wondering what this was all about.  

"Oh Hirru!  It's been a while, and who's this?"

"It has been a while, but I've been busy on my own."

Hirru looked at Starrine before nodding her to go on and greet Iggy.  She wasn't going to bite... any harder than she could.

Hirru motioned for her to follow him, and walked down to an old haunt of his.  A rather odd looking shack with a sign saying "Iggy's Curry" on one side.  A low curtain over looked a long table inset into a low wall from which one could see a curtain in the back of the shack.  A row of stools were set up along the long table for customers to sit on while they waited to be served.

"Well that's different."

Sitting down at the table, looked over the other side of the small wall that was between them and the back of the shack.  He couldn't see anything special about it, not even a built in grill or oven.  What happened here?  His question was about to be answered when something from behind the far curtain moved.

"Iggy! Is that you over there?!"

Popping their head out of curtain, a lanky brown haired girl came into view.

"Customers!  Welcome to Iggy's Curry!  I'll be with you in just one second."

((Of course, now all there is to finish a thread is to accumulate around 22 posts between everyone in the thread.  This is rather easy to do with many people, but much harder if you solo.  Why is that?  Because you can still be counted against you for spam in a solo if you don't post a good description.

Anyway, this part may take us to 22 posts, or not, but once we do, I'll end the thread there.  Once a thread is ended, the participants get a set number of Col and a Skill Point (SP).  The thread gets 400 Col for the party to divide between so for this one, we both get 200 Col.  We also get a SP each.  Use them wisely.

Hirru let his guard down as he saw the young woman fly past him and score a killing blow on the boar.  As it shattered, a grin fell upon his face as he watching Starrine sheath her sword in triumph and raised her hand in the air.  Hirru had to oblige and high-five her.

"Good job!  Unfortunately, it didn't give you any items."

Hirru shrugged his shoulders before patting her on her shoulder.

"Oh well, it happens.  Lets get out of here before another boar decides to charge you.  I know this great place with some good food."

((Loot explained:  When you kill a mob, you may have a chance to get something out of it.  This is indicated by the Loot Dice (LD) and usually would have given you a material regardless of what you got on the LD.  Myself being here, however, defeats that purpose as a MOB must be, at least, half the health of the 'highest leveled character' which would be Hirru.

Now, if we did fight a HP 12 Boar, this would have given us some loot and Col, but that's not the case.  Since it didn't fit that criteria, we go to the non-combat loot which requires a 15 or higher LD to get anything.

For now, we will be taking a break from the battles so that Starrine doesn't die first thread.))

Hirru watched as Starrine continued to use an evasive technique to try and attack the boar.  This time she missed and the boar hit her again.  Not as bad as he thought it would be, but she was already in the yellow.  If she continued the way she was, Starrine would be dead.  Not having any of that, Hirru stepped into the fray.  He immediately opened his menu/party/create/assist and sent a party invite to Starrine.  In the mean time, Hirru unsheathed his Anneal Blade and readied an attack.

"I'll be your shield.  Now, try to defeat this pig!"

[ID = 26850][BD 1]

[Hirru HP = 23/23]

[Starrine HP = 3/7]

[Boar HP = 1/3]

((Notice how I rolled but only placed the BD?  That is because, as more than one person enters a fight, the mob is only controlled by one person, usually the one that attacks first.  Players of higher levels usually do this, but for this instance, it will be you.

Now there is another thing called Hate which is basically Aggro in the system.  We will be ignoring that for this boar, so go nuts.))

Hirru nodded his approval of her using a more evasive technique.  Reminded him of his own style, even though that was from his stats.  He was about to say something when she missed, but decided against it.  He only kept his left hand on the pommel of the Anneal Blade by his side, ready to come in to defend.

"You're doing well!  Just keep it up, and you'll be fine."

Hirru readied himself for anything that should happen from here on.  If it looked like she would be hit by a strong attack, he would rush in to defend her.

((Sadly, right now, all you can do is trust the heart of the dice.  Hirru will defend the next hit if your MD is a crit.))

Hirru watched as the young swordswoman went into battle with the fearsome <<Wild Boar>>.  He whistled a high note when she actually connected the hit, but the boar pushed her out of the way causing a good chunk of damage.  He grimaced as Starrine readied herself against another attack.

"Try a more defensive approach!  If you just charge it, it'll gore you even harder.  It has very easy telltales."

He looked on and wondered what sensei would have done in this situation.  He would probably stop her before the boar would kill her.