Hirru

[ID 26057]

[Hirru = 2] Go home Dice Roller, you're drunk.

[Little Nepent = (7-1) 6] Hit

[CD = 8] Nothing happened

If there is one thing that I am learning out of this, it is patience is not my virtue.  I tried everything from attacking it, to dodging it for an attack.  Nothing seemed to connect with this creature.  Just then, it finally hits me.  The Nepent; not an actual idea.  I was flung a good distance by the arm and lay on my back, pondering life.

"Maybe I should have stayed in the village.  I think that family would have kindly taken me in if I didn't respond to its quest."

Then again, the constant coughing and repeating for assistance may have made me go out anyway.

[Hirru 7/17]

[Little Nepent 3/9]

[ID 26056]

[Hirru = 4] Miss

[Little Nepent = (5-1) 4] Miss

[CD = 1]  One Mwahaha! Nothing..

Maybe it was something in the air, or something in my mind.  I couldn't tell which it was, but I was definitely having problems attacking this thing.  Maybe cause I was used to animals, not plants.  Though, that may explain that, it doesn't explain why it was also missing me.  Another game of cat and mouse that was seriously ticking me off.  

"If I wasn't so nice, I would.. Never mind.."

[Hirru 8/17]

[Little Nepent 3/9]

[ID 26055]

[Hirru = 3] Why?

[Little Nepent = (9-1) 8] Well that could always be worse! (Edit: It was Crit +1)

[CD = 3] 

I couldn't imagine how it happened, but an image cut across my mind.  It looked like the plant had jabbed its leaf right through me, taking out a good chunk of my health.  Blinking, I was back to where I was with the plant creature about to strike.  

"Whoa!"

I moved slightly out of the way, causing it to catch my shoulder again.  This thing was persistent, if not annoying.  I needed to kill it and find a new flower.

[Hirru 8/17]

[Little Nepent 3/9]

[ID 26054]

[Hirru = 2] Miss

[Little Nepent = (5-1) 4] Miss

[CD = 8] Nothing! 

Taking my time was making me a little too impatient.  In fact, I was kind of pissed off.  I missed my chance to kill a flowered one, but I took my time and it turned into a fruit.  Now I would have attacked the fruit, but something told me not to.  I instead went after my original target, but my blade fell short as I needed to dodge away from another attack.

"Nice hot bath too!"

[Hirru 10/17]

[Little Nepent 3/9]

[ID 26053]

[Hirru = 5] Miss

[Little Nepent = (6-1) 5] Miss

[CD = 1] Fruit Timer -1

I decided that I shouldn't waste too much time on this one and that I should be going for the flowered one.  As I turned to look at the Flowered Nepent, its last petal fell and a large red berry grew from where the flower once was.  That must be what that woman meant by the fruited ones, but what was there to beware of?  At that moment, I could feel that the Nepent had caught up.  A quick glance made the instinct come back and I dodged out of the way.

"Great, back to square one!  I am so going to ask that mother for a meal after this."

[Hirru 10/17]

[Little Nepent 3/9]

[Fruit Nepent 9/9]

[ID 26052]

[Hirru = 5] 

[Little Nepent = (4-1) 3] 

[CD = 2] Fruit Timer -1

I couldn't leave this alone, and it looked like the flower was slowly wilting on the other.  If I didn't hurry, something would probably happen to the flowered one.  Maybe it would just turn into a normal nepent, or something else.  That woman did say to beware of the fruits, whatever that meant.  Maybe there was a connection.

The Little Nepent that I was fighting was slowly crawling towards me on its roots.  It still knew where I was, even now.  If I wanted to get away from one of these, I'd actually need to run back into the city.  I didn't know what to do, so I consulted what I little knowledge I could.

"Oh wait.. Sensei isn't here."

[Hirru 10/17]

[Little Nepent 3/9]

[Flower Nepent 9/9] 2 turns until Fruit Spawns

[ID 26050]

[Hirru = 6] Hit!

[Little Nepent = (9-1) 8] Crit +1 DMG

[CD = 10] Fruit timer +1

Taking my time to move around it, I could see that it was definitely tracking my movements somehow.  I needed to figure this out before something happened.  I stopped for a second, and its last arm came at me.  It hit me on my shoulder just as I went in to attack it.  My sword found its mark on one of the roots.  

I jumped back to get some distance from me and the plant.  Looking at the flowered one, it looked like the petals were falling off it.  Was that a sign to tell me something?

[Hirru 10/17]

[Little Nepent 3/9]

[Flower Nepent 9/9] 4 turns until Fruit Spawns

[ID 26047]

[Hirru = 9] Crit + 1 DMG 

[Little Nepent = (6-1) 5] Miss

[CD = 3] Fruit timer -1

Wriggling my arm out of its grasp seemed like the hardest thing in the world, but I did it and sliced off the creatures arm.  It made a shrill screech and attacked with its remaining arm.  Again, the instincts of a wolf pay off as I sensed the attack before it came and dodged out of the way.

"Come on!  I'm having a howling good time!"

[Hirru 12/17]

[Little Nepent 2/9]

[Flower Nepent 9/9] 4 turns until Fruit Spawns

[ID 26046]

[Hirru = 5] Seriously, why?

[Little Nepent = (10-1) 9] Crit +2 DMG

[CD = 5] Nothing

I found myself entangled in this things two tenta-arms and could feel it squeezing my body.  My health drained by a little more than usual.  I needed to get loose from this monstrosity before I was plant food.  If I could only get my sword hand free.  I struggled harder, but nothing happened.

"Why is it that plants are harder than wolves?"

[Hirru 12/17]

[Little Nepent 5/9]

[Flower Nepent 9/9] 6 turns until Fruit Spawns

[ID 26045]

[Hirru = 1] What are you doing?

[Little Nepent = (7-1) 6] Hit

[CD = 1] Fruit timer -1

I decided against the flower and continue my assault on this one.  I had time, and I didn't think that the flower one was going to go anywhere.  That said, I returned my focus to the plant.

The plant took this time to take a swipe at me, causing my health to deplete.

[Hirru 15/17]

[Little Nepent 5/9]

[Flower Nepent 9/9] 7 turns until Fruit Spawns

[ID 26044]

[Hirru = 5] Miss

[Little Nepent = (6-1) 5] Miss

[CD = 10 Flower Spawn]

I don't know what it was, but something felt different fighting this thing.  It didn't have eyes so it couldn't see me, but it was always facing me.  If it could smell me or hear me, that would be one thing, but I couldn't see a nose or ears.  Though, I wouldn't put it past the many ideas of the one that created these things.  Nothing ever seemed right around here.

I swung at the creature, but it pushed me back with its tentacle as the other came in for the hit.  It must have been my vest, because I felt an instant urge to get away.  Following my instincts, I stepped back in time to have it hit the ground where I stood.  Just then, I saw a Flowered Nepent spawn from a fair distance away.

This was bad, as if I ran from this one, it may follow and then I would have to deal with two.  Then again, I did want to get this over with quickly.

[Hirru 16/17]

[Little Nepent 5/9]

[Flower Nepent 9/9] 9 turns until Fruit Spawns

[ID 26043]

[Hirru 10] Crit + 2 DMG

[Little Nepent 7- 1 = 6] Hit

[CD 2 = No Flower]

After a long run, I found myself in an area full of overgrown brush.  Every so often, you could see some of the plants move.  If it were not for the red signals over heads, I would have thought them as regular plants.  These plants were called <<Little Nepent>>, man sized plants that looked like a pitfall type plant would slowly 'walk' around on their tentacle like roots.  As I looked around, I was disappointed by the lack of flowered ones.

"Well, I guess this is a good enough time to raise my technique."

I said as I unsheathed my sword and attacked the nearest <<Little Nepent>>.  A solid hit broke through it, but it didn't like it as I got hit by one of the long tentacles with a sharp looking leaf on it.

[Hirru 16/17]

[Little Nepent 5/9]

Horunka Village

A peaceful little hamlet situated within one of the long forests on the first floor.  A cozy place that fears no evil intent.  Monsters do not spawn near its gates, but lately word has been going around the townsfolk.  A woman has been having some issues lately, and has been looking for someone to help her.

"I guess someone needs a Hirru?"

I chuckled at my own joke as I stepped into the house that belonged to the quest giver.  As I came up to the door, I knocked to be polite.  Soon the door opened to a woman dressed in a homemade gown.  If it wasn't for the fact that there was a golden exclamation point above her head, I would have thought that this was an actual person.  I guess my mind is really getting used to the fact that I'm in a world where things are not as they seem.

"Oh.. you must be here for my request.  Please!  Please come in!"

She beckoned me in and I found myself in a warm little living room with simple wooden furniture around a fireplace.  I walked towards the fireplace and found a rather strange smell coming from a pot sitting in the fireplace to boil.  I turned to find that the woman had filled a glass with water and was offering it to me.

"I am sorry, all I can offer you is water.  I have nothing prepared for food."

I nodded politely and reached out for it.  The moment I touched the glass, a soft coughing could be heard through a door across the room.  A look of sadness crept along this woman's face, and I had to ask.

"Is everything alright?"

The golden exclamation point turned into a grey question mark over her head, and she suggested that I take a seat.  I did so while she took the rocking chair on the other side.

"Some time ago, there as a sickness that had spread through the land.  It was slow, but there was not anything we could do.  There was no cure, and our medicine could do nothing.  I was a young child back then.  I don't remember much, but I do know that I was also stricken with this illness."

As I listened, I could only think about how a sickness of that level could have spread throughout a tower based fortress like Aincrad.  Not much lore around the first floor told of anything before.  In fact, since this was the first town outside the Town of Beginnings, this actually made sense.  The big town wouldn't have much to anything as they would be worrying about themselves.  If a town that big existed around these parts, the illness would have been quarantined and maybe even have its people put to death.  I shook that thought from my head.  Where did that even come from?

"My father was the one to go out into the woods to find anything that could save me.  He found that a beast with a flower carried a seed that once prepared properly dispelled my illness, and save not only me, but the rest of the village.  Now, some time has past and I have a family of my own.  That being said, I do not have the means to go out and gather the necessary ingredient."

"How can I help?"

"Oh thank you, kind adventurer!  To the west of the village, there are the plant creatures called <<Little Nepents>> that live there.  Please, find the flowered ones and take their seeds before they can become fruits.  My father told me to beware of the <<Fruit Nepents>>"

"Thank you, I will take my leave"

I stood up and walked out of the house before heading towards the town exit.

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

Meanwhile

Along the entrance to the village, a small pup sat outside the town perimeter.  It had sniffed its way to the village, but something didn't feel right when it came close to it.  It kept its distance while waiting for the scent to come back.  Many creatures came through the village in small groups.  None of them had the scent that it was searching for, so it waited.  Sure enough, one of the creatures that walked out smelled familiar and headed away from the village.  The pup wagged its tail in happiness as it sniffed the ground before running after the creature, but it was already gone.  

I, Hirru of Castle Aincrad, shall partake on this quest alone.  The Operation "We Must Save My Family" is a go!  Repeat, Operation "We Must Save My Family" is a go!

Hirru nodded his head before any more damaging words came out of his mouth.  This would be much better than just blurting out that he needed help.  He wasn't some NPC that started crying about some issue right when you open the door.  Though.. that hasn't really happened to him.  It just kinda got out during a conversation.  

As Xion started to think about what restaurant that they could go to, Hirru pondered on how to ask this.  The clue he got was coming from the raid town, Tolbana.  Something about a fair sized group of people taking care of a pest problem.  He didn't know if it was them, but a name came from them that sounded way too familiar.

"Anywhere is fine.  I don't mind it, unless it is too expensive.  We all have a budget, I think."

Hirru nodded in agreement and the two of them started walking towards the field of boars.  Looking around the familiar setting, Hirru thought he saw that girl, who was apparently Youno from the two names that popped up in the corner of his vision, heading into the forest.  He shrugged as they continued on.

"So what are we going to do?  I'm quite curious on what will be my 'test' today."

He remarked towards the other one called Emblem.  He noted the warriors sword, and made sure that his beginners sword and wolf pelt vest was securely equipped.  Of course, he didn't think there was a way to lose your equipment so easily.

Hirru instantly became embarrassed and shook his head while waving his hands in a gesture usually signaling to 'forget about it'.

"Sorry, I didn't mean for that to come out so bad.  I only need help investigating a clue in the next town over, but that's my business.  I shouldn't have blurt that out to you guys."

He lowered his head and sighed.  'Good job, bonehead!  You probably drove off some more people.' he thought.  It wasn't as if it was an impossible task, but he needed help, and sensei was no longer around town either.  If he needed help, then he would have to enlist some help.  That said, he was doing it all wrong.  He should be requesting for anyone that wants to go on a short round about the town.  Most of the players in the Town of Beginnings would never go out past the boars, let alone to the next town.  These two though, they look like they could stand their ground.

Hirru's thoughts subsided when a feeling of hunger groaned through him.

"Well, I'm up for a light meal, if you guys are?"

Status

Hirru

+800 Col

+1 SP

[iD 25976]

[Loot 11] Partial Success -1 Health + Booty

I made a quick action to run in, and open the chest.  I didn't even pause to see if I had awoken the pup.  The lid of the chest was easy to open, but that only shown the surprise of a needle flashing into my chest.  I pulled it out and shook my head.  Soon I got a notification about the items inside.  20 Col and a Potion of Minor Healing +5Hp.  That was slightly useful.

Turning around, I found myself looking at a small wolf pup staring right at me.  Its tail wagged back and forth playfully.  It didn't seem like it was going to attack.  It just looked at me with want.  Not knowing what to do, I just calmly gestured for it to stay quiet.  It just stared at me while panting in an adorable fashion.  I slowly back away from the pup.  I didn't really want to kill the poor thing.

Coming out of the clearing and back onto the path, I found Sensei in a rather peeved mood.

"I couldn't find anything.. How bout you?"

"Yeah, there as a chest over there, but it only had 20 Col and a potion."

"Oh, could I have that.  I did rescue you, ya know."

"Sure!"

Without really thinking on the matter, I gave all of the chests contents to sensei.  It felt right after all that we went through.

"Alright, lets get going!"

"Yeah!"

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

We soon got to a place called Horunka Village.  A quaint village that held a handful of building.  This would be my next search destination, but I was tired.

"Well, I'm off towards the next town.  There should be something going on over there."

"Hey!  Sensei!"

"Sensei?  My name is Ignalo, I thought I gave you my contact info?"

"Oh yeah.. Right.. Well, could you help me look for some friends of mine.  They helped me back when and I wanted to return the favor.  Do you know of any groups of five or more people that have come through here?"

"Sorry, that sounds way too vague and there have been loads of people that have come and gone.  You do remember that there were 10,000 people trapped here, right?"

He was right.  If there was any chance that my friends were out there, they would be on the other floors or...

"Thank you, anyway.  I hope to see you again soon."

"Like wise."

Ignalo waved to me and we parted ways.  I found the Inn and booked a room.  Laying on the bed, I recounted the events of the past several days.  So much has happened, and it felt like I had grown in the process.

Another day; another step into a new life.

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

Meanwhile, on the path to Horunka Village.

 A small wolf pup could be found sniffing the ground, circling around and around trying to catch something.  A faint scent filled his nose, and it wagged its tail happily.  It made a little cute bark before running towards the source of the scent near the direction of Horunka Village.

[Hirru 6/13]

[Dire Wolf Pup (Adorable/Alive)]

[iD 25975]

[Loot 18]

Before we could start anywhere, however, Sensei had a thought.

"If there was a pack of wolves, that must mean that something valuable may be nearby."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, just look for something that doesn't really belong in a forest."

I didn't know what he meant by that, but as I searched the forest I found something that seemed like it could be what he was talking about.  In the forest, there was a small clearing and in there looked to be the resting ground for the wolves.  Many bones and tattered armor lay strewn out and at the very middle lay a circlet of bones.  As I drew nearer, the bones looked more like a small nest and in it were two things.  A chest, and a small wolf pup asleep in its nest.  It looks like if I wanted to get this chest, I would have to either be very stealthy and open the chest without waking it, or kill the pup and take what I can.

[Hirru 7/13]

[Dire Wolf Pup (Adorable/??)]

Name: Wolf Pelf Vest

ID: 25973

Link: [sP-FL1] Stepping into A New Life - post 42

Item Type: Leather Armor

Quality: Uncommon

Enhancements: Evasion +1

Description: A vest made out of Dire Wolf pelt.  Gain the instinct of a wolf to evade the strikes of your foes.

 

[iD 25973]

[Hirru  8]

[Dire Wolf 3]

[Loot 19]

I felt my stance change as Sensei moved out of the way.  My blade began to glow and I surged forward.  I straight charge with an upward piercing maneuver.  <<Rage Spike>>  As that ended, the wolf gave one last howl before dying, shattering like everything else in this world.

I gave a final sigh as I sat down on the ground.  This day had way too much action in it.  That said, it was more exciting than anything that has happened since.  Soon I heard a set of footsteps before a hand rested on my shoulder.

"Come on, soldier!  Now is not the time to rest.  We need to get to the next town before more wolves come at us."

"Yeah, you're right."

I said as I picked myself off the ground, but fell back to the ground when a large spike in pain hit me.  This was worse than ever before.  Something came back to him, a faded image of a set of clothing.  It looked like a checkered mess of tan and brown.  The image then changed to the sounds of loud cracking and thunder.  Projectiles flying past at high speeds.  Someone yelling in the distance.  

"Hey!....  Hey!...."

I opened my eyes from the pain.  I heard the voice of someone familiar.

"Hey!  Are you alright?"

"Yeah.. I think so.."

"What was that all about?  You just started to thrash around looking like you were in pain."

"I don't know, but I saw things.  Things that confuse me."

Were those my.. memories?  It was certainly messed up.  I couldn't figure out what was happening, or what I was doing.  What triggered that, anyway?

"Anyway, lets get to town before we become dog food."

As I stood up, the notifications window popped up.  Another wolf pelt and something new.  Clicking on the item a new window appeared showing an armor type item.

"Oh what did you get?"

"Looks like an armor of some type."

Name: Wolf Pelf Vest
ID: 25973
Link: [sP-FL1] Stepping into A New Life - post 42
Item Type: Leather Armor
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancements: Evasion +1
Description: A vest made out of Dire Wolf pelt.  Gain the instinct of a wolf to evade the strikes of your foes.

 

"Nice!  You should equip that now, so you can take advantage of the stats."

Agreeing on that, I swipe through the menu to my equipment and equip the Wolf Pelf Vest.  It instantly appears on my body afterwards.  Looking at it, it looks like a normal leather vest with the neck covered in wolf fur.  It felt good to wear, and true to its text it felt like I was as agile as a wolf.

[Hirru 7/13]

[??????? 7/13]

[Dire Wolf 4 0/7]

Armor Get!

Wolf Pelt Vest

EVA +1

Item Get!

Wolf Pelt x1

[iD 25966]

[Hirru 8]

[Dire Wolf 3]

The wolf, now confronting two targets, continued its assault on me and ran around Sensei and attacked me.  I was ready by the time it circled around him and performed a <<Vertical>> on the beast.  A long gash formed where one of its eyes lay.  It howled in pained and anger as it wheeled around to face us again.

"This should be it!  Take it out!"

[Hirru 7/13]

[??????? 7/13]

[Dire Wolf 4 1/7]

[iD 25965]

[Hirru 3]

[Dire Wolf 10]

I took a stance against the beast waited for it to come at me.  It did so quicker than expected.  The wolf circled around fast and pounced on me; sinking its fangs deep into my shoulder.  I winced for some reason as my health dropped to nearly half way.  Still green; but anything could happen from here.

It was at that moment that I heard the shattering of glass.  That meant that one of them had died.  I was about to look when I got a quick pat to my back.  Sensei was by my side now.  I was relieved to see him safe.

"Take this last one out, and we can continue onward!"

[Hirru 7/13]

[??????? 7/13]

[Dire Wolf 4 3/7]

[Dire Wolf 5 0/7] *Dead

[iD 25936]

[Hirru 5]

[Dire Wolf 3]

Like a game of cat and mouse where the two pieces of the puzzle eluded the player.  That was the only explanation that I could come up with, and I didn't even understand half of it.  My self and the wolf have begun our own game of missing each other completely.  So too, were Sensei and his beast.  If there was any kind of significance from this, it would be that no one was getting hurt from it.

That didn't mean it was getting old, fast.

[Hirru 11/13]

[??????? 7/13]

[Dire Wolf 4 3/7]

[Dire Wolf 5 1/7]