Mack

With the first boar down in what, Mack hoped, would be an illustrious career within the world of SAO the axe-man sheathed his weapon at his back once more and considered his options. With that first kill he'd made enough experience to level up to level two. There was still, of course, a significant way to go yet before he'd be ready to move out of this area. If this was, indeed, a death game it would be best to not take any chances. That would mean over-leveling before moving on and over-leveling took time.

Standing up from where he had been kneeling next to the dead boar, Mack considered his surroundings. There was a trio of players a little bit to the east, but heading north looked like fairly open ground. That would mean an increased likelihood of finding more mobs which, in turn, meant more experience and more loot and faster leveling though faster was a bit of a relative term since every MMO from the beginning of time had quick leveling at the lower levels before the grind really set in.

As the sun was still making its ascent into the sky, Mack headed off to the north away from the other players. Sneaking and slinking through the grass, at least as much as a man of his size and a new player with his completely lack of skill in the sneak ability could, the blonde man scanned the fields around him searching for his next mob to take down. It wasn't too long before he came upon a somewhat over-sized bumble bee that was buzzing about in the meadow. Killing insects hardly seemed worth it to Mack, but it was a mob and at least this time it had its back to him as it was buzzing away. Scrunching over, Mack drew his axe and began to advance on the insect.

Having spent the last few hours slaughtering boars, not so much for fun as for the limited amount of col that could be made from the kills, Mack had moved on through the fields to their very edge where they butted up against the first bit of scrub plants that led into a forest. With any kind of luck at all, there would be a few more sizable nasties that he could tackle, safely, along the edge of the forest. Not only would that bring in the experience points a bit more quickly, but there was also the opportunity for better loot or, at least, the same low quality loot but in higher quantities. Either way, Mack wouldn't complain.

Creeping along the edge of the forest the axe-wielding warrior would, on occasion, stop and peer inside. After about fifteen minutes of this he came upon tracks that looked as if they belonged to a small pack of wolves. That would certainly fit the bill. Even if they were low-level wolves it looked as if there could be anywhere from four to eight of the beasts running in the pack. Of course, if it was on the high side of his estimate Mack knew he would need some assistance in taking down the pack. That meant a party and the hulking axe-man was loathe to join a party so early on in the game. But, no one said the party had to be forever and if the experience reward proved to be worth it, then so much the better.

Backing away from the tracks, Mack scanned the field around him looking for a few players that might be willing to take up the challenge of tackling a low-level wolf pack. When he spotted some likely players to help he began waving at them and moving in their direction slowly. No need to go rushing in and make them think he was attacking, especially in a game where character death meant actual death.

"Hey, want to make some easy experience points and loot," he called out in a gruff tone, once he was in ear shot of the players. "Found some wolf-pack tracks, can't take the pack on by myself."

Having spent a not insignificant amount of time wandering around in the grasslands immediately surrounding the starting city, Mack wandered back through the massive gates of the city around lunch time, having extracted one of the little breads from his inventory. As he passed through the gates of the city, he munched on the bread and considered his options. While it was true that he had earned enough experience points to make it to level two, it had been enough of a slogging grind that he was ready to try and find something that might rip off a far more substantial chunk of experience points. There was also the small matter of of his weapon not quite being something that could carry Mack through the game. Of course, no newbie weapon could do that.

Sighing, and muttering dark imprecations under his breath, Mack clomped through the town in search of a blacksmith's shop. The fastest, and likely cheapest in terms of col, way to complete the game would be to become a blacksmith. It stood to reason that any blacksmith in the city would be able to offer up the necessary quest for Mack to get started on that career path. Within a few moments he'd found his way into one of the market districts of the city. Everywhere, NPC vendors could be seen hawking their various low-level wares. Mack groaned. It was going to take some time to dig through this mass of vendors and shops to find a blacksmith. Still, there was nothing for it, so he plunged straight ahead down the street.

ID: 26368
BD: 10 (4 Dam.)
LD: 13
Mack: 5/5
Boar: -1/3 (-4 Dam.)

Mack stood over the boar, swinging the axe gently back and forth in his hands as he studied the creature for a moment. Really? This was, apparently, some kind of death game. But based on what he'd just witnessed from the boar, which was trying to get back on its feet as it wallowed directly in front of Mack after having tripped over its own feet, SAO was either incredibly newbie friendly or pretty poorly coded at the lower levels. The mountain of a man shrugged his shoulders and raised the heavy axe over his head, feeling one of the most basic of his combat skills locking in.

"Your funeral, piggy," he growled, swinging the bladed weapon down on the struggling boar's neck with all of his strength. The soldier was pleased to see that the blow was apparently being scored by the game as a critical hit, as well it should be. The axe cleaved straight down through the boar's neck and neatly severed the head, which hit the dirt covered ground with a dull wet thud. Mack regarded the creature for a second before it shattered into pixelated pieces and disappeared into nothingness.

In the wake of the boar's disintegration into nothingness a small leather pouch appeared. Cautiously, Mack picked it up from the ground and eyed it, noting that there was the soft tinkle of coins. So, this was the first bit of loot that he would receive then. Opening the pouch he peered inside and discovered fifteen col that was his for the taking. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

Mack sat behind the concealment offered by the tall grass and watched the boar for a few moments as it rooted around in the dirt. No doubt the hefty pig-like beast was searching for some truffles or grubs or whatever it was that large boars ate. To be completely honest, Mack had no idea what it was that the squealing, grunting beasts ate. Nor did he much care. Mack's grey eyes narrowed as he continued to watched the filthy beast going on about its search for food. He waited silently in the brush for several more moments, finally rolling his eyes in frustration. Wasn't this stupid pig ever going to turn its back to him? If SAO worked like any other MMORPG then there'd be a substantial critical hit bonus for hitting it from behind.

"Come on, you two hundred pound slab of bacon," Mack growled, shuffling his shoulders and adjusting his feet as he eyed the boar. "Turn around so I can take you to market." Mack shuffled his feet again in his hiding place and then heard the unmistakeable sound of a twig snapping.

ID: 26364
MD: 1 (0 dmg)
Mac: 5/5
Boar: 3/3

At the sound of the snapping of the twig snapping the boar abruptly looked up from what it was doing. With an angry squeal it pelted straight towards Mack's hiding place, no doubt alerted by the combination of him having been talking to himself and the snap of the twig. The massive axe man stood up abruptly from his hiding place and readied his weapon to parry the boar's attack. Just as the brown bristled animal went to lunge it tripped over its own feet, face planting into the ground and skidding to a stop directly at Mack's leather booted feet.

Mack passed through the gates of the Starting City, moving momentarily into and out of the shadow cast by the hulking gates. Since he was going to be stuck in this world for the immediate future he was pleased that the designers of the game had at least taken the time to make sure it looked like a good and real world ahead of the release instead of putting out some kind of half-done product just because they were on a deadline of some sort. Raising his right hand to shield his eyes from the glare of the sun the axe man surveyed the land immediately surrounding the city. For the most part the city seemed to be surrounded by rolling grasslands for a good distance all around, the tallest among the blades of grass were swaying gently thanks to a soft breeze blowing in from the northeast. That same breeze also teased Mack's hair as he surveyed the grasslands and considered his options for moving forward.

"Time to begin the grind," he growled more to himself than to any of the other players moving past him on the path heading out into the grasslands proper as he set off as just another person in the crowd. Within about a twenty minute walk most of the players passing out of the main gates of the city had petered off and headed in their own separate directions, leaving the hulking axe-wielder by himself, more or less, though there were still a few players that he could see who were within easy shouting distance should he have a need to make contact with any of them or, more likely, should any of them require his assistance.

Continuing on his way through grass, occasionally brushing it to this side or the other as was warranted it wasn't long before Mack's storm grey eyes locked onto the first of what would be many, many mobs that he would mercilessly slaughter within the world of this death game. A simple boar with a coarse thick brown coat of bristled fur, a large piggy nose, beady little eyes, and two ivory colored tusks protruding from the corners of its mouth. "With luck, meat's on the menu tonight," Mack muttered to himself, loosing his axe from its sling on his back and bringing the weapon into a ready position.

Profile
Username: Mack
Real name: Stephen Mack
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Height: 6'8"

About: History/personality

While on deployment with the United States military Mack would frequently use video games as a means of escaping from his duties and deployment to parts of the world that he would never have chosen to visit, if he had been given any choice in the matter. Of course, due to the nature of his deployments, this meant that any kind of gaming system that Mack would bring along with him would, of necessity, have to be something that was small, portable, and easy to haul around from place to place. Preferably, it would also be something with the capability of having its own built in wireless internet capabilities. Being a somewhat anti-social person by nature, Mack tended to spend every moment when he wasn't on duty either sleeping, eating, or gaming.

Of course, being on deployment also meant that Mack was somewhat disconnected with the news going on in the outside world. Even when it came to matters of gaming. Because of his deployment, he was unaware of the news surrounding the release of SAO. It also meant that he didn't receive his copy of the game until a few weeks after the release, owing to the delay in time required for it to be purchased by a friend and then sent via the snail mail to him out in the field. On receiving the game Mack jacked it in and logged on at his first opportunity, not realizing that he was being sucked into a game from which the only escape was completion.

Virtues:

Lone Wolf - Mack tends to be a lone wolf type of player. He constructs the strongest possible character with the deepest possible HP pool and then works his way through the game following his own path. Part of this is because he prefers to do things on his own. But, another significant reason he tends to avoid guilds and parties is because he doesn't like being told what to do and how to play by others nor does he like feeling obligated to protect weaker players in the group. There's also the matter that, due to his deployment, his opportunities to game tend to be fewer and farther between than most players.

Honorable - Despite the fact that he is a lone wolf type of player, because of his background in the military and just his general rules and philosophies in life, Mack feels an obligation to help out other players. He is particularly against player killing and will intervene to prevent it. Therefore, he is willing to player kill under certain circumstances.  Though he doesn't parties, when he does he makes sure that all of the loot that is gained is equitably divided and if a rare item drops to him that he has no use for he will give it away to other players in the party that can use it.

Loyal - Once Mack has settled on someone as a friend, joined a party, or (most unlikely of all) joined a guild he is incredibly loyal to those individuals and groups, so long as they don't take any action that he would view as a personal betrayal. For those people and groups he will willingly, and happily, rush headlong into any situation, confrontation, or battle and fill any role that is required of him. So long as those people and groups don't betray him, he will not be swayed by any amount of gold, loot, items, station, or other form of bribe. Mack is fiercely loyal to his companions.

Flaws:
Reference: http://www.darkworldrpg.com/lore/flaws.html
Lone Wolf - Because he tends to prefer playing as a solo player and not joining up with parties and groups very often, Mack tends to not make very many friends in games. He also tends to be critical of players that opt for play styles other than the one that he prefers or who make bad decisions. His play style is also one that tends to not lend itself very well to having back-up in the form of other players around when he needs them.

Blunt - Mack is the type of person and player that will speak his mind and say exactly what he thinks in the most direct way possible. Part of this is due to the fact that he's used to taking orders from the military and dealing with people that make questionable decisions. Part of it is that he simply doesn't handle stupid people very well. Finally, part of it is that he has acknowledged that, sometimes, the truth hurts but it is better to speak the truth and hurt someone's feelings than to feel their heads with false delusions of grandeur.

Fierce - Because he makes friends in the online world, and even in the real world, so very infrequently Mack has a tendency to be a fierce individual. He is a very goal driven individual and once he's set his sights on a goal he will pursue it to the very best of his ability. He is extremely dedicated to his goals and to the handful of people that he calls friends. He is also inclined, in certain situations, to react with violence first rather than talking things out.

Profession: Blacksmith
Rank: High Mentor (1234/1280)

Skills
Non-combat:


Passive:
Survival: Immunity from Environmental Status Effects, Heal Bonus when out of combat (Bonus)
Meditation: 0 Ranks, Recover X Energy while in Combat on a CD of 10+, X = # of Ranks (Bonus)

Combat:
Heavy Armor: 5 Ranks (+30 Mit.)
Charge: 5 Ranks (+5 DMG on Opening Attack)
Battle Healing: 4 Ranks (+40 Total HP Healed on CD 10+)
Fighting Spirit: +1 Hate per post
Martial Arts: 0 Ranks (Bonus)
Concentration: +1 to BD for 1 attack, 5 turn cool down (Bonus)

Weapon skills:
Two-Handed Battle Axe: 5 Ranks

Mods:
Heavy Armor Athletics: +1 Dam., +15 HP
Heavy Armor Stonewall: +Active Mit to HP, -1 EVA

Inventory
Weapons/Tools:

Invictus (+6 Dam, - Two-Handed Battleaxe) - Equipped
Pertinax (+54 Mitigation) - Equipped
St. Michael's Fingers (+54 Regen.) - Equipped
Golden Axe Amulet (+3 ACC)
Trooper's Respite (+2 Recovery)
Antler Charm (+1 Acc) 
Angelic Lantern (Light Generation and +2 Heavy Momentum)
5 Teleport Crystals
Demonic Egg (Changes Type on Demonic Equipment)
Two-Handed Axe of the Fallen (+1 Acc., +4 DMG)
Banner of Command (0/3 +1 DMG/Battle)
Banner of Support (3/3, +20 HP)
100 Proof Potion
Werepotion
Beowolf Steak (+6 Mit/thread)
Somber Berry Split (-1 Status Dam./thread, +2 LD/thread)
Sand Armor Potion (+27 Mit./Thread)
1 +4 Dam. Potion
Cerberus Soul Potion (+2 Fire Damage on Crit./Thread)
Matriarch's Stinger (+1 DMG/Thread)
4 +4 Energy Drinks
3 Antidote Potions
1 Safeguard Potion
4 Dimensional Pouches
2 +15 HP Crystals
1 +5 Healing Potion
1 +15 & after a turn +5 Healing Potion
2 Snowfrost Potion (Half Fire Damage Potion)
40 Good Quality Food Items
3 Bread
6 Water
175 T1 Crafting Materials
8 T2 Crafting Mats
4007 Col
228 SP Total
4 Unused SP
Bandit's Guile Potion
Lightning Rod
Safeguard Pot


Roleplays
» Solo The Adventure Begins 
» Open Defeating the Pack
» Solo Earning a Living - Becoming a Blacksmith - Quest
» Solo The Tedious Nature of Smithing
» Private Feeding the Enemy-Quest
» Private Enclosed in SAO
» Open The Beginning
» Private Breaking the Unbreakable - Quest 
» Solo The Traveler - Quest
» Solo Gemini - Quest
» Open The Next Step to Freedom
» Private Test of Steel
» Solo Thrill of the Hunt 
» Solo Let There Be Light - Quest
» Open Fort Valmort - Mini Dungeon
» Solo Third Floor Hunting
» Private Feeding the Enemy - Beoreson
» Private Meeting of the Minds - Guild
» Private The Forlorn Castle - Guild 
» Private Beware of Giants Bearing Gifts 
» Open Transcending Planes
» Private Fists of Steel vs Rock of Rock (Quest)
» Open First Steps
» Private Recruit, Fall In (Guild)
» Open The Embarrassing Spoils of War - Guild
» Private Forged to Perfection (Quest-Guild) 
» Private Avalanche - Quest (Guild)
» Private Road to the Top
» Solo Search for the Hoya - Quest
» Private Our Fallen Comrade - (Guild) 
» Solo The Next Great Hunt
» Private Building Bridges - (Guild)
» Private Secret Medicine of the Forest (Guild-Quest)
» Solo Search for the Hoya (Quest-Repeat)
» Open The Re-Opening of the Iron Blade
» Private The Day After 
» Private Long Live the Queen (Quest-Guild)
» Open The Return of a Coward
» Open The Lake
» Private Guardian of Fire - (Quest)
» Private Wail of the Banshee - (Quest)
» Private Scouting the 11th Floor 

COMBAT SYSTEM UPDATE THREAD BREAK

» Solo Back to the Basics
» Open PSA - Duel: Mack & Xion - Combat Tutorial (Guild)
» Private Light of the Sword Art 
» Private The Awaited Meeting 
» Private Blood in the Sand - Quest
» Private Another Day, Another Member 
» Private Goodbye Opal
» Private Trial and Error (Guild)
» Private And So It Begins (Guild)
» Private Helping Out - The Essence of Steel (Quest)
» Private Reminiscences 
» Private Breaking the Unbreakable (Quest)
» Private A Night of Freedom
» Private Becoming a Crimson Blader (Guild) 
» Private One Big Happy Family (Guild) 
» Private Trampling Some Foliage (Guild) 
» Solo Worn Out Welcome (Quest)
» Private Long Live the Queen (Guild Quest) 
» Open Now Recruiting: The Dapper Rogues
» Private Miriko Recruit Training (Guild) 
» Private An Unruly Plot (Quest)
» Private Butcher vs. Butchers (Quest)
» Private Mingling in the Maze (Quest) 
» Private I Don't Like Sand (Quest) 
» Open Pre-Raid Relaxation
» Private Paving the Way to Floor 12
» Private Following the Cries in the Dark (Quest Repeat) 
» Private Crimson Snow 
» Private Prologue: Forgotten in the Past (Guild) 
» Private The Temple of Doom
» Private Making Headway - Floor 12 Boss Raid Meeting 
» Private Paving the Way to Floor 12
» Solo Guardian of Fire (Quest)
» Open  Knights of the Blood Oath Recruiting and Guild Merger 
» Private Strike Team Assemble
» Private Third Time's the Charm
» Open Not All the Darkened Souls Were Monsters [F13 Boss Fight]
» Private Back At It
» Private Wail of the Banshee - Abandoned
» Private The Falling of Tagas (Guild Quest) 
» Private The Lord of the Seas (Quest) - Abandoned
» Solo Mats & Col
» Private Family Reunion - Abandoned
» Solo Bandit Camp (Quest)
» Private KOTB Social
» Private  The New Contender Has Gone Fishing
» Open Civil War - Abandoned
» Private The Ant Queen's Lair - Mini Dungeon - +1 SP
» Private Hunting the Essential 
» Open A Late Christmas - +1 SP
» Open  Planning, Plotting, and Possibly Even Scheming
» Private Iron Guardian - Quest Repeat
» Solo It's Not Parry Farming, But It Works For Me
» Private Just that Quick [Floor Boss Battle]
» Private A Dirge for Azide, a Hero of Aincrad - +1 SP
» Private Hot Springs Party - +1 SP
» Private Testing One's Mettle - +1 SP
» Private Queen Beedrill
» Private Spelunking Expedition - +1 SP, +133 Col
» Private Finding Her Voice - Abandoned
» Private Moving Forward, Part 2 
» Private The Climb, Part 1 
» Private The Climb, Part 2
» Private The Climb, Part 3 
» Private The Climb, Part 4 
» Private The Climb, Part 5 
» Private The Climb, Part 6
» Private The Climb, Part 7
» Private The Climb, Part 8 - +4 SP, +4 Dimensional Pouches
» Private The Climb, Part 9 - +4 SP
» Private The Climb, Part 10 - +3 SP, +30320 Col, +60 Mats
» Solo Es-Cha-Pay, That's Spelled Just Like Escape (Quest) - +3 SP, +400 Col, +8 T1 Mats, +Bandit's Guile Pot
» Private Fifteenth Floor Boss Raid Meeting - +1 SP, +Planning Table Bonus for F15 Boss Raid
» Private Meeting of the Two-Tone Knights - +1 SP
» Private Armored Up - Grandmaster Thread - +400 Col to KoB, +1 SP, +GM Heavy Armor
» Private Easter Event Boss - +4 SP, +1 Demonic Egg
» Private The Banshee's Curse - +5 SP (Quest + Intermediate Dungeon), +Bottled Banshee Scream
» Private Just That Slow - Floor Boss Battle - +4 SP, +3109 Col
» Private All Hands on Deck - KoB - +1 SP
» Private A Change in Pace - +1 SP, +200 Col
» Private Sixteenth Floor Raid Meeting - +1 SP, +40 Col
» Event Slaying Lyrica, the Werewolf Baroness - +1 SP
» Private Deforestation - Quest - +6 SP (Quest+Dungeon), +Tiger Rage Potion
» Private A Case of Wurms - Quest - Abandoned
» Private Seventeenth Floor Raid Meeting - +1 SP, +40 Col
» Private The Knights Raid Planning - Floor 17 - +1 SP
» Private Snow Day - IN PROGRESS
» Private Cultivate - Mini Dungeon - Abandoned
» Private Legendary Lightning Lizard-like Leviathan Lord - Quest - +4 SP, +Lightning Rod, +Safeguard, -Teleport Crystal
» Solo Calming the Soul - Quest - +3 SP, +Meditation Skill, +400 Col, +4 Mats
» Event Into the Fray [F17 Boss Raid] - +8 SP, +3142 Col
» Event Nerius, the Evil Treant - +6 SP, +2074 Col, +10 T2 Mats
» Open Christmas Comes But Once a Year - +2 SP, +800 Col
» Private Scorched Earth <Guardian of Fire> - IN PROGRESS
» Private Witch of the West and the Three Treasures - IN PROGRESS
» Private The Quest for Pajama Pants - IN PROGRESS
» Private Dragon Hunter Anthology: Emerald Hatchling (Quest) - IN PROGRESS
» Private Crush Enemies, See Them Driven Before You, Hear the Lamentations of the Women (F20 Labyrinth Search) - +1 SP, +200 Col, +2 T2 Mats
» Private Tip Toe Through the Window - IN PROGRESS
» Event Dance of the Crossed Paths - +3 SP
» Event True Love Strikes Harder - +6 SP, +Heart Sticker (Allows item to transform into a similar item of the same type)
» Event The Rovian Wars, Part II - +2 SP

Relationships (optional)

Magda - Twin Sister
Michiko - Little Sister
Samriel - On Friends List
Mayuri - On Friends List
Piera - On Friends List
Hirru - Guildmate
Macradon - Guildmate
Grave - Guildmate
Beoreson - Guildmate
Xion - Guildmate
Lawfer - Guildmate
Lindow - Guildmate (Deceased)
Jevi - Acquaintance
Abalasster - Acquaintance
Alex - Acquaintance
Aramail - Acquaintance
Freddy - Acquaintance
Shirosu - Acquaintance
Vasth - Acquaintance
Red_Rose - Acquaintance
Koumori - Pain in the Butt
Opal - Enemy (Deceased)

Story Thus Far (optional)