Carambit

"Anything else I want to ask about?" Carambit thought to himself for a bit before contently shaking his head "No, I think I'm about set." the player said with a smile. He then started to feel a warm chill run down his back. The fire place burning welcomed him into the large, comfortable abode.

He looked around the cozy house, taking in the warmth of it's inviting environment. "I love your place man. Using it as a headquarters? That's pretty cool. Is there anything specific I would have to do in order to join the guild?" he inquired. The idea of joining these guys and being part of their organized family sounded really nice. "Like are there tests or trials or anything?" asked Carambit, as a slightly more stern look fell upon his face. He opened his inventory and perused through his skills and items. He seemingly had all the items he needed to head forward. Hopefully he'd be able to at least make a small dent against the things they were going up against.

The more he heard about this guild the more enticing the offer seemed. Carambit himself was still tossing up whether he wanted to be a tank or a dps class of player. He was at the stage now where he had options and he still had not invested in any major skills yet.

"So the log cabin, is that your place?" He asked. From here it seemed like a nice, moderately sized, comfy abode. Carambit had heard that you could buy homes but to have one so out of the way seemed dangerous. Perhaps since he was a higher level this was fine for him.

Carambit began to think about what kind of beasts they would fight on the higher floors. Are they very different to the ones they were facing here? What advantages would these creatures have over players? The fact he was with Atzo to guide him through it while tanking for him meant that he would get to have a sneak peek at the higher levels before getting to a level where it was appropriate for him to get up there and face them as a surprise. He counted himself lucky that he encountered Atzo today.

This Emerald Harbingers guild didn't sound so bad. If everyone was as friendly as Atzo was, then Carambit would definitely like to be a part of it. "So... How many people are in this Emerald Harbingers guild of yours? What kind of people are they?" he asked as he sheathed his sword and started walking beside Atzo again, continuing to approach his place. He was growing more and more curious to see what kind of a house Atzo had.

Carambit noted his friend's advice. He'll be sure to be as careful as possible when they move up to the higher floor. "Alright, I'll be sure to let you draw their attention first and then jump in and chip away at them. I probably won't make a huge difference in tilting combat in our favor, but I'll certainly try my best." he warned his friend. If the combat they just experienced had taught him anything, it was that he wasn't nearly as lucky or skilled as Atzo is.

Carambit was taken aback by his generosity. "Really? I can have first pick of loot? That's awesome! Thank you!" A big, happy grin stretched across his face. This guy really isn't so bad. He seems to be super kind.

"Floor four? Well... I mean as long as you think it'll be safe for me up there, that should be alright." He was nervous about progressing to the point where things would get truly life threatening for him, but he had to at the very least try and take risks. Who knows? Maybe much better loot will drop for him up there. He'd only ever been to level 2 max, but with Atzo's help me may well be able to make some real progress up there.

Seeing the lion collapse to the ground, and hearing Atzo's encouragement, Carambit drew his blade and went for the lion. Despite it being stunned however, the lion was still able to evade his attack. It positioned it's body to avoid his slash just enough so that he barely shaved a few hairs off of it. Feeling embarrassed, he took a quick step backward, trying not to draw aggro from the beast.

[ID# 85894]
[BD = 3 (+1) = 4 (miss)]

Carambit strongly considered his offer. He felt like he was missing that community, friendship and comradery that came with being part of a guild. He wanted to get a better feel for this guy and the kind of players in the guild first, before deciding to dive in. "I'll take that into consideration. Thanks for the invite." He said to Atzo with a smile. "So, what kinda materials did you want to gather today? Metals? Hides? Maybe hope for some equipment drops?" Carambit said, as he stretched and then relaxed his arms and rested his hands on the back of his head, before examining his new buddy. Atzo seemed like the type of player who had decent gear. He had to be at least level 15, so the gear down on floor 2 probably wasn't worth his while. "Being that I'm teaming up with you, the monsters we're going after are going to be pretty tough, aren't they?"
@Atzo

((OOC: Sorry for the late reply. Had a pretty busy day.))

The cool air rolled through Carambit's hair. He liked nice cool nights like this. "Uh, my running speed? Not incredible, let's say that much. Probably better if we walk it. We wouldn't want me running out of energy before we even get to fight." Carambit said, half joking, half concerned that exactly that would happen. He looked up at the moon hanging in the sky, stars looking down over the whole floor. "So, you've seen the floors above this one right? What's it like? Are there any you... You know, like?" he asked Atzo. He wanted to get to know him a bit more, but at the same way at least by asking this he would get a slightly better gauge of where his new friend sits on the experience scale. He knew for sure this guy was tougher than him, but he wanted to at lease close in a little bit on just how much tougher he was. "Do you know people on any of the upper floors? People in the clearing parties and whatnot?"

Carambit chuckled. "Ah the alcohol here doesn't affect me nearly as much as it did back in the real world. I'll be okay." he smiled as he took another mouthful of his drink and stood up with his friend.

As Atzo pulled out his blade, Carambit couldn't help but examine it. He saw himself in it. Not quite himself, but it was certainly 'him'. He saw his meek self, standing alone as his friends all walked away from him. He saw their smiles laughing as they spoke to one another. He saw himself sitting alone under the spotlight of a full moon peering through the clouds, but as he began to look deeper he was suddenly snapped out of it by Atzo's request to stop at his place. "Oh! Yeah sure, that's fine." He himself didn't have a house yet. He knew how ridiculously high they're priced in this world, and knew how little Col he had left. Buying a place seemed so far out of his scope. This guy Atzo must be several levels ahead of him.

"Oh, nothing too exciting. I was really bored and needed something to do. Couldn't help but realize I'm starting to feel lonely down on these lower floors because most other people are starting to progress into more dangerous territory and I'm kinda getting left behind..." He trailed off and looked into the mug he'd ordered, bubbles gathering around the edge of the liquid in the cup. "I'm hoping that I'll be able to catch up to them eventually."

The notion of teaming up and gaining some better gear immediately peaked his interest. "Yes! I'd love to get some better gear! Wearing this same old stuff has me running around in circles taking on really weak mobs one at a time, really not making any progress. I'd totally be down to go hunting!" He started to get pumped up at the thought, started feeling that adrenaline rush of having company to work with through the difficulties again. He began enthusiastically drinking the beer. He almost couldn't wait to get going.

Carambit listened to Atzo start rattling off his titles as he slowly slid downward into the chair and sat across from the player. As he began to speak of his sadness and the rough patch he was going through, Carambit began to sense a long, depressing story incoming, so he began to tune out a little. He heard the hustle and bustle of others speaking around the tavern, not close but conversations had from afar. One man lifted his flagon of ale with the other across from him as they collided, uproarious laughter billowing out from the two of them. Just after this happened however, he heard Atzo's pitch spike upward, and Carambit's attention snapped back into the conversation.

Oh no. He thought, That was a question.

Not about to embarrass himself in front of a potential new friend, he figured that introductions were what the man was asking for. "Carambit. Pleasure to meet you, Atzo. Well if you don't mind, I'd like to join you." He said as he himself ordered a mug of beer. If he was really with a friend, then why not have a drink.

Walking into the tavern, Carambit stretched and looked around to see who was about. A couple of people here and there talking among themselves, most of them he didn't recognize. One such person was sitting alone, enjoying a wine. He seemed like a nice enough guy, it just looked like he was having a rough time. Carambit started walking over to him to chat and see if he was alright. As he approached, the guy downed the remaining wine, and ordered 3 shots of jager. He shuddered at the thought.

"Ouch. Those wouldn't mix well. You're a braver man than I." he commented, before gesturing to the seat across from the other player, silently inquiring as to whether it was open for the taking or not. Normally he wouldn't approach someone and ask if it was cool to sit with them, but he figured why not, he had nothing to lose and he could potentially make a new friend out of it.

[ID# 85814]
[BD = 6 (+1) = 7 (hit)]
[MD = 7 (-1) = 6 (hit)]

Carambit: 66/80
Boar: 14/45

Carambit wasn't able to stand up in time. The best he could do was attempt to roll out of the way to mitigate some of the damage. The boar's tusk grazed past him, dealing a small bit of damage, but Carambit also slashed at the boar, injuring it in return. The boar was looking much worse for wear compared to when the two started out, but the player knew there'd still be a few attacks before this thing went down. He really needed to start investing in skills, otherwise every fight he was in would be a long-drawn-out slog.

[ID# 85813]
[BD = 10 (hit +2 DMG)]
[MD = 9 (-1) = 8 (hit +1 DMG)]

Carambit: 69/80
Boar: 17/45

The boar charged him and slammed into him, thrusting it's tusks upward into the player's leg as he brought his sword down and stabbed it into the beast's back. He may have taken some damage, but he dealt just as much back to the boar. The boar's head flung him backward over it's back and he dropped down onto one knee, balancing himself so he didn't completely fall over. The boar got distance and began to bring itself around to continue it's charge at him. Carambit barely got to his feet in time before the boar lined itself up with him and began sprinting toward him.

[ID# 85802]
[BD = 10 (YEA BOI) (hit + 2 DMG)]
[MD = 3 (-1) = 2 (miss)]

Carambit: 73/80
Boar: 22/45

The now enraged player began to take hold of his frustration and harness it in an effort to finish this battle as soon as possible. This had to end. Carambit lunged at the boar, madly hacking and slashing away at it, not allowing the boar to counterattack at all. He dealt a significant amount of damage, but he sensed that this would not be able to carry on for much longer, as the boar was seemingly bolstering itself, readying for another attack. He stepped aside just in time to narrowly avoid it goring him with it's tusks as it charged past him. Carambit took a moment to catch his breath and watch the boar. It looked like it had sustained a decent amount of damage, but he'd probably have to do just as much as he's already done to bring this thing down. He couldn't fathom the kind of beasts the clearing party must deal with, and how they manage to deal with them.

[ID# 85801]
[BD = 8 (+1) = 9 (hit)]
[MD = 6 (-1) = 5 (miss)]

Carambit: 73/80
Boar: 27/45

Now returning to the seemingly long drawn out and complicated battle, Carambit began to consider the fact that he may need to invest in some skills. Perhaps some quests that granted skills he needed were in his future. He and the boar came to a grappling standstill, his blade blocking it's tusks and each entity pushing against one another with all their might. Carambit swiftly stepped back and to his left, allowing the boar to shift forward and throw itself off balance. As he did so, he swung his sword across, raking the blade against it's flesh and carving it open. The pig squealed in pain and anger.

"That's for making me run!" he yelled at it, the frustration of the battle beginning to bubble over.

[ID# 85799]
[BD = 4 (+1) = 5 (miss)]
[MD = 3 (-1) = 2 (miss)]

Carambit: 73/80
Boar: 30/45

What followed was a comical chase, wherein Carambit ran after a boar, more or less in circles, waving his sword around in the air and screaming "GET BACK HERE PIGGY!"
This went on for several minutes before eventually he realized this could not carry on for much longer, or else he'd throw up, pass out or die. Or all of the above.

Carambit skidded to a halt, and spun around, swinging his sword wide across where the boar might be if it continued it's circular looping pattern, only to catch air and almost get thrown off balance by his own swing. Once he caught himself, the player realized that the boar was a few feet away from him and had broken it's circuit the same time he did. The two looked at each other for a moment, catching their respective breaths, before getting back into it.

[ID# 85794]
[BD = 6 (+1) = 7 (hit)]
[MD = 4 (-1) = 3 (miss)]

Carambit: 73/80
Boar: 30/45

With a roar, Carambit sprinted forward at the boar, assaulting it with a flurry of slashes. None of them were too deep, but he certainly landed a few hits on it. The boar squealed in pain and fled from him, charging past him to avoid the damage. Carambit wasn't fast enough to turn around and catch it, so once again it had gained enough distance to start a new charge. The player hurried to his feet and clutched his sword tight as he began to run after it. The more distance he could close between them, the less impact the boar would have with it's next attack against him.

[ID# 85793]
[BD = 10 (hit +2 DMG)]
[MD = 6 (-1) = 5 (miss)]

Carambit: 73/80
Boar: 33/45

Carambit knew that last time he got lucky, and he wasn't about to risk charging against the boar again, at least not right now. He began in the same pose as last time, however as the boar got close enough to him, he leapt up into the air, and thrust his sword down into the boar's back, leap-frogging over the top of it as he shanked it. The boar collapsed onto the ground as Carambit quickly retracted his sword arm, and the boar rolled along the ground until finally coming to a halt and struggling to find its footing again.

This time the player wasn't going to give it the chance to get back onto the offensive. It was charging him repeatedly, but now it was time for him to start leading the charge back against it.

[ID# 85792]
[BD = 3 (+1) = 4 (miss)]
[MD = 3 (-1) = 2 (miss)]

Carambit: 73/80
Boar: 38/45

The boar didn't charge however. It stood still, lowering it's form and kicking up dirt. Carambit figured it was attempting to intimidate him into retreating, but he would do no such thing. The player crept forward, slowly and cautiously, watching the boar for any kind of movement that might indicate another attack. As he stepped closer and closer, the boar seemed more and more agitated, until eventually it decided to charge again. With a squeal it began it's assault, picking up speed with every step toward him.

[ID# 85789]
[BD = 9 (+1) = 10 (hit +1 DMG)]
[MD = 9 (-1) = 8 (hit +1 DMG)]

Carambit: 73/80
Boar: 38/45

As it fled, Carambit called out "Oh no you don't!" and brought his sword across it's rear, cleaving it for more damage. However in leaning into it to do so, he had left himself wide open. The boar's rear legs kicked back and collided with the player's face. Although he knew he couldn't actually feel pain, he still recoiled back and brought his free hand to his face and he clambered backward away from the boar, allowing it to gain it's distance. "Darn it!"

Once he freed his face from his palm, he noticed the boar preparing for yet another charge. "Okay then swine," he said, stepping his right foot back and lowering his stance to prepare for impact. "Bring it on!"

[ID# 85787]
[BD = 6 (+1) = 7 (hit)]
[MD = 7 (-1) = 6 (hit)]

Carambit: 77/80
Boar: 42/45 (hoo boy this is gonna be a long one)

The player wouldn't lose his resolve however, as it charged him, he charged it right back. He lifted his sword in one arm, and pushed the other shoulder forward, tucking the arm in to protect his chest. It was at this moment he thought "I should invest in a shield... That could probably do me some good." but at the end of this thought was when he felt the impact. The boar had knocked him into a fully upright position and given him the chance to swing back against it as it had left itself wide open. With a grunt he slashed at it's side with his sword, carving a decent piece out of it.

The boar squealed in pain and broke free from the grapple, showing it's rear to him as it attempted to gain some distance for another charge.

[ID# 85786]
[BD = 1 (+1) = 2 (miss)]
[MD = 6 (-1) = 5 (miss)]

Carambit: 80/80
Boar: 45/45

His overconfidence got the better of him, as the boar landed it's next strike against him. It's hard skull slammed into Carambit's thigh as he attempted to step out of the way, throwing him slightly off balance and sending him into a stumble. Thankfully the boar's tusks hadn't had the chance to tear through his flesh. His stumble meant as it flicked it's head upward in an attempt to catch him with the tusks, he managed to just barely get out of it's way, avoiding any major damage.

After quickly scrambling to get back to his feet and ready his weapon again, he found the boar was not letting up. It was already in the middle of another charge at him. "How much energy does this thing have?! Will it ever stop running?"

[ID# 85784]
[BD = 3 (+1) = 4 (miss)]
[MD = 2 (-1) = 1 (miss)]

The boar rushed at him, sharp tusks ready to slam into the player with all the creature's might. Carambit faked a step to his left, and as he saw the boar's slight change in trajectory, he spun back around to the right, dodging the boar's attack and pivoting on his heel to turn back around, facing it once again. The boar came to a skidding halt and turned back toward him, rushing him relentlessly once more.

"Olè." he said with a small chuckle to himself.

(noticed now that my HP was incorrect for my level in the previous posts, so I'll have it set correctly from this point onward)

Now with the dust shaken off and after catching a nice breather back in town, Carambit was ready to get back out there and keep grinding. This time however, it was going to be worth his while. He was going after a slightly bigger fish. A bigger wolf with a decent hide, or a boar with a hide drop he could use back in town. After wandering the fields for a little, he found a boar spawn that may work for him. Carambit drew his sword and edged tentatively closer to the boars, before picking up a rock and throwing it at the closest one to him, in an effort to break it away from the rest of the spawned pack so that he could take them on one at a time.

Luckily this caught the boar's attention and it turned around with a snort, emitting a snotty, spray from it's big nostrils. "Ugh." he thought to himself. "Boars are not the most pleasant creatures around."

There wasn't much time for thought past this however, as the boar was quite displeased with him for throwing the rock, and wished to share it's feelings with him in the form of goring him with its tusks as it began to charge.

With a deep breath of fresh air and feeling the glowing sun on his skin, Carambit stepped toward the city gates where he was supposed to be meeting @Able to go monster hunting with. Finally he was going to have a friend to grind with. It was such a hassle doing it all on his own. This would definitely speed up the process and make things more enjoyable now that he was getting back into it.

Equipped with his normal gear, he strolled over to the gates and waited there, seemingly arriving early for their meeting, and waiting for his buddy to arrive. He tried to contain his excitement to get out there with a friend watching his back, but couldn't help a faint smile breaking through.

The exhausted player sunk into the bench in town and watched other people walk by, left and right. The odd one here and there would wave or nod knowingly at him and he'd smile back at them. A few people around town knew who he was now. This was mostly because he had spent his time (and most of his savings in Col) here in town over the past few months/years. However his funds were running low and he was starting to lose patience in the clearing team not having the support they truly needed. Corey saw himself at the Frontlines, backing up his friends and the other players who had helped him get a foothold in this world, and he didn't want to let them down.

If he was going to get up to their level, then he was going to have to push himself to his limits and get up there with them. He couldn't keep taking naps and breaks from the cause...

Well... This short break was acceptable and necessary. But you get the point. It was time to get back out there and get to work leveling up.
... Maybe just 5 more minutes first though.

[HP regen: +10 (20/21)]