Endilix

Endilix tried his best not to read too much into Emerath's words as they walked. Despite the muffled nature of his mask, Emerath's words seemed sincere enough. Besides, if he really wasn't into the whole teamwork thing, then he probably wouldn't have been working with Endilix again in the first place. Endilix remembered when they had first tried questing together. It resulted with Emerath commanding Endilix around and ultimately just being bossy. This wasn't as far away from that, but it was better. Endilix could accept that it at least seemed like Emerath was trying. As Emerath pointed to the mouth of the cave, Endilix cracked his neck and pulled his gaudy orange pumpkin shield from his back. "Alright then. Let's save a little girl," he said, as he stepped into the cave.

"But damn is it dark in here," Endilix said, not too far into the cave, as the darkness became thick and stifling. His eyes adjusted just enough that the trickles of light from the mouth of the cave were enough to make out basic shapes and such. "I almost wish you had meant it literally when you said it was my time to shine. That would be really helpful right about now," Endilix said with a chuckle, as he crunched rocks beneath his steel boot. It wasn't until he had stepped on a few twigs and kicked a rock across the cave that he heard a creature's deep, guttural growl.

"Well, that isn't a sound a child would normally make..." Endilix said as he whirled towards the source of the sound to see two crimson eyes staring at him in the darkness. He could make out the basic shape of what appeared to be a bat, before it suddenly flew at him, prompting Endilix to duck out of reflex. Endilix grunted, and tried to make out the shape of his brother in the darkness, "Emerath, combat. Get ready!"

Combat Data

Endilix watched the bat swoop around him, before shouting at the creature, "Get down here you little winged rat!" Its eyes flashed red as it seemed to recognize the insult, and dove headfirst for the armored man. The bat's swoop struck true, but Endilix had managed to get his shield up in time to stop the blow, as the pumpkin lid's thorns tore into the black creature's flesh, leaving red gashes as it shrieked and flew backwards. Its health dropped, but not quite into the yellow, as Endilix grunted and kept his shield at the ready, hoping that Emerath might be able to finish off the thing before it became a nuisance.

Endilix grumbled some more as Emerath led the way and forged a path towards the quest for them. "He's calling me a lazy bum... my own brother... that hurts..." Endilix mumbled as he followed along towards the town gate. He had no real need to interject during the quest dialogue. He had no real need to interject during any of this. Endilix was here to serve as a meat shield, and while he knew that, and accepted it, a part of him still felt depressed. "So there's nothing that I can really do until we do the fighty bits?" Endilix mourned to his brother as they walked, passing by the town gates and out into the wild mountains and valleys of the surrounding area. "You know, I expected this. But I have to tell you, you haven't gotten any more fun when it comes to teamwork or anything in the past few months."

Thread Statistics

Endilix groaned as he shielded his eyes from the sun after stepping off the warp gate. He squinted at the light, as he headed to the place that Emerath told him to meet him on the Second Floor. He let out a loud yawn as he walked, the metal plates of his armor shifting and scraping against one another lightly as he stretched, before he placed his hands back at his sides as he walked, his blue shoulder cloak falling neatly back into place around his arm and hammers. With the revamped look, Endilix had taken to wearing both of his warhammers, just in case he needed to switch between the two. With Emerath in his party, it certainly made the paralyzing hammer more viable.

As Endilix managed to catch up to his brother, the obvious sore thumb sticking out in the middle of a bustling crowd, he grumbled and said, "Did we really have to go out and do this at the break of dawn? You know I'm not a morning person."

Thread Complete

• Emerath Gains 1 SP
• Endilix Gains 1 SP

Endilix had heard the conversation taking place behind him, and he turned to watch the exhange. As Ecclesia came to Endilix, he unequipped the armor, standing there for the first time in a while in just a light blue tunic and brown pants, his original starter clothes. He pulled out the armor and handed it over to the woman, before saying, "Please take care of it. It was a gift." Ecclesia nodded and in a whirl was scurrying back to her back room, where Endilix could hear her working away with her tools. Endilix sighed and looked back to the mask. "So what, are we some sort of super heroes now?" Endilix asked his brother as Ecclesia worked in the back. "If that's the case, it's going to take more than an armor redye to make me look the part. More than a mask even," Endilix said as he looked over some of the pieces Ecclesia had for sale. "I need a good cloak. Every good hero in the action movies or animes has a cloak." Endilix saw one that caught his fancy. A flat dark blue cloak that seemed to bunch up around the neck, but actually hang over the shoulder. He grabbed it and pulled it on, and then quickly made his way back to the mask, and put it on as well. "Well?" he turned and asked his brother.

Right on cue, Ecclesia pushed out of the back room, with Endilix's armor in tow, gray and even with a new shine. "Oooh, how dashing you are! Now try this with it!" Endilix nodded, and took the armor from the woman's hands, equipping it. It fit snugly over the cloak, the cloak fitting under the shoulder plate, and the poofy part around the neck sticking out as he moved. He turned to a mirror, and for the first time since he started playing this game, Endilix actually felt like a hero.

Endilix watched as Emerath spoke, relaxing as he settled the woman down and kept to the task at hand. As he managed to reach their request for help, the woman's face stiffened with the inquiry and she cocked her head and stroked her chin thoughtfully as she said, "I would imagine it works the same. I presume you would like to see about dyeing that young man's drab armor?" Endilix's face went involuntarily red at this. Fashion had never been his priority. It had always been about functionality. But that didn't mean that Endilix wasn't interested in looking good. Simply that he had never put a focus on it. Endilix turned away, in a subconsciously feeble attempt to hide himself in the background, as he looked around at the wares for sale. The only thing truly of note was a mask that sat on a mannequin head on the counter. It was gray with blue embroidery, and he felt himself drawn to it.

It had the appearance of a masquerade mask, and Endilix considered the idea of matching his armor colors to this mask, should everything work out. He would come to have an appearance of a medieval knight in the renaissance era, which would match Emerath's persona in a way. "I like this mask..." he found himself saying out loud, "I think I'd want my armor to be colored gray with blue lining."

Endilix listened to his brother as they walked, and everything seemed to make sense enough. Of course, there was no real way to hide your username from others if you actively wanted to work together, so the idea wasn't to have some secret identity. But to instead shape the identity that people saw in relation to that name. There were plenty of superheroes that existed that actually gave their names upfront, and this would have to be no different. Although with his look, Emerath seemed more like a vigilante than a superhero. Endilix would have to make sure he counterbalanced that.

Once they had reached the storefront, it appeared as if Emerath was nudging Endilix onward, and it was time that Endilix took the reins. So he stepped onto the small porch and pushed his way through the doorway, with a soft bell chime ringing throughout the space to indicate that customers had arrived. Endilix looked around to see mannequins standing around advertising outfits, and many clothes hanging on hangers, reminiscent of an actual retail clothes shop in the real world. It wasn't anything incredibly fancy, but instead more of a homely feeling shop. One that would be run by an old lady who loved making clothes.

Much to Endilix's chagrin, he wasn't disappointed, as he heard a soft voice call out, "Hello dears, welcome to the shop! Please let me know if I can be of assistance!" and Endilix traced the sound to a stout white haired woman. She was plump, with some clear wrinkles, but not enough to be older than say, 50 years old. Endilix gave a light bow, and said, "Actually ma'am, I believe you can help us. You see, I have some questions."

The lady, presumably Ecclesia, positively beamed at this and said, "Oh, I'd be happy to help out a strapping young man like yourself any day. What can I do for you?" Endilix's words seemed to get caught in his throat at her sudden outburst and Endilix nervously turned back to his brother for assistance.

With the donning of Emerath's costume, it was almost as if he had become a whole other person. His persona had changed. He seemed more mischievous than his normal self. Perhaps it was the mask, or perhaps this was his plan all along? Pretend to be someone he isn't, throw people off, and change the way others view him. It was akin to donning the mask of a superhero, and Emerath almost seemed to revel in it.

Endilix couldn't help but smile at Emerath's antics as he stood and walked to the door to meet his brother there. "So have you thought of some fancy name for your new persona? Or are you just a simple plague doctor roaming the land?" Endilix gave Mist a pat on the head as he passed and walked out into the cold. He couldn't help but shiver, as his armor did practically nothing to protect him from the cold air flowing freely throughout the Fourth Floor. "A part of me wishes I had your outfit to stem the chill."

Endilix rubbed his chin at Emerath's explanation, mulling over the presented possibilities in a way that he never would have even considered. But that was just the way Emerath's mind worked. When limitations present themselves, how does one get around them? Think outside the box. Perhaps Endilix had been too hard headed to not be letting Emerath make all the tactical decisions. Sure, this was just a question of, "How do I look good while retaining stats?" that he had managed to answer. But if that type of mind was put to good use, who knew what Emerath would be capable of accomplishing? All manner of things would open up to not only the brothers, but to Aincrad as a whole. Perhaps, most importantly, their escape.

Or maybe Endilix was just holding his brother in too high of a regard. If Emerath could hear Endilix's thoughts, his head would surely swell to a massive size. But every good army needs a good tactician. If nothing else, his brother seemed to fit the bill there.

As Emerath continued to speak, commenting on Endilix's armor, Endilix snapped back into the moment. He looked down at his drab brown armor given to him by Flints. He couldn't even deny that it was drab, and perked up a bit at the idea of a fresh coat of paint for it. "Alright, you've got me interested. Perhaps it is time for a nice change of pace. Where should we start for my outfit?"

Endilix was more than a little surprised that Emerath had planned all of this out. Although, once he thought more about it, he was more surprised that he was surprised by this. This was Emerath, and this was who Emerath had always been. Endilix had gotten so out of touch with his twin brother that he was actually starting to lose sight of who the man was as a whole. Thoughtful, meticulous, and three steps ahead of every game plan. Endilix sighed and looked over the outfit that he had put together. It was dark, but it fit what he was going for. It was a plague doctor, but not the standard flowing robes. Instead it was the mask combined with more traditional leather adventuring armor. Endilix couldn't help but wonder, "Does it have any stats?" Endilix's eyes shifted back to his brother, who sipped the remainder of his tea. He wasn't entirely sure why this was his only real query, but he waited for Emerath's reply nonetheless.

Hey everyone, Endilix here for my regular, I don't post anymore but really wish I had the time/motivation nostalgia trip. So, it looks like I'm going to be the first, and maybe only veteran to go on record as saying that I think a hard reset is a good idea. But let me explain why.

I've made it no secret that despite the numbers game, my motivation is always the story. But from all my experience playing MMOs and actual video games, which SAO aims to emulate, and SAO-RPG further emulates, there is one key element missing for any and all new players. And I say this as someone who missed it myself. It's the chance to experience the story fresh.

Think about it. For you gamers out there who enjoy a good story, you boot up a game and you have this fresh, wide eyed wonder as you experience a world, fight all the bosses, and blaze your own trail. To bring people together, they have multiplayer, both co-op and competitive. If you beat the game but loved it, you can play it again. If you're playing an MMO, you get on the treadmill and keep running content for gear or stats, even if it's only once a week.

in short, your game is repeatable. And you can find new and creative ways to keep that childlike wonder in your heart because things aren't locked away behind the nostalgia of veterans saying, "Oh we did that."

I want to know what it's like to fight the first boss on floor one, when our characters had no clue what it was like. I want to feel like a veteran by floor 10, taking on the next level of harder bosses. I want the possibility of dying at any turn to feel real, and not something I can just avoid by not being in actual danger.

But I can hear you saying, "Well what if we do a hard reset and then you miss it again?" To which I say, get out of my head. But also, you're right, that is a real possibility. There's a few ways to fix that one. They're something that would take a bit of work either way, but seem better than allowing it to fester into nonsense again.

Option 1: Make a new "server" for the reset. Let everyone keep the ability to play their 2.X characters and ignore the new 3.0 server, separate of 3.0, allowing for the choice of a clean slate or veteran status with the old system. Realistically, I think 3.0 should be all new, regardless of it leading us to the promised lands, simply because staff needs a clear and defined way to know 100% that nothing exploited or broken is in the game.

Option 2: Make bosses and other "one time only" content fully repeatable. I already know your outcry on this one: "They didn't do that in the anime/manga, that's wrong!" And my main point is, let's be real here. The rules have already had to be pretty flexible and loose in order to get it working as a pen and paper type RPG, so what makes it impossible here? All of the end game content in MMOs is dungeons and raids. So let us do them again, and maybe the newbies will be more interested. I know I'd love that. Let me find a group to take down boss 1 and I'm a happy camper. It feels more real for people who want to be frontliners. Let's them build that story on the "front lines" without having to make up stuff.

Anyway, this is getting rambly and I'm sleepy. I hope I've gotten the gears turning at least. I think with a little more grease, a hard reset or fully repeatable content makes things easier on is a players. Now I won't lie and say it makes it easy on staff, but that's why we love you guys. See you on my next nostalgia trip everyone.

Endilix couldn't help but notice his mind wander, as Emerath began to talk about Teion and Flints. Endilix still wondered how they were, and couldn't help but hope that their paths would cross again eventually. Endilix had no real qualms with what Emerath's rules were, but he did speak up at a few points afterwards, "A few things, brother. If I may." Endilix accepted the cup and saucer from his brother. He plopped some sugar cubes into the tea, and accepted the stirring stick when it was offered, before offering up, "During combat, just let me make my own decisions. If it's something serious, like a boss battle or a quest, we can discuss strategies beforehand. But don't be trying to tell me what to do during the fight. That could lead to distractions, and possibly death. Agreed?"

Leaving Emerath to mull over that point for a moment, Endilix continued, "There is another who will probably know me. There's a kid I saved, his name is Razum-dar. He's a red haired kid, just like us. He's a bit taller than we are, and originally was a thief, stealing from crowds and the like. He was going to be executed at the hands of a thieves guild down in an underground monster arena. Flints and I saved him, and he adventured with us for a time before I lost him one day while searching for his original captors. I haven't seen the kid since." Endilix finished stirring and set the stirring stick on his saucer with a soft clink as he picked up the cup and took a sip. After his drink, he set the cup back down and said, "And lastly, what do you mean change my persona? I don't want to be someone different."

Endilix would be lying if he had said he wasn't surprised that he had managed to bring Emerath around to his side of things. But as it was with Emerath, it wasn't quite so simple as getting him to agree. Endilix couldn't help but sigh at the idea, but he knew that he would end up agreeing to it anyway. He wasn't sure what rules Emerath had in mind, but he wasn't sure if he trusted the not outlandish part. Emerath was nothing if not one for flair and the dramatic. Begrudgingly, Endilix said, "Okay, your rules. We'll do this how you want to. If it means that we get things done." Endilix was a simple person at heart. He didn't want to be alone anymore, he wanted to tank, and he wanted to go on an adventure. There wasn't a better person for all of these things, nor one he could trust more than his twin. Despite their differences.

It was a minor victory, but Endilix would accept it as a victory nonetheless. He gave a silent cheer as Emerath turned and walked into the shop. As he walked in he looked around, and by the layer of dust aside from the footsteps between the door and the chair, and the chair and Mist's cage, it was clear that Emerath didn't really do much. His shelves were devoid of any potions, he had no materials scattered about to indicate use. This place looked abandoned, aside from the area around the fireplace. It was clear he spent most of his time, if not all of it, at that spot. Endilix grew increasingly worried about his brother, but supposed that being a hermit living next to a fireplace was still better than dead. Not that Emerath was the type to off himself, just like Endilix. Ultimately they'd just sit and waste away before they took their own lives.

"Look, Emerath, it's plain to see that not much has been going on here," Endilix started as he closed the door behind him, and locked it, before moving to catch up to his brother moving deeper into the shop. "Nothing has happened with either of us. We haven't progressed, we've just been waiting. But we can't keep doing that. We need to fight, and we need to get home. You know our parents miss us, our friends, everyone. I want to see you succeed, the way you always have. Please, let's work together to build ourselves back up again." Endilix hoped his pleas didn't fall on deaf ears. His brother had a tendency to be stubborn and headstrong, and not the least of all arrogant. But he hoped that just this once he could put it aside, for both of their futures. Finally, Endilix decided to make one final plea, one that he hoped Emerath would listen to more than anything else, based on how he had spoke in the past few moments, "If nothing else, think of Mist. She'd be happy to adventure, I'm sure. Fresh air, free skies... just something to think about."

Endilix pressed forward against Emerath's hand. He could feel his own anger rising at the man's words. "Look, you're right okay? I want something," Endilix started as he leaned forward against the light push, pointing his own finger at Emerath's face, "I want my brother back. My twin, that would always be with me no matter what. I'm so sick and tired of walking around this game alone. I'm sick of trying to be some hardened hero that can stand up to anything. I'm only human, alright?" Endilix put his own hand on Emerath's chest, and pointed into the shop, "Look, let's go inside, alright? We can talk more about this in there. If you really hate me after we've had a chance to discuss, then I'll leave forever. But at least hear me out, okay? I can't keep doing this alone. And from the looks of your dusty shop, neither can you."

Endilix had expected anger, but he hadn't expected such venom to be dripping from Emerath's every word. But perhaps the man had been right. Endilix had been selfish to his brother. He had tried to make it seem like he was a selfless savior of Aincrad by helping others, but was that all just a facade he put up to try to make himself feel better? With a heavy sigh, Endilix followed after his brother, the snow crunching under his boots as he said, "Wait, wait, Emerath, you're right. I'm sorry. But you're absolutely right. We all abandoned you. Me, Flints, and maybe even Teion. I don't know if the others are alive, but I am. And I'm sorry that you've had to struggle so hard on your own." Endilix caught up to Emerath as he fumbled with the door, and tried his best to get the man's attention as he spoke, not wanting him to enter the shop and leave him before they could resolve things.

Here Endilix sat, staring up at the brother he hadn't see in ages. It had been so long since either of them had spoken to each other, and Endilix had come here on a whim. No thought, no real reasoning, just a whim. Emerath was clearly not happy to see him, and in all honesty Endilix couldn't blame him. Endilix stood and shifted nervously in the snow in front of his brother, his feet scratching against the cobble beneath the white blanket. "Well, I wouldn't call this an honor. I just... I mean, how to say...." Endilix started, but lost his momentum for his words, especially under the icy glare of his brother. "Look, I just, I've realized something. I can't do this on my own. I need you. I need my brother and I want us both to get out of here alive. I... I've taken you for granted so many times. But it wasn't until we were apart for such a long time that I realized that our worlds were meant to be connected forever."

Endilix shivered in the cold, wishing that Emerath had answered the door after all. Sitting out in the cold would do the man no real good, but he was also worried that if he moved he would miss out on his brother's return. It wasn't until Endilix caught something out of the corner of his eye that things finally started to look up. Endilix turned his head to see a red haired, suit wearing, scarf covered, green eyed, and owl toting wonder. It was Emerath! Endilix nearly jumped for joy at the thought of his brother alive, and out and about no less! It took all of Endilix's willpower to sit back down on the stone wall and wait for the man to get closer, and as he did he saw a mixture of surprise and cold regard from him. He carried a bundle of wood under an arm and if Endilix could see past the scarf, he was certain he would be scowling. "Uh, hey," was all Endilix managed.

Thread Complete!

• Endilix earns 1 Thread SP
• Endilix earns 400 Col

Endilix waited some time, and even knocked a few more, but no answer came. Much to Endilix's surprise, not even the sound of the man's owl alerting Emerath to the presence of someone at the door made a sound. Was Emerath truly not here? But if that were the case, where would he have gone? Was Emerath wandering much like his brother had been? That seemed very unlike the man. Endilix considered this as he turned away from the door and stepped back out into the snow and cobble surrounding the shop. Endilix supposed he could message Emerath, but that would take time, unless Emerath got any faster at answering his messages. Which, Endilix faced it, he probably hadn't. And so Endilix made his way over to a nearby stone wall and sat, watching the door to the shop. He wondered if he should just wait for the man to show. He always came back to his shop eventually.

Well, regardless of anything, Endilix needed to see his brother now. It was time to make amends. Endilix had done all of this spur of the moment, sure, but he wasn't about to turn back from that. So Endilix brought his fist up and rapped on the wood with his knuckles. "Emerath? It's..." Endilix started as his voice caught in his throat. But he would finish. He needed to. "It's Endilix. It's your brother. I need to talk to you. It's probably not super important, but please don't take that as an excuse to ignore me. I... I miss you," he finished, his voice cracking with emotion. He swallowed it though, and hoped for the best. What would he think when he saw his brother's face? No doubt Emerath would not be all that pleased to see him. He wasn't that on the best of days, let alone after all that had happened.

Endilix found that his heart was in his throat as he finally reached down and put his hand on the handle of the door. He gripped the cold metal and gave it a turn, but found that it wouldn't. Locked? That was strange. Though Endilix hadn't really considered that possibility when he should have. Emerath most likely didn't want visitors if that was the case. But did that mean his shop was closed? Did that mean that the man had given up on crafting and running the shop he loved so much? Had the damage been that severe? Endilix blinked at the wood, as if it would have all these answers and more. Realistically, it did have these answers. It knew everything about what Endilix needed to know, but he knew that the door wouldn't tell him. Endilix chuckled as he considered the idea of a door talking to him, remembering that one Disney movie.

Endilix finally reached the door to the "Magic of Science!". Emerath's aptly named alchemy shop. Despite their differences, Emerath and Endilix had always had a bit of a flair for the dramatic. Both had named their shops equally silly things, but both loved each other's names. No matter how you looked at it, they would still be brothers at their core. Endilix couldn't help but smile at this thought as he put a hand on the cold wood of the door and thought again about what he would say. Nothing came. Nothing would. Not until they were looking at each other and deciding what fate had in store for either of them. He sighed. He wanted to go in, but he thought he might just stand here for a bit longer. He was admittedly still incredibly nervous about seeing his brother after all this time. What would be the result of their actions?

Endilix shook his head and clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He steeled himself as he walked through the snow to the man's store. If there was one place that Emerath was almost entirely certain to be, it was his alchemy shop. He lived in it, more so than most shopkeeps that were player run. Emerath spent hours and whole nights making up new and creative concoctions. He would often make so much noise that Endilix would feel like he had to go check he was okay, since much of his sounds could be heard through the adjoining walls between the shops. Endilix used these memories, the happy times, to keep himself moving forward. He had to face Emerath, and he needed his forgiveness. He needed a plan to move forward. He needed his twin and companion. Now more than ever, as they both sat in limbo of a game that might never end. They needed each other.

With a heavy sigh, Endilix finally stepped onto the teleport pad and called out for Floor Four. In a blue flash, Endilix was standing in the snowy cobblestone streets of the icy floor. Immediately Endilix began to shiver, and a part of him wished he had a cloak of some sort to keep him warm. Much too late for that now though. He would just have to grit his teeth and bear it. Slowly his feet began to move. But he was hesitant. It wasn't the cold though, it was still the thought of his brother. He would have to face him. He would have to deal with the outbursts, the emotions, and everything in between. Soon the shivering had become due to nervousness more than the cold. He watched as his boots sank in the snow with each moment he paused. Was this really it? Was he going to come this far only to turn back?

As Endilix stood in front of the Teleport Gate, he realized that he still had no idea what he was going to say to Emerath. What could he say? That he was sorry? Certainly that was true, but how good were apologies in the face of a long separation? They were twins, and used to be inseparable. But here they were, worlds apart. Endilix folded his arms and looked down at the ground, the metal plates of his armor digging uncomfortably against his skin. That was really the long and short of it though. Endilix was just sorry. So much had happened, so much had yet to happen, and all things considered he just wanted to see Emerath and know he was alive. He just wanted to see the man run off on another adventure, scowling probably. It was hard to imagine Emerath smiling, though he did do so occasionally.