Saix

Tucking the berry away in the Material Pouch he wore on his belt, Saix scanned the gloomy forest, on the lookout for any more regents in immediate sight. Moving to the nearest cluster of trees, he examined the trunk, keeping a careful eye out for any of the different moss and lichen nodes that he could use as an Alchemist. He had to give that nut Kayaba credit, almost anything could be used by an alchemist in some form or fashion. The only trick was finding one that could be 'harvested'. Oh he could have just gone and killed plant or bug monsters for venom or what not, but he really wasn't in the mood for fighting anything down here, there wouldn't have been a challenge. Using a small knife, he slowly shaved some of the moss from the trunk of the tree, successfully collecting 2 Mossy Samples. So far so good.

[Harvested]

The mysterious Forest of Wavering Mist, definitely one of the more creepy locations that Saix had visited in his time in SAO. Everywhere he looked, he saw trees hidden in the gloom, the mist wrapping around their trunks and serving to muffle the surreal landscape. This must be what places like The Black Forest of Germany and other such places were like, he mused. Kayaba had seemingly gone out of his way to make things as realistic as possible after all. Saix hadn't come here before, though 9 had mentioned a harrowing battle with gargoyles once or twice. When his Alchemical Supplies had run low, Saix had decided he might as well come here to replenish his stocks, as it was likely to not have been picked over by players looking for easily harvested herbs and such. Kneeling down, he found a suitable node, and began harvesting the Berries he used for his HP potions, managing to get 1 before the node broke apart. Geez, this might take a while.

[Harvested]

The giant door swings inward, revealing a hellish landscape that is right out of a nightmare. The floor is cracked and broken forming a half moon caldera around a lake of magma bubbling into the room. The heat is intense, and you can see that most of the remaining floor is in danger of being overtaken by the magma. For a long moment, all is still save the shimmer of heat playing above the molten rock, until....

An explosion of magma as something huge stirs beneath the lake of molten rock, revealing a long serpentine neck, atop which a draconic head peers down at the group, baleful eyes gleaming like white hot metal in it's sockets. Opening jagged jaws the creature looses a shrieking roar, as 3 more heads burst from the magma, and the Molten Hydra pulls itself half out of the Magma, supporting it's behemoth weight on 2 heavily clawed front legs. Unlike previous bosses, the 4 health bars are not stacked, each head appears to have it's own health bar...

Opening their jaws, each head shrieks a war cry before loosing a jet of flame. Nikki is not within range, so they do not target her. However, it is quickly apparent that this is no job for a single tank. Each individual head has it's own Hp, and apparently it's own means of attack. A single tank, no matter how well prepared, would be overwhelmed and left a charred husk not by the upfront damage, but by the DoT from the 4 Hydra Head's fearsome flames.

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Grunting from the heavy blow, Saix was actually pushed back on his heels from the force of the impact, his passage marked by the twin trails dug into the snow from his feet. But still, the reckless grin on his face didn't fade. How long had it been since he had been able to have a little fun like this? Ever since the Ebon Vanguard had started really taking steps toward gaining recognition it had been all politics, strategy meetings, and bullshit. It had been ages since he could cut loose, and now that he was once again able to enjoy getting his blood pumping, he couldn't wait for more.

Snapping his rapier down at his side, he rushed forward again keeping low as his signature red coat billowed behind him. Twisting around one giant pillar like arm, he rushed right in close and prepared his sword for the strike. His heart was pounding, his blood was singing; and he just felt so alive. This, this was what he had been missing. Ever since coming to this damned game, Saix had done everything he could to keep others in high spirits. It had been his charisma and leadership that had gathered the forces of The Ebon Vanguard, and in his haste to build their fame, he had let them down.

They needed him here, leading them into battle, building their confidence as they waded their way through monster guts towards freeing themselves from this stupid game. It was kind of an epiphany of sorts, finding that he had at some point let go of something fundamental and not even realized it, well no more; he was back where he belonged, and he was going to shake the rust of his sword, one way or another... Even if it meant stabbing a giant snow monkey repeatedly. "Keep it up you two, attack his legs and see if we can't knock him down!" he shouted.

Kayaba Akihiko had been completely mad, but he had been a genius. So many things in SAO, even down to the way NPC's and enemies would focus on their target with direct line of sight; were so realistic. Saix had seen pretty early on that slicing with the sword didn't just damage Hit Points, it had real weight and impact. They might not be able to sever tendons or cripple it, but a heavy blow to the back of the knee could very well carry enough weight to knock it down. Saix himself may not have been in any real danger, but that didn't mean they should slack off on their tactics.

With a reckless grin that showed how much he was enjoying himself, Saix attacked at point blank range with his rapier, the needle thin blade flickering out at high speed as he unleashed his <>, the blade stabbing deep into the Snow Beast's side.

Battle Dice: 8

Req to Hit: 4

Damage: 1 + 4 [skill] + 2 [Weapon] = 7

Heal 1 HP from Lifesteal

Saix: 25/25

9Lives: 17/17

Lisbeth: 17/17

Snow Beast: 74/100

Snow Beast had a rather limited attack AI, so when the group of players attacked it there was a relatively short list of actions for it to run through. Normally it would have used it's AOE attack, as all 3 players were operating with equal Hate. However, the lead player was using Spiritual Light, increasing his own hate. That switched the attack priority to a single target attack against this player. Thus, Snow Beast lumbered forward in an apelike manner with a roar and lashed out with one giant clawed hand.

Combat Dice: 10

Damage: 5 - 3 [Armor] - 1 [Armor Skill] = 1 Damage!

The heavy blow caught <> full on in the chest, lifting him off his feet and hurling him back several steps; but the high quality armor kept him from suffering too much damage.

Saix: 24/25

9Lives: 17/17

Lisbeth: 17/17

Snow Beast: 81/100

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

Normally level headed and calm if a 'berserk' button existed for Saix, it would be seeing his companions in danger. When he had planned this Boss Assault he had known that the players present could be in danger. He had done everything he could to plan the assault in such a way that they would all survive the battle, because they were one Assault Party, comprised of multiple guilds. But seeing his Lieutenant in danger broke that normally calm facade, and galvanized him into action. "Nikki!" He shouted, knowing that the Bluenette Tank's armor was going to be a tough nut to crack, but not caring, as he saw of his friends in danger. Rapier in hand, he charged the boss in a full frontal assault, dodging right past the massive axe and using it as a means to get closer to his target, racing right up the length of the weapon and charging the most powerful charging skill he had, activating <> he charged forward, disappearing into a red streak as he comet struck through the bosses face, the force and speed of his attack going through her, as she shattered into countless pieces. The huge root structure that had attacked his lieutenant broke away a moment later, falling away like glass as the Assault Team stood victorious against their deadliest foe yet.

[since Haine was on for most of the day but did not finish the boss off as intended, I have done a boss post and will try and finish this battle of now. Though much longer than I had intended, I still consider this boss battle a success in that I think we successfully captured the feel of the Boss Battles as shown in the Anime and described in the Light Novels]

Battle Dice: 9 + 2 = 11 [Crit]

Damage: 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8 Damage!

Keith: 56/67

9Lives: 09/17

Shark: 29/41

Nikki: 25/32

Miaki: 47/59

Yunah: 6/15

Haine: 48/61

Ruri: 41/53

Saix: 7/19

Zero: 9/17

Seldentar: 18/29

Daeron: 26/37

Lightfiyr: 15/27

Vandal: 15/15

Grim: 25/37

Clarence: 16/29

Ayane: 11/17

Shanok: 5/17

<> 4/128 [bleeding 1 turns]

<> 0/16

<> 0/16

<> 0/16

<> 0/16

Total Damage Dealt: 23

Members of the Assault Party Gain...

5,000 Col

10 Skill Points

Last Hit Bonus...

Loot Dice: 15 = Item 2/3

Item: Ironwood Armor

Quality: Unique

Description: This ornate light armored chest piece is fashioned of plates of a dark carved ironwood, and are as strong as light metal armor.

+3 Damage Mitigation, +1 Accuracy

Deep in the Redzone, the Guardian was in her last moments of life. Enraged and hurting, she turned her full attention on Nikki, thrusting forward with one hand and commanding a host of spear like roots to burst from the ground. In an instant Nikki was gone, slammed upwards by the sharp wooden projectiles and lost from sight as the boss vented her fury. The moving column of wood slammed into the ground, Nikki hidden from view by the sharp protrusions, which amassed together were as thick as a tree trunk.

Keith: 56/67

9Lives: 09/17

Shark: 29/41

Nikki: 25/32

Miaki: 47/59

Yunah: 6/15

Haine: 48/61

Ruri: 41/53

Saix: 7/19

Zero: 9/17

Seldentar: 18/29

Daeron: 26/37

Lightfiyr: 15/27

Vandal: 15/15

Grim: 25/37

Clarence: 16/29

Ayane: 11/17

Shanok: 5/17

<> 4/128 [bleeding 1 turns]

<> 0/16

<> 0/16

<> 0/16

<> 0/16

We do not allow the apping of canon characters without having won the name from one of our weekly events. I am sorry, but I will not be able to approve this profile using a canon name.

Turn Down For What - Hank Hill remix

9 linked me this earlier, and I gotta say it's pretty badass.

Approved: GM Saix

Approved: GM Saix

At the ground rumbling fart and roar, Saix shrugged sheepishly. "He did that last time too... In fact, he does that a lot. I think Kayaba has a childish sense of humor..." He says, an apologetic look on his face. "Here's the game plan, I engage first to hold attention... You two attack when ready and keep cutting it down while I hold it's focus. Oh, and have fun, or else why are we even playing a game, you know?" He asked, with a nonchalant shrug with his naked sword in hand.

Then he charges, activating his Spiritual Light skill to further build up hate.

<> some had asked him where the name came from, most realized once they saw him in battle. To observe Saix in combat was a pretty exhilarating thing. To say he was fast would be putting it lightly, he darted across the slippery snow like he was racing in a 100 meter dash, the slippery footing seeming to not bother him in the slightest as he rushed right up to the massive creature that stood over 3 times his height with a positively joyous smile on his face at the prospect of battle.

Dodging with a quick spin as the huge club like hand lowered to the snow following the earth shattering roar, Saix raced right up the beast's arm hurtling through the air like a crimson lightning bolt, his fine coat flapping in the wind as he primed an attack in mid air. Releasing his charging attack, he peppered the beast's face with a serious of 4 lightning fast staccato thrusts, <>. Kicking out, he stepped hard on the beast's nose and pushed off, leaping backwards to land in a crouch as he slid a few feet on his landing, his dark hair hanging low across his face as he looked up, a huge smile on his face.

"9... Lisbeth... Now that I have it's attention, let's dance."

Battle Dice: 10 CRIT!

Damage: 1 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 8

Gain 1 Life

Saix: 25/25

9Lives: 17/17

Lisbeth: 17/17

Snow Beast: 92/100