Brax

ID 41823

LD 5

     'NO!' Brax thought, as he felt his pride begin to leave him.  A new feeling was starting to take it's place, as if knowing how it felt to feel made him truly understand the hollowness inside.  If he had to describe it, he would say it felt like despair, to know how something is, only to have it ripped away by a thief in the night, with no way to know how to get it back.  Redoubling his search, he began to again ignore his surroundings, allowing his empty heart to blind him to the dangers all around.  Or even, right in front of his face.

ID 41822

LD 4

     The next field Brax found showed much promise; several pieces of boar, including tusks and bone, were littering the area, likely the site of a recent battle.  He knew there had to be something here, whether they be animal skins, or something accidentally dropped by a fellow player.  Picking through the remains, however, proved just as fruitless as ever.  They had been picked clean, most likely by the one to slaughter the beasts.  Brax felt his pride, his satisfaction, slipping away like sands in an hourglass.

ID 41821

LD 2

     He also saw a pair of adventurers, two boys, possibly 20 or so, engaged in combat with tenacious looking boar.  The boys, probably brothers, looked so alike they could be considered twins, with their wild red hair, and a light dusting of freckles dotting their cheeks.  The movements of their swords, though crude, moved in tandem, repeatedly striking the animal until it's pixels exploded into the air.  They roared in triumph, high fiving each other for their successful conquest.  The scene was almost engrossing enough for Brax to make him forget his apparent lack of success during his own hunt.

ID 41817

LD 3

     During his searches, Brax couldn't help but notice the many other players in the surrounding area, most likely beginners, like him, trying to build their EXP, again like him.  'Perhaps that is the reason for my unlucky streak,' he wondered, 'With so many hunters and gatherers, I imagine the system is hard-pressed to produce enough for us all.'  Up ahead, to his left, he saw a young girl, probably half his age, giggling with glee over what appeared from this distance to be a decent piece of boar leather.  'Better luck than I seem to be having, indeed.'

ID 41813

LD 20

     Success!  Finding another mat reinvigorated his feelings, a smile inching its way onto his face, the outward appearance of his inner thoughts.  'How shocking, that my pride and sense of satisfaction should allow me a smile, however small,' he thought to himself.  It was good to feel again, though he knew that "goodness" was a relative thing.

+1 material 

ID 41812

LD 4

     As he continued his search for more materials, failing again, he considered the feeling of pride, in and of itself.  How did it apply to him?  Why did he feel it?  Was it simply a heightened sense of accomplishment in the face of failure?  Did it have to do with his determination and persistence in the face of failure?  His drive to never give up, even as the game dictated his fate?  What was the source?

ID 41810

LD 7

     A foreign concept to him, pride.  It had been so long since he had felt something, really felt something, that the concept should have scared him, were he able to feel fear.  It would seem the new treatment was already beginning to work, further proof of Dr. Rosenhall's theories.  Latching onto that fleeting feeling, Brax steeled himself to continue on.  Even his failure to find another mat in the area could not dampen his satisfaction in that new feeling he found inside of him.

ID 41808

LD 15

     Just as he was about to leave the area, disturbed slightly over his failures, he spotted another piece of cloth, similar to one he had found before, though he had been forced to discard it due to it's poor quality.  It would seem, however, that this one was up to snuff.  That same sense of satisfaction came upon him, and he could almost detect something else.  If he had to define it, he would almost say it felt like....pride.

+1 material

ID 41807

LD 5

     While he couldn't feel happy for avoiding the family of boars, Brax was at least satisfied that he had avoided a confrontation, one that would not have been in his favor.  His satisfaction in his mats, however, was a different story.  His mind began to wonder how one could ever hope to gain EXP from such levels of failure.  It made little sense to him for a system to reward such behavior.

ID 41803

LD 1

     Reaching down, he ran his fingers through the grass, hoping that something worthy would appear to him, to no avail.  Nearby, a group of boars, a mother and her 3 little pigs, it appeared like to him, began to amble towards his direction.  Reacting quickly, and wanting to avoid another confrontation, Brax made his way to another field.

ID 41802

LD 6

     It would seem that lady luck would not be with Brax today.  His material gatherings were not going as planned, though his scouting operation around the grasslands was proving relatively fruitful.  He at the very least would know his way around the area, if not where best to find things for crafting purposes.  He picked up a piece of cloth, discarding it almost immediately given it's poor condition. 'Moving on,' he thought.

ID 41801

LD 14

     It really was a beautiful world that had been built, from the far off mountains, strong and majestic, to the clouds surrounding the base of the floating castle of Aincrad, to the wind blowing through the grasslands, rustling every blade of grass as it passed by.  Brax, engrossed with his observations, neglected to notice the material before him, choosing instead to move onto the next area.

Brax HP 4/4 +3 (out of combat for 3 posts) Full!

         EN 1/1

ID 41800

LD 9

     Alas, despite his one shining moment, luck continued to abandon him.  No more glittery treasures to be found in the area, so he began to move on.  'It truly is too bad I can't enjoy the scenery more,' he thought, 'for even I can recognize, if not appreciate, the beauty that this game's creator put into his world.'

ID 41798

LD 15

     Just as Brax was beginning to believe his time was being wasted on his scouting trip, a glint caught his eye.  Mindful of his surroundings, he leaned down to peruse the shiny object that was before him, nestled in the grass.  "What do we have here?" he mused aloud.  "A precious mat for future forging, indeed."  He allowed a sense of satisfaction to wash over him, one of the few feelings he could still comprehend, and continued on his self-assigned quest.

+1 material

ID 41797

LD 7

     As he trekked away from the site of his very first battle, Brax felt his energy slowly return.  'Now I know what combat is.  Strange, that even the supposed thrill of combat can't pierce the nothingness inside me.  I would think the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins would excite something in me, but no, apparently not.'  Still, there was enough to occupy his thoughts, and with a careful eye on his surroundings, he continued his search for mats, fruitless though it seemed to be, even after the battle.

Brax HP 1/4

         EN 1/1 +1 Full!

ID 41782

BD 10

LD 1

mD 6

Boar HP 4/4

Brax HP 1/4

         EN 1/1

 

     Because of his failures the previous times, Brax began to search more earnestly for his materials, losing sight of the world around him, much to his misfortune.  In fact, he had drawn the attention of a wild boar, whose angry huffing he did not notice until it was right on top of him.  Looking up just in time, Brax was tackled back several feet, taking the hit square in the face.  "Omph!!!" he cried, landing flat on his butt.  Stars clouded his vision, clearing just enough to let him see the angry boar beginning to charge again.  Rolling quickly to his right, he avoided the beast while drawing his axe, steadying himself for the battle.  Not giving the animal time to react, he ran towards it, raising his axe above his head, and with a mighty shout, brought it down right between it's eyes.  Fritzing for a moment, the animal exploded in a shower of pixels.  Brax, tired from the exertion, sank into the grass, thinking to himself, 'That's what I get for letting down my guard; better not let it happen again.'

Boar HP 0/4 Defeated!

Brax HP 1/4

         EN 0/1

2 damage(1 base + 1 skill) + 2 crit(roll 10!) = 4

+1 material

ID 41780

LD 6

     Steering clear of other boars in the area, Brax kept up his search for any materials worth taking.  Not that there wasn't an abundance of things lying about, there were, but nothing that was suitable, according to game standards: some half-eaten cotton, probably by the boars, a piece of iron ore, riddled with impurities, leather from a carcass so full of holes it could count as swiss cheese.  He was beginning to think the boar hunting might be a better use of his time.  Still, he continued his search, all while keeping an eye on the world around him.

ID 41779

LD 6

     Having chosen his course, he had to make an action plan.  'If I am to survive, I must better myself.  I'll have to get stronger in order to survive whatever comes.'  He looked out on the fields of grass, however, and saw a problem: given his current stats, he was no match for the boars, even at their lowest levels.  Going over his game manual, though, he saw that gathering materials, while not a glamorous task, could net him the EXP he would need to eventually tackle the boars.  And so he began the first step of his training: gathering materials.  'Maybe I can get the lay of the land committed to memory, too.  Not that others would need this scouting information, but to be familiar with one's surroundings is the best way to achieve success.'  However, his first attempt did not yield the results he had hoped for.  'Unfortunate, but not unexpected.  The odds are not always in my favor.'

     Finally making it out of the city, Brax considered his options: first, he could die.  Knowing that escape would require clearing all 100 floors of the game, knowing the odds of making it that far, it seemed easier to end it here, rather than go on.  However, the determination in his heart to discover his past would not let him simply die.  For the first time in a year, he rejected the odds, such as they were.  'I will live,' he thought, 'if only until I have found out who I am.  After that, we'll see.'  His second option would be to remain in Starting City, remain in the safe zones, so as to avoid dying, relying instead on others to clear the floors and beat the game.  This, too, he rejected.  'Logically, to remain in the safe zones would be the best course of action; however, my body outside cannot remain alive indefinitely, no matter what Dr. Rosenhall and the others do.  This means that my existence in here is predicated on my health out there, giving me a limited time to escape.  Thus, we all must do what we can to complete every floor, to complete the game as quick as possible.'  This left him with only one option: play the game, and make it to the end.

     After Brax materialized in Starting Town, things soon took a bad turn.  It started off well enough; he bought an axe, big and double bladed, the heft of the giant weapon feeling secure in his hands.  He saw countless people, milling around the square, interacting as only a bustling city can.  He even felt the beautiful weather of the game environment, warm and inviting with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of freshly cut grass, and even though he could not truly feel it, the atmosphere was considerably peaceful to him.  That all changed when the Avatar showed up, a giant, blood red, hooded figure in the sky, announcing the induction of this "Death Game", and the panic that ensued was akin to bedlam, something a patient a psychiatric facility knew all too well.  Grabbing his axe and the starter pack afforded to all adventurers, consisting of the clothes on his back and food for the journey, he escaped the city quickly, making his way out into the surrounding grasslands.

Brax, the Pactagonal Knight

Profile
Username: Brax
Real name: Brandon ?????
Age: 29, Birthday 2/21/86
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft

About: History/personality
     Not much is known about Brandon before his 29th birthday.  His first memory was waking up in the hospital, somewhere in Dawson Creek, British Columbia.  The doctors told him that he had been in a major accident, something involving a car and a child in the road.  He had saved the young girl, but was struck forcefully by the vehicle, causing significant brain damage.  They diagnosed him with retrograde amnesia and alexithymia, a mental disorder resulting in the inability to process one's emotions; specifically, in his case, he seemed unable to feel anything, whether it was good or bad.  Having been found with no wallet or ID, the only thing he could remember was his name: Brandon.  However, given his mental status, he couldn't derive any happiness from that information.

     The next few months of therapy did result in Brandon discovering things about himself, though these discoveries were more skill related rather than recovered memories.  He was excellent with numbers, able to complete complex equations involving physics and geometry in his head.  Also, his body remembered the feel of exertion, for while he was not extremely muscled, he was able to run for several miles with no signs of fatigue, and engage in rather strenuous workout regimens at the facility where he stayed.  New skills appeared as well, such as an ability to perform theatrically.  Because of the alexithymia, Brandon was unable to truly feel his emotions, but by developing his budding talent in acting, he could, at the very least, respond properly to others emotional states.

     However, despite all these things the doctors had helped him to find out about himself, the treatments he received were unable to access his old memories, the life before the accident.  In the end, they began to engage him in a experimental treatment, virtual reality simulations, hoping that the electrical stimulations given by various headsets would trigger something, anything, from before.  And so it was, that Brandon found himself on that fateful day, strapped into the NervGear, about to enter the online world of SAO, not knowing that he was about to embark on the greatest adventure he could ever imagine, a journey to discover...himself.

     12/21 - Discovered a past association with The Knights of the Pactagonal Table, unsure where connection stems from

     2/3 - During Breaking the Unbreakable, Brax indulged in a storm of emotions, and is confused as to what he should do with the experience; has not altered his Alexithymia condition, somewhat found control during Grandmaster Weapon Thread

Virtues

     Intelligent - Despite not knowing about his life before the accident, Brandon has discovered several things that must have previously been a part on who he was.  First, he is very good at calculating numbers, be it odds on a betting pool, cards in a poker game, or high end physics questions regarding velocity and inertia.  In a world bound by rules and logic, Brax understands the game, always looking for the chances of success or failure based on statistics and equations related to them.  Second, he remembers everything from the accident till now, and can draw on that info when the time is right.  From the face of a friend to the name of his doctors, all the information Brandon has accumulated is at his beck and call, frustrating though it may be for him, given his inability to remember his past.

     Non-emotional - Given his Alexithymia, Brax does not feel his emotions, or rather, his emotions are so subdued, they are practically non-existent.  In battle, this leads him to think only on the actions and results, not the jitters or fear associated with them.  While the storm of feelings rage in others eyes, his thoughts are like a calm sea.  Despite the threat of loss or death, he will soldier on, completing a task to it's desired conclusion.  It focuses him, letting him ignore all distractions, and in the end, lets him survive what might kill someone else.

     Driven - While he may not feel emotions, his heart still beats in his chest, giving Brax a purpose in life: Who am I?  His cold hearted lack of emotions hides a burning drive in his soul: he wants to remember his past.  He knows the treatment is ongoing.  The electrical shocks of the nervgear are still firing while trapped in this death game, and he knows that the more he does, the more actions he takes, the more his brain will begin to remember who he was, and who he is going to be.  All he has to do is survive.

Flaws

     Non-emotional - In the same way that his Alexithymia focuses him in battle, it completely disarms him in most other aspects.  A gentle word from a friend or stranger, a scream of encouragement in the heat of competition, or a cry of mercy from an enemy mean nothing to Brax.  He does not feel what everyone around him feels; he lacks that empathy that would allow him to truly connect to the world at large.  When a girl cries, is it from happiness or sadness?  Are they tears of joy or pain?  And why does she cry?  These questions occupy his thoughts, sometimes at the most inopportune moments, frustrating him to the extent that he can be, given his emotional status.  It also prevents him from showing mercy towards an enemy, or a friend, should the end result be favorable.  For example, should the odds state that the loss of a friend will lead to victory in battle, Brax might let the individual die, rather than save them.  Or, if a former friend has been driven insane, and there is a chance for a cure to bring them back, Brax would weigh the odds in favor of ending the friend instead of salvation for them.

     Socially Awkward - Tactless and blunt tend to be the name of the game when Brax is interacting with others.  He pulls no punches in relation to how a person feels, due to his lack of empathy.  The death of a loved one?  Tears cannot bring them back.  Tsunami in the Philippines? Statistics show a higher probability of that happening there, they should move. A cat hit by a car? The owner should have kept it locked up.  While he can allay some of this with his acting, there are still moments when Brax is unable to prevent saying exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time.  Thus, many relationships he can form tend to be strained at best, adversarial at worst.

    Obsessive - While his overall desire is to regain the memories that have so far eluded him, that obsessive aspect of him can apply to other pursuits in his life.  Whether it is to relentlessly train himself to near exhaustion, or to pursue an enemy or quest reward with unwavering focus such that he ignores all else, or the single minded purpose that drives his soul to the point that those he would call friends are ignored or even belittled, once he has a goal in site, nothing short of an atomic blast could change his focus.  One could liken him to a dog with a bone; to try and take said bone could result in unimaginable consequences.  This is a problem he recognizes, however, and while he may not know why people around him have an issue with this side of his personality, he attempts to correct it when he can, if only to get along with others.

Profession: N/A

Available Skill Points / Total Skill Points - 4 / 82 (LVL 27)

Skills
Utility and Mobility:
»Search and Detect Rank 3 (23/50)

Combat:
»

Armor:
»Heavy Armor Rank 1 (5/50)

Weapon skills:
»Two-Handed Battle Axe Rank 5 (50/50)

Extra:
»Martial Arts Rank 0 (0/50)

Inventory
Weapons/Tools:

 

 

6x Potion of Strength II (tier 2) (+4 DMG for a thread) At Ready

8x Potion of Health I (tier 1) (heal for 10 HP)

3x Potion of Protection II (tier 2) (+36 MIT for a thread) At Ready

4x Carrot Tab (+1 BD for a thread)

6x Vitamin A Tab (+2 BD for a thread) At Ready

7x Chocolate Bar (+2 LD for a thread) At Ready

8x Oatmeal Raisin Cookie (+36 MIT for a thread) At Ready

4x Rum Cookie (+4 DMG, -2 EVA for a thread)

1x Banner of Support (This item has (3) charges and may only be refilled by asking a merchant to refill it costing 750 Col per charge. This item does not stack and may not be sold for Col, it becomes bound to the player. When used, the Banner of Support heals up to 4 players, including the user, a maximum of 20 HP. Once used, the Banner of Support changes from a red to a gray color and begins to go on it's 10 turn cooldown.)

1x Snowfrost Potion (Fire Resistance - take half damage from Burn DOT for one battle)

1x Sand Armor Potion (+3 MIT for one battle)

1x Cerberus Soul (+2 Burn DMG for 2 turns on a natural roll of 8-10 for a thread)

1x Lightning Rod (causes 1 turn Paralysis on a BD roll of 9-10 for a thread)

Dimensional Backpack (+1 inventory space for at-ready items, does not take up inventory spot)

»7 bread

»7 water

99485 col

789 materials (not including transactions, will be counted later)(at least -10,possibly --20)

 

Transactions

Roleplays

     A Time To Train -

     A Time To Hunt -

     A Time To Socialize -

Relationships

Morganstern - Ally, MIA

Creius - Ally, MIA

Opal - Vice Commander of the KOB, travelling companion, Ally

Coddexx - Ally, Shopkeeper: Alchemist

Kalthios - ???

Poplar - Ally

Antofer - ???

Komrk - ???

Macradon - ???

Jomei - ???

Seul - ???

Teayre - Shopkeeper: Artisan

Teion - Shopkeeper: Blacksmith

Ishida - Shopkeeper: Blacksmith, Ally

Tesselmar - Shopkeeper: Artisan, Ally
 

Story Thus Far