Brax

ID 48177

     After a nice long rest following his first quest on Floor Nine, Brax found himself once again viewing the quest board at the center of Vulcan.  The metal slab contained several players asking for assistance here and there, mostly fetch quests that were intended to help them party up to level on the heated floor.  A few were more the fare of Cardinal, though, much like the Bandit Camp quest he had just completed.  One he was looking at in detail, though, came from the Brokers themselves, and it asked for players, whether they be alone or in a party, to hunt down an Iron Guardian.  Intrigued by the offer, Brax found the location of the Info Broker who offered the quest and made his way to find them for more details.

     The Broker was sitting in one of the more...luxurious taverns in Vulcan, sipping at a fruity concoction when Brax walked in and spotted him relaxing after a long day of info gathering.  The Stalwart Stoic was...almost eager to get ahold of whatever rumors the man had to give regarding the quest, and thus strode up to the bar swiftly and surely, sitting next to him and beginning his barrage of questions: "Hello.  I...am Brax.  You are the one...who placed the quest for defeating an Iron Guardian?  I am here to accept, though the offer was...unclear on several points.  Can you provide more intelligence?  If I am to accept, I...will need every bit of what your...skill...has gathered about the Field Boss."  "So, you wish to accept my quest, hmmm?"  The Broker eyed Brax up and down, taking in the measure of his character with but a single glance.  The look he gave the armored man was one of skepticism and suspicion, but Brax was not able to glean those emotions off of the Broker's eyes as he was...lacking in empathetic skills.  All Brax saw...was a calculating man that was sizing him up.  Turning to finish his drink, the Broker continued, saying "Very well, you'll do.  Two days west of Vulcan lies a city of iron, much like the one we're in now.  One of Vulcan's builders constructed the place after being kicked out of the city for...shall we say, very 'innovative' ideas.  He wanted to give life...to metal.  Yes, you heard right," the Broker said, as Brax's eyebrows raised slightly in response to the comment.  "The 'inventor', which was his title, wanted to bring metal objects to life, make robots and the like.  Hard to believe in a game like this, but he apparently succeeded.  The place is populated by creatures of iron, from beasts to more human-like creatures, and is presided over by the Iron Guardian, the Field Boss in question.  To rule over it's kin, the Guardian possesses the Banner of Support, a rare and powerful object that can heal members of a party quite well.  As you can imagine, the Banner is wanted by many for it's usefulness.  If you can obtain it, I am willing to pay a hefty sum.  But be warned: the Guardian will not give up it's treasure lightly.  It will be protected, most likely by other metallic creatures like the humanoids I mentioned earlier.  Also,"  and with this, the Broker looked at Brax straight in the eyes, "I do not deal with traitors well.  If you try to betray me and keep the Banner...well, it won't be pretty.  Do I make myself clear?"  Turning back to his drink and finishing it off, the Broker waited for Brax's answer.  "No need to worry, Broker.  I am a man of my word.  When I take up a quest, I see it through to the end.  If those are your terms, I accept the job.  Where can I meet you once I have finished?"  "Okay then.  I will meet you just outside of town, four days from now.  You had better come alone, or there will be consequences.  Good luck."  There business concluded, the Broker left the tavern, most likely to do his job.

     Brax was...perturbed by the Broker's responses, but a task was a task, and he needed the EXP.  And, the chance to fight another Field Boss was not something he wished to pass up.  So, after he had made his preparations, Brax left the city of Vulcan and headed west towards the city of iron where the Guardian lay.  The time passed swiftly, with very little in the way of monsters along the path.  Those he saw he was able to avoid, and at night the stoic was able to find decent enough shelter for resting purposes.  Finally, not far from the iron urban sprawl where he would find his prize, Brax ran into the first iron creatures that presumably stood watch over the outlying areas.  They were strangely constructed beasts, similar in design to dogs, but metallic and rusty in places as if from a lack of maintenance.  Their roars were disquieting, like metal rasping on metal as they charged at the heavily armored man.  Reacting as he would against a more fleshy foe, Brax set his axe in position and let loose with an Explode Catapult, ripping through the mob with devastating force.  The metal dogs were torn asunder by the force of his blows, and left behind several screws as they disappeared into pixels, in addition to some decent loot.

+4 materials

+4 Chocolate Bars (+2 LD for a thread)

     In the fires of Floor Nine...Brax's axe lusts for twisted metal and bleeding hearts.  It will lead the stoic to face the Guardian solo-style.

ID 47983

     As the day dragged further on and the sun continued it's path into the late afternoon, Brax listened to the bantering of his gathered party, for in point of fact they had been gathered here by his direction.  Though the Lady Opal had said she would use the outing as a testing ground for the other men's skills so as to better place them within the guild she helped to command, it was his need of Survival, no pun intended given the harsh conditions of the desert, that had brought them together.  As such, he drew the conclusion that, should they wish to engaged in battle, he would have to make the first move.  Perhaps, should he have a decent showing, he might...prove his worth, not that he required people's validation for his qualities; no, more that...if and when he moved forward with his needs as far as assistance was concerned, it would be only logical to have cultivated an option or two.

     Thus, with the sun entering it's evening rotation and about to set in an hour or so, Brax unsheathed his weapon for battle and made ready to unleash his particular brand of devastation on any mobs that appeared, letting the group surmise his intentions from his actions.  His eyes scanned the sandy expanse for mobs of any nature, but only found a large patch of cacti in the near distance, waving gently in the desert breeze.  Brax turned away from the plants, idly wondering that such foliage must be hardy indeed to survive in a place such as this, when a thought struck him: what was a group of cacti doing...bunched like a mob?  That thought struck him like lightning, and turning round, Brax barely was able to dodge multiple pairs of fists as the cacti came alive and began to assault the search party.  After leaping back to avoid the whirling punches they launched at him, Brax landed back on his metal clad boots and pushed off towards his opponents, a midlevel Sword Art already being prepared as he charged.  A shoulder tackle landed against the closest of the Brawlers, leading his virtual frame through his Trample Act, using the two sweeping strikes that followed to split the group right down the middle, giving his fellow partygoers a choice of opponents and disrupting the Cactuars for the moment.  Taking a moment to assess, Brax offered but a single comment: "It would appear...that the mobs found us."

Summary

400 col + 2 SP + 20 materials + 2960 col + (ID 47961 LD 8 +1 LD) 225 col

THREAD COMPLETE!

     As the shower vanished, a sign appeared in the air reading 'Quest Completed!', signaling the end of his endeavor.  Putting his weapon to rest, Brax saw a stone gate behind the Bandit's positions open suddenly, and from it poured a large amount of col.  Supposing that the col was a part of his rewards, he walked over to it and was signaled by another window popping up, asking whether or not he would accept the money.  Clicking the green X in acceptance, Brax watched as the col vanished and he was left in an empty fortress.  His quest done, he made his way outside to return to Vulcan for rest.  'Now, to rest up, for I imagine...Cerberus is next,' thought the heavily armored man as he left the area behind.

ID 47959

     As he parried the blows that came fast and furious from the angered Bandits, Brax began to position himself to apply another Trample Act, but could not get enough distance between him and the mob in order to build up the steam necessary.  Finally, he found the opportunity he was waiting for, as the blue and red heavily armored Bosses attempted a tag team attack, one battle axe sweeping low whilst the other's greatsword swung high, trying to force Brax to take damage from at least one of them.  He leapt up, avoiding the axe and putting himself in the pathway of the sword, with the Boss wielding it grinning at the mistake.  But Brax had raised his weapon as he jumped, putting the shaft of his axe between himself and the blade, and used the energy from the swing to push him out of range of everyone.  Rolling to recover from the push, he countered the momentum with a push off of his own, his metal clad boots launching him towards the blue armored boss with his shoulderguard again leading the way.  The contact again activated his Trample Act, and Brax caught every Boss in the sweeping attacks that followed.  Bisecting the mob in it's entirety, Brax stood from his attack position to watch the Bandit's crystalline shower pour over him in victory.

+4 materials

+1400 col

ID 47957

     Each was colored differently, with armor fashioned of both metal and leather.  Sporting colors of blue, black, red and green, they also possessed differently styled weapons, among them a giant greatsword, a curved sword, a two handed axe and a black mace.  The Bosses had grizzled faces, probably designed by the Cardinal to appear imposing and vicious, though due to Brax's unique condition he experienced none of the emotions they sought to inspire.  Instead, he charged forward to prevent them from making the first move.  With shoulder down low he tackled the black leathered Boss who bore the dark mace, and upon connecting with the NPC his body shifted into his Trample Act, cutting down and blowing away the calm and collected Bandits.  The move had not been strong enough to kill them, but was enough to separate the group so as to make them easier to deal with.  Yelling their displeasure, they attempted to strike back but were too late to take advantage of his frozen aftermotion status from the Sword Art.  Brax managed to deflect every attack from their blades, turning aside powerful strikes like a jacket deflects the wind.

     The walls were carved from the igneous stone formations that had grown and strengthened from the heat and pressure within the mountain, and the bandit's sigil was marked on flags hanging from atop the protective stone.  A single gate stood in opposition to any intruders, the only entrance along the unbroken defenses of the wall.  It was made of black iron and obsidian, gleaming dully from the torches that burned along the walkway, and it stood open as if to say 'We are not afraid.'  Giving a wan smile in response, as he was there to put the idea to the test, Brax strode into the camp itself and came face to face with the Bandit Boss mob, four minor field bosses that stood ready for battle themselves, as if they had expected him to appear.

     But Brax would not allow them to rest any longer.  He was in need of the EXP from the quest, and so with axe held at the ready dove into the maze of tunnels that meandered into the heart of the hopefully dormant volcanic mass before him.  At times the stalwart stoic lost his way, his eyes taking time to grow accustomed to the darkness of the cave network, but after an hour or so he found what he had been searching for: the stone camp wherein the Bandit Bosses lay.

     The forest gave way to the base of the mountain in which the camp he was looking for was.  They had nestled into the stone and seemingly built a fortress not unlike the city of Nimbus on Floor Seven, from what the quest giver had said, and were protecting the only entrances to a veritable gold mine of materials that could be harvested for much profit.  The fortress was not impenetrable, though, but had only a single entrance that housed the bosses of this particular crew.  For while the others patrolled the outskirts, the leaders sat on their riches like kings.

     As Brax was waking up after his much needed rest following the previous day's hunting trips on Floor Nine, he noticed his inbox had received a message.  "Now who would be contacting me at an hour such as this?"  he said with no malice in his voice, only intrigue at the idea.  Opening his mail, he found that the missive came from none other than the Lady Opal, with whom he had travelled the deserts of Floor Five some time ago.  She required...someone to round out a dungeon hunting group on the seventh floor, scheduling the meet for about an hour from now.

     Yawning a bit and stretching his limbs, Brax could almost imagine the popping sound his body would be making in the real world when he did this back at Berringer's just before his morning runs.  Lately he had not been waking up too early, unless he found it necessary for hunting in a particularly well traveled location so as to get first crack at the spawns, but at least three times a week he would find himself opening his eyes while the computerized sun still slept, much like today.  Which, of course, was why he saw the message when he did.  Shaking of his tiredness, Brax pulled up his inventory window to re-equip his gear and weapon, his pieces today aimed for accuracy and protection.  While he logically knew Opal was...much higher in level, and thus much more powerful than he, his own Grandmaster axe skills were nothing to discount.  He would simply need to make sure he was able to land a blow if need be.

     Feeling sufficiently prepared for the task at hand, Brax exited the inn and made his way swiftly to the Teleport Plaza.  Stepping beneath the dark metal archway, he called out "Teleport, Nimbus!"  and felt his virtual frame dematerialize, only to reappear in the stone fortress that was the main settlement of Floor Seven.  He strode to the designated meeting place, arriving slightly earlier than was scheduled.  Seeing that the lady had already arrived, Brax called out in greeting to the raven haired swordmistress saying, "Hello, Lady Opal.  I believe...you have a job you wish me to help with?"

     Waving his hand at the proffered beverage, Brax gave his thanks to the blond saying, "Very well Teselmar, and no thank you on the coffee.  All I require...are my artisanal accessories.  I will return once they are ready.  Farewell."  With that, the stalwart stoic took one last look around the establishment and promptly left, re-entering the cold yet cozy town of Starglade to return once more to his hunting grounds.

     Several days later, as he was about to embark on another round of questing, Brax saw his PM box light up with a message from The White Stag Cafe's proprietor, informing the man that his pieces were completed.  Slicing apart a last mob with his axe, he sheathed the weapon and made his way to Floor Nine's Teleport Plaza, and after rematerializing on Floor Four made a swift return to the shop.  Stepping in from the cold, Brax called out to the owner saying, "Hello, I believe you have some items for me?"  With that, he strode up to the counter and moved to collect his treasures, a fire in his eyes that could only be quenched by his newly acquired pieces.

+The Ring of Thror

+The Pactagon

ID 47927

     The Three Headed Demon Dog Cerberus howled as the battle commenced in earnest.  Before Brax knew what happened he felt the burning heat of the left head breathing fire into the arena at him, causing Brax's armor to begin burning more intensely than ever against his virtual skin.  Distracted by the sensation, he failed to see the right head shoot forwards to catch Brax and throw him against the far wall of stone.  He felt bones crack as he was struck hard, but the sensation failed to render him unconscious.  Dropping to the floor, Brax barely had time to raise his weapon in defense before the middle head attacked, and with his axe he managed to keep the mongrel demon from tearing into his flesh.  Using all of his strength, Brax shoved the center Cerberus away which confused the poor creature: how did the man possess such power?  That would be the last thought any of the heads would have, for Brax began charging up his Explode Catapult to try and end the match as fast as possible, as he could not afford to take anymore hits.  Already his armor singed his skin, with the promise of more on the way if he did not finish the beast off now.  Once his attack had primed, Brax used the remaining energy he had to charge forward, sweating all the while as he leapt high into the air.  His first strike hit the right head, the second hit the left, and his final shockwave inducing blow rattled the skull of the center dog face, rumbling all through Cerberus's body and causing a mass explosion of crystalline particles to rain down on the battlefield.

     As the shower fell, a 'Quest Completed' screen appeared in midair much like every quest he had been on, signaling once more the end of his current trip.  Brax's axe dropped to the ground as his utter exhaustion began to overtake his senses, but the stoic stayed upright regardless of his physical condition.  Though he was barely able to accept the loot from his screen, which included both a potion encasing the beast's fire and some more chocolate, he did manage to take care of it and get himself out of the cave, as he did not want to pass out in a really dangerous place such as this.  His body was tired, and Brax could only hope that he reached a decently protected place before passing out.

+3 materials

+3 Chocolate Bars (+2 LD for a thread)

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

Summary

400 col + 4 SP + 6 Chocolate Bars + 4 Vitamin A Tabs + Cerberus Soul + 23 materials + 1300 col

     Before attacking the domineering dog, Brax took a moment to look around the room itself, taking note of the light given off by the river of lava that flowed behind Cerberus.  It bathed the area in an orange glow, enough for Brax to definitely see his way around, unlike the rest of the burning cavern which had been almost pitch black.  Thus, while he would have wanted the capability to KNOW he would hit the massive demon beast given by his current attire, Brax was also keenly aware that Cerberus, being a Field Boss, would be an excellent source of treasure should he wish it.  Shaking his head to confirm his choice, just before Brax moved to engage the fiend he de-equipped The Pactagon in favor of his Ring of Thror to hopefully get a good drop out of Cerberus.  Finished with his prep work, the Stalwart Stoic moved in to begin his fiery encounter.

Equipped The Ring of Thror in place of The Pactagon (+2 LD, -2 ACC)

     Walking into the Field Boss room, Brax couldn't see anything at first.  The tunnel he currently was passing through had nothing to light the way, only an oppressive heat that threatened to strangle the life from his bones.  The Pactagon kept his path straight, though, and soon he found himself at the end of the passageway facing the Three Headed Demon Dog, Cerberus.  The large Field Boss was an imposing site, with fire brimming from both it's eyes and the many mouths it possessed.

     The Hellhounds were no match for his Grandmaster Arts nor his own inner fire, stoked by the symbol of The Pactagon.  It brought him no small amount of strength to wield a symbol from his past, whatever it may mean, and to have it help guide his steps in the darkness was...invigorating.  It did not emotionally charge him, the symbol unable to rouse the intense emotions he had experienced, but it gave him...purpose and drive, allowing Brax to attach to a past he wanted to remember so badly.  With that strength of heart and devotion, he left the battlefield for the Cerberus itself.

ID 47926

     Venturing forth unafraid of the cries in the dark, Brax soon came face to face with the Hellhounds of Cerberus, guardians of the Field Boss's room.  He recognized them both from the pictures provided by the quest, as well as the stat line he could see above their heads, for these beasts were much more inline with the quest parameters themselves, unlike the Greater Hellhounds standing guard at the entrance to the Inferno Cavern.  Readying his axe for battle, Brax allowed the snarling beasts to make the first move, which they enacted by flanking him and attacking from all sides.  His armor, while more than a little uncomfortable due to the intense heat, was more than sufficient to ward off the bulk of their strength, and he countered with his own intense blow from the Sword Art Explode Catapult.  The resulting shockwave blew through the weak Hellhounds with immense power and split them like paper leaving nothing behind, not even pixels in the aftermath.

     His steps more confident and assured, Brax journeyed into the bowels of the Inferno Cavern, the heat pressing down on him but to no avail since he could see every step he took with a fire in his heart that rivaled the cave's.  The Pactagon fueled his spirit and drive, pushing him ever onward to the lair of the Cerberus and the completion of the quest.  As he stepped into another tunnel, Brax could hear a baying of possible dogs not that far away, though it was beyond his Pactagon enhanced sight and soul.

     He had had the piece commissioned not too long ago, after having had that dream near the beginning of his journeys in Aincrad.  It was the symbol of the armor he wore, the Pactagonal Knights that continuously wafted at the edge of his memories, trying to remind him of what his life had been before his accident.  It was...the key to his memories, and finally he had managed to exorcise it from his mind and into the real world, so to speak.  The object focused both his hand and his eyes, granting him increased vision and confidence in his actions, thus allowing Brax to see well enough to continue and have...well, faith...that all would be okay.

     After the wave of exhaustion had passed, Brax stood up to venture deeper into the cavern, with the intense heat rising with every step.  The deeper he went, the darker it got, and soon he was almost unable to see his hand in front of his face or his feet taking their steps.  The Ring of Thror was unable to guide him if he could not even see where he was going, so Brax stopped a moment to equip a different item he had received called The Pactagon.

Equipped The Pactagon in place of The Ring of Thror (+2 ACC, -2 LD)

ID 47925

     Standing just past the entrance, and still within the light coming from outside, there stood a protection mob of large dog-like creatures, 'Most likely the Hellhounds that are needed to be killed in order to summon Cerberus,' reckoned Brax silently as he raised his axe to greet the monsters.  Tongues slavering out of their mouths and saliva dripping from sharpened fangs, the hounds attacked with gusto, moving faster than Brax had expected them to.  The force of their tackles knocked the man to his knees and threw him against the burning rock walls, crisping his skin on contact.  'These...are much more powerful than the board indicated, almost as if they were...Greater Hellhounds,' was the next thought that ran through Brax's head as he rolled off of the rock walls and readied his axe for an Explode Catapult.  As the energy peaked he let the attacks fly, putting the fiery dogs in their place as his shockwave tore them apart, vibrating the cave and dispersing their pixels.  Brax hit his knees afterwards in exhaustion feeling very overheated from the battle.

+4 materials

+4 Vitamin A Tabs (+2 BD for a thread)

ID 47956

     Unfortunately, Brax could not use a more stealthy attack, due to the need of the power of his heavier ones, but still he managed to unleash a mostly quiet Explode Catapult into the unsuspecting mob of Bandits.  Using the first two swipes he cut the rear two guards in half, watching as their bodies dissolved into pixels.  As the front two turned to try and react to his presence, Brax brought the heavy axe down on the left one's head, using the frame of the NPC to vibrate the resulting shockwave outwards into the air instead of the ground.  The aerial vibrations tore into the other guard and shook it violently apart, causing both to explode like bombs into pixelated showers that covered Brax and the area in a light storm before dissipating.  Checking to see if he had been heard, and finding no alarms going off nearby, he sheathed his axe once more and headed in the direction of the camp itself at the center of the patrols.

+4 materials

ID 47955

LD 3 (used to sneak up on a patrol of bandits, their search roll)

     Brax began to approach a group of Bandit Scouts that were sans a leader, at least one of Captain level, and crawled across the ground in order to surprise attack them.  He crept closer and closer as they passed him by, failing to detect his presence despite the armor he wore.  Controlling his breathing so as to not draw attention, he stood up and unsheathed his axe silently, readying a Sword Art to take the mob out quickly before they could move on.

ID 47924

CD 3

LD 4

Brax 87/88 -1 Due to heat from cave

     After an hours walk, Brax finally stood at the entrance to the Inferno Cavern.  It did not seem overly impressive in the stoic's mind, but since it held one of the Field Bosses it could not be all bad.  As he stepped inside an overwhelming heat pulsed through his armored frame, cooking him in his armor and dealing a modicum of damage to his health before he was able to recover.  'So, this is why they call it 'Inferno' Cavern,' thought Brax as his sweat poured out of him like a water faucet.  The heat from the cave was nothing compared what he would soon face.

     He was quite ready to finish up the quest and claim his rewards.  For too long had he been stuck on the ninth floor, and he was ready to begin moving once more up the ladders of Aincrad.  Once he had finished with this particular quest, Brax would most likely return to a lower floor for hunting, as he had completed most if not all of the available quests he could complete relatively solo.  A few more trips and he would be at level 25, which was a turning point for most adventurers due to tiered gear.  He would be able to received the second level of equipment, strengthening himself enough so as to be able to face even greater challenges, specifically dungeon diving all by himself.  That was the goal, the task currently before him.