Magda

Magda just offered the shy one a slight smile, even though she didn’t take her hand. There were all sorts in this world it seemed but this particular girl stood in stark contrast to the red headed giantess. Magda could be quiet at times but usually she leaned more towards the rowdy side. When Sey introduced himself as a Celestial Magda wasn’t quite sure how to take it. Eventually she ended up pushing the thought aside once her brother declared that it was time to move on. Once he started off towards the gates she’d quickly fall into step behind him. It was finally time to get this show on the road. The thought brought an elated grin to her face.

“This should be fun,” she mused with a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure the others had decided to follow. Course she was distracted by the slight ping and sudden appearance of a window before her. Once she realized it was a group invite she quickly accepted it. Once the girl inquired if there would be more quests like the one they were on Magda tilted her head so her gaze would rest on the back of her brother. The thought had crossed her mind but she’d been so caught up in her elation to be doing something that she completely forgot to ask. It was a good question but she just figured Mack would say something like “focus on the current quest” or something of that nature. Then again she was likely wrong but the idea nearly made her chuckle.

Both her shield and weapon were equipped before they reached the gate so they’d be at the ready should they encounter anything in the field. However, on the first floor she didn’t really expect to come across anything too dangerous.

The only response Mack would receive to the comment about the fourth floor being better was a slight rise in one of Magda’s eyebrows. For several moments she watched him as she tried to judge if he was joking or not. Only when he brought attention to the new guy did she turn and look away. At first she just assumed he was another member of the Knights that she’d never met. The fact that he was new brought a degree of understanding about his silence.

Magda promptly extended her right hand and offered a quick greeting. “Welcome, I’m not the official welcoming party of course. I’m still rather new as well. The name is Magda!” If he accepted her hand she’d give his a firm squeeze and shake before releasing it. She’d idly listen in if Hirru chose to reveal the origins of his wagon. The red-haired giantess possessed a mild sense of interest in hearing what he had to say. When the wagon started to move she leaned back and yawned.

If they were going to ride in this the entire way then she might as well take the opportunity and relax. Her gaze shifted about the wagon for a moment and if she didn’t see Chewie there she’d turn to look at her brother. “How’s the ball of fur and claws doing?” Her brow rose in genuine interest as she’d very rarely seen Mack without him. Then again she only traveled outside of the safe zones with him on a select few occasions.

A yawn managed to escape before she managed to regain her composure. Minute amounts of moisture gathered along the corners of her eyes as she navigated her way through the city in search of her fellow guild mates. From what she’d heard this particular assignment could prove to be rather lethal for the unprepared and for those who lacked caution. She made sure to constantly remind herself to take things slow this time around and a quick cycle through her menu afforded her some extra confidence. She had all the items she possessed at the ready. These included two healing crystals, a safeguard, and two antidotes. There wasn’t much likelihood that she’d need all of them but it was best to be safe.

Especially when death here meant she’d face her true death back in the real world. Once she found the meeting place she’d offer those who already gathered a broad grin and short wave. “Hey,” she said with a  bit of informality. If it was possible to look exhausted in this place then she most likely did. She’d been pushing herself to acquire as much strength as she could in the shortest amount of time possible. While she did feel the effects of fatigue she was far from incapable of fighting; at least not yet. "Anything I should know or have before we set off today?”

In her desire to gain more power the red-haired giantess was always elated to hear from one of her fellow Knights of the Blood Oath. Even when she had to revisit the fourth floor. Warm air flooded from between her lips and quickly became visible as it mixed with the frigid air. It was a small price to pay of course and it would give her the opportunity to become more familiar with the other Knights. Her pristine white armor proved to blend in with the snow quite well. If it wasn’t for her tanned complexion, the crimson trim of her armor, and her equally crimson hair she might have been easily overlooked.

She ended up pulling her cloak tightly around her shoulders to help fend off the cold some so she had to keep her weapons at the ready but not yet fully equipped. Luckily she was till within the safe borders of Snowfrost Town. When she finally caught sight of Macradon she smiled despite the environment and waved. “Sorry if I’m a bit late.” Her crimson-eyed gaze swept through the area in hopes of seeing other familiar faces but when her effort proved fruitless her smile faltered ever so slightly. “Am I the first to arrive?” Well first other than he of course.

She really couldn’t help but smirk as the bear came barreling her way. She knew she was about to be assaulted by a mound of wet fur and teeth but she found it hard to dislike the little rascal. When his feet slipped out from under him the red-haired giantess nearly doubled over in a fit of laughter. She remained like that up until the time she felt the weight of Chewie as he slammed into and promptly knocked her off her feet. “Ok ok I give... I give! Take it,” she exclaimed as she quickly cycled through her menu and produced one of her lower quality fish for her brother’s familiar.

The bear had a way of lightening the mood which was fantastic when it came to Mack who looked so somber on the other side of the fountain. Once she managed to gain her freedom from the mess of wet fur she’d stand up clear her throat. “The name is Magda." Her gaze shifted from one person with a pause long enough to catch her breath. "I'm also with the Knights of the Blood Oath. Pleasure to meet everyone.” The young woman would offer a broad grin and a heavy handshake to anyone willing. She had a very upbeat attitude; almost like nothing could possibly weigh her down. That wasn’t always the case but she definitely fought to keep up the positive exterior even in the harshest of times.

The Town of Beginnings had become a mainstay within the young woman’s life since her arrival in Aincrad. Her progress since that day had been rather… disheartening to say the least. He’d managed to attain a few levels but she’d been entirely too lazy up to this point. While those she knew soared and fought for their freedom she spent the bulk of her time fishing. That is until her rod snapped and smacked her in the face. It was a literal wake-up call for the red-haired giantess albeit a painful one.

She was resolute to become more proactive but the question was how to go about that without ending up in dire straits. A small stone skipped along the path before her after she’d given it a soft kick with her boot. Magda was a prisoner of her own mind until a boisterous voice drew her out of her thoughts. “Was that,” she started to say. Those unspoken words proved unnecessary when she turned towards the main plaza. The figure that stood near the fountain was undeniably her brother and it appeared as if two others had gathered near him.

Unless she’d misheard him he’d said something about panthology; whatever the heck that was. With a smile she headed directly for Mack. He’d receive a wave before she called out. “I see Chewie remains the energetic one of the two.” Her gaze shifted towards the other two. Both would receive a warm smile and a hand extended in greeting coupled with the words, "Hello there."

The all too familiar voice of her brother instantly drew her gaze away from the others. She smirked and offered the man a quick nod of her head. The mention of being made into a true tank was both exhilarating and interesting. She’d taken the time to learn the basics of the different roles she could have taken in a group but she ultimately went with the role of tank. The idea of being a tank that held up to the true sense of the role gave her a sense of purpose she’d long since forgotten upon her arrival to Aincrad.

She listened intently as Hirru explained how things have been and what they were to do this day. The fact that Xion was evidently indisposed and she was up to take on the task of being the guild’s main tank did incite a degree of trepidation to rise within her heart. The revelation that there was a possibility to have their combat effectiveness hindered didn’t inspire a large degree of confidence in her success in fighting on the front lines one day. Regardless she kept that insecurity to herself and simply offered everyone a broad grin.

She was quick to hop into the wagon and move passed Mack towards the front. This way the others would have room to climb in as well. She did cast a playful smirk Mack’s way. “Well at least this place is better than that frozen wonderland your forge is located at.” Whether or not she truly meant that was unclear but she was always very vocal in her dislike of the frigid weather on the fourth floor.

Magda didn’t know what to think at first when she received the notification that she’d received a message. Her trepidation proved unnecessary once she opened it and realized it was from a fellow Knight and guild mate. She hadn’t had cause to speak with Hirru much but the incentive to gain strength definitely wasn’t lost on her. She wasted no time in heading to the closest teleport to shift to the ninth floor. It was a rare occasion that she got to go so high into Aincrad so this was also a nice little treat for her.

The smile she wore quickly withered as her body was assaulted by the almost oppressive heat that radiated from the volcano beneath Vulcan Village. Once she managed to regain her composure she wiped sweat from her brow and made her way to the meeting place indicated in Hirru’s message. She was clad in her armor and cloak which denoted her as a member of the Knights of the Blood Oath; white armor and shield that was lined in crimson.

The heat was more than just bothersome but at least it wasn’t cold. This wasn’t something Magda couldn’t withstand. When her crimson-eyed gaze finally rested upon the caravan and hopefully the green-haired Hirru she’d offer a hearty wave and grin. “So, what are we going to fight today?" Her gaze quickly shifted towards a rather unfamiliar face but her smile didn't falter. Instead she simply stuck her hand out and said, "Hi."

It didn't take long before Magda come to a complete stop only a few feet away from the Old Gypsy. She definitely has respect for anyone who could pull off some lavish colors. She didn't have the nerve to wear anything of the sort; not that she didn't want to though. The Old Gypsy had a weathered look to her much like her grandmother did. It was enough to make her mind start that initial drift into reminiscence but the Old Gypsy's soft voice drew Magda from a time before she was trapped here. "Why dear you look to be traveling alone? These are dangerous times for that." The Old Gypsy offered a warm smile as if she commented on the weather or some other topic that was common place.

Magda's crimson brows drew closer together as she felt a little off guard at the comment. She failed to recover in time to laugh it off like she normally would have since the Old Gypsy felt the need to go on. "You know, there is an old trick to getting the local monsters to follow you. If you feed them the right treat, why they'll be the most loyal of allies.” This was a strange conversation indeed and not something she expected from some random grandmother NPC. She had a sneaking suspicion that this must be some form of quest and her patience paid off when the prompt appeared before her. She squinted her eyes as she read the information there and realized that this was a method of gaining a type of pet, or familiar as the description described them. "Is this how Mack go this bear," she murmured softly as she pondered out loud. 

She reached out to accept the quest but her finger hovered over the button when her attention was diverted elsewhere. A familiar voice called out in greeting and at first she expected to see Grave come sauntering over to her. Her crimson-eyed gaze shifted and when her eyes fell on Lawfer there was a hint of hesitation but also one of recognition. The beautiful comment reminded her of Grave's flirtatious nature but instead she was surprised to see another familiar face. Someone she hadn't seen since her trek into a dungeon with Opal. That is if her memory served her. A warm smile spread across her lips with a hint of a smirk forming. "Why I didn't know she was your type," Magda said exasperated and motioned towards the Old Gypsy. "I do hate to break this to you but she is an NPC. Then again..," her voice trailed off. A single finger was placed against her chin and her expression turned thoughtful. In as calm a tone as she could muster without the risk of descending into a fit of laughter she went on to say, "She won't turn you down at least!"

She obviously knew that Lawfer was likely referring to her but she did enjoy a good tease every no and then. “Now as for someone needing help,” she said as a devilish grin spread across her lips. “It just so happens this beautiful lady right here has offered me a quest. That is if you’d be so inclined to tear your attention away from this beautiful lady and offer your assistance.” While she waited for his response to all of that she reached out and tapped the accept button to start the quest.

All things considered the event didn’t have what Magda would describe as a smooth start. There were quite a few… speed bumps that slowed down its progress considerably. In fact the red-headed giantess fully intended to give a piece of her mind to anyone who had something bad to say about Mack, but that was until the death of one of the players was brought up. The fact that it was insinuated that the man leaped to his death in order to avoid falling under her brother’s command was, in her mind, nothing short of ridiculous.

However, now that the atmosphere had changed she opted to keep her lips sealed and her comments silent; for the moment at least. Mack quickly called things to order and once he’d taken his place at the head of the guild’s group he offered the signal to move. With both hammer and shield at the ready Magda followed silently towards the back of the group. It wasn’t long till the battle was initiated with Mack leading the way. Once it was her turn to strike she paused long enough to listen to Hirru’s advice. It incited an awkward smile as that was exactly what she intended to do.

She’d grown accustomed to being the one to take the hits in a battle so she was a little out of her element against what was in reality the closest thing she’d come to fighting against a boss. Rather than speaking she offered a quick nod to let Hirru know she understood then charged forward. Her hammer was held low and at the ready while she charged forward. Crimson light settled over the hammer’s head.

The instant she came in range the sheer monstrosity of this living tree threatened to overwhelm her. Rather than letting the daunting task of defeating this beast overwhelm her she simply brought her hammer up hard and watched as it struck into the side of its bark. Rather than ending her attack there the maneuver incited two more swift strikes before she quickly retreated back towards her fellow guild mates. She’d landed a more solid blow than she intended and she could only offer a slight shrug of her shoulders if any of the others looked her way. Well… so much for not drawing its attention to herself

“Quite a few people showing up,” Magda commented almost offhandedly. She glanced from face to face and she found that she didn’t quite recognize most of the people here. Even with her abundance of confidence she felt a hint of uncertainty over all of this. This was her first time taking part in an event so it was probably to be expected for her to be at least a little nervous. However, she did have the utmost trust in her brother so she did her best not to dwell on it too much. For now she’d just smile at each person that arrived and did her best to look at the people Mack identified so she could put a name to the many faces.

Once he called her name she turned his way and offered a curious look at the amulet. There was a slight furrowing of her brow as she walked over and reached out for it. Once she had it, whether it was from Mack or Hydra, she swiped her finger down to open her menu and quickly flip through until she was able to equip it. “Will do,” she said in a curt response. The only thing she could do was take a hit and help keep the focus of what she fought. She didn’t know if that’d be of any help here if this event involved creatures that could hurt the higher level players. That was a bridge to be crossed later on so for now she just allowed herself to relax.

Updated/Finalized Stats
 

There was something about a small quaint village that just spoke to her on a level that some of the larger settlements just couldn’t. Delilah Village was no exception. The large village had an old country vibe to it and it was one of the few places that Magda had taken a liking to and visited frequently. The red-haired giantess was clad in her white platinum armor from shoulder to foot. Lines of crimson ran along the armor’s trim which marked her affiliation with the guild in addition to the cloak that was draped across her back. She moved about rather carefree as she made her way from one side of the village to the other.

In truth she hadn’t gotten to explore this place as thoroughly as she might have liked and now that she had the opportunity to remedy that she didn’t plan to waste it. Anytime she passed a NPC she’d offer them a broad grin and a hearty wave. There didn’t seem to be a lot of reaction as they continued about their daily routines. That fact alone caused a slight falter in her grin. Maybe it would have been best if she’d invited an actual person along with her. She nearly snorted as she cast that thought aside and her joyous mood was renewed. She didn’t have time to lumber around with the tides of loneliness pressing in on her. She needed to make most of this time and simply enjoy the sights.

That’s what she wanted to do anyway but there was one NPC that seemed to be a little different than the others. An elderly looking woman clad in colorful scarves and a vibrant purple dress sat in a chair not too far down the road. Rather than keeping her focus on something else like the other NPCs her eyes seemed to follow the red-haired giantess everywhere she went. While this was a little disturbing it did prompt Magda in taking a slight detour that would carry her closer to the old woman.

Magda offered a quick grin and would offer the necessary Col for the items. When he offered another item she did take a moment to truly consider it. “I am,” she boldly declared with her left hand propped up on her hip. However, the grin faltered slightly when she spoke again. “That sounds like it would really be useful,” she started to say then her brow scrunched up as she considered it. “However, I don’t think I could carry anything else with me for this event.” She turned and glanced towards the other two in the room and was rather shocked to see Mack standing there and just in time to be caught unaware as the little bear ran her way.

Magda knelt down and scratched the fur between the bear’s ears before she looked back up. The hint of a smile still there from being reunited with the little fur ball. “I’ll have to pass but I do appreciate the offer.”

-1650 Col

While the second floor wasn’t one of Magda’s favorites she didn’t really mind it much at all. When she first arrived she took several moments to orient herself before she set off. Urbus proved to be a intriguing city. She didn’t know if it was built right into a crater or if it was carved directly into  the land and honestly she figured the story behind it didn’t matter all that much. The red-haired giantess navigated her way through the city. If necessary she’d send her brother a quick message to ferret out his location but regardless she’d eventually find her way towards the Northern Gate.

She had a slight smirk that played across her lips as she walked forward. She was clad in the very gear her brother had given her to ensure her survival in this place. She was clad shoulder to foot in a set of titanium armor that had been dyed white. The armor’s trim had been dyed in red instead to mark her as a member of the Knights of the Blood Oath. Only her hands and face were left bare. Her shield and hammer were readied but not yet equipped since they were in a safe zone. Her cloak that was draped across her shoulders and fluttered behind her as she walked also marked her as belonging to the Knights.

While her lips contorted in a grin there was a slight hint of wariness concealed within her crimson eyes. Normally Mack took measures to ensure she was safe so there was an inherent concern he’d tell her to stay behind. However, she knew that shouldn’t be the case here. That concern fled from her visage when she turned and looked at Mack’s familiar. She smiled warmly at the little bear and stepped forward. “Yo,” she said in greeting. She wasn’t one for the more formal way of greeting and preferred a much more relaxed approach to things.

Stats in Spoiler

Crimson light flickered to life around her hammer as she charged forward to meet her opponent head on. “Die!” The red-haired giantess struck out three times in rapid succession with each hit striking its target. Red splotches remained from each point of impact on the Bandit’s body. It was the way the game indicated a person had taken a hit. Unfortunately she wasn’t able to recover fast enough to intercept the Bandit’s blade with her shield. A line of red was left against her shoulder where the blade struck and it brought a slight grimace to her face.

While pain tended to dissuade most from pushing forward in whatever task at hand it only served to drive the red-haired giantess forward. The grimace that tainted her visage swiftly changed and was replaced by one of her usual grins. “Oh you’re not going to make this easy are you,” she teased the NPC. Of course he didn’t reply beyond moving in for another attack.  “Hmph. Not much for conversation are you,” she mused more to herself than anything. At first she was a little startled by how lifelike the boy was and the overall feel behind this quest. It gave the semblance of something greater at work behind the scenes. Yet the more she fought this Bandit the more she realized that it was simply not the case

The sound of Gavin whimpering could be heard over the heated exchange of blows among the two combatants. It almost made Magda wish the boy would just be silent and let her concentrate on the task at hand. At least she knew he was still alive and that nobody had sneaked their way up behind her and snatched him while her focus was kept elsewhere. Once more she charged forward. Her hammer led the way but ultimately it was parried and sent wide. If she’d been without a shield then the red-headed giantess would have been in a rather precarious position. Thankfully that was not the case and she felt the impact of the Bandit’s blade against its smooth metallic surface. She groaned lightly at the thought of wasting her energy on a Sword Art that missed its mark but she still had plenty to spare. At least that was true for the moment and she prayed this fight was over long before she ran the risk of depleting it entirely.

She raised drew her shield arm closer and took a quick step back to reassess the situation. That is so long as her opponent didn't charge in right after her. With her shield raised Magda risked a quick glance behind her and was relieved to see Gavin as he cowered behind a nearby rock. He was alone at least with no other enemies in sight. Once more her focus turned towards the Bandit just as he moved in to strike.

Once more the red-haired fisherman steps out onto the pier. Her journey to capture that oh so elusive monster fish had yet to be accomplished. Despite the many setbacks and countless pairs of soggy boots she'd gotten as a reward she was determined to see this through to the end. With a flick of her wrist she cast her line out into the water. Then much to her surprise she'd actually hooked the very beast that she so valiantly sought. However, it made short work of her line and caused the rod to snap back and smack her square int he face. He groaned and let out a feral growl which was quickly accompanied by a stamp of her foot.

The next fish was promptly returned to the water since it was both dead and rotting. The third was catch was a decently sized fish but the little bugger broke her line and ran off with her bait. Magda let out a low sigh as she baited her line once more and cast it out into the water. Her hopes and dreams rested upon that cast. Hopes and dreams that were soundly crushed when she heard her rod crack at the slightest tug from... a small fish. "Bah." It was all she could muster as he tossed the item down. Now she'd have to go buy a new one. This... was something she'd refrain from telling her brother without a doubt.

(1/11/17)

1. ID: 74121; LD: 20 [Monster Fish]; CD: 3 [2+1](Bad Quality); MD: 10 [Take 24 Damage]; +1 Exp
2. ID: 74123; LD: 14 [Dead Rotting Fish]; +1 Exp
3. ID: 74124; LD: 18 [Medium Fish]; CD: 3 [2+1] (Bad Quality); MD: 6 [Fish Escaped, Bait Lost]; +1 Exp
4. ID: 74125; LD: 16 [Small Fish]; MD: 9 [Line Breaks, must buy new rod]; +1 Exp

The red-headed woman pushed her way through the entrance into the wagon pursued by the intense chill that was ever present upon the fourth floor which she did not care for at all. Ever since she'd reunited with her brother on this very floor she'd become rather accustomed to the snow but even then she did not care for it at all. She'd much prefer the warmth over the cold. That fact alone made her grateful for Mack's chosen profession. She did not remain distraught for long though. The stress melted from her visage as it was swiftly replaced with a sense of wonder. Her crimson-eyed gaze focused upon the various small orbs that flitted throughout the wagon's interior. She was just about to reach out and touch one before she remembered she'd come her with a very specific purpose in mind. "Hello? There are a few items I'm looking for and I was curious if you had any in stock." Magda started to make her way towards the back of the shop in hopes that someone was in fact there.

OOC:

Greater Elixer x2 (4 Mats)
Greater Health Potion I x2 (4 Mats)
Guardian's Tonic (Perfect) x1 (3 Mats)

Total: 11 Mats or 1650 Col per Rain’s preference.

It occurred to me as I glanced at the green gauge above the Bandits head that this really was taking entirely too long. If I wanted to end this quickly then I’d have to stop resorting to standard measures and unleash something a bit more potent. I could feel the change that came over my visage when my lips curled back into a grin. Once more I charged forward full of nothing short of bravado. There was a crimson glow that emanated from my weapon as I activated one of my Sword Arts. It was the one capable of dealing out the most damage possible.

With a triumphant shout my hammer slammed down not once but three times against the Bandit’s shoulders. Each strike hit its mark which only served to amplify the feeling of satisfaction that welled up within me. That feeling gained a slight notch in it when the Bandit’s blade found my shoulder. In my short-sightedness I’d failed to ready my shield in time. This allowed the bandit’s blade to flow over my shield but it didn’t have any lasting effect. The opposite was true for his health as my crimson eyes remained locked upon its health bar. It slowly dipped further towards my victory.

I didn't rush back in immediately as I might normally have. The minuscule drop to its health didn't spur me on to unleash a flurry of strikes with my weapon. Instead I circled to the left warily. While I moved I kept my shield arm raised in the event the Bandit chose to attack first. Just as my patience nearly reached its upper most limit the Bandit charged forward. Granted barely any time had passed and honestly patience never was my strong suit. However, this had definitely worked out and without missing a beat I lurched forward with my hammer held high.

To my dismay my hammer didn’t reach its mark. The Bandit stepped to the side just out of its reach only to thrust its blade towards my exposed face. Almost on instinct my left arm shifted and the shield rose to intercept. The sheer impact did little to change my posture which likely had more to do with my size than any measure of strength I possessed in this place. With a sudden display of footwork I moved back to gain some distance and prepare myself for the next attack. I’d need to do something soon in order to put an end to this MOB before any more suddenly decided to show up

My patience grew really thin with the Bandit simply standing there so of course I lost my composure and charged forward. I could feel the growl as it rumbled through my throat and vibrated my teeth as it broke free in what I hoped was a fearsome display. My opponent didn't appear to be bothered by it one way or another. Actually was it even possible to intimidate a NPC? It was a question for another time since now my mind needed to be focused solely on the task at hand. My hammer remained in its neutral position against my shoulder up until the point I was within striking distance of my opponent.

In that moment my grip tightened and the weapon flung forward and down in a sharp arc which carried it right into the Bandit’s left shoulder. I barely had time to react as a blade flew in towards my face. “Bah,” I quickly said as my shield rose in response. My opponent’s blade sent a jolt down my arm as his blade was deflected off my shield and left a thin line across the side of my face. The muscles in my jaw tensed as I furrowed my brow. That idiot actually hit my face. Of all the things he could have done. My crimson gaze lowered down upon him as I stood up to my full height and I simply glowered at him.

He made a grave mistake and I was fully intent to make sure that lesson sunk in long before my hammer struck the final blow. The main problem with that was the fact that his health gauge barely flickered from the damage my hammer yielded. It dipped a bit more when the Thorns on my armor activated but it didn’t drop enough. That meant this battle might take considerably longer than I anticipated. Unlike his health mine remained at full capacity thanks to the armor my brother had gifted me. Once again I made a mental note to thank Mack. Well I probably never would but I’m sure he was aware of my sentiments already.

I couldn't help it really. When I saw the words <Bandit Lieutenant> emblazoned above the MOB's head all in read I smiled. "Smile while you can lass. It won’t take long before you take your last breath," the Bandit mused as he lifted his blade ever so slightly as if to reinforce his threat. However, I simply smiled on as I shifted my left arm and made sure my shield was securely fastened to my arm. It obviously was but it wasn't something I did consciously. Strangely the Bandit chose not to move in for an attack and instead kept a wary distance from me.

That was rather strange behavior considering what I’d witnessed with all of my previous fights. Even the fights against his fellow Bandits they all charged in recklessly and killed themselves when my armor activated. A slight hint of concern tugged at the back of my mind as I pondered if this MOB actually learned from the mistake made by the others. If so that would make this both a rather interesting fight and dangerous depending on how strong this guy was.

Rather than immediately accepting his invitation to fight I lift my hammer up and allow its haft to rest against my right shoulder. With a slight tilt of my head I offer him one last smirk before I say, “Oh get used to this smirk pal. It’ll be the last thing you see.” The sound of Gavin’s whimper reminded me that I couldn’t simply act like my reckless self here. I might be able to take some punishment but the kid would likely die in a single hit here.

(HP Full)

"Hmph!" This monster fish was way more elusive than I could have possibly imagined! To be honest I thought all of the warnings I got were just people trying to discourage me from spending my time fishing, but here I was standing on the pier after so many days with more boots than any woman had a right to own. Now I didn't mind an extensive boot collection by any means. I did however prefer them nice and dry and definitely not soggy! With a slight smirk I stepped up to the edge of the pier full of vigor and confidence that today would be the day. "You're mine you blasted fish."

The lure was cast out, and in no time at all I had a bite. My lips parted in a triumphant hurrah up until I felt the line snap and watched as if in slow motion as my rod came back and smacked me square in the face. After I suppressed a string of curses I stood up and cast a wary glance towards my remaining health. It wasn't a major drop to that green bar but it was enough to make me proceed with caution. The next catch was a dead rotting fish. "Ick," he muttered as I unceremoniously threw it back. This would not deter me nor would it erode my confidence that I would pull this off. My efforts were rewarded with two more soggy boots to add to my growing collection. "Dammit," I muttered with disdain.
 

(1/6/17)

1. ID: 73926; LD: 15 [Small Fish]; CD: 12 [11+1] (Perfect); MD: 10 ( Fish gets away, line breaks, 24 DMG); +1 Exp
2. ID: 73927; LD: 14 [Dead Rotting Fish]; +1 Exp
3. ID:73928; LD: 10 [Soggy Boot]; +1 Exp
4. ID: 73929; LD: 8 [Soggy Boot]; +1 Exp

I had to stifle a yawn as I walked out onto the dock and prepared my fishing rod. For a moment I pause with my hand held only a few inches from my mouth as I focus my gaze upon the surface of the water. It was like karma must have taken a special disliking to me because lately I had nothing but sour luck when it came to reeling in the catch. At this rate it wasn't very likely that I'd reel in the one catch I wanted above all else. With a slight sigh I cast my line out for the first time for the day. It didn't take long before there was a slight tug on the line and I reeled in yet another soggy boot. In fact the rest of the day only sees more and more boots pile up upon the pier.

Suddenly I am nearly overcome with a sense of frustration as frown and cross my arms over my chest. "I hope this streak of bad luck doesn't persist... otherwise I'll never find that legendary fish." I really wanted to fight it too.

(1/5/17)

1. ID: 73852; LD: 3 [Soggy Boot]; +1 XP
2. ID: 73853; LD: 7 [Soggy boot]; +1 XP
3. ID: 73854; LD: 9 [Soggy Boot]; +1 XP
4. ID: 73855; LD: 8 [Soggy Boot]; +1 XP

I wanted to groan when I first heard what I considered a lecture that rolled forth from Grave’s tongue, but instead I simply inhaled slowly and focused my thoughts on the target instead. I had to remind myself that criticism wasn’t a bad thing and that he more than likely only intended to offer me useful advice. With a quick nod of my head I raise my shield arm and shift my stance so that my left side faced my opponent. The hammer was held low in my right hand and fully prepared to lash out when I decided to initiate my attack.

“Yeah yeah,” I finally muttered now that I had visibly calmed from my previously excited rush forward. Maybe I liked fighting a bit too much but what could I do? I couldn’t suppress the smile that flashed across my face as I moved forward with lethal intent. Now I could have played it safe and opted to go with a normal attack to test this bear out before I unleashed another Sword Art. That would have been the reasonable thing to do of course. The crimson glow that flowed over my weapon belied the lack of reason I tended to exhibit in battle.

Whether it was through sheer luck or the fact that I took a moment to focus but either way the effort totally paid off. There was a slight noise of satisfaction flowing from my lips as my hammer slammed down twice upon the Bear's head. My eyes just caught the last bit of the red splotch upon its skin each time my hammer hit its mark. The sheer force though sent a small tremor out, some might call it a minor earthquake, that left the Bear a little unsteady on its feet and unable to retaliate against my newfound success. Rather than turning to give Grave a wide grin like I wanted to I kept my shield arm up and my gaze focused upon my opponent. 

Magda (ID#73793)
HP: 200-(0)=200  EP: 18-5+1=14 Mitigation: 21, Regen: 9, Thorns: 14, Dmg: 3, Acc: 1 Hate: 1
BD: 9 {8+1=Miss}; Power Strike {(3)(2x1)}=6Damage

Lone Bear
HP: 40-(6)=34 Damage: 20
MD:  Stunned
Turns
Magda > Lone Bear > Grave