Pinball

The variant was in sight now. Pinball pulled his spear out, and waited. The Nepent Variant lashed out, but the attack went wide, missing the both of them. Pinball activated one of his Sword Arts, Mighty Charge, and rushed the Variant. But the monster let out a loud shriek, and Pinball flinched. The movement canceled the Sword Art, and Pinball backed up, his eyes not leaving the plant monster. "Hey," he called to Ben, "be careful. Try to stun it, if you can." Pinball backed up even further, spreading the distance between the player and the mob. The monster was extremely weak to what he had heard, but Pinball figured he'd rather be safe than sorry. "Keep a potion ready, too. It attacked already, so it'll take a second before it goes again. You've got a free shot." Pinball nodded, determined. He was going to kill this thing, and pray to God that the item dropped. He didn't feel like repeating this cycle over and over again.

Combat:

Pinball nodded. "Yeah, travelling as a group can be troublesome, if everyone isn't focused on the task at hand." Pinball picked up Benjamin saying you're an alchemist. "So, you can make potions and stuff? I might have to stop by. Fishing is very dangerous." Pinball shook his head, filled with anxiety. "I nearly died fighting a monster I reeled in. I was left in the red, and I was sure that's where I was going to die." Pinball nodded. "Yeah, potions would be useful. Especially since I'm going to gather party of friends to hunt down and kill the monster that nearly killed me, when I get the free time. For now, levelling up is my focus."

"The boss is called The Nepent Variant. It's a lot bigger than the ones we fought, it does more damage, and it's a lot tougher." Pinball shrugged. "Still, if we put out a good amount of attacks, we'll be fine. So long as you stay behind me, you shouldn't really be getting hit at all." Pinball scratched his chin. "That is, unless I miss my own attacks, and you hit yours. But!" Pinball stood up, and started walking. "It's time to fight a boss. Onwards!" 

EN Rec: 3/3 - Energy fully recovered!

Pinball nodded. It was a good enough response. He once again checked his health bar. His energy recovered a tiny bit once more. In a few seconds, it would automatically regenerate, and they could complete their quest... maybe. When Ben asked about the drop rate of the item, he shrugged. "Nah, I don't got anything. Lemme think," he said, scratching his head. "Would it be a... five percent drop? Or a ten percent?" He sighed. "I don't remember. I'm bad with numbers." He tugged on his cloak, showing Ben. "This increases my chances a tiny bit, actually. But the difference is still small, so we might need to fight more than one boss." Pinball took a second to think again. "Ideally, we would have consumables that would boost our chances. I'm a cook, so I can make those - but I didn't bring any." He laughed. "That's poor planning on my part." Pinball slammed his spear into the dirt. "Don't worry though, we should make quick work of the mobs here. After all, it's only the first floor. We should be able to handle anything it throws out at us... unless we go fishing." He shuddered.

EN - 2/3

"Yeah, let's take a small break," he said, letting out a breath he had been holding. Even though he knew the Nepent wouldn't have attacked him, he couldn't help but feel worried. Benjamin was a way lower level than he was, and so Pinball felt responsible to carry him through the quest unharmed. "Only a small one, though. Just to let my energy recover - we need to keep moving. There's only a small chance that the Variant will drop the item we need." He stretched, then leaned against a tree, his staff held in one hand. "So," he said, attempting conversation, "your username. Is Benjamin your real name? It's an odd name for a username, I think. Especially when we were all expecting to be playing an avatar, not ourselves." Pinball shrugged. "I shouldn't judge, I guess. Mine is pretty childish, and the origin of it isn't much cooler either."  He watched his energy slowly creep back up, only by a single, tiny pixel. The auto regen would initiate soon, he would just need some more time. 

REGEN: 

Health +10 - 236/240 -> 240/240 

EN Auto Rec. 1/3 

Pinball nodded. "I'll go for another AOE, and then we can pick them off after that! Don't worry too much, you'll have plenty of chances to hit them!" Pinball pulled his spear upright, ready to acctivate another sword skill. But the Nepents were faster. The three remaining Nepents each attacked him, one after the other. Pinball jumped this way and that, successfully dodging each of their attacks. When their attack was through, it was his turn. Pinball once again activated Hellish Twice, his strongest unlocked AOE Sword Art. This time, he manage to strike two of the nepents. The monsters let out a shriek and burst into shards, dead. "You got this one," Pinball said, pointing with his finger, "lucky number two. Get him!" Pinball jumped back, tense and ready for another attack. The nepents would only target him, as he had landed two crits in the previous two rounds of combat. His hate had to be at least double that of Benjamin's, though he couldn't be sure. "Don't be scared - it already attacked me, it won't attack you this round."

Combat

OOC NOTE: I tracked hate incorrectly; I'm supposed to track it by each individual mob. However, as Benjamin missed, he has 0 Hate with Nepent 2. Pinball, since he hasn't hit Nepent 2, also has 0 hate. 

It was as if the Nepents were already waiting. Pinball had barely taken a few steps into the forest before they arrived. Four of them, all at once, coming out of the forest without warning. Pinball jumped back. "Alright, here I go!" Pinball activated his sword skill, Hellish Twins. "Here's a first," he muttered as it activated. It was, in fact, the very first sword art he would use with this weapon... the very first Sword Art he would use with any weapon besides the dagger. He jumped from enemy to enemy, managing to hit only one of them, killing it. "Well, that was a waste of energy," he growled, jumping back and gripping his spear. Two of the nepents lashed out at him - they both missed. When the last two took their turns, he had dodged both, the first just barely missing and the other not hitting anywhere near him. "I soaked up the attacks, and I have their attention," he shouted to Benjamin, "pick your target!" 

Combat: 

They arrived in the forest. Pinball didn't step in and start walking however. He listend as Benjamin described his plan, and nodded. "Yeah, I agree. I doubt we'll be knocked down too badly, but that'd be good. If you can, stun one of them. It'll be easier to not have to worry about a hit." Pinball then swiped open his trade menu, and sent a request to Benjamin. He took one last look at his dagger. It had been his very first weapon, and it was the last dagger, or any other weapon for that matter, he would ever use. "Take care of it, yeah? It holds a special place in my heart. And- when you're through with it, please don't throw it away. Pass it on to someone else who needs it." He sent the dagger over, and slammed the butt of his spear into the ground. "Alright! You ready to go? I'll take the lead, just equip the dagger, first." Pinball nodded, crossed his arms around his spear, and waited.

*Sent to Benjamin Bookworm: 

Emerald Shiv:

Pinball snorted, appreciating the humour. "When I was twelve, I wanted to get a rottweiler, so I could name it zombie." Pinball looked at him for a moment, letting that sink in. "'Cause... 'Cause it's a rot-tweiler." Pinball wheezed, slapping his knee. Then, suddenly, he straightened. "Alright, let's-a-go." He started walking off, where he knew he would find the quest's location. He had scoped out the area not too long ago, and had talked to a group of players who were undertaking the quest. That had been yesterday. Pinball stretched, twirled his spear with both hands over his head in a helicopter-like fashion. "Hey, you use daggers?" Pinball noticed the blade on his side. "I have an old one you could have, if you want. I don't know the quality of yours, so I won't make you... but the one I'll give you is Rare, and has a plus one to damage and to accuracy." Pinball shrugged, not stopping his walk. "It's my old dagger, and I literally can't use it anymore." Pinball turned towards Benjamin as he walked, walking backwards. "Literally. Even if I wanted to. Check it," he said, and he stopped. He threw his spear as far as he could, and it landed a good ways in the dirt. Then, the spear dissapeared. It reappeared in his hands with a flash of blue light. "This spear - It's cursed. I can't get rid of it." 

Pinball laughed, and he lightened up a bit. He was glad the player didn't do anything to make it even more awkward, though Pinball was the one to blame for approaching like that. "Cool!" Pinball offered his hand. "The name's Pinball, by the way." Pinball shrugged. "Not much danger, to be honest. Just a few low leveled mobs. We should breeze through it, to be quite frank with you." Pinball looked past the player, out towards the street. Then he looked back. "Stabbing things is just what we need. And I'm sure potions will come in handy, though we probably won't need them." Pinball paused, then continued. "I'll take most of the hits, if you want. I'll keep their attention as long I can. If you're ready, we can start walking. I'll lead the way - just let me know." Pinball swiped open his own menu, checking to make sure everything was in order. He switched over to the "Party" tab, and peered over at him. "You're Benjamin, yeah?" He didn't want to invite the wrong person, after all. The menu listed all players available for a party request in the area. 

Pinball stood near the teleporter, leaning on his spear. Players and NPCs alike were out and about, tending to their business. Pinball was here on the First Floor to finish one of the few low level quests he hadn't taken: The Secret Medicine of the Forest. He figured there would be another low level player on this floor with the same idea, and so he waited. Pinball scanned the crowd, looking for anyone who stood out as "low-leveled". He locked on to one lad with brown hair, not too far from him. "Oopsie daisy," the boy said, hefting his spear off the ground with one hand. He jogged over to the player. He stuttered at first, but quickly recovered, "H-hey. Excuse me. Uhh, do you... do you wanna do a quest with me?" It must seem very strange, having someone you didn't know approaching you and asking if you wanted to accompany them on a quest. Realizing this, Pinball continued. "It's not like you need to or anything- It's just - I'm a low level, too. And I'd like a bit uhh... a bit of help." He placed the butt of his spear against the ground, and leaned against it. This must be super suspicious. He wiped his eyes. "God, this is weird. The quest is called Secret Medicine of the Forest. You wanna come?" His face was a bright red. He wasn't nearly used to engaging in a conversation, and it was painfully obvious. Pinball sighed, and awaited his response. 

Player Stats:

@Benjamin Bookworm

Pinball entered his shop the next day. Stryder had come by and taken his item, though he hadn't heard anything from the other two. He didn't want to get rid of their items, so he stuffed them in storage. Pinball started crafting, attempting to make Fae's cookie. If he managed to succeed, he could go straight back to Kaya's order of Carrot Cake. However, after his crafting was said and done, he hadn't made anything that satisfied his standars. It wouldn't satisfy his customers' standards, either. Pinball sighed, putting the items away and closing up shop. Tommorow would be another day; another day he was able to try and craft. Soon, he would have filled out all his customers' orders, and he'd be free to craft what he wanted. 

- CRAFTING - 

Attempt 1: 

Attempt 2: 

Attempt 3: 

Attempt 4: 

Attempt 5: 

Results: 

• 1 T1 Uncommon Dessert Crafted.
• 11 EXP gained. 

Started day with 11 T1 Mats, ended with 8 T1 Mats. (3 salvaged) 

EXP: 150/159 

rolling

Pinball burst through the door, out of breath. "Hei! Armor!" In between gasps, he struggled to the shopkeep. "I! Mars, fight me - I need the armor because- frog-" Pinball quickly accepted the armor, and then stumbled backwards. He equipped the armor, the leather armor adding a pleasant weight in comparison to the wimpy armor he had received during the beginner quests. "Yes! Thank you, Hei- I'll beat - frogs." Pinball ran out of the shop, slamming the door behind him. This armor, along with his new spear, would aid him in his upcoming battles. Now, all he needed was a bit of ACC. And for that, he needed to find another shop. "Gonna beat... Gonna get 'em." Pinball happily ran off, eager to test his new gear. 

*Recieved: 

Pinball watched as his guildmates began to mingle. By the sound of it, the quest they were undertaking wouldn't stand a chance against the full might of the guild. Pinball shrugged, and started walking in circles, waiting for the quest to begin. He didn't want to seem rude and ask when they would depart, as he was sure they would figure themselves out sooner or later. He shook his head when Fae asked if he brought the cookie she had ordered. "I'm sorry, no, I didn't. My shop has been swamped with orders lately. I promise I'll get it to you soon, though!" Pinball forrced a laugh and a smile, and once again stepped even further away from his guildmates. He just wanted to get this over with, and everyone seemed keen on socializing. Pinball frowned, a bit angry. He was in one of his bad moods, and it would worsen if anyone did something the teenager decided he didn't like. 

Name: Searching Tea
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 4
Roll ID: 93420
Roll Result: 12
Item Type: Snack
Tier: 1 
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: +3 LD {3 Slots}
Description: Delicious green tea that enhances the user's eyesight, allowing them to see in insane detail.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/15508-f8-r4-cook-~-open/?do=findComment&comment=534412

Name: Peach Tea
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 4
Roll ID: 93419
Roll Result: 11
Item Type: Snack
Tier: 1
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: +2 ACC {2 Slots}
Description: Drink this delicious tea, and your accuracy will be just peachy! 
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/15508-f8-r4-cook-~-open/?do=findComment&comment=534412

Name: Fudge Cookie
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 4
Roll ID: 93421
Roll Result: 11
Item Type: Dessert
Tier: 1
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: +18 MIT {2 Slots}
Description: You feel nearly invincible! Nothing will stand in your way when you want to buy another cookie this bad. 
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/15508-f8-r4-cook-~-open/?do=findComment&comment=534412

Pinball laughed. "What have I got in store for you?" Then, he said it again, yelling now, "what have I got in store for you?!" He hadn't put his foods on display yet, so his display boxes and shelves were all empty. However, he had them on hand. He swiped open his menu, and materialized the Fruit Cake he had had stored for so long. It spawned in the air, fell to the counter, bounced, and nearly fell off the tabletop, but Pinball caught it. "Fruit Cake," he said plainly, in a normal tone that wildly differed from his previous excitement. "It's the type of thing you buy for a relative, and they end up just throwing it away." He shrugged. "Someone's gotta make 'em. I was never really a fan, but I'm sure they're edible... by some people." Pinball placed the fruit cake in a box, and handed it to Crozeph with a smile. "I'm joking - it'll get the job done." Pinball checked his prices to make sure he wasn't over or under charging. "That'll be either 700 Col or 7 Tier-One Materials. Wait, no - that's wrong." He calculated the price, applying the guild discount. "That'll be either 550 Col or five Tier-One Materials. Buy it, and taste the best damn Fruit Cake you'll ever eat."

*Sent to @Crozeph

Name: Fruit Cake 
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 4
Roll ID: 91467
Roll Result: 10
Item Type: Dessert 
Tier: 1
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: +2 ACC {2 Slot}
Description: A simple, yet tasty fruit cake. 
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/15508-f8-r4-cook-~-open/?do=findComment&comment=531675

Pinball sat up as he heard someone entering his shop. He expected it to be one of the players whose orders he had qued up, but, instead, it was Crozeph, a guild member. He hadn't met Crozeph before, only ever heard his name mentioned during chats with the guild. From what he heard, Crozeph was around Stryder and Hei's levels. Pinball accepted the order form, and gave it a once-over. "It says here you want +2 ACC? Don't you mean +3? Otherwise, you may as well just order a Rare. And if that's the case, I probably have an Accuracy boosting Rare somewhere around here." He assumed it was a typo, or that he wanted something else with the accuracy bonus as well. He awaited Crozeph's response.

@Crozeph

"Yeah, I'd want pretty good gear If I fought one of those things. I was only lucky to have someone to protect me, that one time," he replied, casting his line. He shrugged and laughed as Mars commented on his tiredness. "Pssh, sleep is for the weak. I'll sleep when we get back, and we recieve our juicy quest rew-" His fishing rod took a sharp turn downwards, into the water. The force pulling the rod threatened to bring Pinball down into the water with it, so he let go. "Damn it! Mars! Run! Now!" Pinball grabbed the man, yanking him away from the edge of the river as best he could. A monster burst forth from the water, with a loud hiss. It spit out a glob of poison, and it landed where the two had just been sitting, calmly fishing. The spot the glob touched instantly burnt with a soft sss. "We have to go," he yelled at the man, panicking and offering him a hand up. "Now. Quickly!" The monster's healthbar appeared, revealing its name... The Cuddle Fish. "God damn it... Who comes up with these names?!" 

THE CUDDLE FISH: 

Combat: 

Pinball shrugged. "I do enjoy the thrill, though. The rush of adrenaline that comes with it. I have the feeling I'll have to fight way more bosses in the future." He sighed. "Maybe even when I'm by myself. I'll either manage to cheat death, or die. Simple as that." Pinball cast the line into the water, watched as the hook sunk beneath. Pinball stretched his back as he sat, then continued to say, "It's all good, though. Reminds me of the times my dad would force me to join him at the pier. I always wanted to stay home and read, so I usually just grumbled and sat in the sand while he fished." He felt a tug on the end of the line, and he reeled it in. His fishing yielded two Tier-One Materials. Pinball counted up, ensuring that he had the correct amount in his inventory. Pinball yawned, and stretched again. He had barely slept last night, and relaxing like this was making him groggy. 

Fishing: 

"Smaller goals, huh..?" Pinball watched the water rush by, then pulled out his fishing rod. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. It's something we'll have to talk about." His energy had completely recovered, so he figured if he was going to fish, he may as well do it not. As he cast the line, Mars pointed out the unfairness of the information trade. Pinball laughed, and cast the line. "Yeah, I guess that's pretty fair." Then, he stopped laughing. He slowly turned his head to Mars, looked him dead in the eyes. An unblinking, emotionless stare. "What's your social security number?" Pinball burst out laughing at his own joke, only calming down when he felt a small tug on the line. He reeled in the materials, gathering the 3 Tier-Ones that he had fished up. Pinball shrugged. "If I pull something bigger than that fish guy - Fish Soldier, whatever - If I fish it up, be ready to run. There's no way we can fight one of those things. Not as we are now, at least." 

Fishing: 

@Mars

Pinball forced a smile. This Mars guy, he was very capable. And Pinball was sure a fight between the two men would be very interesting, indeed. But there was something Pinball didn't like about the idea of Stryder being beaten. It must be because he looked up to him. Then again, a match between the two really would be interesting. Pinball had seen both men in action, and they were both deadly fighters. Mars let his temper flare, and absolutely wreaks havoc on his opponent. Stryder, if he felt he needed to protect something, was absolutely the same way. 

"My guild? Oh, they're good people. All of them." Pinball smiled. It was true. "Stryder is a very kind man, unusually so. He really wants to look out for his guild members, and he's very determined to take himself and his guild to the frontlines. Like, to the point where he left a guild because of its inactivity to make his own. But, he can lose himself in his temper, and, between you and me... he's not terribly bright." Pinball chuckled. "But, that's where the other leaders come in. They put together the guild so that Stryder didn't hold all the power. Eatos, I still haven't met. She's much more professional than Stryder though, from what I've heard. She's probably the one handling the financial and political affairs. And the other one is Hei. All around friendly dude. He's a really chill guy. Fun to hang out with." 

"Of course, there's others." Pinball swiped open his menu, going down the list. "Thorsten is practically a leader, too, though he has no skill in combat as of yet. Very smart guy. Fae is only eight or nine, so, of course the guild had to take her in. She's sweet, though. Saphira is another shy girl I've barely talked to, and then there's Jade Eye, Crozeph, and Paglihka. All people I haven't really met. Those three usually keep to themselves." 

Pinball thought for a moment. "The guild's main purpose, I guess, would be to make it to the front line. They want to help escape the game, while simultaneously making it a better place for the ones who are trapped here." A pause, then, in a slightly scornful tone, "your stereotypical frontliners." 

"But enough about me. What's your whole story? Why the act? What's your whole... schtick?"

Mars asked him his name. Pinball flushed. He hadn't told anyone his name in this game; it was the only thing he could truly call his own, after all. Pinball was oddly protective of it, and it wasn't something that he wanted to give out. At least... not yet. Pinball shook his head. "I'm fine with my username. I named my character after my cat, and it reminds me of my life at home. Or at least, what used to be my life." He scratched the back of his head, looking back into the rushing water. "Sorry. I don't really want to share that, at the moment," he said, then quickly added, "it's just a personal thing, it's not you!" Pinball checked his energy. It was recovering, slowly but surely. The auto recovery would soon activate, once the system recognized that he was out of combat. Then, he would start fishing. "The one time I had to fight a fishing boss, I had my Guild Leader to back me up. He put the thing at 4 health in a single punch. That being said, they aren't pleasant to deal with. Not in the slightest." Pinball figured Mars, another martial artist, would appreciate knowing of another. 

OOC Rec.: 

+10 HP 

+ 1 EN 

Pinball listened as Mars told him what was on his mind. Pinball stared into the water, listening. He felt very uncomfortable talking about stuff like this, and his face lit up a bright red. "W-well, It's not really like you failed. In the beginning, I could tell something was a bit... off. But I'm not really one to jump to conclusions, so I just kept my mouth shut and acted how I would around someone I just met." Pinball then lay back, his hands supporting his head. "When you started to get angry during the battle, I knew what was up. I don't claim to know why you act the way you do, but I know the polite guy I met by the quest board isn't the guy I'm talking to right now." He sighed. The battle had tired him out. "And that's good, in my opinion. I value honesty in people, and honesty isn't always polite, nice, or pretty. There's no shame in that... But that's just me, I guess." Pinball shrugged. He didn't want to risk fishing just yet, so he let his health heal. He would have gone into deeper detail about how he knew how to look out for stuff like that, but he stopped himself. That would be getting too into his own personal life, and Pinball didn't want to expose himself to every single person he met. "By the time my energy heals back up, I'll start fishing again. Hopefully I don't reel in a boss." 

OOC Rec.: 

Health + 10 - 123/200 

EN + 1 - 2/20 

Forgot to mention: 

Taking this with @Mars. 

Pinball snorted angrily, and walked back to the side of the stream. He took a seat, landing with a thump. He was glad he had killed it, but the man named Mars somehow managed to get under his skin. He had long since come to the conclusion that this man meant him no harm... even if he did have a bit of an anger problem. Pinball himself had gotten rather heated during the battle, too. However, all and all, Pinball was rather glad that the man dropped his polite act. He would much rather be around a rude person who was completely honest with themselves than a polite, fake personality. Pinball watched the stream rush by. He leaned back, using his arms to support his weigh. Then, he sighed, smiling. "Nice kill. That was fun." Under normal circumstances, being around such an aggressive person would rub off on Pinball, and he himself would be aggressive in return. But, there was something about battle that forged bonds, and Pinball, after all was said and done, was a man with a soft heart. "Yeah, I'll heal a bit, then we can do some more fishing, if you'd like." 

OOC Healing: + 10 

OOC EN Regen: + 1

Health: 113/200 

EN: 1/20