Tyonis

"That is disappointing beyond all measure and scope," Tyonis hung his head sadly when she denied his request. He was really, REALLY hoping for a decent tasting snack. Or even dared he dream, a meal. Steak and lobster sounded oh-so good right now. "I spend most of my IRL paycheck on food and alcohol," Tyonis admitted with a chuckle. "So guess what I spend my money on in Aincrad." He paused for dramatic effect, letting the silence drag on for a few seconds. 

"Nothing. I'm the very definition of a miser." 

He shot Neopolitan a curious glance. "So," he began, unsure of how to start a conversation with someone who couldn't speak normally or at all, "did I really look that helpless back there?" He thumbed in the direction of the safezone. They were well into the forests now and judging by the looks of it, were about to enter into an area less traveled. Tyonis flipped through his menu and equipped his spear and armor, just in case.

Word Count: 169 

"Well, god loves you more than he does me. Bastard actually listens to you," Tyonis complained as he practically threw the quest item in Zakariah's direction. He wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen, but when the Objective Complete prompt filled his field of view, he took it as a good sign. "Looks like we need to deliver this..." He hit the Next button on the objective window and a parcel materialized in his arms. "To some Blacksmith named Lyle Tealeaf," he informed. As they made their way toward the smithy, Tyonis answered Spencer's question.

"The Army drove me to four things: hookers, blow, alcohol, and video games." Tyonis announced, as if that singular statement would explain his whole life story. "But in all seriousness, single player VR games were how I and many of my buds coped during our deployments. FullDive lets you escape from the real world for a bit, and trust me, the Middle East is [censored] HOT. Yeah, sure, it was still hot as [censored] when you logged off but for the hour or so, you were in a totally different world. It really is escapism at its finest."

Tyonis paused at the entrance of the smithy and turned to face Spencer fully. His eyes were hard and unrelenting. "But that's all it is. An escape. This place, this world, it isn't real. In fact, it's more like a drug - a very, VERY lucid dream. Your accomplishments are worthless here since it can all be erased at the drop of some programmer's hat. If you want to make a true change, you need to remove the NerveGear and do it in the real world. That sense of tangibility is important to obtaining a true feeling of accomplishment, purpose, and fulfillment. Don't substitute this world for the real one."

Word Count: 234

'Shoot, move, communicate, KILL,' was an Army motto Tyonis was very familiar with. He just wasn't sure how he was going to effectively do the 'communicate' part with Neopolitan. When he first saw her name he instantly thought of ice-cream and how badly he could use a bowl. NPC made food in Aincrad wasn't bad, but it was definitely dull in flavor and texture. Player Cooks apparently could make custom flavors and really improve on how a meal felt in your mouth, but he'd yet to find a Player who would be willing to cook him a meal for free.

"So... Neopolitan - mind if I call you Neo?" He didn't hear a refusal and pointedly did not look at her in case she'd try to shake her head. "You've got a great, uh, character theme going here. Ice-cream and all that, yeah..." he trailed off as he stepped just a tiny bit closer to her. "Uh.. this is going to sound really strange but... you wouldn't happen to have any on you, would you? Ice-cream, I meant." He hedged and couldn't resist licking his lips once.

Word Count: 185

"Negative, Ghostrider," Tyonis denied as he picked up the vial full of black, formless goop. "Didn't get the quest complete prompt, so I guess I actually have to make this properly." He explained as he reopened his menu and got the rest of the ingredients. "There is one saving grace: each attempt only takes one herb. So I've got 4 attempts left before I resort to killing the NPC to remove this quest from my log." He announced loudly, wondering if Zakariah could even hear him above the din of Players vying for his attention.

"You know, I could have sworn I said I was terrible at arts and crafts IRL. No amount of time spent in Aincrad is going to change that, I'm sure." He dragged the next herb into the window and hit start. "Pray to whatever god you believe in. And if you don't believe in one, I'll know who to blame if this fails." Tyonis chided with a grin.

Word Count: 162
ID: 102305
CD: 4 (Success) Quest Complete. Must deliver package to Lyle Tealeaf.
 

Tyonis was slightly embarrassed when the woman revealed she could hear just fine. He'd been speaking slowly and loudly - enough so that several other Players shot him strange looks. He completely missed what she meant when she pointed at the ground and gave him a thumbs up and expressed his mild confusion with a quiet sigh. When she beckoned for him to follow, he ended up falling in step beside her, having nothing better to do at the moment. Other than his own assumptions about where the blood hawks might hunt and nest, he had nothing to go on except that they were here on this Floor. And like hell he was going to pay an information broker's obscene prices just for a pet bird.

"Since we are going the same way would it be better for us to party up, Ma'am?" He asked then opened his menu and sent her a Party Invite. "Just to clear the air between us... You can hear me just fine and are trying to help me, right?"

Word Count: 166

Tyonis nodded and hardily slapped Spencer on the back for good measure  as if doing so would shake off the gloomy atmosphere from before. "You've got family in the Army, eh?" Tyonis eyed him in a new light but when Spencer began to imply something a bit more negative Tyonis shook his head. "Well, honestly, the Army's neck-deep in its own traditions and cultures, but change is something the Army must always have. Otherwise, there'd be no one in the Army but straight, white men," he explained with a shrug. "You've had it rough Spencer, I can tell. But you wear your scars proudly from now on. They are the mark of your struggles to show the world who you are. Maybe others like you can get something from your experiences too." 

Tyonis nodded when Spencer prompted him for the next half of the quest and he led them back to the workshop. The trip was uneventful, aside from having to push through more Players seeking to venture out of the starting city. Zakariah barely acknowledged them - not that he could since he was surrounded by new Players who wanted to start the tutorial quest line for some easy bonuses.

With a shrug, Tyonis simply went over to the alchemy table and opened his menu. He didn't need an NPC to explain to him how to drag and drop items into a window and press the Start button.

Word Count: 235
ID: 102299
CD: 1 (L.O.L.)

It took a few seconds for Tyonis to realize the woman was trying to ask him what he was doing on this Floor. He wasn't actually paying attention to her body language and hand gestures until their situation finally started to resemble what he'd experienced while he was deployed overseas. Foreign nationals would often try to communicate with he and his fellow Soldiers using a combination of simple Arabic and exaggerated gestures. This girl was doing much the same, save for the lack of sound, though every once in a while, she'd open her mouth as if to say something.

It didn't take a genius to realize she was mute after that revelation. He wondered how she'd survived this long without being able to quickly and effectively communicate. It lent the assumption that she was capable and savvy enough to survive without that key skill - a remarkable feat all things considered. Tyonis couldn't even imagine what it would be like to try and direct a fireteam without the ability to speak.

Perhaps she really could help him then.

"Are you familiar with this Floor?" He asked. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. He couldn't use sign language and sorely wished Spencer was with him now. "I'm looking to tame a Blood Hawk, one of the larger and more ferocious of the hawk monsters on this Floor." He slowly explained and with his own series of gestures.

Word Count: 229

Name: Coeurl
Your Profession: Blacksmith
Your Rank: 1
Roll ID: 102292
Roll Result: Natural 12
Item Type: Dagger
Tier: 1
Quality: Perfect 
Enhancements: 1 Accuracy (+1 BD - cannot cause Critical Hits) | 2 Paralyze (Paralyzed for one turn on Natural 8-10.)
Description: The first dagger Tyonis ever crafted. Meant to be used as a sidearm to a main-hand weapon in case of extreme close combat. Critical hits with this weapon give the wielder breathing room for more options. Affectionately named after Coeurls from a certain MMO that like to stun new players into submission.
Post Link: 

[2/2 05JUL2018]

Tyonis sighed heavily as his first attempt at crafting exploded into countless polygons. Well, he still had one more attempt to burn for the day so, he simply pulled out another lump of ore and began to craft another T1 Dagger!

ID: 102292
CD: 12 (Nailed it!)
EXP: +8

[1/2 05JUL2018]

After settling into his newly acquired smithy, Tyonis went into the backroom to start his work. He'd need to start filling his stock and perhaps make himself a sidearm for when his 2H Assault Spear proved ineffective. He began with a dagger. A simple, versatile weapon that could be useful at a range his spear was not.

ID: 102291
CD: 9 (Salvage) LD: 3 (Fail) EXP: +2 

Tyonis blinked, his internal musings shattered when a woman caught his attention with a small wave of her hand. He looked around, expecting her to be calling at someone else, but when no one answered he shrugged and approached her. At a cursory glance, she was the walking definition of small and petite. She even had a strange pink, brown, and white theme going on in her hair. For a long moment, Tyonis thought she was one of those underaged Players that he found around Aincrad every once in awhile. The Town of Beginnings had a damn orphanage for many of them. He made a mental note to stop by and play with the kids in his off time. It was only after a much closer look that he realized she was more developed in certain areas that hinted at her true age.

"You're asking for me, Ma'am?" Tyonis inquired as he approached, just to make sure. "How can I help you?" He ventured.

Word Count: 150 (Nailed it!)

The 2nd Floor,

Tyonis found teleporting to be somewhat strange. It was a simple enough concept: in a single instance one was somewhere else. But living it was entirely different. While Tyonis used teleportation in many other games, experiencing it in FullDive VR was more mentally jarring than he could ever think possible. In one moment your world changed completely. It was an affront to his normally strong sense of kinaesthetics. He took a few moments to breath and readjust, much to the irritation of a few Players behind him. He didn't mind all that much as they pushed through him while he took his surroundings. Already he charted out that he'd have to hike up a mountain that was of above-average height. The type of bird he sought to tame enjoyed medium-sized mountains and open hunting fields. A nearby lake or a meadow at the foot of a mountain would be a prime place to start his search.

He took a few steps off the teleportation area to make space for more Players and folded his arms while staring at the mountain that best suited his needs. Already, he was trying to map out the most effective way to trek through the wilderness to get to it.

Word Count: 204

Tyonis' smithy was established in the market district of Athenaia. The wooden sign is simple and without much fanfare. The shop itself is spartan and lacks any real decoration, unless you count the weapons, armor, and shields posted about the walls and tables. A stern looking man stands behind the counter. He nods curtly at you and motions for you to enter. 

"Welcome to the Solder's Creed. I'll be glad to help you in anyway I can."

 

Name: Magstrom
Your Profession: Blacksmith
Your Rank: 1
Roll ID: 102286
Roll Result: Natural 12
Item Type: 2H Assault Spear
Tier: 1
Quality: Perfect 
Enhancements: 2 Accuracy (+2 BD - cannot cause Critical Hits) | Bleed (+12 Unmitigated Damage for 2 Turns on Natural 9-10.)
Description: The first spear Tyonis ever crafted. Affectionately named after Drill Sergeant Magstrom. It features a barbed, two-sided axe head that flanks the spear tip to induce heavy bleeding on critical hits.
Post Link: 

Template Post

Name: 
Your Profession: 
Your Rank: 
Roll ID: 
Roll Result: 
Item Type: 
Tier: 
Quality: 
Enhancements: 
Description: 
Post Link: 

Reward Summary:

• 1 Additional SP (First EaL Completion Only)
• <<Blacksmith>> Profession
• Successfully Crafted [Perfect] Item
• Standard <<Blacksmith>> Shop (Able to have a Blacksmith thread in the Merchants & Shops section)
• (5) Tier 1 Crafting Materials
• 1 Additional SP for 20 Posts
• (4) Tier 1 Crafting Materials (Leftover)

It didn't take long for Tyonis advertisements of free weapons and armor repairs to spread across the surrounding Players. Soon, he was swamped with requests. Fortunately, most Players had come across the necessary materials to repair their own gear - they just lacked the Profession to use them. Overall, Tyonis came out with 0 loss to his material stores and his Col. Most importantly, he had gained information about the local area and starter quests that would help him boost his character safely and effectively. Judging by how many repair requests he received, most Players were leveling by grinding at the moment, so monster hunting wasn't a very efficient way of building a character at the moment. He'd have to wait a few hours or even a few days before the majority of Players left the starting level grinding zones. In the meantime, he would continue to do quests, unlocking more options and avenues for him to use and approach.

His course of action decided, Tyonis closed up his impromptu shop and made for his next destination!

Word Count: 174 20/20 Posts. Thread Complete!

Tyonis opened up his saved Draft and hit «Continue Recording» on the last message he was making. "I've successfully earned the Blacksmithing Profession. This will enable me to maintain my arms, my equipment, and myself, adhering to a core tenant of the Soldier's Creed. I am heading down to the the Basic Gear Shop in the Town of Beginnings to do what I can to assist the other victims. Sadly, I am unable to perform any relevant medical aid to those who are injured and I am not trained in physiology, so my medical expertise is all but useless in SAO. Still, I will endeavor to do what I can and repairing Player's equipment for free is something within my capabilities. I will use this time to plan my next course of action. My secondary objectives to gather intelligence from other Players who may have discovered something I have not and to form a social network are well within my reach now." 

He cut off the recording as he arrived in front of the stall where several Players were patiently waiting for their turn to get their gear repaired.

Word Count: 185 19/20 Posts

As the [Perfect] Tier 1 item materialized in his hand, Cerdic let out a low whistle. "You've got natural talent there, kiddo. Well, a promise is a promise. You can keep the rest of those lumps. Practically worthless to me, but you might find them useful for honing your craft!" Cerdic approached the Tyonis and held out his hand. A small cloth bag appeared in the NPC's open hand. When Tyonis reached for it, a prompt appeared.

«Earning a Living: Blacksmith» Completed!

Rewards: 1 Skill Point,

«Blacksmith» Profession,

[Perfect] T1 Item,

Standard «Blacksmith» Shop land-deed, 

(5) Tier 1 Crafting Materials.

Tyonis grinned and accepted the quest rewards. It felt good to make solid progress and attain a goal. Now that he could repair and improve his gear, a load of options and avenues made themselves available to him. He looked at the NPC for a moment then tilted his head. "Cerdic, where do a lot of the Players - I mean Adventurer's tend to go for their repairs? I'd like to start to spread my name out."

Cerdic seemed to genuinely mull over his question. SAO really was queer with its accuracy sometimes.

"Try the Basic Gear Shop. The owner overprices repair costs, but many of you new Adventurers don't know that. You might be able to undercut him." 

"Thanks, Cerdic. For what it's worth, I'll remember you fondly." With that, he left the NPC to hammer away.

Word Count: 235 18/20 Posts.

Tyonis' return to Cerdic's smithy was uneventful. He had to push through waves and waves of Players as they surged out of the Town of Beginnings' gates. Already, the Players were hunting everything to practical extinction. As soon as a monster spawned, parties of three and four Players would pounce on it, devouring whatever loot and EXP they could get. In hindsight, that explained why he hadn't run into any monsters. He wasn't even attacked during his nap. He couldn't afford to fall into complacency, though. The Players would soon disperse further out into the Floor and the monster respawns would start to stabilize once that happened.

The smithy was just as hot, humid, and smelly as Tyonis left it. His nose twitched, but he was able to ignore the heat. Summer in the Middle East was much worse. He turned to Cerdic and showcased the ore he gathered. The NPC looked unimpressed at the dull clumps and went through a small description on how to craft. Ironically enough, he highlighted what menu's to go through.

"You know you just broke the fourth wall, right?" Tyonis stated. Cerdic just stared at him expectantly. Tyonis wasn't sure if his statement even registered to the NPC.

Word Count: 211
ID: 102286
CD: 12 (NAILED IT!) Perfect Item Successfully Crafted. Second Objective Complete. Must reach 17/20 Posts.

"Mhmm," Tyonis mulled out loud as Spencer began to spill his heart out. Steven found it difficult to empathize. He was what most would call a "cis male" so he was comfortable in his own skin and had no reservations about saying who he was, nor did he care what others thought about his identity. He had a confidence Spencer clearly did not possess. "Get over it and try again, that guy was a pussy and not worth your time." Was definitely NOT the right response. A fellow Soldier might take that as a lesson of tough love, but he wasn't sure if Spencer had the emotional strength to endure that sort of bluntness.

"Well," Tyonis began. "There is one thing you should be proud of." He paused and smiled at Spencer. "You and your bravery. It is not easy to admit your difference to the world. Not everyone gets along with Soldiers because of what we inherently stand for, obviously. So I sort of understand how you might feel. I can't say I will ever exactly experience what you're going through, but I can kind of empathize." He kicked a bush, just to see if a successful gathering prompt would fill his screen as he approached Spencer and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hold your head up high son, because, though Eric lacked the courage to look at himself in the mirror and admit to himself who he was, you did not shrink from fear. You told him who you really were and what you really wanted. Ultimately, it doesn't matter if he loved you or not. What matters is you sought it. Failure is not the end of the world, just another reason to try again if you can and are willing. This may be blunt as hell, but the only final failure is death. So long as you live and breath, keep trying. I can't promise results, but I can promise it'll be better than doing nothing."

Word Count: 285
ID: 102277
LD: 20 (NAILED IT) 5/5 Herbs Harvested. First Objective Complete. Must now craft a healing potion in Zakariah's Workshop.
 

"I am unable to aptly judge what the culprit, Kayaba Akihiko, will do next. I can only speculate on his plans and personality. Frankly, he is a prick. To elaborate, he comes across as a megalomaniac and a sadist. He resembles a homegrown terrorist and has picked a Soft Target for his attack. To hold the lives of 10,00 innocent people, most of which are no older than 25 and so of which are less than 10, is an abhorrent crime that far eclipses the 9/11 attacks, whose casualties numbered in the low 3,000's. It is obvious that this sort of cyber terrorism will mark a turning point in human history and I swear to do my upmost to represent the honor, strength, and service of the United States and its military during this time of great need. Kayaba Akihiko's plans are, so far, an enigma. I cannot even begin to fathom his reasoning for trapping 10,000 of his fellow Japanese citizens in a prison of his own making..."

Tyonis stomped another mound, flicking it up with his steeled boot.

Word Count: 183
ID: 102276
LD: 19 (Success) 5/5 Ore Excavated. 1st Objective Complete. Must now craft an item in Cerdic's Smithy. 16/20 Posts.
 

"...10,000 people have been trapped in this game and within the first few hours, several dozen have already died. I admit, I have done nearly nothing to stop the deaths, and I honestly doubt I could make any real difference at the moment. I am unsure of what options I have available to me and am focusing on personal survival, gathering intelligence, and forming a strong support network among the other victims. So far, my efforts have proven minimally fruitful. I have met another English-speaker, @Spencer by his in game name, and he has proven himself to be kind and, most of all, reliable. He was born in England and lived in Michigan. I sincerely hope that he, and anyone else I come across, survive till the end of this deathgame."

He paused and slammed the butt of his spear into another suspicious mound on the cave wall. He really didn't expect anything and continued his journal entry...

Word Count: 152
ID: 102273
LD: 15 (Success) 4/5 Ore Excavated. 15/20 Posts.

"DDMMMYYYY at HH:HH Hours. My name is Specialist Steven Barnett of the U.S Army," Tyonis began, speaking to the recording message. It had no recipient, but he could save it as a Draft as a journal of sorts. "I've been stationed at Camp Zama and, after trying out Sword Art Online, the first FullDive VRMMORPG, have been trapped with no way to log out of the game by the game's developer and Game Master, Kayaba Akihiko. He claims that dying in the game will equate to bodily death by high-intensity microwaves sent into your brain through the NerveGear VR system. Today marks the first day and the first entry of this journal and, in the event of my demise or escape, will hope these records persevere as a testament to my actions. I've chosen to use a 2H Assault Spear based on my real life experience with a rifle and bayonet, along with Heavy Armor, since I am used to carrying over 100 pounds of gear on a daily basis. I am in the process of gaining the Blacksmithing Profession so that I may have a method of maintaining and improving my arms and equipment."

He kicked another mound absentmindedly before continuing...

Word Count: 203
ID: 102271
LD: 17 (Success) 3/5 Ore Excavated. 14/20 Posts.
 

His enthusiasm lasted for a few more feet before the monotony of his task began to sink in once more. 'Asian MMORPG - always with the damn grinding. And the RNG!' Tyonis cursed silently as he viciously kicked another mound, his hand already flying to where he preset all pop-ups and prompts to go. He wished he could at least open up a radio app and listen to some music while he kicked and prodded away his life in this damn cave. Grinding to a soundtrack was several thousand times more appealing then counting his own heartbeats.

Come to think of it, there was a Performance Profession as well. They might be able to compose music to listen to. Of course, he'd need a device of some sort to play it from. He highly doubted there were smartphones in Aincrad. '...Wait,' he opened his menu and his Friendslist. On it was the ability to send either text or verbal recordings that you could save and send to others. 

"OH [censored]?!"

Word Count: 170
ID: 102269
LD: 11 (Fail) 2/5 Ore Excavated. 13/20 Posts.