Bahr

Of course, the boar hit. The boar always hit. The wind was knocked out of Bahr as he felt his feet give out from beneath him. He caught the ground with his hands, twisted and hopped to his feet all in one motion. His neck felt a little stiff after that one, though he wasn't sure if that was due to the attack, or due to the fact that he had been stuck in a game for two years and his neck was probably undoubtedly stiff on the outside. He stared down the boar with a venomous expression, readying his weapon with every intention of slaying the creature with only one move. He just prayed that it would actually hit this time.

The boar charged mindlessly, unyielding to the expressions of the player in front of it. Bahr's blade began to glow and whistle as the monster got closer, and just as it fell within his striking distance, he unleashed another Rage Spike into the creature's face.

One of these times, Bahr was going to succeed in attacking one of these boars and actually hit it on the first try. One of these times. But not this time, apparently.

The Sword Skill missed entirely, once again wasting all of Bahr's SP and leaving him to wonder what the hell he was doing out in this field. The boar took advantage of Bahr's clumsiness and charged, striking the crimson knight directly in the stomach. This came as no surprise. In fact, it was beginning to become the norm. While he was sure it wasn't true, the trend was definitely making it appear as though his accuracy was far below that of the boar's. As low as 30%, actually, whereas the boar's accuracy was over 50%. Bahr couldn't help but be annoyed by this.

So instead of attacking this turn, he decided he was going to wait. By the numbers, he had a better chance of killing it in one turn with a sword skill than he had defeating the thing with two normal attacks. So he simply stood still, let his Energy recharge, and waited for the boar to attack.

And, of course, there was nothing there. Bahr sat on one of the tree branches for a moment, peering down on the local part of the field. He witnessed a new boar spawn, and knew it would be waiting for him when he got down. With his HP and Energy now fully restored, he was going to try to be quick with this one and catch it by surprise so he could dispatch it quickly. Unsure of how exactly to do this while stuck in a tree, Bahr began to formulate a plan.

Moments later, a rustle could be heard coming from the branches. The boar's head shot up and studied the branches, its head cocking to the side as its little simulated brain tried to comprehend what had made the noise. While the boar was distracted, Bahr - who had slipped out of and away from the tree - approached from behind and swiped twice at the boar with a Rage Spike.

After a few minutes, he could feel the vitality surging back into him. Both his Energy and HP were restoring themselves now that he was out of combat. It was amazing how quickly someone could get healthy again after a fight. As he was learning, it was also terrifying how quickly it could go in a fight. That last one almost had him panicking mentally for a bit there, as the board continued to land attacks and he continued to miss. What a cruel system - it was a wonder more players hadn't died already.

Opting to take a break from combat, Bahr figured now would be a good time to search around for some materials the old fashioned way again. He looked around the base of the tree, but didn't find anything there. Disappointed, he clung to the trunk of the tree and slowly worked his way up, checking between the leaves and branches there to see if he could find anything.

How? How did that miss? Well, actually, Bahr could kinda see how that one might miss. After all, he was riding a rampaging boar and using a type of attack that required a certain degree of accuracy. In retrospect, it was a stupid plan. Bahr had only gotten lucky the first time.

Like clockwork, however, the boar easily bucked him off - this time into a rock. He hit the hard surface of the rock, and then the ground. He pulled himself up and rested on his knees, gasping for air as he watched the boar come around for another attack. Taking a look at his HP, it seemed Bahr could survive three more hits like that. A fourth, however, would put him out for good. If the boar could inflict more damage than him while dealing less damage per attack, certainly Bahr could find a way to make up the distance and put this thing out of its misery. He rose to his feet again, readying his weapon and swinging it as soon as the boar was within range.

This time, the hit connected, and the boar was no more. Pleased with himself, Bahr took a seat underneath the tree he had bee smacked against earlier to recover some HP.

Woah! The attack actually hit! Perhaps Bahr was on to something with this. If he created a situation in which missing truly seemed impossible, would that improve his chances of the system allowing a hit? He would need to experiment further to find out.

Not that he had much time to do that, though. The boar wise up and smacked its rump into a nearby tree, effectively flinging Bahr into said tree and taking a bit of damage in the process. He lost his grip on the boar and it sprinted a few paces away from him as he scooped himself up off of the ground. With a newfound strategy to exploit, Bahr let out a battle cry as he sprinted toward the boar, clinging to its back yet again. The boar, of course, went absolutely crazy again and started running all over the place. When Bahr had an opportunity, he raised his sword and brought the tip down hard, attempting to skewer the animal.

 

As suspected, the system was forcing his attacks to miss. There was no reasonable way to expect that that swing would have missed its target. It just... missed. Likewise, the boar randomly veered off course at the end of its charge and bypassed Bahr entirely. Bahr was equally as impressed by the effectiveness of the system as he was annoyed by it. The good news was, since true accuracy didn't really matter and the system would interpret his actions as an attack and "roll the dice" on the probability of a hit anyways, he could afford to cut loose and really go all out. 

He sprinted after the boar and hopped on its back, clutching its coarse fur and hanging on for dear life as the animal went berzerk and started bucking violently. It was time to truly test the extent of the system's influence over his accuracy. Before the beast had a chance to buck him off, he swung his sword at its back.

In a turn of events that surprised absolutely nobody, Bahr's attacks missed entirely and the boar thwacked right into his knees, knocking him over in spectacular fashion. He groaned and stood up, dusting himself off in a forceful fashion. He was really starting to become frustrated by all of this. All he wanted to do was craft himself some pants. Nothing special, or fancy, you know. Just something simple. Like jeans, or maybe a frilly skirt. Instead, his attacks continued to whiff in perpetuity, prolonging this quest far beyond its usual limits.

As the boar came around for another charge, he swung the slab of metal toward its snout. A good connection here might have helped him avoid some damage. That being said, he wasn't confident. Despite his best efforts to aim directly toward the creature he was fighting, it seemed that the system itself would force him to miss if certain RNG elements weren't satisfied.

The bush yielded no fruit, a result that Bahr wasn't particularly surprised by. He stood and scratched the back of his head, almost second guessing this whole leaving the Town of Beginnings thing. At least within the walls of the city, living was relatively easy and mediocre. Out here, he was having to endure several boar attacks just to get a hit of his own in and still coming up short. Who would have guessed that such an easy quest would be so time-consuming? It wasn't that it was difficult, per se. It was just that, well, he had expected to be on his way back to town by now. Certainly, he would already be done collecting the materials in any other MMO he had played before.

Speaking of boars, another one had spawned and taken notice of Bahr. With a groan, he prepared his weapon as the monster began to charge. The blade began to glow and produce a whistling sound before unleashing two slashes toward the beast the second that it was within range.

Though he had defeated the animal and earned himself some col and a small trinket, he was no closer to completing his quest than when he originally started. With no other boars within the immediate vicinity, he decided now might be a good time to look around for some materials using out-of-combat methods as the quest instructions had suggested. His eyes scanned the landscape looking for anything that appeared to be amiss, but to no avail. It seemed that to find anything, he would need to take a closer look. But where? making the correct decision could mean the difference between finding something and getting rammed in the back by a freshly spawned boar. He was on a timer of sorts.

He settled on some nearby foliage; a bush that barely even passed for a bush. It was the only thing in sight that looked completely out of the ordinary, due to some faulty texturing that made the shadow physics act wonky during a single frame of its animation for flowing with the breeze.

A swing and a miss. The boar sailed right past Bahr, forcing his laughter into a mighty crescendo. How on earth could combat in this game really be like this? He had fought a few of these things on launch day, and he didn't remember the battles being so downright awful. Perhaps it was because he was an amateur. Perhaps it was because the boar was a low level. Perhaps it was the RNG gods trying to tell him he wasn't welcome in combat. Whatever the case be, he was having a blast. 

Through the fit of laughter, he managed to clamor to his feet just in time to see the boar rounding for another attack. No longer intimidated by this thing by any reasonable stretch of the imagination, the wedge he was holding began to glow again. As the boar charged him again, he unleashed another duo of slashes, barely even caring if they hit or not. He could do this all day and never get bored.

Yet, it appeared he wouldn't have to. The attacked carved cleanly through the boar with minimal effort, and a second later the monster exploded into blue 2-D triangles of varying sized that dispersed and faded into oblivion. A menu popped up detailing the spoils of the battle, and Bahr perused its contents with a satisfied grin on his face.

 

Somehow failing even more spectacularly than before, Bahr managed to completely slip and fall square on his rump. And wouldn't you believe it? The boar did the exact same thing.

He couldn't help but openly laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. In fact, he was so busy laughing he didn't even have it in him to attack right away. Nope, if the boar was that inept, he figured he didn't even need to rush to kill it. He would just wait for a moment, have a good laugh, and let his Energy build back up so he could use a Sword Skill again.

The boar wasn't laughing, however. It scrambled back into a standing position, huffing menacingly and glaring at Bahr with crimson eyes. This thing was absolutely livid. The spectacle made Bahr laugh even harder, kicking his feet as he became enamored by the creature's serious nature.

"Come on, then! I haven't got all day!"

With that, the boar charged once more.

Miraculously, Bahr missed entirely and actually lost his balance a bit. The boar didn't care, of course, and proceeded to plow into his pelvic area. Even though the event was entirely simulated, Bahr couldn't help but feel the wind knocked out of him by the impact. It was fortunate that the NerveGear didn't send pain signals, or he would be writhing on the floor like a baby as the boar rounded for its second attack. Since he felt no more than a tingle, he was ready to carry on.

Without enough Energy to use another Sword Skill, Bahr was going to have to stick to the basics for this one. He actually almost felt too winded to even use a basic attack. Instead of waiting for the boar to charge him this time, he leapt forward and swung the slab of metal at the beast, praying that this time he would actually hit the damn thing.

 

And there it stood. A boar, a creature detested by Bahr for sounding so similar to his own name. Yes, boars had been a nemesis of his for quite some time, even so far back as his Asda days. It huffed at him and dragged one of its hooves backward across the soil, kicking up tiny clouds of dust as it did so. Anticipating a charge, Bahr readied his weapon and braced himself. He watched the creature closely, keeping an eye on its movements, studying each and every twitch of its simulated muscles. Seemingly without warning, it lurched forward with speed, but Bahr was ready.

The thing about staying in town for two years was that it gave a guy a lot of time to practice. Unfortunately, there wasn't really a way to practice on moving targets. Not without getting into trouble, anyways. For this, Bahr had a plan. He had heard that using Sword Skills made it easier for someone to hit their mark. Whether this was true or not, he had no idea - but there was only one way to find out. As the boar drew near, Bahr's weapon began to glow, and at the height of the whistling sound it produced he let loose a duo of slashes toward the boar, praying they would connect.

Bahr rubbed the back of his head as he exited the tailor's shop, not really sure what he was getting himself into. Apparently, he had managed to get himself a quest, but did he really want to deal with that NPC - or worse yet, emulate him? He was quirky and... well, frankly, annoying. Still, the ability to craft light armors would undoubtedly become a valuable asset down the line. That clunky heavy armor never looked or felt good to him.

With a sigh, he started heading toward the edge of town. A quest to collect crafting materials couldn't be too difficult, could it? Of course not. If he truly aimed to reach the frontlines, he would need to complete a lot of quests far more difficult and dangerous than this, and the ability to create reliable armor would only aid him in that pursuit. As he neared the town exit, he brandished his weapon and prepared for whatever may lay in wait on the other side.

"Oh. Uh, sure. Here you go."

Bahr didn't really care who the "party leader" was, so he opened his menu and transferred ownership of the party to Kityuisa. He really wasn't expecting her to be as forward as she was, but it was a relief that his awkward invitation had been accepted at all. He shook her hand as they continued to meander along, not bothering to share his own name as he was sure she had seen it already. No sooner had they finished with their greetings than another, more bubbly personality entered the scene. He listened as Kityuisa explained their situation and promptly invited the newcomer to the party. As she did, his eyes trailed down the path and met with the figure of a lone traveler, laying in the grass without a care in the world. He found it peculiar that anyone could feel comfortable sleeping out in the open like this, but it had been two years since the game launched. The guy could be stupid strong for all they knew. It was when they approached the man that Bahr started to become suspicious. Kityuisa, of course, walked right up to him and practically demanded that he join their little entourage. Bahr sighed, casting an apologetic gaze upon the man.

That's when it happened.

When Bahr's gaze met with the apathetic eyes of the strange man, it was almost as though he could feel a surge of electricity ripple through his body. Instantly, he felt intimidated, as though there was now a pressure weighing down every part of his body. At the same time, there was some sort of kinship he knew he and this man shared. This feeling was only cemented when Bahr's eyes flickered to his orange cursor. After all, Bahr was also an orange player in every way other than the actual color. That's why they called him Bloodedge.

"Geez, listen to you gush at this guy," he said nonchalantly, averting his gaze. He stepped forward and grabbed Kityuisa's arm, pulling her out of the face of the man who could have easily cut her down within seconds. "It really look like he's interested? Let's get a move on." As the party turned to depart, he turned his head back toward the man and gave him a very knowing nod. That sort of tension wasn't the sort of thing that was only felt by one person. 

"The plains, huh?"

It wasn't that Bahr was the type to eavesdrop, it was just that the women he had seen leaving the inn moments before wasn't exactly the quiet type. While he felt a little weird about it, he considered going to help her. After all, today was the day he had resolved to finally leave the confines of the city and venture outward. A dragon hatchling sort of quest seemed like it could be lucrative as well as provide him with some much needed experience. Tantalizing as the quest sounded, there was the matter of the breakfast and coffee he had just ordered sitting in front of him. He decided he would just have to try to catch up with her after he finished his meal. He gobbled up the food and chugged the coffee before sliding into a seat next to the NPC the woman had been talking to. 

"So. Dragon hatchling?" he inquired coyly.

The NPC eyed him blankly for a moment before launching into its scripted dialogue for the quest.

"Why, yes, I know of such a creature. Out in the fiel-"

"Yes, yes, thank you." he interjected. As soon as the quest prompt showed up in front of Bahr, he crudely interrupted and waved away the NPC before exiting the inn and heading for the field. 

You'd think it would take him awhile to catch up with the woman from before, but he spotted her in no time. Perhaps it was her height, because Bahr noticed as he approached that each of his strides had him gaining on her without even trying. Feeling like a bit of a creep, he pulled up alongside her as she sauntered along, matching her pace in an attempt to make things as normal as possible. 

"You going for the dragon hatchling?" An empty inquiry, but it would be weird if he let on that he already knew. "Would probably be easier if we teamed up, right?" He fiddled with the instruments on his menu for a moment, sending a party invite her way that contained his name. Whether or not she chose to accept his offer was really irrelevant, as he intended to slay the creature regardless. Still, offering to help her only seemed natural considering he wouldn't have even known about the quest if not for her. If she accepted, it would make things easier for him, as well. 

QUESTS
 

RELATIONSHIPS

ALLIES

Lessa (Alyssa) Relationship: Friend Status: Active - Frontliner - Guildmate Former girlfriend and trusted ally. It's been a while since I spoke to her, actually...

Pinball Relationship: Close Friend, Partner Status: Active - Frontliner - Orange Player I spent a lot of time trying to hunt Pinball down for the crimes he committed. Now I work with him to help him atone. The partnership we've developed allows us to play off of one another's strengths while working toward a common goal; that being holding the Frontliners accountable for their misdeeds.

NIGHT Relationship: Friend Status: Active - Frontliner - Guildmate I once tried to train her, but she didn't really have much interest in it. She seems to have forged her own path.

Macradon Relationship: Friend, Mentor Status: Active - Frontliner On more than one occasion, I've found myself looking to Mac for the answers. We don't always agree, but I can trust him to have thought deeply about whatever it is he's arguing for.

Alec Relationship: Friend Status: Inactive I see his face, and immediately want to go get a drink with him. Alec is the jolly sort of man who can make the best out of any situation.

Cordelia Relationship: Old Friend Status: Inactive I haven't really seen her since Oscar and I split ways.

Morgenstern Relationship: Ally Status: Active - Frontliner - Orange Player Morgenstern is a prime example of why not to judge a book by its cover. Despite being an orange player, he's a good guy all the way down.

Oliver Relationship: Son-like Figure Status: Active - Child A small child that Lessa picked up once upon a time. Having spent some time together, Oliver and I have developed quite the bond of our own. I just want to put a hand on his shoulder and tell him everything is going to be okay.

Olivia and the People of Sanctuary Relationship: Friends Status: Active - Liberated Thankfully, these people have known peace ever since being freed from Dominic's clutches. These days, they've banded together to create a thriving (and free) community.

ADVERSARIES

Mari Relationship: Adversary Status: Active - Frontliner - Orange Player She's put a lot of effort into salvaging her reputation, but still there's an element to her I can't trust. Given the opportunity, I still plan to arrest her for her misdeeds.

Dominic Relationship: Unknown Status: Imprisoned Disgusting. I don't know what else to even stay. Avoid this man at all costs.

Oscar Relationship: Unknown Status: Active - Frontliner Half of me wants to hug him, the other half of me wants to punch him in the face. Oscar is an example of someone who flew too close to the abyss.

DECEASED/MISSING

Zayne (Dante) Relationship: Best Friend Growing Up Status: Deceased Bahr grew up with Zayne. The two of them, alongside Scarlet, played several MMOs together while growing up. During a playful skirmish on launch day, Bahr defeated Zayne. Shortly thereafter, the Admin announcement occurred. Convinced he killed his friend, Bahr spent years trying to come to terms with his new reality as a killer. After what felt like eons of being unable to forgive himself, Bahr was given a new reason when he discovered that he had not killed Zayne, but neglected to protect him when he was felled.

Scarlet (Username Unknown) Relationship: Love Interest Growing Up Status: Missing Scarlet was the one who actually got away. Bahr spent the better part of his formative years competing with Zayne for her attention, but she never seemed interested in either of them. Despite their closeness, Bahr was little more than a shoulder to cry on. After years, they finally spent a night together, but she acted like nothing happened afterwards. Following the events of SAO's opening day, Bahr waited for her in the Town of Beginnings for three years. He's still searching for her.

Yukiro (Kite AKA Yuki) Relationship: Half-Brother Status: Missing Bahr didn't recognize Yukiro for who he was when they first met, given the vanity items the youth was wearing at the time. When they met for a second time, they took the opportunity to catch up. While Bahr was happy to get a chance to talk to his brother again after so many years estranged, he still isn't thrilled about family being trapped in the game with him - especially considering the boy has gone missing. His name is not crossed out on the Monument, so Bahr holds out hope that they will meet again.

Kityuisa (Yui) Relationship: First Party-Mate and Close Friend Status: Missing When Bahr decided to take a quest outside of the Town of Beginnings for the first time, it was because he'd overheard Kit talking about doing the same. He followed her into the fields, met up with another traveler named Kirbs, and the three instantly became thick as thieves. Bahr and Kit became particularly close while Kirbs slowly withdrew, leading to an early-game relationship of close friendship. After a skirmish with Kirbs after their falling out (which Kit initiated), Bahr never saw her again.

Kirbs Relationship: First Party-Mate and Close Friend Status: Deceased Kirbs was a young traveler that Kit and Bahr ran into shortly after leaving the Town of Beginnings. She was the first to suggest to the pair that they should avoid the likes of Pinball, who Bahr wasn't familiar with at the time. After completing their first quest together (which Pinball was instrumental in), Kirbs, Kit, and Bahr went on to adventure together frequently. Bahr regrets the last words he spoke to Kirbs after her fight with Kit - wherein he likened her to Pinball - as she was slain by Pinball shortly thereafter.

Alkor Relationship: Complicated Status: Deceased Missing Bahr's relationship with Alkor isn't an easy one to describe. Despite having heard countless times that he isn't interested in Lessa, Bahr recognizes that the man was her first love. Bahr feels as though he is stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to Alkor, seeing as his continued existence is necessary to Lessa's mental health, but feeling uneasy about the effect it may have on his girlfriend. Bahr wants him to live for Lessa's sake, but secretly fears that he could take her whenever he saw fit.

Dagger Relationship: Close Acquaintance and Favorite Merchant Status: Missing Bahr first met Dagger when the Merchant asked him to help with a quest. Not a fan of combat, Bahr has never seen Dagger level an actual attack at anyone or anything. He has opted instead to invest his Skill Points into the skills that perfect his profession, mainly the ones that boost luck when finding and opening things such as treasure chests. Bahr has worked together with both Dagger and Alec on multiple occasions. His disappearance was sudden, and nobody has seen him since his shop closed.

Hazado Relationship: Acquaintance Status: Deceased Though Bahr's relationship with Hazado was brief, he considered the man to be good and honest. Classified as one of Aincrad's few remaining tanks, Hazado and Bahr worked together on a rather difficult quest. The man disappeared somewhere in the middle of the skirmish, and Bahr didn't hear about or see him again until visiting the Monument of Life. There, he witnessed Hazado's name crossed out, with a player Bahr didn't recognize as the culprit.

STATS

LEVEL - 33
PARAGON LEVEL - 51
HP - 900
EN - 124
DMG - 21
MIT - 78
ACC - 4
EVA - 3
LD - 2
STEALTH - 4
STEALTH DETECTION - 2
FALLEN - 8
BLEED - 48
BURN - 56
BLIGHT - 32 | (-20)
BH - 45
HB - 18

SKILLS

COMBAT SKILLS
» BATTLE HEALING R5
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ WHILE IN COMBAT, USER HEALS FOR 5% (45 HP) OF THEIR MAX HP EACH TURN
» ENERGIST
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ +20 EN

UTILITY SKILLS
» SEARCHING R1 >>> R2 (SKYLIGHT BUFF)
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ +2 STEALTH DETECTION
     ➥ +2 LD
» QUICK CHANGE
     ➥ FREE ACTION
     ➥ ALLOWS THE USER TO INSTANTLY EQUIP, UNEQUIP, OR SWAP ANY EQUIPMENT IN THEIR BATTLE-READY INVENTORY
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 3 TURNS

EXTRA SKILLS
» CONCENTRATION
     ➥ FREE ACTION
     ➥ GAIN ABSOLUTE ACCURACY ON NEXT ATTACK
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 5 TURNS
» DISGUISE
     ➥ FREE ACTION
     ➥ +1 EVA UNTIL START OF YOUR NEXT TURN
     ➥ MINOR CRITICALS DO NOT AUTOHIT DURING DURATION
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 5 TURNS
» MEDITATION
     ➥ POST ACTION
     ➥ RECOVER AN ADDITIONAL 16 ENERGY
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 3 TURNS
» FORGOTTEN KING'S AUTHORITY
     ➥ FREE ACTION
     ➥ DISPEL ANY DISABLING EFFECTS ON THE USER
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 7 TURNS
          ➥ COST: 5 EN
» PHOTOSYNTHESIZE
     ➥ FREE ACTION
     ➥ IMPROVE THE EFFECTS OF ANY HEALING THE USER DOES (DISREGARDING PASSIVE) UNTIL START OF NEXT TURN BY 20%
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 5 TURNS
          ➥ COST: 5 EN
» ASSAULT MODE
     ➥ FREE ACTION
     ➥ SWITCH ACCURACY AND EVASION VALUES UNTIL START OF NEXT TURN
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 4 TURNS
          ➥ COST: 5 EN
» FROZEN HIDE
     ➥ FREE ACTION
     ➥ APPLY ONE SLOT OF FROST AURA AND ONE SLOT OF FROST THORNS EQUAL TO TIER OF USER UNTIL START OF NEXT TURN
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 4 TURNS
          ➥ COST: 5 EN
» HIDING R5
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ +5 STEALTH

COMBAT MASTERY
» DAMAGE R3
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ +12 DMG

WEAPON SKILLS
» STRAIGHT SWORD R5
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ +7 DMG WHEN STRAIGHT SWORD IS EQUIPPED
          ➥ STAMINA ADDON: REDUCES EN EXPENDITURE OF ALL ATTACKS BY 2
          ➥ PRECISION ADDON: +1 ACC
          ➥ FOCUS ADDON: REDUCES CRITICAL HIT AND DOT THRESHOLDS BY 1

ARMOR SKILLS
» LIGHT ARMOR R5
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ +30 MIT
     ➥ -2 STEALTH
          ➥ RESOLVE ADDON: +1 ACC AND +40 HP WHEN WEARING LIGHT ARMOR

COMBAT SHIFT
» ST SPECIALIST
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ ST-I, ST-II, AND ST-B ENHANCED
          ➥ +3 TO MULTIPLIERS
          ➥ +2 TO EN EXPENDITURE

MODS
» BATTLE HEALING MOD: EMERGENCY RECOVERY
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ NON-FATAL DAMAGE THAT LEAVES USER BELOW 25% OF THEIR MAX HP ACTIVATES A 10% OF MAX HP REPLENISHMENT AFTER ATTACK RESOLVES
     ➥ CANNOT APPLY MORE THAN ONCE PER THREAD
» LIGHT ARMOR MOD: METICULOUS
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ +1 DMG WHEN WEARING LIGHT ARMOR
» HIDING MOD: UNTRACEABLE
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ +1 STEALTH
     ➥ NEGATES THE EFFECT OF THE TRACKING SKILL AGAINST THE USER.
» HIDING MOD: VANISH
     ➥ POST/FREE ACTION
     ➥ ALLOWS USER TO ENTER STEALTH DURING COMBAT
          ➥ CAN ACTIVATE AS REACTIVE FREE ACTION UPON COMPLETING LAST HIT AGAINST A FOE
          ➥ COST: 5 EN
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 3 TURNS
               ➥ COOLDOWN BEGINS UPON EXITING STEALTH
» HIDING MOD: SURPRISE ATTACK (TRICKSTER)
     ➥ PASSIVE
     ➥ ATTACKS MADE FROM STEALTH CANNOT MISS
     ➥ ATTACKS MADE FROM STEALTH REDUCE FINAL DMG BY 50% AND AUTOMATICALLY APPLY ALL STATUS EFFECTS
          ➥ COST: 8 EN

EQUIPMENT

WEAPON
» [EQUIPPED] "FORGOTTEN KING'S SPITE" - STRAIGHT SWORD (T4 - DEMONIC)
     ➥ FALLEN
          ➥ +8 TO BASE DAMAGE ON NATURAL ROLLS OF 6-8
     ➥ BLEED
          ➥ DEALS 48 UNMITIGATABLE DMG FOR TWO TURNS ON NATURAL CRITICAL HITS
     ➥ BURN
          ➥ DEALS 56 UNMITIGATABLE DMG FOR TWO TURNS ON NATURAL CRITICAL HITS
     ➥ BLIGHT
          ➥ DEALS 32 UNMITIGATABLE DMG FOR TWO TURNS ON NATURAL CRITICAL HITS
          ➥ BLIGHT-AFFLICTED TARGETS SUFFER -20 MIT PENALTY DURING STATUS DURATION

» [ON STANDBY] "DAWN'S DEMISE" - STRAIGHT SWORD (T4 - DEMONIC)
     ➥ HOLY II
          ➥ +16 TO BASE DAMAGE ON NATURAL ROLLS OF 9 OR HIGHER
     ➥ FALLEN
          ➥ +8 TO BASE DAMAGE ON NATURAL ROLLS OF 6-8
     ➥ PHASE
          ➥ IGNORES 50% OF MIT ON NATURAL ROLLS OF 9 OR HIGHER

ARMOR
» [EQUIPPED] "BLOODSTAINED COAT" - LIGHT ARMOR (T4 - DEMONIC)
     ➥ +48 MIT
     ➥ +1 EVA
     ➥ HOLY BLESSING
          ➥ AFTER TAKING DAMAGE, USER HEALS 2% (18 HP) OF MAX HP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FOLLOWING TURN

TRINKET
» [EQUIPPED] "EAGLE'S EYE" - TRINKET (T1 - DEMONIC)
     ➥ +2 EVA
     ➥ +2 ACC

FAMILIAR
» [EQUIPPED] SWINE BAJESUS - RENDING FAMILIAR FAMILIAR
     ➥ FREE ACTION
     ➥ USER AND FAMILIAR ATTACK IN TANDEM, DEALING REND [28 UNMITIGATABLE DMG] TO THE TARGET THAT LASTS 2 TURNS
          ➥ COOLDOWN: 5 TURNS

CONSUMABLES TRACKER

SP TRACKER

PROFILE

Username: Bahr

AKA: The Kingslayer

Real Name: Apollo Jaxon

Age: 21 (at time of game launch)

Gender: Male

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 205 lbs

Hair Color: White

Eye Color: Amber

Blood Type: O+

Speech Characteristic: Northern Midwest United States accent - speaks very neutrally, save for a few specific words.

Profession: Tailor

 

PERSONALITY

Once upon a time, Bahr couldn't understand why people allowed the condition of SAO to get to them. It was a terrible situation, certainly, but he always believed that everyone needed to make the most of it. Having endured crippling hardship from the very beginning, he understood the plight of the more depressed players. Even still, he maintained that everyone had a responsibility to be as positive as possible during these trying times. As such, he did his part to spread positivity through acts of goodwill, comedy, and general merriment. He suppressed his own woes as he remained within the walls of the Town of Beginnings, doing everything he could to keep the morale high and the gloom low.

It wasn't until he finally began his adventure outside the walls that he understood the true nature of their reality.

It wasn't necessarily the condition of SAO that kept the players down, though it definitely didn't help. It wasn't even always the catastrophes that played out within the confines of the game that did people in and made them hard and cold, though it often was. It was the perpetuity of the situation. It was diving into combat that had a possibility of ending your life, day after day, and somehow finding a way to be okay with that. It was watching friends, comrades, and lovers disappear. It was constantly trying to convince yourself that everything would be okay, even when it really wasn't. It was the never ending struggle, day in and day out, that calloused the hearts of the players and turned them stoic.

Fortunately, someone found him and brought him back from the brink in the final hour.

While he was once goofy and spirited, Bahr's experience in Aincrad has molded him into someone he wasn't before. He's grown more measured, thoughtful, and patient as a result of his experiences here. Experienced, serious, and noble. There are still times where he'll cut loose and allow parts of his old self to bubble to the surface, but this will only happen with the right company, and under the right circumstances. 

In battle, he becomes a combat machine, processing information and taking calculated risks to position himself with the upper hand. Every move has forethought put behind it, and nothing is an accident. When particularly enraged by his opponent, he may cut loose and adopt a more unhinged and chaotic style that often employs high risk, high reward strategies. While Bahr may not be one the most experienced or practiced warriors in Aincrad, he is certainly one of the most powerful, exhibiting a raw strength that is rivaled by few. He is not a force to be trifled with.

BACKSTORY - PRE-AINCRAD

Growing up wasn't exactly difficult for someone like Apollo. He was born to a middle-class family in the upper Midwestern United States, where the crime
was low and the economy was stable. He went to school, created a close-knit group of friends with some of his peers, and participated in extracurricular activities. Indeed, he never really seemed to struggle or go through any serious hardships growing up. It was the same for his two closest friends. For the three of them, their most deadly adversary was the bitter cold that gripped the area during winter and didn't seem to let up until far into spring.

In the end, that's probably why they had all become so interested in MMORPGs.

Everyone started as equals. Everyone chose their own path. Everyone was challenged in their own unique way that played off of their strengths and weaknesses, depending upon the decisions they made. In the virtual world, they had the opportunity to experience adversity they had been sheltered from growing up. There were opportunities to grow, explore, take risks, succeed, fail and become part of something truly larger than themselves. MMORPGs became their shared passion and they traversed countless realms together, completing epic quests and slaying the most tremendous of foes. 

As with all things, this tradition was destined to come to an end. The trio was burgeoning into their adult lives and coming to grips with new responsibilities. As their free time collectively spread thinner and thinner, news of something long anticipating broke through every convention of gaming; the advent of full dive technology. When the NerveGear and its launch title Sword Art Online were announced, the entire gaming universe collectively lost it, Apollo and his circle of friends included. They vowed to each secure a copy of the title when it launched and participate from day one. While it wasn't explicitly stated by anyone in the group, the implication was that this would be their last adventure together - and it would be their most epic yet.

They had no idea just how true this sentiment would turn out to be.

On launch day, Apollo dawned the NerveGear and dived right in. Little did he know, it was in that moment he would cease to be known as Apollo and adopt the label of Bahr. Though the trio had agreed to meet at a very specific spot in the market later that evening to exchange their first day experiences, Bahr and his male friend bumped into one another rather early on in the day and immediately recognized each others' voices. After chuckling a bit at the situation they had put themselves in, they decided their first day in the server would be well spent hunting some boars just outside the Town of Beginnings. They sliced, chopped, and stabbed their way through dozens of boars before night drew upon them. As it was nearing the time for their rendezvous, the two decided to sit down in the field an take a short break before returning to town. While discussing their experiences thus far, the discussion of in-game death came up and general speculation about what it might feel like. With a grin, Bahr's companion stood and slashed at him, the blade knicking Bahr's cheek before he could react.

"What the hell, Zayne!?" Bahr shouted, clutching his cheek and jumping to his feet.

Zayne shrugged. "What's the big deal? This way we can figure out what the death sequence in this game is like. Bonus is one of us gets a shortcut back to town!"

"But your cursor..." The two stared up at the crystal revolving above Zayne's head, taking note of its new orange coloration. Again, Zayne shrugged.

"I don't really mind it. Might be interesting to play through the game as an Orange Player, anyways. I've heard it's like hard mode!"

Bahr laughed before brandishing his weapon, staring down his rival with a confident grin on his face. "Alright, you're on!" he said, "But whoever loses gets to kill the other later on, yeah? That way we can play through the game as Orange Players together." So they fought, and Bahr was jubilant when he came out victorious. Almost instantly after, he was mysteriously teleported back to the Town of Beginnings.

Then the announcement happened.

Bahr stared with abject horror upon his friend list as the GM delivered his speech. Under Zayne's card, there was no location data available. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks, but he couldn't bring himself to breathe, much less cry. Had he really done it? Had he unknowingly murdered his oldest friend in cold blood mere moments before? If vomiting were possible in this virtual world, he had no doubt he would have hurled up everything in his stomach and more. As chaos gripped the town square following the announcement, Bahr continued to stand frozen, finger shakily hovering over the card of his deceased best friend. Long after the square had cleared out, there he continued to stand, unable to avert his gaze from all that remained of Zayne.

Eventually, he managed to pry himself away from the floating screen and head to the market district. The same horrified expression masked his visage the entire dreaded trek. He reached where he had planned to meet up with his friends earlier, hoping that his last friend in this world would meet him there. He waited for her the entire day. Then the entire next day. Then the day after that. Eventually, the days began to blur together, and he found himself gradually becoming immersed in the happenings around town. He would lend his hand to the local militia, help at the church looking after the children, give direction to players and so on. Still, he would return to their designated meeting place every night in the hopes of finding his old friend waiting there for him. Without her username, he had no way to get in contact with her or check her location data to see if she was safe. Years went by, and Bahr became accustomed to the new life that had been built around him in the Town of Beginnings. Still, there were those that that branded him 'Bloodedge' - a moniker to identify him as a Player Killer, though he lacked the orange cursor.

Eventually, and he wasn't sure when, the local militia started employing more corrupt policies. These men and women who once took pride in protecting the residents that stayed in the Town of Beginnings began using their authority for personal gain. Looting gold or items from ordinary players, harassing the residents in inappropriate ways, or just otherwise terrorizing whoever crossed their path. Bahr began to wonder just how far the corruption went. Had the Frontlines become as crooked as the militia here? Was his friend there? Had she been corrupted too, or worse? The questions bubbled up inside of him until he decided enough was enough.

It was time for him to set off to find the answers for himself.

BACKSTORY - FIRST STEPS

Things were simple at first. He found a group of friends that he grew close to, and ended up adventuring with them almost every day. They climbed through the earlier levels together with relative ease, slaying powerful monsters and unlocking new skills, breaking past their limits time and time again in their pursuit of the Frontlines. Experiencing their power multiply as the days went on was intoxicating, and Bahr hit his stride in combat before he'd even reached the second tier. Putting his life on the line was no longer something that scared him. Instead he felt excited, invigorated, confident, and powerful. In the real world, he'd never found his "purpose." In SAO, his destiny became clear.

Things started to change when they broke into the second tier. A man named Macradon entered his life and provided him with a weapon almost as old as the server itself; the Scarecrow's Sickle. Originally wielded by a man by the name of Ssendom, the Berserker of Aincrad, the massive curved sword had been used to scour the floating castle and tyrannize its inhabitants. It carried with it a raw power that was nearly unrivaled within its power bracket, and Bahr soon found the line between enjoying combat and being addicted to it blurred. He became frenzied, and sought out combat as though his life depended upon it, deriving a twisted pleasure from cutting down his enemies in a way he'd never experienced before.

Macradon had warned him about the history of Scarecrow's Sickle, and the power it contained. He'd warned him about how easily one could fall prey to its influence, and how he would reclaim the weapon should Bahr stray from the path of good. Bahr didn't heed these warnings until it was too late, and he found himself questioning his own sanity after bouts of fierce combat in which he would begin to lose himself. Despite knowing the weapon was nothing more than lines of code in a video game, he would sometimes find himself wondering if the influence of its prior owner had taken root inside of him. He fought an increasingly losing battle for control over his mind, spiraling deeper and deeper into the frenzy while refusing to release the blade. It was his ticket to the Frontlines, and he couldn't allow himself to be slowed down by relinquishing its power.

Amid his struggle for control, he found that the members of his party were degrading as well. Kityuisa had revealed startling details about her past and how they contributed to the erosion of her moral compass, while Kirbs' PTSD over her closest friend's death had her circling the drain and withdrawing from the others. Despite her inner turmoil, Kit did what she could to keep things together. But for Kirbs, it was a different story. A player named Pinball had attacked and killed her closest friend right before her eyes. A startling revelation for Bahr, considering this same player had saved the trio from a field boss on their first outing together when they found themselves in over their heads. Bahr did he could to console Kirbs, as well as Kit, but his efforts were in vain. The party was starting to drift apart under the pressure of their respective struggles, and rifts began to form.

It was around this time that Oscar entered his life. The newer player set out to try his luck beyond the walls of the Town of Beginnings not long after Bahr had, acquiring a profession and setting up shop right beside Bahr's within the city. As a man who had used his profession primarily to support the lower leveled players of Aincrad, Bahr took particular interest in Oscar, seeing similarities between him and Zayne. Rather than simply provide him with the armor he needed to get started, Bahr undertook the mantle of supporting him during quests.

On one such outing, the duo was accosted by Pinball, who noted Bahr's rapid ascent through the ranks of the lower levels. Intrigued, albeit frustrated, Pinball inquired as to whether or not Bahr intended to join the Frontlines and push through the floors toward the game's conclusion. When Bahr confirmed Pinball's suspicions, the Orange Player lashed out, and the two crossed blades for the first time. Bahr put up a convincing fight, but being that it was his first player-versus-player encounter, and he was woefully under-leveled in comparison to his adversary, he was inevitably overpowered.

In a bout of rage over Oscar being injured, Bahr exerted the last of his strength into harrowing blow after demanding not to be compared to the rest of the Frontliners. Curious, Pinball asked why Bahr wouldn't want to be compared to the Frontliners if he aimed to become one of them. Bahr explained that he saw them as no different than Pinball, corrupted players on a high horse that couldn't be bothered to use their resources to help the players that needed it most, even sometimes using their power to the direct detriment of others. Amused, but otherwise satisfied by Bahr's response, Pinball spared his life and took his leave.

BACKSTORY - THE DESCENT

Things began to go downhill from there. Furious at his shortcomings during the fight against Pinball, Bahr dove headfirst into relentless combat against as many mobs and bosses as he could find, abandoning any attachment he had to his party in pursuit of power. He needed to become strong enough to confront Pinball and make him answer for his crimes, no matter the cost. Being in a party would only slow him down, so he resorted to playing solo as he advanced through the levels as rapidly as he could physically manage. 

Any previous apprehensions he'd had before regarding Scarecrow's Sickle or his descent into madness evaporated as he willingly relented control to his shadow, allowing the more sinister aspects of his ego to take over during combat and carry him through his enemies with brute strength as opposed to any semblance of forethought or strategy. He became a sadist to his enemies, ruthlessly and cruelly cutting down any that stood in his path. It was only fortunate that no players obstructed his warpath as he indulged in this fervor - both for himself, and any that would stand between him and his goals.

Some of the first notable accolades of his career as a warrior in Aincrad played out during this time. He squared off against bosses he had no business fighting - much less solo - to push himself closer and closer to the Frontlines, and the man he had come to see as his nemesis. Countless quests were completed, various enemies dominated, and more power obtained than he even knew what to do with at the time. He began to see himself as an unstoppable force, despite his lower level. Were he to engage against any truly powerful players or bosses during this time, he would have undoubtedly been humbled quickly. But his progression through the logical quest sequence allowed him the illusion of being stronger than he actually was, and when confronted with an enemy that challenged this notion, he would often devolve into fits of rage.

Despite having distanced himself from his party, he was aware of growing tensions between Kityuisa and Kirbs. Despite knowing the terrible things Pinball had done, Kit had sought him out to talk to him regarding her own growing proclivity to kill again. Kirbs considered this an ultimate betrayal, while Bahr struggled to comprehend how she could seek council from the very man that had attempted to kill him. Upon seeing that their location data matched one day, Bahr rushed to the scene in the hopes that he could deescalate any tensions that festered between them during their discussion.

Unfortunately, he was too late. By the time he arrived at the scene, he had only enough time to take the hit that would have killed Kityuisa. He plunged his sword into Kirbs and forced her away, before chiding both of them for their behavior. He explained his disappointment in Kit for having provoked the battle, given her orange cursor, while likening Kirbs to Pinball for going through with an attack that she knew would kill one of her only friends. On the parting words, "You're no better than Pinball," both Kityuisa and Kirbs fled.

This would be the last time he would see either.

Intensely frustrated by the situation, Bahr traveled to one of the higher floors to tackle a particularly powerful field boss. Narrowly destroying the creature before his own HP ran dry, Bahr still wasn't satisfied with the situation, and took to the swamps to unleash his rage against the mobs that filled it. He ran rampant through the area for the entire day, until not a single monster remained, and still hadn't had his fill. The only way he would feel at peace would be if he talked to Kit and Kirbs and sorted the situation out.

While scrolling through his friend list, he came across Zayne's name and accidentally tapped on the card. To his surprise, location data populated with the rest of Zayne's information. This was fleeting, however, and the location data faded as quickly as quickly as it appeared. Bahr assumed it was a glitch of some sort, but was nonetheless intrigued. His interest had been piqued enough that he resolved to finally visit the Monument of Life on the first floor, and pay his respects to the man who had left the world those many years ago.

But when he arrived, he saw something he never could have expected.

«Zayne»
Killed by a goblin.

This broke Bahr. Brought him closer to the edge than he had ever been. It all made sense now. When he saw Zayne's location data populate for the first time in several years, it hadn't been a glitch. It had been real. And Bahr had watched the life drain from his best friend for a second time. A cataclysmic whirlwind of emotions surged through him, every last one of his nerves firing ferociously as the deluge of adrenaline swelled and poured violently through his entire body. Within seconds he was sweating buckets, struggling to catch his breath as his mind frantically ran through each and every scenario that could have made this situation possible. His vision went blank as he attempted to synthesize all of the information into an explanation that made sense. He saw modular forms and elliptic curves. Infinite possibilities revolving around infinite parallels. Fractals of infinite reality, each cascading, gliding in an infinite wheel. Visions layered upon visions in a never ending Jenga tower of possibilities that wibbled and wobbled on the unstable foundation of his ever fracturing mind.

And then, at the peak of his mental break, he heard an unfamiliar voice. The voice of someone reaching out to offer him the help he desperately needed, in the time he needed it most. The voice he would come to memorize in time, and associate with that of his savior. 

"You should take a few deep breaths, and lie on your back."

"I can't."

"Just breathe. You can do it. Just try."

BACKSTORY - SERENDIPITY

The one to find him there falling to pieces was none other than Lessa - a longtime hero of the Frontlines and who would later come to be dubbed the Guardian of Aincrad. Her straightforward demeanor was soothing in its own way, and helped to right Bahr's head when probably nobody else could have. Their meeting took its way to a nearby bench, where they felt one another out with mild verbal jabs, before they finally went their own ways. While things could have ended here, thankfully for the pair, they didn't. This would be the first of many adventures together, although nobody could have predicted what would happen during their second.

Bahr had invited Lessa along to accompany him on a quest that seemed adequately suited for both their levels. They reviewed the quest and developed a plan, only entering the lair where the boss hid once totally satisfied with the scheme. Bahr, in his fervor, opted instead to completely ignore the plan they'd so painstakingly concocted, tearing into the mobs that materialized in a crimson blur meant to impress his new ally. To his chagrin, this irresponsible display put Lessa directly in the line of fire, and it nearly cost her her life. As it bore down on Lessa, threatening to inflict the final, lethal strike, Bahr was finally able to steal away its attention and conquer the beast before any more damage was done.

You might think that such an experience would have taught Lessa her lesson, and encouraged her to stay far away from the snow-haired mischief-maker. Instead, it only seemed to gravitate her toward him. Before long, the pair were inseparable, solving mysteries and freeing cults. As one might expect, their extended time spent together pulled them closer together, until a romance blossomed and illuminated everything they touched. Whatever their faults, Bahr loved her, and she loved him, and that was enough. They spent virtually every waking minute together, trying this best to extract as much time with one another as they could in a game that could snuff out their very existence at a moment's notice.

During this time, the woes of his past felt far behind him. The Frontlines, Scarlet, Pinball - all of it rode in the back seat while Bahr's new romance with Lessa took the wheel. Slowly but surely, however, they began to seep back to the front of his mind like sludge through a sieve. Where was Scarlet? How many more had Pinball killed, and was anyone else even looking for him? How were the searches for the dungeons on the Frontlines going? The questions began to pile up and, despite Bahr's best efforts, grew too large to ignore. For his own sanity, he needed answers. And in his pursuit, he'd throw himself right back into the very darkness from which Lessa had worked so hard to save him from.

BACKSTORY - WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO COME

A flurry of snow and ice. Blows like thunderclaps that shook the very air. (To be continued)

VIRTUES

LOYALTY
Despite his history within the game, Bahr is an intimately loyal individual. If he has pledged his word to someone, even a stranger, he will hold true to it. For those he deeply cares for, he will gladly put his life on the line to ensure their safety. Once you betray this loyalty, however, you'll find it insanely difficult to earn it back. Honor his loyalty, and he will follow you to the ends of the Earth.

FAIRNESS
You might think that, given the circumstances, everyone in this world would be looking out for themselves, despite whatever consequences it might have for the rest. There are several like this, but Bahr is not among them. He would never participate in a duel that wasn't ultimately fair, and finds no enjoyment in besting others through exploits or otherwise unfair means. He views cheating as one of the most abhorrent of practices.

INTEGRITY
Bahr has a strong moral code, and a violation of this code constitutes a violation of himself. These principles, after all, are what make him who he is. Even accidentally crossing one of his own personal boundaries makes him feel unbelievably disgusted with himself. He will never knowingly compromise his integrity, and those who would expect him to will be sorely disappointed. 

FLAWS

UNCOOPERATIVE
Bahr is extremely stubborn and likes things done his way, often to the chagrin of those who end up partied with him. If he has an idea in his head about what he thinks is right, he's going to carry through on that regardless of whether or not it aggravates those around him. On the other foot, he will obstinately refuse to assist in an operation or play he disagrees with. As an extension of this, he is often perceived as being quite rebellious - and that isn't incorrect either.

WITHDRAWN
Withdrawn is a fair way to assess Bahr's behavior. He may be loud, bold and opinionated, but that doesn't mean he lets people see what's going on behind the curtain. Someone who is acquainted with Bahr can easily sum up his opinions, morals, and personality, but not the why behind them. To someone who hardly knows him, he'll seem like the type of individual that keeps his cards close to the vest.

INFLEXIBLE
Remember how earlier it was mentioned that when Bahr thinks he's right, he really thinks he's right? The same goes for the social and philosophical arenas. Bahr wouldn't knowingly hold a position he thought was incorrect, so he will fight tooth and nail to protect his opinions and the expression of those opinions as though they are an extension of himself. Good luck trying to get him to change his mind on something - but if you succeed in convincing him, know he will fight with everything he has to defend his newfound stance.