Astralin

In realistic terms, deflection by a weapon would have cut Astralin, unless it was one of those one-edged swords, then there would have been a chance the blunt end was used to deflect, in which Astralin would have kept her hand... But these were training weapons, in a virtual reality, so there was no amputation that could possibly occur. Once Astralin's attack was deflected, the blue-haired player attempted a horizontal slash attack. Astralin fell backwards, by her own choice, as to avoid the weapon. In hopes of avoiding a downward thrust while she was on the floor, she rolled her body to

Astralin managed to find and put on one of the available forms of attire, and she managed to find some hand wraps, too. She was familiar with Martial Arts to to it technically being her skill of choice, but she was used to acting like it was magic delivered via physical contact. If she didn't want to mess up the theme of this little event, she'd have to avoid saying any spell names, though that would break her personal immersion into what she wanted to be. Oh, the conundrum... With a sigh, she decided to keep her attacks silent for the tournament's duration. Astralin took

The two players continued walking towards the dojo, where they were to retrieve their gear and prepare for the competition. Astralin didn't know who was participating and who was fighting just yet, aside from herself and Yona. Along the way, she passed by some familiar faces, such as @Koga and the Artisan who made her Amulet(@NIGHT). As she and Yona passed by, she waved to them while saying a soft "Hi!" to them with a smile. She also noticed a new friend of hers(@Astreya) talking to a brown haired male(@Bismuth) She waved to them as well. Astralin might have been unnerved by Yona's w

Yona's reaction was unexpected, but Astralin was also confused. "Ah....Yona, can I see that real quick...?" She asked worriedly. Yona handed the flyer over, and... Astralin's eyes widened. "A...date...for...the victor of the tournament...um...and it's...the victor's choice...?" Astralin realized. "Yona...what are we going to do?" She asked. Yona's expression changed from one of utter shock, into one of utter defiance. "The answer's clear as Day. We avoid loss! We need to fight like our sanity depends on it!" Astralin blinked several times in succession, before her eyes darted their gaze i

Astralin spotted a flyer that stood out from the rest, and it seemed to mention a tournament. "...White Day Valentines Tournament?" Astralin read aloud. "Hmm...don't know what that means, but hey, a tournament sounds nice...oh, and a safe and fun environment for all? I'm sold!" Without bothering to read the other details, she signed herself up. Oh, if only she knew what she'd gone and gotten herself into...

Astreya explained how she was uncertain where she really stood in terms of her build, but intended to become a tank on the front lines, but test the waters there first, just to see if what she was going for truly suited her. At least, that's what Astralin was able to get from the Valley Girl's words. Astreya proceeded to state her current level, but she asked about going beyond the top level. "Yeah, I've heard about levels that go beyond the cap. Paragon Levels, so they're called. They only seem to bring about changes to your stats within certain milestones of Paragon level" Astralin

Koga greeted Astralin, only to get gripped on the shoulder and pulled aside by the artisan who made Astralin's Amulet. Something was off, based on the subtle actions, such as the movement in her fingers. Astralin, however, had no idea what this was about, but she could only guess it was serious if the artisan was trying to stay calm, even though she didn't seem to be... Well, Astralin could continue socializing with other players while waiting, right? Well, turns out there was no need to search, someone came to her. A familiar face seemed to recognize her. "Heeeey, Astreya! It's been

Astralin waited patiently, and she turned around to see another player almost running her over! This player seemed to be a fellow blonde at the same height as Astralin. There may have been a difference in the exact hair coloring, but a definite difference was eye color. The player was holding a tray of deviled eggs, and was wearing an oversized sweater, paired with black leggings. She apologized for almost crashing into Astralin, then grinned and complimented Astralin's festive apparel. "Aww, thank you! You look great, too!" Astralin said with a bright smile, adding in a compliment of her own.

"So let me get this straight, you need to bring more of what that Yona chick bought from me over to the same party she went to because of a 'dessert sabotage'? Am I hearing you right, Starshine?" Vigilon's friend asked. Astralin nodded. "More or less, though a variety would be ideal in this situation, if it really is as was described." She answered. Vigilon's friend took a short moment to walk over to his material stock, before shrugging and returning to Astralin with a smile. "I'm in, business is slower than I expected, anyway. Just give me a moment..." He declared. He walked over t

With Nemo defeated by Dazia and Vigilon, and the way back shown by the defeated guardian, it was time to go back. Perhaps Little Eden's bounty could be studied later. Nemo explained the reasons for his actions, and it was actually really sad. He wanted to know people, and have sentient company around him...poor guy, he had to live such a lonely existence... But since Astralin would return to research the place later, it wasn't all that bad, he'd be seeing Astralin again later on! With a smile on her face, Astralin made a friendly wave to the Wind Dragon before leaving. The pl

Astralin still ended up with far more than she needed to know. Dazia and her siblings had the Seven deadly Sins as prominent flaws.... "Um...that's a coincidence...right?" Vigilon and the family he and Dazia shared seemed...interesting, to say the least, though at this point, given the actions of Vigilon's father and the warnings given by Dazia herself, she might have to just avoid them...but if she did meet Valna, maybe she could keep the player in touch about if Astralin was to find someone? it might reduce the chances of accidental relationship theft, since it all seemed accidenta

Ah, yes, the players decided to go deeper into backstories. Astralin listened to what was all going on. Dazia had six siblings, meaning her parents had seven children. Kind of a nice number, it would be a shame if there were easily seen flaws all around, instead of properly balanced personalities...little did Astralin know that such was exactly the case. Dazia then said that the players wouldn't want to meet them. "Um...why not?" Astralin asked. "There's gotta be something good about them, right?" A family can't possibly be all bad... "Someone kind? Sincere? Generous?" Dazia describe

Hoo, boy...Astralin expected NONE of this. None of this. At all. Dazia had siblings, one of those siblings was a crazy sister with an orange cursor, and Vigilon and Dazia were cousins?? Astralin simply stood there, wide eyed, staring at the three players as the revelations unfolded. She stood there in silence as Vigilon explained how his father kept him from seeing his side of the family, for what seemed to be good reason. Krysta trusted that Vigilon's dad knew what he was doing...and that could mean anything at this rate, for Astralin knew too little to make a proper judgement

Dazia tried to take on both of the Mossy Wolves, but the Alpha caught the blade. Vigilon finished off the Alpha, and now all that was left...is the situation that was the sudden arrival who wanted a ceasefire. Vigilon gave a few suggestions for how to decide, but it seemed that Krysta was on the full belief that it would be a tie if it was put to a vote. Krysta returned to the conversation that was going on in the middle of the fight, but maybe there was some value to it. "That's actually a bit of a good question there. I'm about as lost as you are, Krysta, but um...Vigilon? ...Dazia? Do eithe

Things were really getting close now. Dazia and Vigilon took care of the wolves that were to the other side, and the players were no longer surrounded or flanked in any way. There was only one bunch left, and...oh, there was an angry alpha among them...hopefully its stats were just like the others', and it'll just be a pushover! Krysta attacked first, damaging two, missing two...and once again a wolf she missed caught Krysta's weapon in its teeth, hoping to disarm her. What a shame, the sword art was executed in such a lovely manner, too... Well, no use thinking about what could have

Dazia and Krysta continued to bicker, and Astralin was having none of it. She looked over to the two players again and again, and then she'd had enough. "SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!" Astralin called out to the two. She looked over to Dazia first. "You don't have to keep pressing the same point over and over, beating at a dead horse won't do anyone any good!" She scolded. She then looked over to Krysta. "You're so focused on only the negative sides and possible outcomes whenever she's involved, that you won't even admit that, in this particular case, she's actually right! We were surrounded, and

Krysta complimented Astralin for not missing this time, and before Vigilon could act against the three wolves that arrived, a black blur suddenly came by, startling the players, and slashing at the mossy wolves from behind. When the surprise attacker stopped moving... "Uh oh..." It was Dazia. Astralin looked to Dazia, then to Krysta, back to Dazia, and back to Krysta again. If Astralin didn't do something soon, there was bound to be some infighting, if not some hostile arguments. There was literally no need for it, and already the hostile arguments had begun. Dazia claimed that the p

Vigilon Claimed that he didn't know any other way of carrying an unconscious person, and that he didn't know the meaning behind the princess carry. Astralin didn't know what to think of his words. He seemed sincere, but... She decided to drop the matter when Nemo announced the players' arrival. Astralin looked around her, it seemed that she was dwelling on this one topic enough to not pay attention to her surroundings, and now it was like she was...suddenly here. Nemo left the players standing there, and a pack of monsters showed up, a bunch of earthy wolves covered in moss... Whethe

Never did Astralin ever expect to wake up in Vigilon's arms. With a Popsicle stick in her mouth, too. Awkward... Clearly, both she and Vigilon had caught each other blushing at the embarrassing awkwardness of it all, and Yona just had to smirk as though she was going to remember that moment for years to come. If Yona regrouped with the party later on, and the first thing to happen immediately after was teasing, it would be too soon. "I understand that you were trying to help, I get that. But the fact of the matter is that you princess carried me, and um, I honestly don't

Astralin never anticipated randomly stumbling upon a player's setup in a clearing, outside the safe zone. And yet there it was, and there she was. She stared awkwardly at it, trying to figure out how exactly a player could run a campsite without a tent, and be able to, was he making food? How is this place not overrun by animals or thieves at this point? Is he some kind of nomad? When Astralin got closer...it was a shop? It had to be a nomadic shop, there was no way this place was a permanent location, unguarded and out in the wilds like this. Might as well see what she can get befor

Vigilon revealed that he hadn't taken any vials yet, that he saw someone take a vial with red contents and vanish. After speaking with the other two players in Krysta's party, Vigilon would pick the Orange Essence. There weren't enough players to get a hold of the Green and Yellow Essences, so there was no choice but to leave them for someone else. "Guess we'll have to solve the mystery without the other three essences...I don't know what these are, but I really want to find out...the description is waaaaaay too vague..." Astralin remarked. There could be differences that cause the substances

So, no one was gonna do anything about this? Well, there was one other option... "Nope, I'm not doing this, I'm out!" Astralin declared, and she ran off...and deeper into the ruins she went. There was junk laying around, and strange tiles covered in little holes...something wasn't right here. Astralin grabbed a heavy-ish stone, and dropped it on a tile. The tile sank down, but nothing else happened. Astralin picked up the stone again and dropped it on another tile, just in case. The tile sank, but spikes emerged from the holes. Ah, it was a puzzle, then. Astralin decided to repe

Astralin watched Krysta finish the battle and ask if she was alright. "Yep, I'm fine, just a non-damage scratch..." She answered. When the players entered the ruins, it was emptier than expected. Krysta warned that the party should be on guard, that they probably weren't alone...and then it happened. Plap plap, plap plap, plap plap... Frogs. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't be super freaked out, just mildly squeamish, as frogs are often coated in some kind of mucus. The tenth floor was known for its toxic water, however, so that would suggest toxic waters breed toxic frogs...

Krysta managed to get a better hit against it than Astralin did, and Yona made sure not to pull aggro. Guess the low level player really did know what she was doing, after all. The Skeletal Guardian made a simple attack that Krysta easily blocked with her own weapon. It the proceeded to let out a seemingly disembodied voice. One word: Leave. Creepy. Astralin took this chance to try attacking again. She readied her sword art, and while it was the same as before, she hoped it would hit this time. "Arrekona!" She called out as her sword art activated again. She really wanted to finish t

Krysta smiled and seemed to be happy that Astralin's build was finally coming along, while Yona was surprised to see Astralin's Skillbook, asking if it was what Astralin herself preferred to interpret it as. "No no, it's not a unique skill....this book is just...for immersion. I said before that I could strike with my innate power, right? Well, I'm not exactly one for those bulky bludgeons, and I'm not very blade-savvy, either...so I had to work with something else. It might not count as magic in the game and its statistics, but I intend to come as close to it as I can!" Astralin explaine