Saruki

Saruki drew his trident back for another hit and, as he'd expected, the boar pup charged in. It ran into him, dealing only three damage, then he thrust his trident and impaled the small boar. He didn't exactly feel good killing it, but he had a job to do. Plus, it wasn't even real. The boar pup squealed and shattered as it's health bar dropped to zero. I should get this hunt over with, hunting bigger boars won't feel so bad... hopefully. 

(unfinished)

Saruki got up and thrust his trident at the boar. He fast learned that his trident works as a good boar spear when the Boar pup's health bar plummeted into the red. Interesting...

The Boar Pup couldn't penetrate the bar between the three sharp points from which the trident got it's name stopped the boar dead in it's tracks. On the other hand, he had to pull the trident back to attack again, freeing the boar... Not a problem, I'll just hit it again, Saruki thought, Judging by it's health, that will kill it.

He did not judge this a difficult fight, he was just worried that he'd have to fight a group of angry adult Boars, he knew from reading, and TV, that Boars were very protective... Though that doesn't necicaraly hold true for Boars in SAO. Or at least... Hopefully it didn't, The odds were about 50/50, though he hadn't judged Kayaba as the kind of person who'd know those kinds of things... Though some information can come from odd sources...

Saruki was once again chasing a butterfly, this time through a forest rather than a field. He chased it around trees for a long time, ten minutes? fifteen? half an hour? He entirely forgot to keep a lookout for mobs, but thankfully, none appeared, or at least, none which he noticed. After quite a while longer of chasing, he needed to get on with his quest... but the butterfly took priority. the butterfly finally landed on a tree flower. It was an apple tree, so it had pink flowers, which distracted Satuki for a second. Saruki climbed the tree and maneuvered over tho where the butterfly was. It hadn't moved, and surprisingly Saruki could just reach out and grab it. Which he did.

The Item, Orange Butterfly, was added to Saruki's inventory before he fell out of the tree, which did not usually happen to him.

He fell out of the tree into a clearing. This was where he found his first Boar Pup.

After grabbing a quick snack, Saruki traversed the labyrinth that was the simple grid system based town, the Town of Beginnings.  He'd half expected to find a Minotaur in the central plaza the first day... Kayaba was close enough.

Saruki was on a quest, he made his way to the East Gate, where he'd decided was the easiest place to start looking for boar pups. When he got there he didn't see any boar pups... he thought he saw a player sitting in the grass, trying to get a sugar glider off his head or something... ?... Not important. but no boars... Moving on... next stop, the forest.

Saruki looked around the forest for a boar... he didn't see any boars, but he did see a butterfly, Cool, butterfly! It didn't take Saruki long to forget his quest entirely... because it was a butterfly, it was more interesting than boars could ever bee.

Ha, ha, ha.

Saruki accepts the Items, despite his different taste in armor... maybe he should put in a request?

Once he returned from buying a new spear, and some food, it took a while for him to find his way back, thanks to the simple grid layout of the Town of Beginnings, Saruki was ready to take on the new quest. "So," he asked Lyle Tealeaf, the NPC blacksmith whose quest it was, "What is it you need my help with?"

"I, like my friend, am swamped with work, and don't have enough materials to make his special order," The NPC replied, "Would you please help me? I really am fresh out of materials, so you'd need to hunt some Boar Pups for their tusks."

"Sure," Saruki agreed, he needed a chance to test out his new spear anyways, "I'll help."

This is going to be another long day... Saruki thought, reflecting on his last quest, and his run-in with a boar... which shouldn't have ended so badly...

Maybe this time it will go better... he thought optimistically... maybe...

Saruki was atop the rooftops once again, looking for a shop, either one that sold food, or a blacksmith's shop...

Stupid identical streets... It took him hours to find the Lucky Armament in the labyrinth that was a simple grid system. He'd heard good things about this shop... is what he'd like to say, but he was, in reality, just lost. Hopelessly lost.

Walking in through the front door, he found that he'd gotten lucky. The Lucky Armament, that is... terrible pun... I need a spear so I can go and get food... mushrooms maybe?

It was at this point that the... Giant really freakishly tall player at the back of the store greeted him, "Welcome to Lucky Armament. What is it you need?"

"I need a spear..." Saruki replied, "And directions, preferably."

"We've got some one and two handed assault spears... but we're fresh out of directions," the freakishly tall (Oh, his player tag says... I couldn't see it at first,) Yukiro replied.

Saruki walked to the walls, which were made out of weapon racks... if you looked just right, you could see the next building... Saruki grabbed a spear that appeared to be made out of gold, but before he bought it he saw a sign...

On 10/8/2019 at 11:27 PM, Yukiro said:

<<UNCOMMON GEAR IS FREE FOR ANYBODY IN TIER 1>>

So he put the golden spear back and grabbed an iron one instead... It was a two-handed spear this time.

"I would like to buy this..." Saruki told Yukiro, "but I don't want too because it's free, so can I have it?"

That sounded mean... Saruki thought, "Sorry, I didn't intend to sound that way... I'm just hungry and need to go buy food as soon as possible... I still want the free spear, though."

"Sure..." Yukiro responded.

"Thank you," Saruki said quickly before running out of the shop fast enough that he looked like a thief... a legal thief. He'd find an NPC shop that sells food, then he'd return here... assuming Yukiro hasn't... Saruki might offer to help that guy, he just didn't seem like the gathering type.

Saruki noticed the golden quest marker appear over Lyle's head, confirming his suspicions about the new quest, then a pop-up appeared saying he'd finished the quest, and listing quest rewards.

"Of course I'll help," Saruki agreed, then he silently added, after I get a new spear.

It took Saruki a few minutes to climb onto Zechariah's roof, but according to the old man's directions, it should be... that way! Saruki headed off in the direction of the rising sun for a while, caught a glimpse of one player dragging a freakishly tall player through the streets, or at least that's what he thought he saw, then he finally realized that he was supposed to go west. Turning west he took the rooftop rout until he found a relatively inconspicuous area to get off the roof and walk to Lyle's workshop.

Saruki wake over to Lyle, who was identifiable by the golden question mark levitating above his head, he was not in the middle of forging something, thank goodness, so Saruki said, "I have a package for you from Zechariah."

"Why thank you," Lyle replied, "I take it you've been helping him out?"

Saruki had a bad feeling that this was the start of another quest, "yes, I have..." He replied.

"I could use some help as well," Lyle stated, "With an unrelated matter of course."

Zechariah beckoned over a little girl NPC, who  Saruki hadn't noticed in the Workshop earlier, "Here," the little girl shoved a package roughly towards Saruki and as soon as he took it she ran off and disappeared somewhere. Zechariah chuckled a little, "I apologize for her rudeness, that's Lily, a student of mine, she's always a little rough on anyone she thinks might be a new student because she wants to be my favorite... Or something..."

"Oh," Saruki responded, he didn't have much else to say, and was grateful that this man was an NPC, primarily because he dreaded similar human interactions.

"I'm a little swamped with my work, so..." Zechariah continued, "if you would bring this package to the local blacksmith, Lyle Tealeaf? I would be very appreciative."

"I'd gladly assist you with this," Saruki agreed, though he silently added a little complaint about how he'd wanted to get a new spear... "I'll get going now."

Zechariah watched carefully as Saruki crafted his second potion, "Remember to add the Budding Field Flower Petals after the Mushroom Roots," Zechariah councilled Saruki as he made his second attempt, Saruki was grateful for the guidance after failing so badly that even Zechariah had nothing good to say about it, "and just a few pinches of the Powdered Boar Tusk should do."

"Thanks for the advice," Saruki responded, as he added the mushroom roots, "I'll do that." He put in one or two too many flower petals, then added two pinches of Boar Tusk, "anything more?"

"I like too add a little bit of Cherry, for flavor," Zechariah replied, so Saruki put some in.

This time, when Saruki showed Zechariah the nice green potion he'd made, Zechariah nodded, "good job, this is a fairly well made potion," He thought for a second after taking the potion, "I think I have one more thing I need help with..."

"That's not quite right," Zechariah stated the obvious when Saruki showed him the thick black concoction with green and red swirls, It reminded him of molasses, with colored streamers in it, "Alchemy can be tricky, but I'm sure you'll get it..."

"What did I do wrong?" Saruki asked as he studied the thick black syrupy sludge,  "Was I close, at least?" 

"Not even close in the slightest," Zechariah replied lightheartedly, in a calm voice that was clearly supposed to be comforting, though it was extremely hard to make what he was saying sound positive at all, in any way, "I don't even know where you went wrong... I've never even seen such a thick and black concoction in my entire life, let alone how you made it, but I'm sure you'll get it perfectly right next time."

"Okay," Saruki agreed as he placed the vial of black sludge in his pocket, and Vial of Failed Potion added itself to his inventory as he went back to his work.

Saruki woke up, still on someone's roof, then climbed down and left to go and get some food at a nearby NPC shop. He could have sworn he'd seen a some freakishly tall player sleeping on his favorite bench outside his favorite shop... but that was not important right now, because he had a quest to finish, and e was already late, by his standards.

He took the rooftop route to Zechariah's workshop, he found that it was so much easier when you don't have to worry about the stupidly identical streets in the Town of Beginnings. Only achievable by the rooftop way. When he finally made it to Zechariah's workshop, he materialized the Budding Field Flowers from his inventory and handed them to Zechariah.

"I went through much pains to bring you these," he commented.

"And I thank you for that," Zechariah replied, "but I'm swamped with work, and you seem in need of practice, so would you please make me one Healing Potion?"

"Maybe if I eat some mushrooms I'll feel better..." He was starting to mutter aloud... this was getting bad.

Saruki looked around for quite a while, not finding any mushrooms, but luckily, even from his high vantage point in the tree, he did not see any more boars to be careful of... Even so, it was too dark not to be cautious. He slowly climbed down from the tree, then quickly took the path back to the Town of Beginnings to get some food and finish his quest.

It was way too dark to see the town, even when it was "in sight," so it took more time than it should have for him to get to the town.

Saruki decided it was too late to finish the quest that day, and the town's simple grid system layout... such non-confusing layouts absolutely confounded Saruki's complex thinking. He decided to camp out on someone's roof for the night...

And yes, he did that in real life too.

Saruki got up and just ran. Once he got away from the boar, he had less than half his health.

 He tried climbing a tree, managing to calm himself down to a murderous rage... then he fell asleep. (the two best ways to tell when he's tired or hungry are to check for violence or simpleness, or to check if he's sleeping.)

Oh, GEEZ! I fell asleep! Saruki started, nearly falling out of the tree, and he scolded himself for sleeping. He wasn't feeling nearly as angry as he had before he'd fallen asleep, but he knew he could fall into just such a blind rage rather easily when he was hungry. I should get something to eat... He thought for a moment, No, I should finish the quest first...

Maybe some gathering???? Saruki didn't know what to prioritize, so he just decided it would be easiest to gather some materials... If there were no more boars... I shouldn't risk it... I should go to town... He was too hungry to strategize, which was going to affect his chances of survival if he didn't go get some food.

"Maybe if I eat some mushrooms I'll feel better..." He was starting to mutter aloud... this was getting bad.

Saruki tripped once again. At this point he couldn't even think right. He didn't even feel the boar's tusks pierce his side, it was just one word repeating over and over...

DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Through some twisted, weird, unearthly, and most definitely not cursed talent (the same weird skill that allows him to trip UP the stairs) Saruki somehow managed to trip and fall ONCE AGAIN! I hate today... I hate Boars... Saruki was never that clumsy... He needed to get some food as quickly as possible, he wished that boar would just DIE!

Just DIE!!! The violence in his mind manifested itself into Saruki's mind once again, DIE, DIE, DIE, the cause of his violence was primarily hunger, DIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

DIE, DIE, DIE DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE!

Saruki was thinking uncharacteristically violently now, GO EAT A BOMB, STUPID BOAR!! He didn't feel like shutting that down anymore, but he had to get back to finish the quest, just eat the boar... another part of him thought, Heck, NO! He shut down the violent part of his mind once again, now thoroughly disturbed.

Saruki tried to run quickly towards town, but he tripped on an inconvenient Budding Field Flower, Which was really irritating, especially now that he DIDN'T need one. Oh, NOW you show up! I really hate Boars. He thought this just before the boars tusks jabbed him in the side. He should have been much more careful avoiding boars on his way back to town. Then again, it probably wouldn't have helped. He would have been picking mushrooms and run into more boars, or something.

Yeah, he would have run into a boar eventually... why did he have to go for extra materials?

They will be useful when I craft stuff! One part of him scolded, meanwhile the other part of him was screaming, HOW DO I KILL STUFF, THEN!!!!!

He quickly shut down his violent instinct, at least for now, and got to his feet.

Just until I get back to town, he thought, Once I get a better spear, this boar will be DEAD!!!  THEY ALL WILL!!!!!!

He had to once again stop himself and shut down the violent part of his mind... he was just hungry, once he had some food, that part of him would go away.

Saruki managed to get back to his feet just in time to sidestep the boar's second attack, then quickly jabbed the boar in the side with his spear. He noticed the boar's HP bar go down a little bit as he jabbed it, and felt a sense of undue triumph...

Which would have to wait until he'd killed the boar, or ran away, that would work too, Nah, I'll kill this thing... Saruki thought to himself, It's only a boar...

Then Saruki realized he didn't have time for this, he was hungry and it was practically nightfall, he had to get to town soon. The Boar could wait for later, He needed a nap, some food, and a better weapon.

Saruki decided he would make a break for town at the next good opportunity, then go and eat food... Then he would finish his quest. Then he would sleep. Finally, he would get at least an uncommon level spear, weather from an NPC blacksmith or a player.

Saruki stumbled as he attempted to go around the Boar, and it rammed him straight in the face. Though you don't feel "pain" in SAO he could have sworn that stung a little... which was, of course, a trick of the mind. Saruki was knocked back, and he planned his next course of action, which was to run to the town... He wasn't a coward, he just didn't have any combat worthy weapons yet... I should get a better spear, He realized, which was really obvious, but he needed to plan it.

He decided to try his hand at slaying the Boar before running, shouldn't be too hard, their the weakest monster in the game, Saruki thought, Even if all I have are vanity gear and potions. He just hoped no more Boars showed up, that would be very bad... maybe he should run?

Na... He thought to himself, no more Boars will show up... probably.

He hoped.

As it turned out, the butterfly had landed right next to a bright purple patch of Field Flowers, which still had one Budding Field Flower left. After Identifying the item, it took a second for Saruki to get to the task, and he was somewhat surprised, looking back, that he hadn't been attacked by a boar yet. He knew his luck couldn't last forever, so he hurried. It took him a second, but he picked the budding field flower, which added it's self into his inventory, and hurried his way away from the flower patch.

He had to look around for the path to town, and it took him a while, but he found it. Then it took him more time to identify which way to go. 

Realizing it was nearly dusk, Saruki started at a brisk pace down the path, breaking into a run as he felt time pass- he wanted his sleep, and, more importantly, FOOD! He broke into a full-on sprint when town was in sight...

Running straight into a Boar he hadn't noticed standing in his path...

Saruki chased the butterfly for quite a while, eventually tiring himself out. Unable to chase it much farther, Saruki layed down for a nap.

When he woke up, Saruki found the butterfly he'd been chasing. It was sitting on a flower, drinking nectar. It was an unusual butterfly, small and with almost clear wings, like glass. Saruki crept up on the butterfly very carefully, then captured it with cupped hands, careful not to hurt the butterfly.

Then a system message popped up, Glasswing Butterfly added to inventory! Saruki silently celebrated, he'd done it! He'd caught the butterfly! but it was going to be late, and he should finish the quest quickly before dark. He materialized the Glasswing Butterfly item he'd obtained, and to his relief, the beautiful butterfly had been put into a glass case, it would not fly away. He decided to check the cluster of flowers the butterfly had been sitting on for one more Budding Field Flower, then look around some more on the way back to town, whichever way that was.

Saruki was really getting hungry now, he had to get something to eat as soon as possible... meaning after the quest, of course. As he paced away from the spot where he picked the last few Budding Field Flowers, he tripped.

As he got up, he noticed that he'd happened across another Budding Field Flower it took a moment to get up and a few more to pick the hardy Budding Field Flower 

That was rather easy, He thought, Just one more, He started pacing in a random direction, I hope I can find my way back.

 After a few minutes of searching for another budding flower, Saruki decided to fight a Boar before continuing his search, so off to fight a boar he went.

He began looking for a boar, but he was quickly distracted by a red flower, he picked it, but it shattered, so he resumed his search. Before he found any boars, he spotted a butterfly which he just needed to catch. He chased after the butterfly, trying to catch it before it got away.

As Saruki paced, he spotted a small cluster of budding plants over by a tree, I need to stop referencing the d20, he thought, If I think too much and don't do anything, it won't end well.

Saruki jogged over to the cluster of budding plants and picked three that looked like Field Flowers, only two of them were what he needed, they were added to his inventory, and the third shattered.

Saruki checked the tabs that showed his recently acquired items. I need five, just two more, then, he calculated, then he looked around, I need to level up eventually, so I may as well fight something, Saruki looked around, not seeing anymore budding plants nearby, he began pacing away from where he'd picked the Budding Field Flowers, he'd fight something if he came across it before he found the quest items, assuming, of course, that what he came across was't too risky to fight at level one. Basically, he'd fight a boar if he came across it before he found the quest items.

Saruki found a cluster of Field Flowers right by the gate, 

Nat. 20! All right! he thought, once again comparing his luck to his favorite role-playing game, this won't take too long.

Actually, those particular flowers had very deep roots and surprisingly strong stems, and so they were oddly hard to pick.

The Budding Field Flower was added to his inventory. He found this quite simple, so he picked the next flower.

It turned to glass and shattered, oh right, Saruki recalled, just the buds.

For the next several minutes he searched the Field Flowers for any more buds,  to no avail, maybe this won't be so easy, Saruki thought, maybe I should go fight something, that often leads me to a lucky spot in other games...

After thinking for several more minutes, he decided against fighting. He needed a new spear first, and he needed to complete his current quest, plus, he was getting hungry once again.

Saruki began pacing away from the gate to the city.