Calcifer
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Posts posted by Calcifer
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”And so I said: ‘Nay! Stay away from that woman, or I’ll have your head!’ And I brandished my sword, ready for a fight. But then the beast squawked at me at ran for it! Can you believe that? Such a cowardly foe.” Calcifer had been prattling on and on for the better part of ten minutes, regaling her new companions with one of her many, many heroic tales.
”Squawked at you…?” One of the two faeries escorting her echoed with a confused, skeptical look. It shared a glance with its kin as they fluttered through the air on either side of the pink-haired player.
”Exactly! Rude and uncooperative.” She shook her head with a sigh. ”I had to chase it down for what felt like ages. I couldn’t, in good conscience, leave it to terrorize the streets.” The intermingling forests and glades they traveled across seemed to stretch on for miles, but Calcifer didn’t seem bothered a bit. She was having a fine time filling any silence as they walked on and on.
”It was a whole ordeal. Feathers everywhere.” She nodded, recounting the conclusion of her great battle with a townsfolk’s escaped chicken back on Floor 1. The scenery had finally begun to change, and the trio reached the mouth of a narrow cavern, dimly lit by a blue glow coming from somewhere inside. Calcifer’s pace slowed to an eventual stop before she’d crossed the threshold. ”This is where you need me to go? In there?” She seemed hesitant. After all, the last time she’d ventured into dark cave she’d nearly been made into bat food. And someone who was very strong had been there to accompany her. Surprisingly, she showed a measure of caution.
”Yes, yes. You must hurry, we need your help in the Cavern. Come! Come!” The faerie insisted. It waved its clawed hand out to her as it beckoned. The other faerie flew around her excitedly, tugging at her hair and clothes as if to pull and nudge her forward. ”Quickly! Go!”
”I… What is it that you need help with, exactly? I must make sure I’m prepared, after all.” Her nervousness was plain as day on her face, and the faeries did not seem one bit amused by her sudden hesitance. ”Oh, I give up!” One declared, throwing it’s small, lithe arms in the air. ”I can’t listen to her yapping any more anyway!” Its passive nature crumbled away in an instant, revealing an irritable scowl fixed upon its insect-like features. The other faerie scoffed loudly and waved its hands in the air. Out of nothing, it produced a small, brightly-colored cupcake with plenty of frosting and sprinkles over the top.
”Huh? Wait–” The moment Calcifer opened her mouth in shock at their sudden shift in attitude, the faerie with the cupcake zipped forward and shoved the whole thing into the girl’s mouth. Her confusion turned to muffled noise while the faerie held its tiny hands firmly against her lips in order to keep her mouth shut. To her surprise, the little creature had no issue doing so.
Then the world became fuzzy. She blinked a few times, trying to focus her vision. The faeries were talking, she thought, but it’s like their words were lost in the wind before they reached her ears. Sound, touch, sight…even the sugary taste and sweet smell of the cake against her tongue faded away. Everything went dark.
Calcifer | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 5 | ACC:1
NOTES
THREAD INFO
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It wasn’t long before Calcifer grew antsy. Impatient. There was something about this stretch of inaction that itched at her, nagging her that she shouldn’t be standing around on the sidelines. Her grip on the handle of her sword flexed and the fingers of her free hand tapped against one another. She fidgeted while her eyes strained to keep sight of the bat that Ryo faced down, and then they darted about the rest of the cave: past Ryo’s shoulder, past the monster, the sides, the ceiling, anywhere that provided her some bit of feedback or engagement. She knew why she couldn’t go swinging at the creature. Ryo had told her why it was too dangerous to have her jumping into the fray. She wished it was a bad reason. If only she had an argument she could present, some leg to stand on that would allow her to help, allow her to do something.
Her free hand clenched in and out of a fist, idle movement that attempted to quell that urge to spring into action. She glanced down at her own arm and then it hit her. ”A shield…” She murmured. ”Of course!” An idea rushed into her brain with such a frenzy that she had to exclaim it. ”I’m no match for these foes without the proper equipment! This sword might not be half bad, but this armor is nothing! And I don’t even have a shield to defend myself!” She brought up her hand in a fist and gave a couple of firm pounds on the simple leather covering her chest as if to drive her point home.
Ryo dispatched the monster with a quick and skillful strike, and Calcifer snapped to attention as he turned back to her. The girl bowed to him in shame, ”I’m sorry, samurai Ryo! I didn’t even think myself so ill-prepared to fight these monsters. I only hope I don’t slow down our search.” Straightening back up and coming to some kind of terms over her inability to fight out here, her head swiveled around, as if the word ‘search’ had reminded her of the task at hand. ”There’s no time to lose.” She affirmed softly, and without straying far from her skilled battle companion, Calcifer moved on to continue exploring the cave.
It was still unreasonably dark. She was having no luck spotting any movement, not a person nor a monster. She drew in a breath and brought her hands up to either side of her mouth. She was about to shout and call out for the missing girl, but a pause caught the word in her throat at the last moment. Yelling might attract more monsters lurking in the shadows, after all. So instead she forced her voice down to the loudest whisper she could manage, her voice breathy and strained. ”Koko! Are you in here? We’re here to rescue you!”
Searching for Koko...
ID#: 243284 | LD: 12 - Fail -
”Hm?” She felt the weight of Ryo’s gauntleted hand on her shoulder and looked over to him with a curious hum. She followed his hand, pointing up into the darkness. She squinted again, straining to make out the shapes of the uneven cavern ceiling. The something shifted. Something moved.
Calcifer jolted when the giant bat descended on them. She renewed her grip on her weapon and held her sword aloft, separating from Ryo as he drew his own blade. She took a couple of steps back, sizing up the beast–it sure was massive for a bat. Its fangs alone spanned the length of your average bat, and its wingspan stretched wide enough that it looked like it might be able to scoop her up and carry her off without much effort. Just as the thought occurred to her, the monster flew straight for her. She steeled herself, raising her blade up above her head in a prepared strike. Her first taste of combat, and she would stand strong. She would meet her enemy head-on and emerge the victor!
But before she could sink her own fangs into the enemy, a shout reached her ears. Before she knew it she was staring at Ryo’s back, the bat’s wings flapping and flailing around him, the wind it kicked up tousling her hair and dust spraying her skin. She froze, taken aback by his sudden self-sacrifice to quite literally throw himself in front of the enemy. ”Samurai Ryo, why would you–” but he already began to offer an explanation before she could argue with his actions. She almost had, her mouth opening and a new breath drawing in, but something about the finality of his words gave her pause, and she closed her mouth with a stiffer bottom lip. The sincerity in his tone was different from before. Still, her chest was feeling tight with her inaction. Though she still stood out of view behind him, she gave a single nod. ”I see…” She was at a strange loss for words. Her usual candor just didn’t feel right in this moment, and she failed to scrounge up a meaningful response. ”Right. I trust your judgement.” She simply affirmed, holding her sword at the ready in front of her.
QuoteRyo | HP: 654/655 | EN: 87/87 | DMG: 12 | MIT:67 | BH:29 | REC: 2 | HM: 2 | BLD: 12 | PARA | LD:3
Calcifer | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 5 | ACC:10vs
Giant Bat | HP: 75/75 | DMG: 35
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”Of course!” Calcifer’s misunderstanding of Ryo asking whether or not she fully completed quest prompts was inevitable, so it was a good thing he clarified. The way he described it gave her pause. She squinted, tapped on her chin, and let out an audible hum. That blasted circle. She’d caught sight of it a handful of times, the annoying bugger. ”Well, most of the people who ask for help offer some kind of reward. A lot of times they get pretty insistent about it. But before you get the wrong idea! I always refuse any kind of gifts or anything the kind townsfolk try to give me.” She raised a hand, fingers together with her palm straight out, as if she were about to recite an oath or refuse another token of gratitude. ”I wouldn’t dare suggest that my assistance comes at a cost. The honest people needn’t sacrifice for my sake! It would be shameful to even entertain the thought.”
Then came his impassioned speech. Calcifer stopped, as he did, and watched as he spoke. As he validated her dreams and quelled her fear all in a handful of eloquent thoughts delivered with sincerity and conviction. A spark seemed to reflect in Calcifer’s indigo eyes. Her smile quivered and her fingers curled inward. Air filled her lungs in a hurry and puffed out her chest while she brought her closed fists in front of her. ”You’re right!” She exclaimed. ”You completely understand!” There was something in her voice that rang a little truer–some touch of authenticity that maybe wasn’t there before. ”Oh, samurai Ryo, what a kind stroke of fate that we would become allies this day!”
It wasn’t too much longer to the cave. The tall mountain ranges on either side of them seemed to converge as they traveled, and the mouth of the cave was visible for a few minutes from their approach. ”Just as Miss Choshi described…” Calcifer mused. Truly, the description of ‘large cave’ matched the one that stood before them to a tee. She drew the basic straight sword that had sat decoratively at her hip all this time and proceeded cautiously. With the sun long since obscured by the tall rocks, the inside of the cave looked like a pool of darkness that didn’t do well for Calcifer’s range of vision. She squinted, struggling to keep track of the rocky walls where they gave way to shadows past the edge of her sight. ”Be on your guard,” she warned, ”the monsters could be anywhere.”
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Calcifer let Ryo lead the way with a heart full of trust and a head empty of directions. Keeping her holo-map open in front of her the entire time would have become a nuisance, anyway. As with any great adventuring team, the time for travel brought upon them the time for getting to know your travelling partner! And yet, guilt gripped firmly at her heart with the delivery of Ryo’s very first question. She clutched at her chest, lagging behind a few paces in the process. ”Samurai Ryo. I must be completely and absolutely honest with you…!” A look of dread was etched upon her features as she revealed to him one of her deepest, darkest secrets…
”My curiosity has gotten the better of me!” She exclaimed her shame. ”If I may be so bold as to claim that I was dedicated to the protection and the well-being of the Town of Beginnings’ inhabitants…” A wistful expression took over her, like a war hero recounting their hometown, ”I’ve spent many, many days watching over that beautiful city. Its citizens are like a family to me.” Her hands were clasped in front of her, and she let out a sigh.
”But! Like a mistress in the night!” Again her volume rose in an instant as she recounted the events of roughly thirty minutes ago. One hand pressed against the side of her face and then shifted, briefly covering her eyes as if the words were just too scandalous. ”The magic of that teleportation circle is…so terribly alluring.” She moved her hand quickly, before she’d trip and fall on the rocky terrain. ”I thought, ‘surely, if the summer sun shines on this place, it must be a noble pursuit to seek out those who are but yet shivering in the frozen winter tundra’!” Like some amateur Shakespearean actor, Calcifer bent her arm at a right angle, holding an open palm towards the sky and curling her fingers inward. ”Tell me, samurai Ryo! Is it not the ultimate betrayal to cast aside those you once swore to protect, in search of those you simply decide are somehow more deserving of your efforts?!”
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As soon as the woman stammered out some promise of a reward, Calcifer stuck her arm straight out, palm open, at the quest-giver. “No need, kind madam. Seeing the smile returned to your face will be enough of a gift.” She dismissed whatever it was the NPC was planning to give them, but it seemed the frantic woman was done speaking either way. She simply stood there, hands clasped together, looking between the two players expectantly while they lingered in the area. Calcifer turned to her newfound comrade. “Ryo the samurai! Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Calcifer, the soon-to-be Ember Knight. You see, in my other—oh!” She was interrupted by the surprise of the dialogue box that appeared in front of her.
<<Ryo has invited you to a party. Accept?>>
She squinted a little while she read it, then hurriedly tapped on the little blue circle to make it go away and get back to what she was doing. “Of course, I’d be glad to join forces with you, samurai Ryo!” With a twinkle in her eye and a fire in her heart, Calcifer turned and led the way out of Urbus.
It took her a couple of tries to find the city’s singular exit. When they’d made it outside of the safe zone, she opened up her holo-map, otherwise known as her menu’s floor map, and found where Choshi had marked their destination. “A cave, huh… We’ve got no time to spare, so let’s take the most direct path. If we’re headed to a monster’s lair, we’d best stay vigilant. We should avoid any unnecessary battles on our way there.” Nodding, she decided that to be the best course of action.
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Calcifer was entranced by the sights and smells and sounds and everything that this new floor had to offer. There were thick clouds littering the sky overhead limiting the sunshine from barreling down on the city. There was a distinct earthy musk that hit her nose from the surrounding mountain landscapes. The chatter of the townsfolk was subdued and less polite. The people that littered these streets had no time for idle chitchat and 'how-do-you-dos'. But amid all the newness, one word caused her ear to burn and her fingers to twitch. Bright indigo eyes shot around wildly to find the one who uttered it:
"Help"
Her focus locked onto a frantic-looking brunette woman and an uncomfortable-looking man dressed largely in purples. She grasped at him, physically and verbally, in a bid for his attention. Calcifer stood frozen. Her hands were rigid at her sides. The man wasn't walking away. He didn't dismiss or deny her pleas. She watched him nod. Could it be that she was not needed after all? Was another brave warrior rising to the challenge to assist those in need? Maybe she should be on her way. After all, if there was a hapless soul here who had found solace in the aid of another, what was to say that there weren't others who were not so lucky? Surely someone else out there needed her.
What would a true Ember-Knight do?
"Please excuse me, swordsman and gentlelady," Calcifer inserted herself into the situation immediately. She tucked one arm behind her back while the other folded over her front and she bowed before the both of them. "Upon hearing your plight, I could not help myself."
"Her friend came back to me just this moment a-and said that they were attacked by monsters!" The NPC woman labeled Choshi continued her dialogue, and for a short time she and Calcifer were speaking over each other.
"It would be unbecoming of me as a knight to turn a blind eye to anyone in need. Should you need any assistance, know that I would gladly take on any challenge or oblige any request for the citizens of Urbus!"
"R-really? Thank you! Thank you so much, you have no idea how grateful I am,"
By the time Calcifer had finished announcing her intentions, it appeared that some bit of her ramblings must have triggered the acceptance of the quest Choshi was so desperately trying to offer. The NPC's face brightened up and she continued speaking while the brazen pink girl stood there with a pose and expression that were nothing but sincere and determined.
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The Town of Beginnings was a little less crowded than usual today.
Whenever the frontliners unlocked a new level of the castle, players filtered upwards. There were a handful of appealing main settlements and other cityscapes higher up, begging the question: at what point would Floor 1 be rendered obsolete?
For one girl, the charm of the so-called "starter town" was timeless. A sprawling cityscape bursting with life, and no shortage of people that needed help. Where others may move on and leave these helpless citizens in the dust, one determined individual could be found patrolling the streets day-in and day-out, always willing to lend a hand.
"Cooome on... Nice kitty! This way, kitty!" A pale hand stretched out and beckoned to a lazy tabby cat where it sat atop the branch of a tree, watching its would-be rescuer with bare interest. Calcifer's hand retreated back to her so she could catch herself before she lost her grip and slipped down the unforgiving bark...again. The pink girl hoisted herself a little bit higher, wrapped her arm around a branch, and reached out again.
It took several more tries over the course of an hour or so, but Calcifer stood victorious with a writhing cat held firmly in her outstretched hands. "Here you are, Ms. Tanaka! Mittens is safe and sound, no need to worry." Her wide grin was complemented with thin, bright red gashes littering her face. Before Mittens could chip away at her HP any further, the dark-haired woman scooped the hateful cat up in her arms and unleashed a wave of gratitude. Calcifer wore that proud smile and waved off her thanks. "As a reward, please let me give you thi--"
"No, no! Don't worry about such things!" Calcifer insisted with a thick bravado, already turning away from the woman. "A knight helps wherever they are needed. No coin shall influence my duty to the people, so please!" She stuck her open palm up in front of her, as if to motion a 'stop!' "That won't be necessary. Knowing that Mittens is safe at home is reward enough." Dusting her hands with a couple of soft 'claps' as she brushed them against each other, Calcifer went about her day without a second thought.
Then she passed by the teleport gate. That large, imposing structure that stood on its raised platform in the exact center of the city. She saw people coming and going from it all the time, so it was hard not to wonder what might lie on the other side. Calcifer's wide eyes drifted past the gate and over the simple shops, the tall buildings, the people on their regular walking paths. Then back to the gate. She could always come back, right? It's not like she was abandoning the people here if she just took a peek at the next town over, right? Of course not.
She carried herself up the steps and approached the gate with a nervous energy. The name was on her lips--she could taste it. That's all she had to do, wasn't it? Say the word, and off she would go. No need to be scared! Or worried! Or guilty! Or--
'SLAP!'
Calcifer's cheeks went a stinging shade of red after her hands had smacked into them. A righteous determination burned in her chest that steeled her resolve in an instant. "How can I strive to be an Ember-Knight if I cannot thrust myself fearlessly into the unknown?" She asked aloud. A bit too loud. "I must meet each challenge with a warrior's heart! Urbus!" She shouted, and seconds later her body had disappeared under twinkling lights, leaving Floor 1 behind.
Urbus was different. Immediately from the platform of the second floor's teleport gate, Calcifer felt like she'd just been transported to another world. She still stood amid a city, sure, but it was nothing like her Town of Beginnings. The architecture, the people, the air, the ground beneath her feet--it was different. Her eyes were wide as ever, running over everything that stood in front of her and soaking it all in.
Calcifer | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 5 | ACC:1
NOTES
THREAD INFO
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“Oh, sure!" Calcifer straightened up again after kneeling to pick another herb that was hidden in the base of some shrubbery. That was the last one she needed, but true to her word, she was content with assisting Aquarian with the remainder of his task.
They veered their course and made their way past the edge of the forest. Mountain ranges stood tall in the distance, but there was a much greater distance between them than when they started their trek together. They came up to a clearing that was littered with wildflowers. Small fauna like rabbits and birds could be seen nearby, going about their business.
“Do you want to practice with me?" Calcifer asked. “I mean, we can try dueling and work on our combat ability." She explained with a smile. She reached across to her left hip and drew her sword from its sheath. She was facing forward into the clearing, and held it steady in front of her before slashing down and then pulling back to swing the blade across. Regardless of Aquan's answer, she seemed content to work on her form while he continued looking for materials.
ID: 179561 | LD: 18 - Success [5/5 materials]
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The shift in available sunlight was becoming apparent, and Calcifer shifted her weight once she noticed it. “I'm sure it can't be that difficult to get back to town from here..." She mumbled the words mainly to herself under her breath. She turned and looked all around, finally trying to get her bearings in the forest after the lengthy encounter with the mother boar. They were surrounded by trees, all right. Calcifer couldn't see any sort of break to a clearing or even the mountain ridges from here.
She frowned. Now this just wouldn't do. As much as she hated to use it, Calcifer waved her hand through the air to pull up her menus and navigated to her map. She hadn't collected a ton of map data for the first floor, but she had to have enough to figure it out, right? She was just beginning to hover her forefinger, tracing an imaginary path that led from the blank void she was standing in to the Town of Beginnings when the sound of a wolf's howl pierced through the air. She froze, tensing up and pausing her navigation efforts. “Uhh... Do you think the wilderness gets more dangerous at night?" She asked nobody in particular. A snap like a twig breaking in half sounded somewhere within earshot. Leaves began to rustle without the wind to blow them.
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“You think so?" Calcifer wore a smile that quickly grew more confident the longer she reflected on his positive affirmations. She certainly didn't expect an answer to that question, but shifted her attention to his following topic about what it is the people calling themselves frontliners actually do. She didn't look at Aquan, instead focusing her sights on the area around them as they continued their leisurely pace.
Calcifer eventually frowned while she mulled over his words. 'Saving us' and 'getting us out', she wanted to roll her eyes and scoff at him. She nearly bit her tongue and chose to stay quiet on that specific subject. Aquarian was nice, and she didn't want to stomp all over his friendly intentions.
She welcomed another change of topic, and let out a thoughtful hum. “Well, I used to wield fire magic along with a sword style kind of like this one," She patted the basic straight sword that was sheathed at her hip. “but since I can't use magic anymore, I suppose I'll just be a regular knight! Heh," She chuckled and thought again. “I normally try to stand my ground. I'm not the best at being evasive, and I haven't decided if I want to try using a shield yet, so I suppose I have something like a dueling fighting style?" An upward inflection made it clear she was still getting used to combat in Aincrad.
ID: 179498 | LD: 13 - Success [4/5 materials]
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Calcifer smiled when Aquan started speaking, ready to ask for confirmation of the fact that he was working to become a Cook. She waited, bent down to retrieve another herb from the forest floor, and waited a bit more. Soon, that window of conversational opportunity had come and gone. In fact, by the time Aquan had paused long enough to allow her a word in edgewise, Calcifer had lost track of any sort of contribution she might have provided to the many topics that he had covered already.
“Oh, right, well yes," Calcifer realized the forced silence that had fallen over them and mentally backtracked to the last thing she recalled. “Guilds can be an incredible boon, but..." She stopped to think for a moment, searching her words out, “it's not always easy to find those that share in your ideals, I suppose." She took advantage of the chance she'd been given to respond and continued with a frown, “I have no interest in dealing with the people who seek only profit, for example. If a guild wishes to challenge the Lich King Ner'Thuul himself, it should be to finally put an end to his rule of tyranny! To free the undead thralls that comprise his army! To protect the innocent people whose cities were next to be seized, not to line their pockets and pine for whatever treasures he has stashed away on his belt!" Calcifer had puffed out her chest, and when her emblazoned speech came to an end her shoulders drooped and she looked back to the grassy roots beside her feet. “I've dealt with too many people like that already." She tacked on dejectedly.
ID: 178231 | LD: 11 - Success [3/5 materials]
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Calcifer had steeled her resolve and held her ground. She stared down the oncoming mother boar, teeth grit and sword in hand. And then, it was gone. Calcifer blinked a few times while her brain caught up with everyone around her, and the one named Aquan began to rapidly exchange pleasantries.
'I'm not sure what we would have done if you didn't step in'
Calcifer bit her bottom lip, but said nothing. The blow to her pride was heavy. She spun her blade once and slid it back into the sheath at her left hip. Sliding her heels together with a 'click' of her boots, Calcifer brought her right arm up in front of her torso and turned to the rest of the group, bowing at the waist. “Calcifer, Knight-in-training, at your service." She introduced herself.
She straightened and her eyes pastel-pink eyes moved to the brunette wearing armor with spear in hand. Calcifer took a few steps to close the gap between herself and Minako. “Are you hurt?" She asked. “I apologize for entangling you in my conflict." Her head turned to Aquan briefly to give a nod, "“You as well."
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Calcifer listened to him earnestly, and she couldn't help the corners of her mouth from pulling up into a poorly-suppressed smile. Still, she kept her face hidden by looking away from the man while he reached for the fruit hanging from tree branches and knelt down beside the roots of another plant, being so lucky as to actually find a component that could be plucked away to her inventory. Calcifer's chest swelled with pride at his assumptions about her, and she wasn't about to correct him.
Only partially on purpose, she skipped over addressing any of his questions about her personal life and past. Instead, the latest thing he mentioned caught her interest and she echoed, “A guild?" She straightened up and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hmm... What is the purpose of a guild, exactly? I believe I have some experience with such things, but I can't say I know how they typically function here."
ID: 177743 | LD: 17 - Success [2/5 materials]
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Calcifer's eyes hung on the cave mouth in the distance, nestled up against the steep hills to her right, but she tore herself away to follow after Aquan and venture back into the woods. He somehow seemed just a little more comfortable once they were under the shaded canopy of the tall trees. She looked around in semi-patient silence while Aquan went on about the plant-life around them in a quiet tone, and it seemed that both of them had hit a small lull in their gathering ability.
“You know a lot about plants, huh?" She didn't respond to the insincere apology, but instead followed up with a question. “Oh," She was presented with one herself, and Calcifer shook her head. “Nope, can't say that I am." She denied. “A guild..." She echoed, in a quieter tone to herself. She seemed to be giving the topic quite a bit of thought, but ended up frowning and pointing her eyes back to the ground to continue looking for any more materials that might be hiding ahead of their feet.
ID: 177739 | LD: 7 - Fail [1/5 materials]
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“Yes, exactly!" Calcifer exclaimed with a grin, though she had to continue speaking to explain which part of Aquan's interpretation matched up to her thoughts. “You see, survival is key in this world. Despite the fact that a lot of territory has been uncovered, most of the land in any given area seems to be completely untamed." She nodded along with herself. “It's very important to learn how to survive in the wilderness. Harvesting natural resources, and defending yourself against aggressive creatures, for instance." Calcifer had crossed her arms over her chest part-way through her ramblings, and now nodded again to affirm herself.
Bringing a hand up to tap her forefinger thoughtfully against her chin, Calcifer mulled over his question. “Earning a Living...?" She echoed, and then shook her head. “Can't say that I have." She smiled widely when Aquan seemed to say that their intentions aligned, more or less. “Well then, I'd be happy to accompany you, sir Aquarian!" In a stroke of luck, something then caught her eye. Calcifer perked up and took a few steps aside to bend down and reach for a very average herb sticking out from the ground. She smirked proudly as she plucked it.
ID: 177734 | LD: 12 - Success [1/5 materials]
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“Hm? Oh!" Calcifer perked up when Aquan approached from the side. “Of course I remember you, Aquarian!" She beamed with a wide smile. She brought her heels together, lifted her right forearm in front of her stomach, and bent her torso forward into a bow. “Calcifer the Knight, at your service!"
Her smile dropped, turning into a dumbfounded expression when she watched Aquan reach down and pluck something up off the ground. “Wait--did you find something?" She frowned for just a moment, suppressing a pout, and then nodded. “Oh, but yes, I'm looking for materials! Herbs, specifically. I'm on a training quest in order to hone my skills in the wilderness." She explained with a newfound confidence. Or, perhaps it was the same confidence she always seemed to pull through to the surface every so often.
Calcifer turned her gaze back to the front of her, where she raised an arm to point out something a short distance ahead. “I had actually spotted that cave over there and was on my way to investigate it. If there's somewhere you're trying to get to, though, I'd also be more than happy to offer my services to escort you." She smiled.
ID: 177357 | LD: 8 - Fail [0/5 materials]
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“How difficult can it be to gather a few herbs?" Calcifer placed her hands on her hips, speaking confidently to herself while gazing out over the vast fields of the first floor. Swinging her arms and taking wide strides forward, she set out from the Town of Beginnings to complete her first quest for Zachariah. It was supposed to teach her the importance of gathering materials out in the wild and crafting them into useful items like potions. Really, she wasn't too keen on the whole subject, but the quests she had been able to find that revolved around combat seemed... Well, she wouldn't say they were too challenging or intimidating for her. She just needed more training first, that was all! She couldn't possibly go out on a quest to slay some monsters without training and warming up first!
And what better way to start training than to get a lay of the land. Calcifer spent a good chunk of time trudging through the fields, past the forest, and eventually to the mountainous regions to the far north of the first floor. She ended up scanning the area around some steep hills, but wasn't seeing anything out of place. “Hmmm..." She mused to herself. “Is there really supposed to be a bunch of different herbs out here? I don't see anything..."
ID: 177354 | LD: 3 - Fail [0/5 materials]
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“How difficult can it be to gather a few herbs?" Calcifer placed her hands on her hips, speaking confidently to herself while gazing out over the vast fields of the first floor. Swinging her arms and taking wide strides forward, she set out from the Town of Beginnings to complete her first quest for Zachariah. It was supposed to teach her the importance of gathering materials out in the wild and crafting them into useful items like potions. Really, she wasn't too keen on the whole subject, but the quests she had been able to find that revolved around combat seemed... Well, she wouldn't say they were too challenging or intimidating for her. She just needed more training first, that was all! She couldn't possibly go out on a quest to slay some monsters without training and warming up first!
And what better way to start training than to get a lay of the land. Calcifer spent a good chunk of time trudging through the fields, past the forest, and eventually to the mountainous regions to the far north of the first floor. She ended up scanning the area around some steep hills,
[rolling...]
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“Ohhh, how long—is she going to chase after me—?” Calcifer muttered to herself in between small gasps of air. Her eyes went wide as a voice began to shout from behind her, and the teen only spared a quick glance over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the brunette adventurer who was yelling expletives after the both of them. Confused and still concerned for her safety, Calcifer kept running until she passed by a man with pale blonde hair and a naive look on his face. “Ah! Be careful—!” She shouted when he regarded the mother boar with fondness.
The cartoonish chase went on for a while. Long enough for them to pass a couple of other players in the woods. Calcifer felt nearly at her limit, and swallowed a lump in her throat before she drastically slowed her pace. The heel of her boot dug into the ground to aid her stop and turn her around. The blonde man wouldn’t be far behind her, and she intended to place herself between him and the beast that so adamantly wanted revenge against her for harming her baby. Pulling out her straight sword, Calcifer stood her ground against the charging mother boar. “So be it!” Her chest still bobbed in and outward from her heavy breaths she took. “If we are fated to do battle, I mustn’t drag innocent people into our quarrel. Calcifer the Knight will show you her resolve!” She declared, readying to come to blows.
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Meanwhile, just past the deep thickets of the forest and farther towards the looming mountains of the first floor, a young girl with pastel pink hair and a matching set of determined eyes circled in tandem with her opponent--a single boar piglet. With their gazes locked, Calcifer's mouth curled up into a smirk. “You really think you're a match for me? Hmph!" She scoffed and her chest puffed full of confidence. “Stand in my way, young one, and I'm afraid you'll come to regret it." Calcifer taunted her enemy further, her basic straight sword held at the ready in her right hand. Their stand-off lasted a few seconds more, until Calcifer let out a wry chuckle. “So be it... Allow me to make this quick for you. Hyaa!" She rushed forward, slashing across and dealing a single point of damage to the little boar. It squealed out in pain, rearing back and continuing to cry long after Calcifer pulled back and readied for a second strike.
Puffing and gasping for air, Calcifer could be found a minute later scrambling through the forest, tripping over dense roots and scratching her arms and cheeks against prickly bushes. “I--I acknowledge my folly! I concede!!" She yelled and panted. Barreling through the foliage on her trail was a large and very angry mother boar, snorting and squealing with protective malice. “Please ma'am--! Surely we can-- come to an agreement?!" Calcifer's pleas most certainly feel on deaf, unyielding ears as the mother boar trampled. The splitting 'crack' of a pinecone splintering under the weight of her hoof caused the girl to let out a small squeak of fear.
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She kept just a bit of distance between herself and her old guild-mate, if only for the fact that she could feel her brow furrowed in frustration while she crouched down around the edge of bushes, the base of trees, and wading through the taller grass in search of some usable material item that was supposed to be out here. She caught a glimpse once of Adeux plucking an herb from the ground, then looked back to the area in front of her in disbelief. 'Am I doing something wrong?' She thought with a disheartened expression. Calcifer shook her head. No, it was going to take some time. She just had to be patient and keep trying.
There was a noticeable pause when he asked her about how she acquired the game, but then her response came very normally. "Yes, I bought it. It was horribly expensive." She stood up straight, still focusing on her task and facing towards the fields. Her head swiveled back and forth slowly, and she took a few moments to search while standing in place.
ID#: 156918 | LD: 2 - Fail
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"Wonderful!" She nodded, glancing to the side and watching as he retrieved an item from the ground. 'Ah, so that's how it's done? Hmmm...' She mused in her thoughts. Calcifer then shook her head in response, "Not quite... I've got my sword, but I've only just started looking for ways to help people. I haven't been presented with the need to put it to use." In so many words, she admitted that she'd only begun doing quests. "For the better, usually." She then played it off, though her words sounded rather sincere. "Only the foolish and destructive look for any opportunity to draw their weapons."
She took her hands off her hips and stopped looking out over the open fields to actually step into them, walking along and away from the city walls. She dropped her sight towards the grass in front of her, brows narrowed while she focused on looking for anything of interest. She began to wonder if the herbs and such that old man Zachariah wanted them to retrieve would really just be laying around on the floor waiting to be picked up. At least, she hadn't managed to spot any of them just yet.
ID#: 155184 | LD: 6 - Fail
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She played off of the smirk he offered and smiled widely. "Of course! Yet there's strength in numbers. I'm sure we'll make quick work of this task." She nodded confidently. She turned back to Zachariah and finished receiving the instructions for their task. Go fetch five herbs from the fields outside of the city, and bring them back to the old alchemist.
Calcifer once again walked with purpose as she strode through the city towards the Western Gate, this time with Adeux accompanying her. "So! How has the world of Aincrad been treating you?" She kicked off the small talk as they made it past the threshold. Calcifer breathed in the 'fresh' air as a breeze rolled by, sending ripples out across the grass. She had stopped and placed her hands on her hips, looking around at the vast landscape in front of them. There were boars lazily grazing in the distance, and wildflowers were scattered here and there. She had no idea where to begin, but taking in the scenery and surveying the area might just make a convincing enough excuse for inaction.
ID#: 153884 | LD: 10 - Fail
[PP-F2] <<Let There Be Light>> Burning Bright! A Hero's Resolve
in Beginner Floors
Posted
The little girl almost flinched at Ryo’s approach. But he wasn’t a big, screeching bat, or a giant spider, or an angry wolf. So she looked up at him with wide, scared eyes and her bottom lip quivered heavily before she could get any words out. Instead, her voice just sort of blubbered and she cried fresh tears at the prospect of being rescued. Koko reached out and grabbed at the sides of Ryo’s armor, throwing herself into his lap and wailing a bunch of incoherent thoughts and feelings. She would stay like that for as long as he would let her, small hands gripping tightly at whatever part of him she could hold onto.
Behind them, Calcifer sheathed her sword and took small steps to approach the both of them in the darkness. Despite the girl’s sobs, a wide smile broke out and stretched across her face. ”Nicely done, samurai Ryo.” She said, still keeping an effort to speak quietly. She flashed him a thumbs up and then gave a quick look around. It was as dark as ever, but the fact that she couldn’t spot any other pockets of light in the distance told her that heading back the way they came would be their best chance of escape. ”Now all we need to do is get back to the city. Simple!” She declared.
Calcifer’s way with children soon became clear: she had none. She stood by for a minute or two while Ryo initially dealt with the distraught Koko, exercising a modicum of patience. Eventually it became apparent that someone had to handle her and that Ryo did, in fact, need both of his hands free in order to fight off any other monsters that might be standing between them and Urbus. So, a subdued Koko ended up clutching onto Calcifer’s shoulders as she was carried piggyback through the foreboding cavern. At some point, Calcifer must have remembered what they were talking about earlier, because she piped up about it without much context. "I hope you understand that it's hardly honorable to accept such generosity without some kind of repayment." She was frowning. "A gift must have an occasion!" She exclaimed with vigor, "And because I am grateful for your advice and your recommendation, I'd like to propose an exchange." She put a small hop in one of her steps in order to shift Koko's weight on her back and awkwardly continue walking while leaning a bit to one side. This allowed her to regain use of one of her hands for a moment so that she could play with her menus until she could find her total col. What a silly way to keep track of your coins.
She looked at the number for a few seconds, mulling it over before she hefted the child back to her center and spoke up again. "Would 2,000 col suffice?"