Freyd

"What the hell are you talking about?!  No, it's not yogurt!"

"Shame.  That would have been more clever."  Freyd shoved his sword through the elf's gut with a frozen look of stunned confusion still on his face, snatching the precious missive from his hands before he even hit the ground.

It was encoded, naturally, but Freyd had a was with ciphers.  In time, he could crack it.  For the moment, he needed some distance from this place and the opportunity to rest.  The enemy had left its marks on him as well.  There was a blind nearby, which he had created himself in order to observe the dark elves' movements.  It would do, for now.  As the messenger's corpse dissolved, it left behind another token like the others he had found.  This one was made of pearlescent alabaster with a ruby tower motif inlaid and a sword of jet plunged through it: the Sundered Spire.

 

"Enough play," Freyd said, regaining his footing.  One mighty swing of Forgiven Disobedience cut down the remaining guard.  The blade shone with blazing white light as the chorus of angel song built to a climax, culminating in the explosive defeat of the dark elf messenger he had originally trailed to this location.  The outpost commander seize his opportunity to stab him in the back.  Freyd hissed through clenched teeth, fighting through the pain as he whirled and re-established his guard and stance.  His cowl had fallen back in the melee, revealing his features to his enemy.

"There's a lot more where that came from."  Despite being short three companions, the elf faced him with a zealot's devotion.  "You have no idea of the kind of hell we will unleash upon you."

"Does in involve yogurt?  That stuff wants to give me indigestion.  That's it, isn't it?  You guys have spent all of this time working on some sort of yogurt elemental."

 

All four of them struck at once.   Twisting flat in an impossible display of acrobatic prowess, Freyd lanced one of the guard through the crotch, ending him amidst an ear-splitting howl of unimaginable agony. Pivoting and pushing off from a single hand, he slid himself between two of this remaining opponents, one of them stabbing him in the arm for his trouble.  

His new armor was great for dodging, but when his opponents inevitably did find purchase, the pain was a good deal more pronounced that that to which he had become accustomed.  Freyd was already considering switching back to his other gear, provided he survived.  These dark elves were competent warriors.  With the numbers they had at their disposal, he feared what might happen if their assaults spread to other floors where players might be less capable or prepared.  His best chance towards ending them lay in the commander's hand.

 

"Thanks gang,  that was the queue I needed."  Freyd charged from his hiding place, kicking up a spray of moldy fungus and catching the two nearby guardsmen off balance.  Both suffered nasty gashes as they faltered in their defenses trying to block slime from landing all over them.  The messenger and commander were less easily duped and quickly rolled out of his reach.

"Take him down," yelled the captain.  "I want him alive, if possible."  He and the messenger moved to flank and encircle Freyd while the guards slowly recovered.  Their feints were easily parried or dodged, but his position was unenviable.  

"Finally learned not to leave your plans out in the open, did you?  It's far less convenient, but makes little difference to me."

"So you're the one who warned the players up on floor 22?  Good.  I'm going to enjoy gutting you when we're done."

"No, you're really not," Freyd replied, perfectly willing and able to trade barbs and taunts while the scene played out, both sides looking for openings.

 

A white-haired head was sent sailing through the gloomy cavern air a moment later.  

"I can't say that it's been entirely easy, but I've managed well enough so far."  Wasting no time, Freyd concealed himself within a tangle of fungal growths on the near side of the path the messenger had traveled on his way here.  The smell was rather pungent, but also guaranteed to help conceal his presence.  He'd just need to remember to wash it off later, to prevent it from giving him away.

The messenger, local outpost commander and two additional guards jumped down from over the fallen mushroom fragment only seconds later.  Already alerted, their weapons were bared as they searched for signs of battle.  Freyd's footprints blended in well with those of the elves who frequently traveled along these paths.

"Our guards are gone, Commander Greel.  I suggest that we regroup with the nearest main force as quickly as possible.  Users will hesitate to attack a larger force."

"Agreed, Caerphon."  He looked at the scrunched up roll of parchment in his hand and clenched it tighter still as his eyes burned with hatred.

 

Two of the dark elves were too close to the tent for their own good.  Probably the original pair of guards, they were crushed by the monstrous hunks of mushroom that slammed down precisely where they were standing.  The glitter and chime of dissolving digital foes rang out a moment later.  One of the two messenger escorts foolishly came in close and received a bash to the face from Forgiven Disobedience's solid cross guard for his trouble.  He staggered, catching face and dropping his sword, tripping and landing flat on his back where a quick follow up stab from Freyd finished him off.

Cries of consternation could be heard from the far side of the mushroom chunk.  The elves inside were stymied in their efforts to join the fray, but only for a few moments.  The last of the guards grinned widely, emboldened by the impending arrival of his allies.  

"Oh, you're in trouble now, FOOL!  No one messes with the Sundered Spire and lives." 

 

Pushing his initiative as far as he could, Freyd whirled his white blade in wide circles, battering the beleaguered dark elves and keeping them too off balance to offer any significant resistance.  One recovered more quickly than the rest and managed to drive his rapier deep into Freyd's should blade, receive a swift and vicious counter across his torso for his trouble.  

"Intruder!"   Freyd's attacks had failed to keep them occupied enough to prevent one of the guards from raising an alarm.  He wasn't overly surprised.  One person keeping up that much pressure on four was a tall order.  He just needed to finish them off before reinforcement arrived from inside that tent.  That gave him an idea.  Leaping and cutting along the exposed edge of the mushroom cap above, he sliced off a thick portion of it which landed to block the opening.  They'd cut through the tent instead, but it might give him a few precious seconds to finish off this group first.

 

Wandering into the shop with a half-dozen UI windows open, Freyd was busy muttering to himself while he reviewed the latest batch of supplies he required for his next self-appointed mission.  The top of a dark hood was all that could truly be seen behind all of the open windows, bobbing up and down as his eyes scanned every checklist.  

"Very convenient of you to be located so close to the guild hall," he mumbled without making eye contact.  "I'm going to need these items."  All of his windows closed at once, revealing a dark specter-like figure wreathed in roiling black shadows from head to toe, with only the solid black void beneath its cowl confirming that someone, or something, exceeded inside the tenebrous cloud.  He gingerly laid a scrap of graph paper on the counter outlining his needs:

(x5) Blanks T3 dungeon map (@550 col = 2,750)
(x5) Golden keys (+2 LD when opening chests) (@1,250 col = 6,250)
(x3 Water Canisters (@650 col = 1,950)
(x5) Immolation +1 potions (Thorns 20) (@850 col = 4,250)
(x1) Dimensional Backpack (@5250 col)

Total: 20,450 col

Tilting his head, one could only imagine a narrowing of eyes beneath his hood.  "Ah!  So you're the Simmone I keep hearing about.  Thought I might as well buy these from another merchant in Firm Anima.  Call me Freyd."

He'd been tailing one of the local patrols for hours.  Their true purpose was the collection and distribution of communiques, presumably from some source of authority.  Their dispatches were kept in the same inter-dimensional storage space as players used - or Elsewhere, as Freyd like to call it - until summoned to give to their contacts.  He'd already watched two exchanges to ensure that the pattern held true.  Two bodyguards accompanied the messenger at all times, and didn't look like the usual brand of slouches.  

There were just approaching another checkpoint.  Two wiry, white-haired dark elves stood at attention outside of the command tent.  A quick flash of credentials and exchange of code phrases was enough for the messenger to enter.  That left four outside for him.  All the better to play with.  Their command post was located beneath the cap of one of the gigantic mushrooms that grew on this floor.  Freyd recalled his last visit to this floor and fighting atop one of them.  Making his way around and climbing up its slippery sides, he positioned himself and took a deep breath.  Sliding down the near face, he landed in the midst of all four guards, slicing and slashing as they were completely caught off guard.

 

Item #1

Name: Artemis Cloak
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165695, 165696, 165697
Roll Result: LD 4, 2, 13 (No Unique)
Item Type: Light Armor
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: REC 2, EVA 1
Description:  Favoured by hunters, this extremely light, tightly woven green wool cloak blends perfectly into its surroundings.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19924-sp-f21-natures-treasure-the-sentient-mob-conundrum/?do=findComment&comment=618786
[162076a]

Item #2

Name: Valiant’s Regalia
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165698, 165699, 165700
Roll Result: LD 2, 6*, 11 (*Unique on 165699)
Item Type: Light Armor
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: REG 1, EVA 1, Bloodclot
Description:  A suit of tight-fitting leather armor that enables the wearer to slip casually through enemy ranks, convenient keeping your innards intact as others seek to expose them.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19924-sp-f21-natures-treasure-the-sentient-mob-conundrum/?do=findComment&comment=618765
[162038a]

Item #3

Name: Wooden Training Sword
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165647, 165648
Roll Result: LD 1, 16 (No Unique)
Item Type: Weapon (2HSS)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Keen 1, Acc 1
Description:  Provided to new recruits to the front lines.  Effective enough to hurt the enemy without them hurting themselves (or their fellows) in the process.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19856-sp-f22-event-dont-be-koi/?do=findComment&comment=617531
[160050]

Item #4

Name: Shock Trooper Shard
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165649, 165650
Roll Result: LD 2, 6 (No Unique)
Item Type: Weapon (2HSS)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Keen 2
Description:  A blue crystalline blade of surprising durability whose sharpness increases with use.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19856-sp-f22-event-dont-be-koi/?do=findComment&comment=617531
[160051]

Item #5

Name: Grave in Justice
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165651, 165652
Roll Result: LD 18*, 17 (*Unique on 165651)
Item Type: Weapon (2HSS)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: ACC 1, Abs.ACC 
Description:  A gleaming steel blade with a brass cross-guard decorated as a set of weighted scales, the grip is wrapped in plain white cloth, and the heavy brass pommel is engraved with the image of a closed eye. It defies all law in the pursuit of righteous action.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19924-sp-f21-natures-treasure-the-sentient-mob-conundrum/?do=findComment&comment=618795
[162099b]

Item #6

Name: Executioner’s Blade
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165653, 165654
Roll Result: LD 12, 3 (No Unique)
Item Type: Weapon (2HSS)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Keen 1, Bleed 1
Description:  A broad and heavy blade without a pointed tip, used primarily for dirty deeds.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19924-sp-f21-natures-treasure-the-sentient-mob-conundrum/?do=findComment&comment=618786
[162079a]

Item #7

Name: Grand Colichemarde
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165655, 165656
Roll Result: LD 9, 7 (No Unique)
Item Type: Weapon (2HSS)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Bleed 2
Description:  A three-sided blade poorly suited to the more common fighting styles of most greatsword fighter, but absolutely brutal in its ability to puncture.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19924-sp-f21-natures-treasure-the-sentient-mob-conundrum/?do=findComment&comment=618773
[162057a]

Item #8

Name: Specialist’s Surcoat
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165657, 165658, 165659
Roll Result: LD 11, 2, 12 (No Unique)
Item Type: Trinket
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Keen 1, LD 2
Description:  Valued by treasure hunters and scouts on the cutting edge, this khaki-coloured harness is equipped with innumerable pockets in which tools and finds alike can be carried or concealed.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19856-sp-f22-event-dont-be-koi/?do=findComment&comment=617165
[159463]

Item #9

Name: Missed Opportunity
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165660, 165661, 165662
Roll Result: LD 12, 19, 6 (No Unique)
Item Type: Trinket
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: REC 1, LD 1, ACC 1
Description:  A small aluminum bracelet said to provide good luck in all things.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19856-sp-f22-event-dont-be-koi/?do=findComment&comment=617503
[160001]

Item #10

Name: Missed Opportunity
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165663, 165664, 165665
Roll Result: LD 20, 14, 6 (No Unique)
Item Type: Trinket
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: REC 1, LD 1, ACC 1
Description:  A small aluminum bracelet said to provide good luck in all things.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19924-sp-f21-natures-treasure-the-sentient-mob-conundrum/?do=findComment&comment=618807
[162122a]

Item #11

Name: Unrelenting Ring
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165666, 165667, 165668
Roll Result: LD 7, 13, 14 (No Unique)
Item Type: Trinket
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: REC 1, LD 2
Description:  A wide platinum band engraved on the inner face with the date on which Akihiko Kayaba sprung his trap.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19924-sp-f21-natures-treasure-the-sentient-mob-conundrum/?do=findComment&comment=618765
[162038b]

Item #12

Name: Red Velvet Meringue
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165669
Roll Result: LD 13 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Snack)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements:  EVA 2
Description:  A super-rich, chocolatey treat that spreads warmth and comfort within anyone who eats it, taking them to their emotional happy place and rendering them untouchable to lesser slights.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19972-f22-ppthe-way-of-life-training-your-friend/?do=findComment&comment=620155
[164622a] (ID for Samantha)

Item #13

Name: Max Level Courage
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165670
Roll Result: LD 20 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Meal)
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: OH 3
Description:  A fine bread pudding infused with an unknown beverage of the single malt variety.  Makes one person feel like they could take on a thousand.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620575
[165424a]

Item #14

Name: Jackpot Pretzel
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165671
Roll Result: LD 5 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Snack)
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: LD 3
Description:  A gigantic super-salty pretzel.  Guaranteed a win if you can finish the whole thing.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620575
[165424b]

Item #15

Name: Jackpot Pretzel
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165672
Roll Result: LD 4 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable ()
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: LD 3
Description:  A gigantic super-salty pretzel.  Guaranteed a win if you can finish the whole thing.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620578
[165437b]

Item #16

Name: Cotton Candy Puff
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165673
Roll Result: LD 12 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Snack)
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: ACC 2
Description:  An assortment of marble-sized balls of cotton candy of myriad colours and flavours.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620591
[165465a]

Item #17

Name: Assortment of Fuzzy-Looking Meatballs
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165674
Roll Result: LD 19 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Meal)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Protein 2
Description:  A package of oddly coloured meatball, each infused with different and unusual flavours.  
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620560
[165367a]

Item #18

Name: Scroogey Snacks
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165675
Roll Result: LD 4 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Snack)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Prosperity 2
Description:  Small tasty treats that resemble dog biscuits at first glance, but are shaped like a duck’s head with a top hat.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620567
[165414a]

Item #19

Name: Distilled Zombie Drool
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165686
Roll Result: LD 17 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Salve)
Tier: T3
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancements: HP Recovery 1
Description:  Who would have thought it possible, but the stuff actually works, or at least motivates you to get up and go to find a better cure.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620583
[165449b]

Item #20

Name: Jar of Reaper Peppers
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165677
Roll Result: LD 8 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Meal)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: MIT 2
Description:  Anyone crazy enough to down an entire jar of these things has just proven that most things cannot hurt them.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620585
[165453b]

Item #21

Name: Assortment of Fuzzy-Looking Meatballs
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165678
Roll Result: LD 20 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Meal)
Tier: T3
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Protein 2
Description:  A package of oddly coloured meatball, each infused with different and unusual flavours.  
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620585
[165453c]

Item #22

Name: Lesser-Duper Anti-Snake Sauce
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165679
Roll Result: LD 1 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Salve)
Tier: T3
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancements: Antidote 1
Description:  A small container of sickly green goo that actually does most of what it advertises, but also makes you gassy.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620560
[165368b]

Item #23

Name: Pixie Sticks
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165680
Roll Result: LD 12 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable ()
Tier: T3
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancements: ACC 1
Description:  Made from real pixie limbs, these delectable chocolate-covered treats keep you right on point.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620560
[165368b]

[Duplicate item.  Delete and reduce total ID costs by 480 col, refunded]

Item #24

Name: Really, REALLY burnt bacon
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165681
Roll Result: LD 7 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Meal)
Tier: T3
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancements: MIT 1
Description:  Badly burnt and charred bits of bacon that make you so mad that you just can’t feel anything.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620560
[165369b]

Item #25

Name: Optimist’s Charm
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165687, 165688, 165689
Roll Result: LD 2, 13, 4 (No Unique)
Item Type: Trinket
Tier: T3
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Keen 2, LD 1
Description:  A small pair of linked golden dice on a silver chain, often claimed to have belonged to someone else before the current owner.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620575
[165427a]

Item #26

Name: Lesser-Duper Anti-Snake Sauce
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165683 
Roll Result: LD 2 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Salve)
Tier: T3
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancements: Antidote 1
Description:  A small container of sickly green goo that actually does most of what it advertises, but also makes you gassy.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620583
[165448b]

Item #27

Name: Distilled Zombie Drool
Your Profession:  Merchant
Your Rank: Rank 4
Roll ID: 165684 
Roll Result: LD 15 (No Unique)
Item Type: Consumable (Salve)
Tier: T3
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancements: HP Recovery 1
Description:  Who would have thought it possible, but the stuff actually works, or at least motivates you to get up and go to find a better cure.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19985-sp-f21/?do=findComment&comment=620578
[165438b]

Notes: 

Rank 4 Merchant (Base: BD 10, CD 9+ for unique, 8 identifications per day)
+1 to CD from Hermes’ Scale
+2 EXP: Hard Working (also +1 crafting attempt per day)
+2 EXP: Lucrative (Firm Anima)
+1 EXP: Custom Ambition Tool (bought from own shop 2020-07-16)
+1 EXP from Ambition (148177-2) 
Crafting Respite [161585-2] [161938]

Costs:

Total Cost to Identify:  31,680  col
 

"We need spaces for the renewal of our souls," Freyd responded, sounding like he was quoting someone.  His father used to say that, not that he had ever thought to provide one for his own son.  The man talked a good abstract game, but was so lost in the clouds that he couldn't see what was right in front of him.  Everything here was as it was made to be, plain and simple.  But, when combined in a particular arrangement, it created so much more.  There was mystery and delight in the air.  Sounds traveled from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.  Light was so diffuse that there were no shadows here - no placed for Freyd to hide from himself, though the entire 'farm' was well suited to hiding from others. 

"I'm  glad that you found your way here."  He looked up and around at the ever-swirling mists and simultaneously suppressed and elated, then nodded to himself as if in acknowledgement.  "Something tells me that you need this place as much as I do, sometimes."  He offered a faint, if saddened smile as he turned to look at her.

"These," he pointed at the assortment of tokens on the ground next to his leg, "have been found on many different floors of Aincrad, and are the emblem of something called the Sundered Spire.  It appears to be a collection of vengeful semi-self-aware mobs united under a common cause: to punish the players who keep killing them."

The amassed forces of the Sundered Spire had spilled forth on floor 22 and been repelled.  Their defeat only exposed the depths of their resources and resolve.  They were far from gone.  Returning to the dark caverns of floor 21, Freyd had set himself to the task of finding and disrupting their chain of command.  Something or someone was at the heart of this conspiracy and needed to be rooted out.  Cardinal was the prime and most obvious suspect, but there could be other equally nefarious possibilities.  He had to know, and to stop them.

Winding his way through clusters of green and purple phosphorescent moss, Freyd retraced the supply lines of the enemy's shattered vanguard.  More of their forces were swarming throughout this floor and would likely follow up with a fresh assault, unless they could be disrupted.  While some players excelled at this sort of thing, many were better suited to straight up hero-fights.  This mission required the sneakier-type to get behind enemy lines and cause a little mayhem.  

Watching a column of heavily armored dark elves with bloodstained weapons march by his latest hideout provided an effective reminder of the price of failure.  Perhaps the blood was nothing more than a bit of excessive decor from an overzealous game designer.  Regardless, it made its point.

Freyd consumes:

Yue’s Grace (4/5)
Titan’s Strength (DMG 3) [160241]
Cinnamon Rounded Stick (Prosperity 3) [148922-1]
Lemon Berry Palmiers (LD 3) [157814] (filling +1)
Lavender Lemon Bar (EVA 2) [158145-1]
Well-Done Steak (Protein 2) [158158-1] 
Artisan Carrot Cake (ACC 2) [146796]
Immolation +1 (Thorns 20) (1/5 used)
http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19650-f22-the-black-odyssey-r1r5maxmerchants/?do=findComment&comment=620557
Water Canister (1/9 used) 
http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19650-f22-the-black-odyssey-r1r5maxmerchants/?do=findComment&comment=620557
 

 

They headed west, following vague warnings of further Sundered Spire activity from an information broker Freyd had dealt with in the past.  In shady business, one cannot afford to be overly choosy about the options and opportunities provided.  Sometimes, you relied on a hunch, or a rumour, or just played the odds.  This felt like one of those times.  The timing of the man's notice was simply too perfect to be coincidental, and he had no way of knowing how widespread this faction's tendrils might reach.  It definitely spread across floors, which already made it noteworthy.

"Your gear,"  Freyd started as they tromped through the ash-covered geyser fields of the hellish volcano floor.  "Considering its quality and the moves you pulled back there, I'm guessing that you're not exactly a run of the mill stray.  So what's your story, Oscar?  How does someone with your talents end up wandering down here?"

Freyd was very much aware that he knew nothing of this man, and that his capabilities made him a potential threat - one he could not likely overcome, if it came to that.  If any intrigue was at play here, he had to find out through other means.  He'd been given no reason to doubt him, but that was exactly what he would expect a potential fifth column agent to do.  It's what he would do, in their place.

@Oscar

Freyd uses Yue's Grace

 

Freyd grinned wryly, knowing full well that reality was the other way around.  It was still a classy move, which seemed to be Oscar's way, and he was cool with that.

"Thanks.  You fight well too - especially with that."  He pointed at Tyrant's Wrath, but his eyes were watching the dissolving forms of the crystalline  behemoths and the strange gatekeeper creatures that had spawn from them.  No more tokens appeared, but their dissolving digital fragments flared with an unusual crackle of red energy, as if bits of erratic code were somehow laced into their matrix.  He wasn't much of a coder, but Freyd knew enough to recognize the oddity of it.

A UI window appeared at his side, clearly labeled as important.  Freyd scanned and quickly closed it.

"More reports of activity have come in from the west."  His gloved right hand raised to stroke his chin as he pondered the information broker's message.  The timing was a little suspect, but he'd received reliable intel from this one in the past.

"I'm going to go check it out before heading up to 21.  Had enough heat, or should we scuff those fancy shoes just a little more first?"

***

Reward Summary:

Oscar and Freyd each receive:

4 SP (1 page, +2 quest, +1 event)

350 col 

 

 

Moving around behind him, Elora could see that he was working on an image of a stocky crystalline humanoid.  Various symbols surrounded it, all variations on a theme: a blood red tower with a black sword laid over it.  The tower itself seemed reminiscent of Aincrad's profile, and the sword was depicted with its blade aimed downward, as if shattering the tower through its core.  Freyd had a small collection of tokens laid out in a patch of long grass, each one bearing a variation on this symbol.  One had a tower of shimmering flame on a smooth onyx stone with an embossed portion for the blade.  Another was set into sandstone and seemed to be stained with blood.  He had at least half a dozen different types.

"Hey."  

His voice was barely a whisper, but it was the first and only sign of his acknowledgement to her presence.   Finishing his sketch by adding a deep black shadow through the thing's core, he shut the book and started collecting the scattered tokens.  Pausing, mid-grab, he blinked and looked up at Elora.

"Hey," he repeated, with a bit more life and awareness.  "Sorry, I come here to focus, and guess I got lost in my thoughts."  He smiled, weakly.  Something had definitely snared his attention, and seemed to have him worried.

"Nope, just did Guardians of Fire the other day, but haven't quite worked my way up to some of the tougher content yet."  Taking advantage of the limited mobility of the creature biting Oscar, Freyd spun into a whirling maelstrom of death, cutting repeatedly into the thing's bulky body.  Fractures of white light, like celestial rage, built up inside it until it shattered into a thousand individual shards.

The other gatekeeper charged, trying to pin him against the black basalt rock face.  The rocks smashed its faces instead as Freyd's illusory double vanished into the ash and wind.  He reappeared above it, carving downward with his weight driving his momentum and splitting its flank wide open.  The beast roared, turning its back to Oscar as it chased after Freyd's constantly-changing shadows - exactly as planned.  Darting between the narrow chasms of the gorge, he gave ground as he needed to only to keep it advancing and distracted, setting up a perfectly clear shot at its back.

Freyd activates Disguise.

 

Instinct kicked in immediately.  Oscar felt the barest brush of cloth against his suit as Freyd ran past him in a low crouch, deliberately limiting his profile and exposure.  He had no idea what these things were, and it wasn't likely to matter if they managed to start gnawing on any of his favorite body parts.  They were fast, too, as he soon discovered.  His first slice was too ambitious, hoping to catch at least two heads on the beast to Oscar's left.  Landing horizontally on the cliff-face behind it, Freyd rolled and leapt, using his momentum to bolster the force and speed behind his strike at the second target.  It howled and recoiled as the white, holy steel sliced through the area at the base of its necks, where they met the bulk of its torso.  It was lost in agony, granting he and Oscar temporary reprieve from any immediate attack.  Skidding to a stop in a wide stance next to Oscar, his sword trailed a shower of brilliant white sparks as he dragged it across the stony ground to slow himself and recover.

"They're quick!  Any idea what they are?"

 

 

Crossing his arms and leaning back against the black basalt walls of the gorge, Freyd gestured with an open hand as if to suggest that Oscar should feel free to proceed and find out.  No immediate response was provided to his companion's query.  Could Oscar's weapon shatter it, even if it was?  Wouldn't that be an interesting development?  He didn't believe that the constructs were anything so resilient, though he agreed that they should be destroyed.

Forgiven Disobedience remained at the ready, its bright white blade standing in stark contrast to their surroundings.  Freyd's form practically faded into the background, making it appear as if his sword was floating in mid air, hilt up and waiting in silent vigil for its purpose to awaken.

For his part, he wanted to see what Oscar's new toy could do.  Always gathering data, this seemed to carry high potential for a priority notice tag in his files.  Despite his dislike for the heat, and odd dressing habits, Oscar seemed like a cool customer with keen insights.  In other words, he was someone worth learning more about.  A rare few had been encountered in his travels so far, and Freyd never passed up an opportunity to pick up anything that might benefit his goals or advancement.  It wasn't ego.  Freyd barely had one.  This was about practicality: discerning and understanding - two skills that would eventually prove key to unlocking this infernal box and enabling their escape.

"Shall we see?"

The 'slime farm' looked like a cross between an overgrown rice paddy and well-tended marsh, if there was such a thing.  There was very little to distinguish it from the rest of the monastery grounds, save that it occupied a natural bowl in a low-lying open area.  The fog gathered here perpetually, giving it an added air of mystery.  Chalk-white stones of various size littered the grassy floor, which felt spongy while walking upon it.  

"Yo!" Quip called.  "Freyd-y-cat!  Where ya at, so we can sass you some, eh? Yer girly-friend's come calling!"  The woman clearly enjoyed taunting, well, everybody really, but Freyd especially.

A narrow flagstone path briefly emerged from the mists, leading down to the very bottom.  Small rivulets of water trickled down its walls from what was now visible as someone's imitation of a zen garden surrounding the central depression like some kind of inverted moat.  Cherry trees in full bloom lined the path and stair, their blossoms drooping in the moisture-laden air.  Several moss-covered wooden posts lined the way, like silent sentinels on some kind of special procession.  Some were higher than the rest and adorned with cast iron lanterns, rusted with age and unlit.

At the bottom of the incline, the steps disappeared into a pool of water roughly sixty feet in diameter.  Decorative stone pillars of varying styles, sizes and materials jutted up from the water at odd angles, like some sort of architectural graveyard.  A lone weeping birch clung to a small rise in the centre of the shallow pool.  At its base, in a thick and spongy field of long, moist grasses, sat Freyd.  His back was propped up against the tree trunk while he scribbled intently on some very damp cloth or paper, his eyes darting to and fro across his canvas with his particular brand of focused intensity.  He didn't see or hear Elora approach, which was telling in and of itself.

 

By the time they reached the quarry, their wagon was covered in a heavy dusting of ash, like a thick, insulating blanket of charcoal-coloured snow.  Freyd's suppositions have moved internally after several hours.  Persi was undetectable beneath the dark blanket.  Freyd had just started wondering how anyone could navigate around the floor with all of the falling ash when it finally stopped, only to be replaced by heavy gusting winds that blew it all back up into the sky.  The cycle began anew.  

Disembarking, Freyd braced himself against the harsh blowing waves that washed over him on their way back up into the skies.

"They call it the dragon's breath for a reason, stranger."  A hardy and stocky-looking man approached him.  He wore a heavy orange leather duster and hat with a black vest and trousers that made Freyd think of some sort of steampunk miner.   "You must be here about my post regarding our bandit problem," he began.  

"Yes," Freyd replied, lying.  "You must be the foreman.  Why don't you give me the details?"

Thread Rewards:

5 SP (1 page + 1 event bonus + 3 quest bonus)

400 col

Cloak of the Sands (T1 Mit 2, Thorns 1)

2x T1 materials

 

Reviewing the few details at his disposal, Freyd wondered what he could possibly have stumbled into this time.  His natural predilection - some called it paranoia - for seeing plots and conspiracies at every turn was already firing on all cylinders and spewing forth alternative theories to explain the oddly credible incredible plot. 

"Why do paradoxes seem so keen on finding me, then following me around and dragging me into their orbit?"  The question may have been directed at Persi, who was sprawled on the seat beside him, soaking in the abundant heat.  She twitched one of her paws playfully, possibly as a result of some pleasant dream that enabled her to ignore his inane and ranting speculations.  It had become their routine and worked for both of them, in their respective ways.  She rolled over to face away from him, which he naturally took as some form of acknowledgement and authorization to proceed.

Ash-choked and furnished as if by Hell's interior decorator, Freyd momentarily admired the squat obsidian buildings of the small settlement before realizing its precarious position.  Perched on a narrow ledge at the base of Mount Kazan and protected by a low barrier of the very same substance that still threatened its survival, Yogan Village was far from the most secure compound he had ever seen.  His dark leathers quickly concealed him in the many drab and dingy shadow-laden corners available around the square.  Concocting a fiction about securing a source of raw materials for Firm Anima's endless crafting needs, he bought a small wagon and supplies, including some sort of reptilian beast of burden that seemed quite comfortable in the heat.  Still cloaked beneath his cowl, he slowly exited the town in the direction of the quarry and quest that offered possible leads to this bizarre mystery.

Many unfriendly eyes were watching, but he could discern no particular or greater mischief from among them.  He could only hope that he'd lost his mysterious pursuers.

"Asmura," Freyd repeated, his voice neutral and almost distant, as if querying some kind of mental database.  "I know you.  Firm Anima, right?  We're in the same guild.  I've heard Vie and Kiluia mention your name."  He motioned to the barista for a cup of himself, then extended an offer for her to place an order for herself.  "Fellow guild members get their first meal here for free, my treat, but for today only."  

Despite the intimidating appearance of his shadowy armor and cowl, there was something disarming about his simple features and manner.  There was a disarming calmness to his voice that countered his considerably more lethal appearance.    Freyd had recently been made captain of the Operations and Intelligence division of the guild, though few people seemed able to explain what that actually meant.  The contrast before her made for an interesting mix.

"Are you here for Gatsly's quest," he asked while she pondered her options.  She hadn't chosen a division yet, if the latest rumours were true.  This would be a good opportunity to gauge her abilities.  "I can tag along, if you don't mind the company."

Quip's eyes narrowed suspiciously, immediately assumed a protective, matronly demeanor.  "Whatcha want with one of those blasted things?  Mischievous menaces, that's all they are!"  She shook her substantial fist at the dark corners of the nearest awning, as if Persi might be hiding there.  She actually could be, but the telltale blue eyes were conspicuously absent.  Quip had likely become a bit paranoid, or perhaps was always that way.  It would explain her odd connection to the even stranger Freyd.

"Oh, he's over by the mega-slime farm,"  she replied, jerking her thumb over her shoulder towards what might have once been the ruined monastery's vegetable gardens.  Freyd's ramshackle shack aside, the surrounding limestone ruins were a marvel of gothic-like architecture with slightly alien influences meant to reference the unique character of the fallen culture that once inhabited this post-apocalyptic level.  Soaring white limestone arches and cross-vaults still reached high towards the heavens as a testament to an ancient lost glory.  It made you feel small, yet somehow part of a much bigger universe all at the same time.  

"Come on," Dingo said, dusting himself off and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, suddenly regretting his chosen sequence of actions.  "The fog never really goes away, and you really don't want to step in the wrong spot."  A large, pearly smile spread across his face, ignoring the scowl on his older sister's face.

 

From the shadows beneath the bar, a pair of strange, horizontally-slotted eyes the colour of a clear cerulean sky opened lazily and stared at Asmura with amused demeanor.  They tilted slightly, as one might expect to see from a confused puppy, and then started gliding silently across the floor in her direction.  It was particularly odd to see an amorphous field of shadow emerge from those beneath the bar.  This thing wasn't hiding in the shadows.  It WAS shadow, albeit without the sinister malevolence that usually accompanied such creatures.  A foursome of paw-like appendages and tiny ear-like buds were vaguely visible, as if it had a preference for form without actually being tied to it.  The void-thing closed to within a hand's length of her and sniffed in her direction, as if assessing her character by smell alone.

"What have you found, Persi?"  The voice was cold, but not harsh, and came from just outside of Asmura's peripheral vision.  The man was there, himself wreathed in roiling shadow, save a hollow beneath his cowl.  He reached up and lowered the covering, exposing a tussled tangle of plain brown hair and largely unassuming facial features.  Only the brownish eyes tinged with a slight tone of red carried any hint of distinction, and even they looked wide and naively innocent.

"I don't imagine that you'll get much service down here," Freyd suggested, smiling slightly.  His eyes motioned towards the table above them, implying that they should carry on their conversation above.