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Posts posted by Freyd
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"You called me, Sam. Seems like poor cricket to knock an arrow towards my face." Stepping out of the shadows, the Whisper kept his hands at his sides, in plain sight. She was wise to be careful. Appearances could too easily be altered in this world, and one poor choice could quickly cascade into calamity.
"Freyd. You know. Your friendly neighbourhood PK exterminator?" Leap taken, but nobody ever asked about that damnable book unless the subject of player killers was involved. "What's all this about? Your message made it sound urgent." Swiping a gauntlet over the darkness in his wake, whatever doorway lay there closed as silently as it had opened. Seeing the room in its current state did little to assuage his concerns. The rest of O&I had picked up the slack in the aftermath of her breakup with Katoka, willingly sharing the added burden while she took time for herself. No grudges. Everyone understood, at least to the extent that they could understand her circumstances. Sam had always been a very private person.
Realizing that the timing of her request had put him on edge, likely without cause, Freyd forced himself to relax and let the edge in his voice fade. "Sam. You've been AFK for a bit. Why don't we start with where you're at and how you're doing. The last time I saw you, with Lium, you ran off into the woods raving like a... well, you know what you sounded like. He's been worried. I have been too. Fill me in, please."
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Reference to the Sundered Spire gave him pause, clearly prompting the analytical engine perched upon his shoulders to ponder the possibility. An eyebrow raised at the prospect of connection, but promptly fell again.
“Not sure it matches quite right. And that crimson plague was put down when Firm Anima hunted down Lun’Rael and buried her for good. Though… Katoka did find worrying traces recently.” A shaggy shake broke the imagined tether before it could sink hooks into his imagination. “No… I don’t think it adds up… though I’m genuinely surprised that you remember.”
“You should know me by now, Freyd. I usually am alone.”
She’d catch the faint hint of a smirk clutching at the edge of his lips, partly sympathetic, yet also hopeful.
“A lot has happened. Maybe that could change too. You have a place in Firm Anima, not that I’d ever try to tempt you away from the Ladder. More importantly, you still have plenty of people who care about you. Baldur, Macradon, Raidou… me, to name a few.”
Solemn as she admitted her own intentions to remain in this world, he honestly couldn’t recall whether they’d shared this conversation before. It was one reserved for… rare and special others dearest to him. So… possibly? Refusing to don the same grey cloak he’d offered earlier, Freyd elected to cover up with only his quickly wrung cowl. Better to maintain access to his katana in case the worse came to pass. This cursed floor cautioned nothing less.
“I hold that same sentiment. We should…talk more in the carriage.”
From the threshold of the ruined bar, it felt as though he might be looking at her through the ribbons of a broken kaleidoscope lens, slowly reshaping his mind’s eye image of the mysterious woman. In the shattering: a certain inexplicable kinship. Despite their differences, the two of them shared the tapped vein that ran so deep beneath the consciousness of all souls in Aincrad. Blue eyes twinkling like beacons beneath the true symbol veiling him from the world at large, he watched her climb without complaint, for once, and smiled before walking into the downpour.
“I know something similar happened to Alkor, but only by second and third hand accounts. The specifics predate my active time beyond the Town of Beginnings. I wouldn’t mind hearing more, if it wouldn’t be a burden. Honestly, the worst part - other than losing my familiar - was what I thought it would do to…erm.. Elora.” He’d never hoped his beard could hide his cheeks more than in that moment, even as his heart fluttered at the mention of her name, which he did his best to attribute to their lurching ride. How was he speaking all of this so freely? Him? The very essence of secrets and lies, as Mari had rightfully called out.
“I never planned to leave this world, only intending to pave the way to the exit for others. But, now, I might have a reason to reconsider.”
Even beneath the pallid oppression of the floor's miasmic storms, nothing could dim his spirit in that moment, no raindrop ruin the treasure in his heart or dampen the joy fighting for purchase on his stoic face. Groaning in his failed efforts, Freyd was forced to agree with her earlier comment.
"I could also really use that drink. Does this thing go any faster?"
***
Vanity Tag: @Elora
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Sympathizing with Wulfrin's sheer lack of luck, Freyd would share some fortune if he could. The tides would turn eventually, and give them all a turn at such foul moments. The best he could offer, in their current predicament, as to help finish off their foes as swiftly as possible to grant them all a much needed reprieve. Neither portion of slime still lingering would make it easy, wobbling at such high frequencies that they bounced off the dreary sewer walls like overexcited particles on the verge of nuclear fission. Not an enticing prospect.
Slamming both, Freyd did his best to corral them towards the flaming pyre of doom that was Eruda. Ghostly effigies of other post-combustion king fragments seared into the surrounding brickwork in an artistic testament to the woman's resilient and force of will.
"Push them towards the flame. We've almost got this!"
Clearing ground around him would allow the others to fill in gaps and corner their foes, ending what always seemed to become an inevitable slog when it came to this boss.
***
SpoilerFreyd regains +4 EN
Freyd regains +3 EN from Hyperactive
CD 1 (No REC proc) ID #244272Post Action | AoE-II (x18, 15 EN, +2 shift, +2/hit): 21 EN - (Stamina) = 19 EN.
Free Action | NoneID #244270 | BD: 4+7-4=7 (hit). DMG (18*31=558-50=508) to Slime King #6| CD 11 | ST-B UNLOCKED
ID #244271 | BD: 5+7-4=1 (hit). DMG (18*31=558-50=508) to Slime King #7Players:
Wulfrin | HP: 679/679 | EN: 61/89 | DMG: 26(+3) | MIT:66 | ACC:5 | EVA:4 | BH:14 | REC: 3 | BLD: 36 | LD:2
Eruda | HP: 1079/1081 | EN: 89/106 | DMG: 8(+4) | MIT:244 | ACC:3 | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | BRN-IM | FL.AURA: 16 | FL.THORNS: 8/16 | THORNS:72 | BH:59 | REC: 8 | BRN: 56 | LD:4
Morningstar | HP: 874/874 | EN: 59/114 | DMG: 28(+4) | MIT: 20 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PARA-V
Freyd | HP: 1357/1357 | EN: 40/156 (52+4+3-19) | DMG: 27(+4) | MIT: 40 | EVA: 4 (-1) | ACC: 7 | BH: 64 | LD: 6 | PROSP 3 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 32/3 | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | V.D.: 149 | DOTE 3/3 | PROB 36 | TRLBLD | HYPER [3/3]
Shiina | HP: 1012/1012 | EN: 110/120 | DMG: 1(+4) | MIT:251 | ACC:0 | EVA:3 | FL.AURA: 16 | FR.AURA: 16 | THORNS:112 | BH:32 | HB: 42 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8
Raidou | HP: 1196/1196 | EN: 103/142 | DMG: 11(+4) | MIT:177 | ACC:4 | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA:7 | BH:66 | VAMP-D: 132 | VAMP-O: 197 | REC: 8 | BLI: 32/-20 | LD:6 | JUST/VENGEFULBoss:
[0,6,0,2,0,5] Slime King #6 | HP: 319/1250 (827-508) | DMG: 220 | MIT: 50 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | PARA-IM | FRZ-IM | GRAP-IM | LULL-IM | HYPN-IM | VAMP-D[Final]: 100 | [BRN: 112/1]
[0,6,0,2,0,1] Slime King #7 | HP: 468/1250 (976-508) | DMG: 220 | MIT: 50 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | PARA-IM | FRZ-IM | GRAP-IM | LULL-IM | HYPN-IM | VAMP-D[Final]: 100 | [BRN: 112/1] | Fl. Thorns [16/1] -
No lashing out. No bitter bile spewed or accusations.
“Is…does this event seem a little…off to you too?”
In more ways than one.
“The letters and words seem a little jumbled. Everything here is.” Epiphany strikes. “That’s why you’re here.”
“Moth to the flame. Guilty as charged." Hefting himself onto the remnants of a stool, he glanced at the parchment without gleaning much. "This whole floor is completely off its rocker. Nothing here makes much sense, which seems to be this place’s particular meta-puzzle. When we fought the last raid boss, the mob had been twisted grotesquely, driven mad by something I can only guess oozed its way down from this floor.”
Looking around the room and into the shattered world beyond justifiably echoed his observations.
“We’ve seen even stranger mobs recently. Huge silvery humanoids with glass-like skin that can infect other mobs and convert them into versions of themselves. They’re called spectral knights and seem to be multiplying, converging on the portal in Ilridge. Even familiars are not immune.” A glance spared for her floating fish, though there was no evidence of sly Persi who’d so long been his companion. "Don't go near them alone." Something in his tone warned of personal experience in the worst sense.
“What you did…” His breath held, unconsciously, back stiffening as if preparing for the inevitably pummeling that never came. “I meant what I said. I’d rather like you again.”
Gently smiling as he exhaled made him look so different than she remembered, like a well of depth had been added to a previously cold, calculating veneer.
“I’d like that too. Sounds like an occasion needing a toast,” chuckle factor sprinkled on in a vain attempt to lighten the mood. “And I think I’d very much like that too.” Whether he meant liking her or himself felt open to debate. "You can tell me what the hell happened to you. Whatever it was seems to have changed you too."
Then she caught on the casually passing death bit.
“Callisto. The bear abomination that was the last raid boss. A friend miscalculated and doomed himself. I… just reacted, and stepped in between. Should have died. Knew… I... died. Yet here I stand, breaking the rules once again." As much as he'd struggled to make sense of it, there was no answer to be found.
"This,” he gestured to his changed appearance, “was apparently part of the deal. And… Persistence.”
That last part looked like it took a toll just to speak aloud, though he did his best to gloss over it.
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“Unfortunately, I’m looking for something with a little more body - but by all means - don’t let me stop you from drowning yourself in that. You seemed pretty at home slinking around with those slimy abominations out there.”
A weaksauce rebuke? She was either out of practice, or playing it coy until she knew who she was dealing with. His complete nonchalance about her orange marker might have put her on edge, being more readily accustomed to people freaking out in proximity - especially anyone knowing her past. Clues continued to drop, wondering how long it would take. .
A prompt and reply. Montjoy conjured and standing as twin by his side. Widening eyes and clenching breath signaled apprehension, not necessarily in the best way. Not undeserved, but it still stung, mildly. That very fact was a significant departure. The Freyd she knew lacked any emotional intelligence to be aware of the harm he could cause. This one understood, at least, though the struggles remained just as poignant as ever. Such was the price of finding his heart, challenged by the most dire of duties.
“Something about how I had engineered my own oblivion?”
A confirming nod, eyes never leaving hers, even as they drifted and brightened back to blue as the barest hint of a flinch flashed across his brow. Freyd knew better than to dwell on guilt, if he felt any. This was more… regret… that his methods had been so crude and cruel. He’d never meant her any harm. Quite the opposite, in fact, but circumstances had become…complicated.
“It looks like life has treated you rather well. You look more handsome with a beard.” Where was the attack? The snide deflective accusations that would reflect away any focus on herself? She had changed too, though pointing it out openly seemed unwise until he knew more. Old Mari might still be in there, with all the volatility that carried.
“Thanks,” he replied quietly, pensively grazing a slick black gauntlet over the wet fuzz on his cheek. “It’s new. Still getting used to it. Dying takes its toll, apparently.” Yeah. That wasn’t loaded with begged questions at all. But it might mark the measure of time’s passage and toll. Part of him wanted to return the compliment, but the moment just felt wrong.
“I need that drink now…more than ever.”
“So you’ve heard the same rumours? Booze or otherwise, players have been acting extra strange since we opened this forsaken floor. The trail led here.” She shoved past him, recoiling from contact with his shadow, and strode across the ruined room to a counter where a clean sheaf of paper lay unfurled.
“I think I liked you better when I thought you were a stranger.” Not unexpected.
“Montjoy,” Freyd added, softly addressing his other self, “Thank you for your service. It might be best if you left us awhile. Hold watch on the outskirts. I’ll call when you’re needed.” Void slender man nodded and shimmered as it slipped through the barest crack in the outer wall, leaving its master without a proper shade. Shade?
“How is that lantern lit? We haven’t seen a single sign of life, other than the twisted horrors and abominations prowling every dark alley in this place.”
“Freyd.” There it was. “Before you…” Eyes flittered to the shadow’s wake, “essentially used me as a test subject - I liked you. I really really liked you. Now? I’m not so sure.”
Dismissing his own interpretation of events, he held her gaze throughout. Raw spark of human emotion and connection shone through the back of his eyes. Something not present when they’d last encountered each other, now paired with the downturn of his hawkish brows. Their harsh and predatory mien momentarily lost its edge in a way she’d never seen before, because he’d never been capable of it when fate collided their past lives.
“Fair. Probably more than I can readily admit, even to myself. It may not ring true to you, but I never meant to hurt you. Quite the opposite, actually. I just didn’t know how to show that sort of thing back then.” Floodgates held closed. It wouldn’t be him if he let loose a babbling torrent of pent up secret thoughts and sensations, feelings he still struggled to understand and decipher in himself. This was as close to an apology as the Whisper could come, and felt she might potentially accept. Any more would insult what she’d endured, whatever portion of it inflicted at his hands, and real or imagined.
A quest prompt suddenly appeared over the sheaf, revealing it as a shipping manifest.
“Ah. That might explain a few things… kinda?”
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Taking inspiration from Macradon's style and flair, Freyd was already airborne as Raidou slammed the valkyries' mistress harshly, forcing her to suck stone. Familiar tones of a mob's shattering defenses were greeted by the banshee's wail that were Samael's Pride releasing its celestial seals. Maybe the two mythologies just didn't like each other. Maybe the material void wrapped around his fists was just hungry. Maybe the universe was just letting them have this one. Who cared?
Diving down from on high, the Whisper's fury crashed through Athia's hide like a meteorite through butter. Her entire left side evaporated, remnant fractal shrapnel spraying low and wide along the slick, rocky floor as her ribs tumbled out like candy from a pinata. Messy. Gloriously messy. Even the ground beneath her cratered under the force of the impact. Not the be undone, a slender bolt of pure black nothingness flung itself from Freyd's garment.
Persi gnawed, clawed, and generally mauled the howling priestess, whose very existence was being decimated on multiple front. Press by Raidou, then pinched between heaven and earth, feathers flew in all directions as she flailed ineffectively in her efforts to rally any sort of defense.
"Hey, girl! Leave some for the others!"
***
SpoilerFreyd regains +4 EN
CD 1 (No REC proc) ID #244254Post Action | AoE-I (x15, 11 EN, +2 shift, +2/hit): 15 EN - (Rested 2/2; Stamina) = 12 EN.
Free Action [skill] | Grappling Familiar (CD 0/5)
Free Action [item] | Crystal of Divine LightID #244255 | BD : 6+7-2=11 (hit, Fallen +18). DMG (15*43=645-85=560) to Athia | CD 6 | ST-B Locked | Familiar Stun applied.
Freyd takes double damage until his next turn.
Players:
[3] Freyd | HP: 595/595 | EN: 40/79 (48+4-12) | DMG: 25 | MIT:20 | ACC:7 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:4 | PARA-IM | BH:32 | VAMP-D: 65 | REC: 6 | FLN: 12 | HLY: 12 | LD:9
[2] Wulfrin | HP: 625/625 | EN: 57/79 | DMG: 25 | MIT:36 | ACC:8 | AA | EVA:2 | BH:14 | REC: 6 | FRZ: 48 | LD: 5
[3] KnightessCiela | HP: 640/640 | EN: 43/64 | DMG: 16 | MIT:132 | ACC:4 | TAUNT | THORNS:84 | REGEN: 26 | REC: 3
[7] Raidou | HP: 595/595 | EN: 77/79 | DMG: 11 | MIT:159 | ACC:4 | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA:7 | BH:32 | VAMP-D: 65 | VAMP-O: 98 | REC: 6 | BLI: 24/-15 | LD:6 | JUST/VENGEFULEnemies:
Athia, Winged Priestess | HP: 411/1500 (971-560) | DMG: 270 | MIT:12085 (-35 MIT) | ACC:30 | EVA:30 | FROSTBITE 30 (1/2) | REND 21 (1/2) | SHATTER 1 [1/3] | WEAKEN [1/2] | BREAK [1/2] | EXPOSE [1/2] | Stun Immunity [0/3] | F-STUNNED- Critical (MD 9): Deals 300 DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals 180 DMG to every other player.
- Critical (MD 10): Deals 330 DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals 255 DMG to every other player.
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"The trick is to stagger them, keeping them off balance as long as you can. You had the right idea, by the looks of it." Sharing what little he'd managed to glean in his freshly finished encounter with the first of these monstrosities, Freyd always made it a point to offer training on the job. It was Aincrad's best and most necessary classroom, especially for his handpicked team of O&I operatives. While far from the most powerful tools the division had at its disposal, they had come far in a very short amount of time.
"Ren. Rook to bishop three." He knew the man would understand, chess being a favoured pastime. Anything classical or medieval and European. The man just ate that sort of thing up like candy. And it worked. A twist of his wrist slipped the familiar crystal from his inventory, fists clenching to snap it in half and unleash an anguished cry potent enough to make a banshee cover her ears. Vibrating down to its core, the Spectral Knight verged on shattering completely, ensuring he had its undivided attention. Sliding past its brawny reach, Freyd left a rent and gouge across the centre of its torso, sending it tumbling back into the mud and exposing to the rest of his pieces.
***
SpoilerFreyd regains +4 EN
Post Action | TECH-A (x12, 12 EN): 12 EN - (Rested 1/2; Stamina) = 9 EN.
Free Action [item] | Ordsea-B Crystal (+5 hate)ID #244253 | BD: 9+8-3=14 (hit). DMG (12*24=288-60=228) to Spectral Knight | CD 6 | ST-B/BtV Locked
Mist Body prevents crit and enhancement procs.
Freyd | HP: 1300/1300 | EN: 148/162 (153+4-9) | AOE | FOCUS | DMG: 24 | MIT: 212 | ACC: 8 (incl. AA) | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA: 4 | BH:72 | VAMP-D: 72 | VAMP-O: 143 | PARA-V | LD:5 | PROB: 36 | TOX-V: 32 | GRAPPLE [CD 1/5]
Foyle | HP: 660/660 | EN: 87/100 | ST | FOCUS | DMG: 24 | MIT: 78 | ACC:7 | EVA: 2 | BH:33 | REC: 8 | BLD: 24 | PARA | PROB: 36
Rencesvals | HP: 680/680 | EN: 89/100 | TECH | FOCUS | DMG: 24 | MIT:127 | ACC:7 | EVA:3 | BH:37 | HM: 8 | BLD: 24 | PARA | LD:5 | PROB: 36
Jeeves | HP: 595/595 | EN: 78/91 | AOE | FOCUS | DMG: 20 | MIT:12 | ACC:7 | EVA:6 | BH:29 | BLD: 24 | PARA | LD:2 | PROB: 36[11,1,2,2] Spectral Knight | HP: 2317/3700 (2545-228) | DMG: 300 | MIT:
10060 | SHATTER: 2 [1/3] | ACC:5 (0) | EVA:3 (0) | FRB [40/2] | BLD [48/2] | BLGT [32/2] | BRN [56/2] | F-STUN-IMM (CD 0/3) | BLD: 24 (1/2)- Splinter | Whenever the Spectral Knight critically hits (BD 9-10), its attack instead only deals 50 mitigated damage and 60 unmitigated damage to the entire party as the weapon splinters into a sharpened spray. This attack applies all applicable DoT's to all targets when this occurs.
- Mist Body | Natural BD 9 attacks made against Spectral Knight will no longer automatically hit and will use accuracy & damage calculations as normal due to the Spectral Knight bending and twisting to allow dangerous attacks to pass harmlessly through. The hit is treated as a non-critical hit, and all enhancements that would activate on a natural BD 9 (bleed, holy, burn, freeze) will not trigger when this occurs.
- Attempted Rewrite | On a CD 10+, the Spectral Knight will find another NPC nearby and manufacture that NPC into a clone of itself with the same stat block including remaining hit points and any applied status effects.
- Tier Lock | For the duration of the fight, all of the participants’ stats that scale with Tier are calculated as though they’re Tier 4. [DMG/MIT/BLEED enhancements etc.] This skill only locks downward. Those at Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 will still have T1, T2, or T3 stats, respectively.
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Freyd's widened at the sight of her, like a child watching something deemed impossible manifest itself before them in defiance of suppressed naivete. That wonderlust slain by jaded aging and the dreaded pragmatism of adulthood. Yet, in that moment, the oppressive gloom of their surroundings melted away and even the heaviest downpour failed to keep his spirit from alighting with cherished relief. Dozens of questions piled up behind his lips, vying for control of his larynx, denying any one of them access to his voice. All that emerged was an awkward gurgle and snort as she did all the things the real Mari would do. Paranoid doubts of a doppelganger in orange unwove themselves. Mari always exuded too much raw Mari for anyone else to plausibly imitate. Even truer when it became clear that she dragged him indoors without any hint of recognition.
“Does it…always rain so hard? What the hell is with this floor?”
"Pretty much always, except when you might actually want it to." A wry grin matched in joining her particular brand of banter. Already wringing herself out like a freshly roused cat, the first thing that struck him was the subtle difference behind her movement. The Mari he knew had always been tired. So tired. Exhausted beyond careworn and ground down with guilt, piled over with self-imposed burdens. Not undeservedly, from what he'd manage to gather. But that was not this Mari. Her eyes vibrant and alive, cavalier yet eager...
“I don’t want any trouble. I’m just… I’m just lookin’ for a drink.”
"You could have just stayed outside and kept your mouth open for that." Because, clearly, sass would help, diffused by a jovial and familiar tone - or so he hoped. "But if you're looking for something stiffer, you may be out of luck. This place looks completely picked over, and then some."
To call it pilfered was an understatement. A tornado met a hurricane and gave violent birth to a tsunami in this place. Every surface was marred and broken by shattered bits of something belonging somewhere else in the space, often cross-pollinated with the dregs of clothing for which there were no people. No bodies. No bones. There never were, anywhere on this floor.
“Mari. I’m Mari.”
Another playful smirk.
"Not, 'just' Mari? Are you sure? Though I suppose it's been awhile, and things could change. Some things, certainly have." Tugging back at his cowl, she'd watch his features bleed away their wear and grey, revealing a more mischievous, prideful version of himself. Red-eyed, with the same unruly mop - save full black - hair, he summoned his old grey cloak to hand. It was the same woolen fabric he'd draped over her overloaded shoulders while they hid at the outskirts of Kalanaes, from the local guards.
"It's good to see you again, my friend," his features fading back to their new default. "It's been too long..."
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"Please don't say 'plague' out loud. This floor seems to have enough bad ideas on its own, without us helping it along." Having only cleared the stone out of sheer curiosity, the storm itself seemed to lose strength as they tended to the remnants of this place. "Huh. Would you look at that. Looks like you might have stumbled onto something."
Wandering over to the nearest sepulcher, Freyd diligently traced various symbols and markers built into its ornate exterior, like he was following some sort of secretive map. "I've seen some of these markings around. No idea what any of them mean but..." A wincing glance in the direction of the church spotted a few more matching those he'd only just cleansed of their grit and grime patina. "There are symbols etched in the entablature over the front door. See? There. Some sort of long-nosed fish, maybe a bird and that last one looks like a cross between a pig and a crocodile." Looks were exchanged.
"What? I didn't carve it. You tell me what you think it's supposed to be. The darn stone is so worn it could be Wushan cross-dressing as a Ladonian dancing girl, for all we know."
Wrapping up his efforts to clean off the first symbol, Freyd motioned his companion to tend to the really weird one while he moved to the bird. Bad move. This one was just as messed up, if not moreso, the thing's wings turning out to be some sort of nasty-looking four-armed monstrosity with a bell fetish. "Looks a bit like that Ripper dude from the last floor, but with more bludgeoning, and percussive musical talent. Maybe? I dunno. Could be a stretch."
***
ID 244230 | Exploring the cemetery | LD 20+8=28 (28/30)
Freyd has Survival active and takes no environmental damage (confirmed with staff)
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Order Form
Item Name: [imperial quarter blend]
Item Type: [Potion]
Item Tier: [Tierless]
Item Quality: [Perfect]
Enhancements: [Damage III]
Description: [Smoke and gunpowder, with lingering scents of exotic jasmine and bergamot. Razwell himself would enjoy this blend.]
Quantity: [20]
Cost: [60 materials] -
Cresting a low rise and clearing a copse of trees marring his sight lines, Freyd found relief in the realization that his friends and allies were mostly not dead. Ren looked a tad haggard and worse for wear, but mostly because his armor was weighing him down. Spectral Knights were fast. Like, stupid-fast on zoomies kind of fast. It was probably wise of the would-be paladin to have given up his shield, but he was still far from agile.
"Ren! Dodge to port!" Nautical terms would avoid issues of facing, at least in theory. Apparently not, as his counterpart was both distracted and confused, exposing himself to attacks he really wasn't built to withstand.
The Knight lunged, glass shoots lancing outward, ready to piece his purple and black plate mail, skewering him for dissection. Freyd barely made it in time, parrying the slivers with his own blade, taking a few nasty scrapes in the process.
***
SpoilerPost Action | TECH-D (x12, 12 EN): 12 EN - (Rested 2/2; Stamina) = 9 EN.
Free Action [item] | Meathook (1/combat, apply shatter 1)
Free Action [skill] | Grappling Familiar (CD 0/5)ID #244233 | BD: 3+8-3=8 (hit). DMG (12*24=288-60=228) to Spectral Knight | CD 7 | ST-B/BtV Locked | Shatter 2 and F-Stun applied.
Freyd | HP: 1300/1300 | EN: 153/162 (162-9) | AOE | FOCUS | DMG: 24 | MIT: 212 | ACC: 8 (incl. AA) | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA: 4 | BH:72 | VAMP-D: 72 | VAMP-O: 143 | PARA-V | LD:5 | PROB: 36 | TOX-V: 32 | GRAPPLE [CD 0/5]
Foyle | HP: 660/660 | EN: 100/100 | ST | FOCUS | DMG: 24 | MIT: 78 | ACC:7 | EVA: 2 | BH:33 | REC: 8 | BLD: 24 | PARA | PROB: 36
Rencesvals | HP: 680/680 | EN: 100/100 | TECH | FOCUS | DMG: 24 | MIT:127 | ACC:7 | EVA:3 | BH:37 | HM: 8 | BLD: 24 | PARA | LD:5 | PROB: 36
Jeeves | HP: 595/595 | EN: 91/91 | AOE | FOCUS | DMG: 20 | MIT:12 | ACC:7 | EVA:6 | BH:29 | BLD: 24 | PARA | LD:2 | PROB: 36[3,0,0,0] Spectral Knight | HP: 3472/3700 (3700-228) | DMG: 300 | MIT:
10060 | SHATTER: 2 [0/3] | ACC:5 | EVA:3 | FRB [40/2] | BLD [48/2] | BLGT [32/2] | BRN [56/2] | F-STUNNED- Splinter | Whenever the Spectral Knight critically hits (BD 9-10), its attack instead only deals 50 mitigated damage and 60 unmitigated damage to the entire party as the weapon splinters into a sharpened spray. This attack applies all applicable DoT's to all targets when this occurs.
- Mist Body | Natural BD 9 attacks made against Spectral Knight will no longer automatically hit and will use accuracy & damage calculations as normal due to the Spectral Knight bending and twisting to allow dangerous attacks to pass harmlessly through. The hit is treated as a non-critical hit, and all enhancements that would activate on a natural BD 9 (bleed, holy, burn, freeze) will not trigger when this occurs.
- Attempted Rewrite | On a CD 10+, the Spectral Knight will find another NPC nearby and manufacture that NPC into a clone of itself with the same stat block including remaining hit points and any applied status effects.
- Tier Lock | For the duration of the fight, all of the participants’ stats that scale with Tier are calculated as though they’re Tier 4. [DMG/MIT/BLEED enhancements etc.] This skill only locks downward. Those at Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 will still have T1, T2, or T3 stats, respectively.
-
"Reports," Freyd replied. "More accurately, the complete absence of any." A bearded grimace mixed with a smirk, offering a hint of levity in a world gone mad. "By now players would normally have scoured half of a new floor's area, painting a fuller picture of what we had on offer to explore in greater detail. So far, we've been lucky just to hold Ilridge. That's not enough, if we're to press forward." Eyes blinked their approval at Wulfrin's new duds while the rest of the Whisper made no mention that they'd both wandered into dangerous territory alone.
"Aincrad has no shortage of defiled churches, but they also tend to be great harbors for lore. Speaking of which, any port in a st...." Thunder crashed overhead as the clouds broke their brooding with a sudden whirlwind of wet, angry gusts unable to pick a single direction. Both men eyed the church as potential shelter, but the skies wouldn't have it. Only the cemetery remained as an option, spouting a few derelict sepulchers, each decorated by twisted, miserably disfigured figures distended and warped into unnatural shapes.
"Those look a bit too reminiscent of what we saw in the town." Grabbing a nearby brush, Freyd ran its hefty bristles over the worn, sculptured stone, failing to bring much much clarity. "Eh? How did that make the winds die down?! This place is just... weird."
***
Freyd obtains the cemetery cleaning supplies.
-
Three items, clandestinely dropped off in a giant honey bun box.
***
Freyd gives Wulfrin:
x1 gleaming scale
Frostflame Bulwark +1 | T4 Perfect Armor (Heavy) | Thorns II | Flame Thorns I
Acquisition ID: 213804g | Crafting ID: 244215, 244216, 244217
Forged in the heart of an elder glacier pierced by a volcano, the Frostflame Bulwark hums with opposing primal energies. The metal is slick with frost yet warm to the touch, engraved with runes of fire and ice spiraling around its form. It bears the symbol of a tiny black rose, barely visible on the sacrum plate.
Source: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19579-freyds-evaluations/?do=findComment&comment=696408Touch of Grace +1 | T4 Perfect Weapon (Straight Sword) | Paralyze II | Absolute Accuracy
Acquisition ID: 215484c | Crafting ID: 244218, 244219, 244220
A sliver of petrified titan's blood.
Source: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19579-freyds-evaluations/?do=findComment&comment=696408Whispering Faith +1 | T4 Perfect Shield | Thorns I | Taunt | Holy Blessing I
Acquisition ID: 213804h | Crafting ID: 244224, 244225, 244226
An ephemeral cloud in disk form, cloaked in a paradoxical blend of shadow and light.
Source: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19579-freyds-evaluations/?do=findComment&comment=696408Mobile BBQ Gundam Suit +3 | T4 Perfect Armor (Heavy) | Flame Aura I | Thorns II
Acquisition ID [202577b] | Roll ID: 232787, 232788, 232789 | Reroll IDs:232790, 232791, 232792
You'll be the most popular kid at the next raid tailgate party.
Source: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19579-freyds-evaluations/?do=findComment&comment=687677Grand Borealis +3 | T4 Perfect Armor (Heavy) | Frost Thorns I | Frost Aura I | Thorns I
Acquisition ID [202584d] | Roll ID: 232915, 232916, 232917 | Reroll IDs:232918, 232919, 232920
A suite of arctic white mithril plate that chills everything it touches.
Source: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/19579-freyds-evaluations/?do=findComment&comment=687677 -
Step 1: Item Evals:
Rank 5 Appraiser (Base: BD 10, CD 8+ for unique, 10 identifications per day)
+1 to CD from Hermes’ Scale
+2 EXP: Hard Working (also +1 IDs per day)
+2 EXP: Lucrative (Firm Anima) (also +2 IDs per day)
+1 EXP: Custom Ambition Tool (bought from own shop 2020-07-16)Identifications:
3x T4 Perfect Items (@3040 col) = 9,120 col
3x Reroll #1 (@1000 col) = 3,000 colNet Cost to Banker: 12,120 col
Items sacrificed to obtain 9 Mystic Essences, all consumed below:
SpoilerHands of the Ravager +2 | T1 Perfect Weapon (Claws) | Envenom (Off), ACC 2
Acquisition ID: [195513a] | Roll ID: 196211, 196212, 196213 | Reroll IDs: 196214, 196215
Made from the limbs of rare insectoid creatures that once prowled the out edges of floor five's labyrinth, their elongated black claws of hardened chitin had wickedly shard edges that were said to secrete a caustic acid upon contact."Ice Razors +2 | T1 Perfect Weapon (Claws) | Keen, ACC, Freeze
Acquisition ID: 195536b | Roll ID: 196448, 196449, 196450 | Reroll IDs 196451, 196452
Fine, blue steel blades that absorb all surrounding heat and chill flesh with their touch."Crimson Dynamo +2 | T1 Perfect Weapon (Claws) | Keen, Para, Static
Acquisition ID: 195536c | Roll ID: 196453, 196454, 196455 | Reoll IDs: 196456, 196457
Two sets of fine red blades that produce an electrical charge during the course of combat, unleashing it upon their wielder's targets."Sanction & Absolution +2 | T1 Perfect Weapon (Claws) | Para, Bleed, Fallen
Acquisition ID: 195573a | Roll ID: 196463, 196464, 196465 | Reroll IDs: 196466, 196467
A paired set of black combat claws said to have originally been designed for self-flagellation, but easily adapted to use against others."Mercurial Arc +2 | T1 Perfect 1hCS | Taunt, Para, VO
Acquisition ID: [195422b] |Roll ID: 195722, 195723, 195724 | Reroll IDs: 195725, 195726
A brightly polished steel blade with hints of blue and inlaid green filigree. Light dances whimsically off its surface, yet its bite is particularly aggravating.Mercurial Arc +2 | T1 Perfect 1hCS | Taunt, Para, VO
Acquisition ID: [195501a] |Roll ID: 196181, 196182, 196183 | Reroll IDs: 196184, 196185
A brightly polished steel blade with hints of blue and inlaid green filigree. Light dances whimsically off its surface, yet its bite is particularly aggravating.Unyielding Entropy (T3 Rare Weapon (WH) - Keen 1, Blight 1)
Acquisition ID [180782b] | Roll ID: 185757, 185758
A wretch black rod with points of pure chaos at either end of the pole, constantly and unpredictably changing form, yet always suitable as an implement of war.Phaestron's Fel Rod (T3 Perfect Weapon (WH) - Keen 1, Blight 1, ACC 1)
Acquisition ID [177799b] | Roll ID: 184611, 184612, 184613
A shaft of precisely milled petrified blackwood that weeps a sickly black bile from both exposed ends.Banshee’s Wrath (T3 Perfect Weapon (WH) - Fallen, Keen 2)
Acquisition ID [181906b] | Roll ID: 185598, 185599, 185600
An ebonite rod, precisely six feet long, that keens like a banshee’s wail as it moves through the air.Item Evaluations:
SpoilerItem #1 - KEEP
Name: Frostflame Bulwark +1
Your Profession: Appraiser
Your Rank: Rank 5
Roll ID: 244215, 244216, 244217
Roll Result: 11, 19, 16 (No Unique)
Item Type: Armor (heavy)
Tier: T4
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: THORNS II |MIT I |Flame Thorns I
Description: Forged in the heart of an elder glacier pierced by a volcano, the Frostflame Bulwark hums with opposing primal energies. The metal is slick with frost yet warm to the touch, engraved with runes of fire and ice spiraling around its form. It bears the symbol of a tiny black rose, barely visible on the sacrum plate.
Link: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/39190-pp-f21-toppling-the-patriarchy/?do=findComment&comment=673668
Acquisition ID: 213804gRe-roll +1: [Replace one enhancement with Flame Thorns I, using 3 mystic essences]
Item #2 - KEEP
Name: Touch of Grace +1
Your Profession: Appraiser
Your Rank: Rank 5
Roll ID: 244218, 244219, 244220
Roll Result: 10, 16, 9 (No Unique)
Item Type: Weapon (Straight Sword)
Tier: T4
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements:ACC I |Paralyze II | Absolute Accuracy
Description: A sliver of petrified titan's blood.
Link: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/39252-f02-sp-overspawn-point-alpha/?do=findComment&comment=674681
Acquisition ID: 215484cRe-roll +1: [Replace one enhancement with Absolute Accuracy, using 3 mystic essences]
Item #2 - KEEP
Name: Whispering Faith +1
Your Profession: Appraiser
Your Rank: Rank 5
Roll ID: 244224, 244225, 244226
Roll Result: 15, 8, 6 (No Unique)
Item Type: Shield
Tier: T4
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Thorns I | Taunt |Regen |Holy Blessing I
Description: An ephemeral cloud in disk form, cloaked in a paradoxical blend of shadow and light.
Link: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/39190-pp-f21-toppling-the-patriarchy/?do=findComment&comment=673668
Acquisition ID: 213804hRe-roll +1: [Replace one enhancement with Holy Blessing, using 3 mystic essences]
-
Glad to re-provision ahead of the next raid. Thanks Zee!
***
Crystal of the Blood Dragon Horde | Mass HP Recovery (Tierless, x12)
223788-1, 223788-2. 223783, 223778, 223778-1, 223777, 223776, 223776-1, 224808, 224809, 224810, 224803
Potion of the Ancient Rock Dragon | Overhealth III (Tierless, x6)
236057, 236058, 236059, 236049, 236049-1, 236045
-
Shambling along in the haze of persistent gloom, his drenched and steadily dripping form bore uncanny similarity to that of a water-logged Nazghul. Coal-coloured cowl plastered to scalp, enough of its finely crafted ebonweave draped forward to provide shelter for his face, and likewise sold the part. Like a ghostly suit of blackened armor in quasi-samurai style, Freyd had trudges off the regularly beaten patrol paths in search of a trail and a rumor. Acanthus had been acting strangely in their battle against the Spectral Knights, and others similarly before her. Questions were asked. Connections tapped. Brokers squeezed. Between the lot, enough gelled into place to pinpoint a comment source: H.P.'s. Or, so said the weathered placard dancing in the wind, hanging from a single rusty chain. Its mate, severed by raw brutal force, dangled beneath it, the rattling clinks of each link offering ominous warning.
Once an inn or tavern, judging by the look of it, some calamity had spawned inside and spilled into the cobbled street upon which he now stood. Broken stools, shattered bits of glass and halves of bottles were strewn all about. Though lashed by endless miring rain, enough ruddy red stains lingered to warrant doubt as to whether they were the dregs of blood or booze, or both. Taking a knee to sift through all the flotsam, the ever-present pounding of waves dolled its doldrum beat in the background. Everything beyond the reach of the piers was black, featureless and hungry. He knew too well the nature of that void, yet also how pervasive its hold upon this floor seemed to be. Hence the solitary investigation into territories even frontliners should be wary to walk without backup.
“I think I’m lost…”
Words muffled by the angry tides and teary skies harkened to a voice from ancient history. Head whiplashed to the left so fast it sprayed a squiggly line of droplets in its wake, like fattened contrails too laden down for the effort. This place weighed even upon itself. Head tilting in disbelief that mustered every tool at its disposal for verification. She'd been off the radar for... forever. Could it actually be?
"Mari?"
His voice sounded hollow, distant, muffled beneath the layers of cloth failing to keep the weather at bay, and drowned by the effort. A dark gauntlet peeled back the trademark cowl that might be unfamiliar after so much time to reveal a face so changed she might not recognize. Even his eyes were different than since they last met, no longer red, now vibrant blue, made all more so by their contrast to drabiest of drab surroundings. He could already feel the rain soaking into weary beard and facial features to which he'd not fully become accustomed himself. Yet, despite all that, relief bolstered his voice when he finally found it.
"You're alive?!"
***
Note: CS (Shades of the Gemini) and CSA (Beckon the Void) are in use. If any other player objects to these, please state in first post and it will be considered inactive.
Gungir’s Shard (Untradeable/Unique/Reusable Consumable): Smokin' Hot Honey Bun Tray | ACC 2 | EVA 2 | Feast (6/6) - snackses + ACC filled, because always
Freyd | HP: 1300/1300 | EN: 162/162 | DMG: 21 | MIT:152 | ACC: 8 (incl| AA) | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA:4 | BH:72 | VAMP-D: 72 | VAMP-O: 143 | PARA-V | LD:5 (Stealth 5)
SpoilerName: Freyd, Bara no kuro kishi
True Tier: 18
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 144
HP: 1300/1300
EN: 162/162Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 152
Accuracy: 4+2+1+AA
Evasion: 2+2
Battle Healing: 72
Loot Die: 5
Stealth Rating: -5
AA
TAUNT
VAMP-D: 72
VAMP-O: 143
PARA-VEquipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Veritas | T4 Katana) | AA, PVO I, VO I, Taunt
Armor/Trinket:
- Negare Omnia | T4 HA | MIT III | VD I
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
- Night Shades | T3 Trinket | ACC III | EVA ICombat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3Combat Shift:
- AOE ShiftFamiliar Skill:
- Grappling FamiliarCustom Skill:
- Shades of the Gemini (CS)
- Beckon the Void (CSA)Skills:
- Battle Healing R5
- Charge
- Energist
- Extended Mod Limit
- Extended Weight Limit
- Fighting Spirit
- Heavy Armor R5
- Howl
- Katana R5
- Quick Change
- Searching R4Extra Skills:
- Disguise
- Survival
- Meditation
- Hiding R5Inactive Extra Skills:
- Brawler
- Forgotten King's Authority
- Lady Luck
- Photosynthesize
- Assault Mode
- Frozen HideAddons:
- Focus
- Focused Howl
- Iron Skin
- Precision
- Reveal
- StaminaMods:
- Detect
- Emergency Recovery
- Impetus
- Night Vision
- Tracking
- Untraceable
- VanishInactive Mods:
- Surprise Attack: AssassinBattle Ready Inventory:
- Bear Trap (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Bear Trap (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Crystal of Divine Light (Reusable 1/thread) x1
- Mass HP Rec [Inst] (+10% HP) x7
- Meathook (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Rhino's Horn (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Samael's Pride | T4 Katana | FLN II | HLY II x1
- Teleport Crystals x7Housing Buffs:
- Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
- Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
- Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
- Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
- Attic (Bedroom): +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
- Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
- Guest Room: Players can have one «Amenity» in a «Guest Room» and the «Amenity» cannot be recovered. Players are allowed to change which «Amenity» is in the «Guest Room». Multiple instances of the same «Amenity» do not stack. This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.
- Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
- Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
- Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
- Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.Guild Hall Buffs:
- Guild Hall I: Allows a Guild the ability to create one Guild Quest. Narratively, it also allows players to teleport back to the Guild Territory when using Teleport Crystals.
- Storage Vault: Allows a guild to create a Storage Vault in their Guild Page. Members can use this thread to store and withdraw items. Any items that have trading restrictions cannot be moved to a Storage Vault.
- Trading Hall III: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (9+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters and Rank 4 merchants/performers receive +1 crafting/identification attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters and Rank 5 merchants/performers receive +5 crafting/identification attempts per day. Appraisers gain an initial additional reroll per identified item at no cost.
- Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.
- Laboratory I: Once per charge, when receiving single-use consumables from Quest Rewards, if a Guild Treasurer were to receive additional tokens, one guild member may claim 1 x (Additional Token / 2) copies of the consumable.
- Bureau II: Once per charge, if two or more Guild members are present in a thread, allow two dungeons to be spawned/explored in that thread, regardless of Dungeon-searching cooldowns. This buff may only apply once per thread.
- Library I: Once per charge, if a Storyteller is eligible to claim a Guild Token, their character gains +10% bonus EXP at the end of the thread. This buff may only apply once per thread.
- Armory II: Once per charge, players may submit a Skill Refund evaluation regardless of the 30 day cooldown window. In addition to Armory buffs, when submitting a Skill Refund evaluation, guild members have the option to pay an additional Token to refund up to 30 additional SP.
- Menagerie III: Guild members undertaking <<Feeding Your Enemy>> gain +1 LD to familiar searching rolls and +1 to familiar taming rolls. In addition to Menagerie II buffs, the maximum number of familiars guild members can tame narratively is five (5). Guild officials may also appoint a familiar mascot, shared between their guild members to accompany them narratively in their threads.Scents of the Wild Totem:
- Tanos
Wedding Ring:Crafting Profession:
- Appraising[3478exp] R5
Gathering Profession:
- Fishing[576exp] R5 -
Skill(s) Being Dropped: Leadership R5
Mod(s)/Addon(s)/Shift(s) Being Dropped: Elusive, Rally, Steadfast, Inspiring Speech, Press the Attack (0 SP)
SP Incurred Towards Limit: 50/50
SP Refunded: 50 SP
Cost: 50,000 -
The ink was still just barely dry. Left with a trusted ally, without the poor lad ever knowing it or its terrible purpose, Freyd hadn't been sure he'd return from the raid to collect it. Wrong raid, but the sentiment hadn't been far off. Now, here it sat, silently open with the last of its illicit contents disgorged and digested. it felt as nasty as it sounded. The book was a necessary blight, depending on your point of view. In some ways a manifestation of the concept of mutually assured destruction. It could nuke people, or lead others to do so, delivering destruction with naught but a written word. In short: too much power. Even worse, too many people knew the bloody thing existed, rendering to too much of a liability. Rai (obviously), Mina, Mari, Nisa... the list went on and on.
"Time to close the chapter on this thing." Slipping shut the black leather cover left a palpable and paradoxical dread at what was about to happen. So much agonizing. It had sat in his inventory for months while Freyd debated whether to act upon its potential. What would Rai think of his choice?
"He gave it to me," Freyd repeated aloud, as if he'd held this debate internally so many times that he already knew every facet by heart. Nothing made it easier. Squeezing the leather cover one last time, Freyd felt the potency of what he was about to do. Eyes drilling into the tanned and cured flesh of some unknown origin, he pursed his lips with disciplined will and determination, and flung it into the fire.
Crackling in the flames, demonic gouts of green unleashing anguished eldritch spirits might have been expected. But, no. Paper and leather just burned, as ignobly as the contents within. Orange yellow light flared slightly as dense patches of ink set themselves ablaze, wiping out countless miserable tales and sorrows. Freyd felt his features melt against the searing light, like roiling shadow casting its own cowl over him of its own accord, claiming what it wanted and needed.
"So much for the Faceless Lord..."
Words spoken as a honey bun found a pair of bearded lips fallen deep beneath the cloak of an unbidden cowl.
*PING*
A message read.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me..."
Moments later, a message acknowledged and a foot stepping through dark corners in a crazy mind's dorm room.
"This had better be good."
***
Vanity Tag: @Raidou
Note: CS (Shades of the Gemini) and CSA (Beckon the Void) are in use. If any other player objects to these, please state in first post and it will be considered inactive.
Freyd shared and consumes, because narrative and always:
Gungir’s Shard (Untradeable/Unique/Reusable Consumable): Smokin' Hot Honey Bun Tray | ACC 2 | EVA 2 | Feast (6/6) + ACC filled
Freyd | HP: 1300/1300 | EN: 162/162 | DMG: 21 | MIT:152 | ACC: 8 (incl AA) | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA:4 | BH:72 | VAMP-D: 72 | VAMP-O: 143 | PARA-V | LD:5
SpoilerName: Freyd, Bara no kuro kishi
True Tier: 18
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 144
HP: 1300/1300
EN: 162/162Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 152
Accuracy: 4+2+1+AA
Evasion: 2+2
Battle Healing: 72
Loot Die: 5
Stealth Rating: -5
AA
TAUNT
VAMP-D: 72
VAMP-O: 143
PARA-VEquipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Veritas | T4 Katana) | AA, PVO I, VO I, Taunt
Armor/Trinket:
- Negare Omnia | T4 HA | MIT III | VD I
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
- Night Shades | T3 Trinket | ACC III | EVA ICombat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3Combat Shift:
- AOE ShiftFamiliar Skill:
- Grappling FamiliarCustom Skill:
- Shades of the Gemini (CS)
- Beckon the Void (CSA)Skills:
- Battle Healing R5
- Charge
- Energist
- Extended Mod Limit
- Extended Weight Limit
- Fighting Spirit
- Heavy Armor R5
- Howl
- Katana R5
- Quick Change
- Searching R4Extra Skills:
- Disguise
- Survival
- Meditation
- Hiding R5Inactive Extra Skills:
- Brawler
- Forgotten King's Authority
- Lady Luck
- Photosynthesize
- Assault Mode
- Frozen HideAddons:
- Focus
- Focused Howl
- Iron Skin
- Precision
- Reveal
- StaminaMods:
- Detect
- Emergency Recovery
- Impetus
- Night Vision
- Tracking
- Untraceable
- VanishInactive Mods:
- Surprise Attack: AssassinBattle Ready Inventory:
- Bear Trap (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Bear Trap (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Crystal of Divine Light (Reusable 1/thread) x1
- Mass HP Rec [Inst] (+10% HP) x7
- Meathook (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Rhino's Horn (Reusable 1/combat) x1
- Samael's Pride | T4 Katana | FLN II | HLY II x1
- Teleport Crystals x7Housing Buffs:
- Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
- Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
- Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
- Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
- Attic (Bedroom): +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
- Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
- Guest Room: Players can have one «Amenity» in a «Guest Room» and the «Amenity» cannot be recovered. Players are allowed to change which «Amenity» is in the «Guest Room». Multiple instances of the same «Amenity» do not stack. This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.
- Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
- Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
- Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
- Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.Guild Hall Buffs:
- Guild Hall I: Allows a Guild the ability to create one Guild Quest. Narratively, it also allows players to teleport back to the Guild Territory when using Teleport Crystals.
- Storage Vault: Allows a guild to create a Storage Vault in their Guild Page. Members can use this thread to store and withdraw items. Any items that have trading restrictions cannot be moved to a Storage Vault.
- Trading Hall III: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (9+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters and Rank 4 merchants/performers receive +1 crafting/identification attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters and Rank 5 merchants/performers receive +5 crafting/identification attempts per day. Appraisers gain an initial additional reroll per identified item at no cost.
- Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.
- Laboratory I: Once per charge, when receiving single-use consumables from Quest Rewards, if a Guild Treasurer were to receive additional tokens, one guild member may claim 1 x (Additional Token / 2) copies of the consumable.
- Bureau II: Once per charge, if two or more Guild members are present in a thread, allow two dungeons to be spawned/explored in that thread, regardless of Dungeon-searching cooldowns. This buff may only apply once per thread.
- Library I: Once per charge, if a Storyteller is eligible to claim a Guild Token, their character gains +10% bonus EXP at the end of the thread. This buff may only apply once per thread.
- Armory II: Once per charge, players may submit a Skill Refund evaluation regardless of the 30 day cooldown window. In addition to Armory buffs, when submitting a Skill Refund evaluation, guild members have the option to pay an additional Token to refund up to 30 additional SP.
- Menagerie III: Guild members undertaking <<Feeding Your Enemy>> gain +1 LD to familiar searching rolls and +1 to familiar taming rolls. In addition to Menagerie II buffs, the maximum number of familiars guild members can tame narratively is five (5). Guild officials may also appoint a familiar mascot, shared between their guild members to accompany them narratively in their threads.Scents of the Wild Totem:
- Tanos
Wedding Ring:Crafting Profession:
- Appraising[3478exp] R5
Gathering Profession:
- Fishing[576exp] R5 -
"Did you forget what down means?" barely a moment passed before white queen took black queen and upended the board to a very soaked checkmate. What never crossed his mind, in a million years, was the idea of these two providing him a bird's-eye view to their spontaneous wet t-shirt contest. "Uh..." Repeating Nisa's finger gun maneuver from earlier, he gave them both a double barrel salute, mid torso. "That water must be really cold."
One's a goddess. One's a friend. One's a goddess. One's a friend...
Deadpan, yet wide-eyed, Freyd's saucers swiveled freely in search of something - anything - to draw them somewhere else. Old Freyd... Young Freyd? The Freyd from long ago wouldn't have known he was supposed to be embarrassed, but his mantra wasn't going to hold. Marriage to a fiery Irish lass had taught him some amazing lessons, including the penultimate peaks of the concept of temper. She'd probably laugh if he retold this story, yet would somehow inevitably be in trouble for just having existed in this moment.
"How's it going fuzz ball? Land on your feet?"
About to turn and point at the descending staircase, his brain boggled again as Nisa winked blew him a kiss. All he could do was gaze at a re-drenched Sam cradling her busted instrument, his own eyes agog once more, asking... "Is she high or something?! What's with all the flirt... oh. Oh-ho-ho...boy." Proverbial pennies were dropping. "I can't decide if that's good or terrifying..."
helping Sam back out of the silvery pond, his curiosity got the better of him, despite knowing he really shouldn't leap down such rabbit holes.
"Which 'Shee'?!" Leaving him convinced Nisa was now playing for the Sam-Katoka club, and somehow digging shiny chicks.
-
Ah... so that's it. Still trying to sort herself out, even after all this time.
Freyd had been struggling with a sense of identity since the dawn of his tenure in Aincrad; paranoid, cold and machine-like, shattered in uncertainty. He'd already lived through whatever the seven stages of grief equivalent for self-awareness. A soothing pang over his heart soon turned to warmth and the easing of tension from his frame. He'd been fortunate enough to find purpose beyond the calculating universe of clandestine whispers, even if he'd never fully managed to detach himself from that world. It was too much a part of him, and he of it.
Still, Nisa sharing more of herself in this way was refreshing, even in its dismissive sense. Cloy and curious all at once. That felt about right. Yet, she was still sharing. An older version of the same creature would have tugged their strings for her benefit, enticing them with the allure of helping all find their place in her universe. The sales pitch had always been too much for Freyd, even if the delivery was admirable. Whether her true messenger, or not, wasn't really the issue. He had to be himself first.
"Perhaps," was all that was offered to Sam. Freyd already knew he'd acted as both, at least inside the cage. What happened beyond would only matter if they reached it. There, his motives had never changed. Somehow he felt like the old man in the trio, even compared to a potential goddess of indeterminate age. An urge to withdraw back into his cowl persisted, but he still had reasons to remain in the light. Something in the white haired woman's subsuming fall into shadows felt all too familiar, and the look behind her eyes told him she knew it.
Smiling to himself as Raven ran after lady crow, he descended the stairs in their wake to find one hauling the other from an improvised bird bath.
"You're lucky you didn't break your neck. Are you alright?" A flash of unwarranted concern flitted over the serenity of his features, checking that his assertions were true. The pool itself was exceptionally shallow, glowing slightly with a soft blue light from below. An opalescent sheen at its bottom made it look like the lower half of a giant oyster shell. "Not what I would have expected from the bird motifs above."
-
Flitting through penumbral folds, Freyd reappeared a dozen feel away and mid spin. Contact made, the greater of the three sludges wobbled, rolled and then smashed into the far sewer wall. Slime detritus sprayed, leaving two quasi-fresh lesser versions in its stead, both quivering like Jell-O in the dazed aftermath of their forced division.
"Pair of newbie puddings on the far side," Freyd called, already slamming his fist for cosmic force into one of their adjacent cousins and leaving a smeared trail collapsing into simmering starlit motes. The final vestige fared better than the rest, suffering naught but a more standard blow. Still reeling, the mob slipped on the edge of a trench in the flooring and flopped backwards with a complete lack of grace. Not that these things were particularly agile, but it was left wavering and vulnerable for an easy follow up.
"We're getting close. Keep the pressure on!"
***
SpoilerFreyd regains +4 EN
CD 4 (No REC proc) ID #244116Post Action | AoE-I (x15, 11 EN, +2 shift, +2/hit): 19 EN - (Stamina) = 17 EN.
Free Action | NoneID #244113 | BD: 7+7-4=10 (hit, Fallen +16). DMG (15*47=705-50=655) to Slime King #2. Dies and splits to create Slime Kings #6 and #7 | CD 9 | ST-B UNLOCKED
ID #244114 | BD: 9 (Crit +2, Holy +16). DMG (15*49=735-50=685) to Slime King #4. Dies. Does not split.
ID #244115 | BD: 4+7-4=7 (hit). DMG (15*31=465-50=415) to Slime King #5Players:
Wulfrin | HP: 679/679 | EN: 59/89 | DMG: 26(+3) | MIT:66 | ACC:5 | EVA:4 | BH:14 | REC: 3 | BLD: 36 | LD:2
Eruda | HP: 1079/1081 | EN: 96/106 | DMG: 8(+4) | MIT:244 | ACC:3 | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | BRN-IM | FL.AURA: 16 | FL.THORNS: 8/16 | THORNS:72 | BH:59 | REC: 8 | BRN: 56 | LD:4
Morningstar | HP: 874/874 | EN: 59/114 | DMG: 28(+4) | MIT: 20 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PARA-V
Freyd | HP: 1357/1357 | EN: 49/156 (62+4-17) | DMG: 27(+4) | MIT: 40 | EVA: 4 (-1) | ACC: 7 | BH: 64 | LD: 6 | PROSP 3 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 32/3 | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | V.D.: 149 | DOTE 3/3 | PROB 36 | TRLBLD | HYPER [1/3]
Shiina | HP: 1012/1012 | EN: 110/120 | DMG: 1(+4) | MIT:251 | ACC:0 | EVA:3 | FL.AURA: 16 | FR.AURA: 16 | THORNS:112 | BH:32 | HB: 42 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8
Raidou | HP: 1196/1196 | EN: 114/142 | DMG: 11(+4) | MIT:177 | ACC:4 | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA:7 | BH:66 | VAMP-D: 132 | VAMP-O: 197 | REC: 8 | BLI: 32/-20 | LD:6 | JUST/VENGEFULBoss:
[0,4,0,6,0,0] Slime King #2 | HP: 0/2500 (58-655) | DMG: 220 | MIT: 50 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | PARA-IM | FRZ-IM | GRAP-IM | LULL-IM | HYPN-IM | VAMP-D[Final]: 100 | [BRN: 224/1]
[2,0,0,3,0,4] Slime King #4 | HP: 0/1250 (626-685) | DMG: 220 | MIT: 50 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | PARA-IM | FRZ-IM | GRAP-IM | LULL-IM | HYPN-IM | VAMP-D[Final]: 100 | [BRN: 224/1] | BLEED 36 (0/2) | STUNNED
[0,0,1,2,0,0] Slime King #5 | HP: 225/1250 (640-415) | DMG: 220 | MIT: 50 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | PARA-IM | FRZ-IM | GRAP-IM | LULL-IM | HYPN-IM | VAMP-D[Final]: 100 | [BRN: 224/2]
[0,0,0,0,0,0] Slime King #6 | HP: 1250/1250 | DMG: 220 | MIT: 50 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | PARA-IM | FRZ-IM | GRAP-IM | LULL-IM | HYPN-IM | VAMP-D[Final]: 100
[0,0,0,0,0,0] Slime King #7 | HP: 1250/1250 | DMG: 220 | MIT: 50 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | PARA-IM | FRZ-IM | GRAP-IM | LULL-IM | HYPN-IM | VAMP-D[Final]: 100- Pure Structure: Any DoT effects on the boss will last half their original duration, except for Burn. Afflicting the boss with Burn will also deal double damage to it.
- Royal Gel: On an MD 9-10, the <<Slime King>> will launch an AoE attack at the four players with the highest hate, dealing 160 DMG and afflicting them with T4 Blight for two turns. This skill cannot occur once <<Gelatinous Form>> has activated.
- Gelatinous Form: Every time the boss’ health reaches 0, two more Kings will spawn, using the next lowest HP available. If a Slime King with the lowest amount of max HP possible dies, he will not spawn any more.
Loot?
-
Silently, somberly, Freyd listened as Nisa described the divine condition in plain language and metaphor. Eyes scanning the strange avian carvings, it seemed an apt analogy. Did it all relied on the same set of absurd physics that always managed to squeeze more clowns into tiny cars than should ever be possible? Inspired by their surroundings, Freyd found himself imagining aloud.
"It sounds like you're describing a gilded cage and faced with an oddly poignant 'Uno-reserve' style question: how many birds could it keep out? It's like the whole thing is a paradox of expectations, feeling strangely too close for comfort." Part of him immediately wondered whether this was some sort of honey bun induced fever dream, surreal and disjointed in the way only dreams could be. Didn't I come here to fish? How did we get to this? And where is it going?
Wandering over to the symbol referenced by the player formerly known, yet still labeled as 'Sam', he did as requested without protest. Less a platypus, the birb looked more like a long-beaked crudely drawn Kingfisher. Of course it did.
"Part of me can't help wonder whether we're all missing some angled perspective in here." He meant all the players trapped in Aincrad, but could just as easily have been talking about their trio. "Everyone keeps wanting to get out, because they think they know where that will lead them. But it's like they're all expecting it will take them back in time to what they knew before. The future is always different." A loud clunk sounded as the grinding of stone on stone ceased beneath the pressure of his palm. Uncertainty mixed with anticipation, as if the moment summarized their very existence in Aincrad: what comes next?
"But you're not looking for what everyone else is, are you Nisa? Nor you,... err... Raven?" Brow furrowing as his mind's eye turned its gaze to self. With all he'd experienced in Aincrad to date, did he even know where he was trying to go, himself?
-
Shrugging off the mental image of elbows with asses, Freyd's reverie broke as said pressed buttons set their surroundings to vibrate. Stone slid past stone like a pair of sassy slick thighs, surely helped along by the ambient moisture of this netherworld. The stench was less enticing.
"Oof. Putrid. Someone really let this place go stale. Mechanism like this also need a lube, once in awhile."
Between the added references to sticks, surgeries and dark holes, Freyd simply chose not to engage further, wandering forward in silence instead. Sam... Roxi... 'the other one' (tm) - he was losing track - reacted unexpectedly. Waving her bow around like some sort of sci-fi rifle flashlight was clever if also somewhat redundant. Did she completely forget that Nisa was already carrying a lantern? Finger raised and mouth half-opened, uncharacteristic tact let the oddity fade, preferring to let the girl be happy in her moment. Night Vision was doing its thing, regardless, albeit a tad grayscale. Not that there were ample amounts of color to be seen. Whatever might once have adorned the stone had long since faded or been worn away by time.
"Celtic... toucan... platypuses?" That one had him stumped. "Not the sort of combination you encounter every day. Points for wacky creativity, I guess? But 'Raven'... actually suits you. Though I'm not sure what the Raven of Sin reference might mean. As in, the Seven Deadly Sins? Anime or religious? I'm feeling like there might be a connection to pride here, somewhere."
That thought thrust starkly forward in his mind's eye, bringing his gaze back to Nisa with a sudden sense of foreboding. Fate's motives were rarely obvious or direct, yet bore no second-guessing lightly. "What are you looking for here, exactly, 'actual presser of buttons'? Feels a bit like we're grasping as straws, instead of weaving strands. Wasn't your thing more the latter, or at least the violent tugging of them?"
-
What began as moans and snickers quickly combusted into full blown cacophonic guffaws as more smooth shiny stones got frisky with his wiggly bits. Mouths appeared in different places, or maybe just one mouth with many independent parts. It was hard to tell, though all were clearly ticklish. Flailing increased in amplitude, as did the gaspy farts, without clear points of origin. Stretch tauter as its assortment of suction cups clung with increasing desperation to a loosening sledge of flagstone, it would look much like the winding of a giggly rubber band, and with predictable results.
Suction withdrew to protect tickles ribs, or its skeleton-free equivalent. Tension released and rubber did what it is wont to do. Sailing through the air in a fair imitation of post-swamp monster R2D2, Reliq, Leg and cling-ons, bounced off the knight's blubbery body with a resounding bong. Cascading boards sailed one way. They went the other, straight into the straining, doe-eyed dragon with its own collection in hand... claw... whatever. Mercurial limbs flailed, quicksilver crashing and buried under rubble collapsed by its own reactions as the threesome of unsuspecting allies collided in mid-air and hurtled downward.
By sheer chance, Reliq fell first, providing a softer cushion as the others impacted his pancaked self rather than the stiffer ground beneath him. His teeth did no appreciate it much, clattering like a set of wind-up toys from some dollar store shelf. Each impact resounded to the triumphant accompaniment of musical toots that nearly made a nice tune, but generally just stank.
[F20-PP] Three Bird
in Intermediate Floors
Posted
Something in the water. The spot marked by sonar waves delivered by the shrilling cry of pursed lips as an unusual source of revelation. Their guide's added taunts were overlooked as Whisper instincts kicked in. Another puzzle to solve. Anything to get away from the trajectory of their earlier conversation seemed a blessing. Nisa's shamelessness would win out over all, he was certain.
"Huh... would you look at that." Freyd thought it wise to avoid disturbing the water any more than necessary. The ladies had already done their share with their playfighting, yet Nisa somehow still sensed whatever might lurk within. Mostly, he felt like she was baiting him, seeing if he'd bite and play along, but exploring the white haired witch's view of the world often proved enticing beyond practical reason. It was so against his nature, and yet Freyd found himself wading in as slowly as he could manage. Even through Sam's teasing and re-tuning of her damaged musical treasure, he dismissed his armor in favor of a dark blue haori and charcoal pants soon soaked through. At least it made fewer waves.
"Who stole what? The bird people? From who?" Keen eyes scouring the surface and mirror world below, the constant ripples hindered as much as they helped. Knowing where to go was one thing, but also made it impossible to see beneath the miniscule waves. And then the bottom gave out on everything, dunking him a good twenty feet below. Thank goodness he'd actually doffed the armor.
Emerging like the proverbial wet cat, Freyd's blazing blue eyes glared daggers as the bassist while seriously considering consigning her newly repaired guitar to the void.