Vera

Vera disregarded the slight commotion. It would be of little significance as she doubted they'd interact again. Four against a pathetic group of mobs would go well even if it were a messy free-for-all. She moved for the larger nepent that spawned. She charged her battleaxe, however the chance to strike had not come. The bouncy brunet stole the spotlight. A flash of gold light he was, flying towards the nepent with a balled fist. He punched a crater through the mob.

On cue, the nepent wilted and fell over. Thickets moved to grab him as a last nerve reflex, before the enemy crystalized. At this pace she could advance from these slum-like confines she called home, grind herself a decent lakeside abode. Vera placed her bulky battleaxe away and busied herself with a quick inventory check.

She looked up to see the Nepent respawn like some scene from a horror film. Would that thing ever die? An exasperated sigh escaped her as she glanced at Hael. It appeared that the key item was missing after the kill. Thus began the perpetual cycle of the grind. Vera unsheathed her axe and advanced at the miniature spawn first.

The lack of chit-chat and emphasis on strategy didn't bother her as much. In the guild she previously ran, Vera was used to that sort of structure. She was out of touch with her battle tactics, choosing to stay passive and absorb her duties. The redhead spared a soft yet firm "Understood" and followed along the assumed party leader, Valentine. An awkward moment transcended as her shorter limbs struggled to match pace with the taller limbs of her party. The brunette's snort didn't go unnoticed as she shot him a deathly glare, all traces of a smile fading off his lips. He rigidly fixed his attention forward, as did she.

The group arrived at the heart of the forest to find a group of mobs labeled nepents, all guarding the boss in the middle. She would see their demise, swift yet surely. Battleaxe trained, she went in for a swift clean-up of Hael's blunder. Only one remained, though she stepped aside to give Enryu a chance.

She'd been the third to arrive, in punctual fashion. Without an agenda, there was nothing holding her back from leaving at an instant. It came as a surprise that she could accept a questing proposition. Often times, she went about it alone. That couldn't be the case all the time, unless she wanted to get killed. She kept the coordinates pulled up on her map as she advanced through the Town of Beginnings. As per usual, the first floor appeared congested. A teeming populace traveled the cobblestone paths of the medieval fantasy settlement. Vera felt a slight sense of nostalgia tugging her heart strings at the sight. This place, once a marvel, had grown into the norm after all this time. Her usual routine, a stop at the coffee shop and a run for a quest.

Two others waited at the rendezvous point and she made herself present. She stepped in and exchanged a small hello amongst the two, brief and two the point. She was a woman of little words unless invoked to speak further. Then came a third face, the energetic Hael. She crossed her arms and acknowledged him with a tilt of her head.

Vera | HP:100/100 | EN:10/10 | DMG:7 | MIT:9 | ACC:3

Day after day felt like a repetition of the past, uncanny at times. A typical day of life was spent in solitude, wandering the beginning floors like a nomad. An occasional quest could keep a roof over her head and her belly full, the rest left to whim. With how much time had dragged, it felt like a nonsensical loop.

Until recently, where a chance encounter had changed so much.

Vera had sworn into a life as a solo player. She felt against the grain, without any solid motive. It came as a surprise to herself that she could accept an invitation to join a guild. She could use the benefit as a tactician. Questing in groups was efficient. There was only so much she could reap from a wild boar, and frankly, she was sick of the monotony. Little had been expected of a new recruit, so she could swing by in times of need.

A ping on her HUD called her attention. She scrunched her nose at the name attached to it, Hael. Her interactions with the fellow were scarce. His energy was reminiscent of a kid snorting sugar. Entertaining to watch, but a nuisance after a while. After a moment of reluctance, she typed out a message of confirmation.

Quote

K, I'll be there.
Vera

She traced down the coordinates to find a familiar silver haired man waiting there. She cleared her throat and stepped forth. "You in Hael's party?" She inquired, softly.

The redhead observed the peppy brunette in his element. He reminded her of a squirrel with his jumpy disposition, here and there at any given moment. He bounced from heel to heel, hyping himself up for a hit. Well, she supposed, he could hold his stamina fairly well. Would serve useful in martial arts, with the fast pace natural to it. He performed some mock display of karate, with the flexibility of a metal rod. It was rigid, but she could give him the benefit of the doubt.

The boulder was reduced to a pile of rubble, on the vestiges of its health. The others looked back to her and her shoulders went stiff. Was it her responsibility to deliver the last hit? She sighed softly and grounded her feet in the soil. She moved forward to pummel it, only to trip on a rock and fall over on the rock. Palms pressed against the stone for purchase.

ID: 171681  / BD:3+2 = 5 [ MISS ]

Players:

Kiluia 1090/1090 HP | 108/109 EN | 19 DMG | 79 MIT | 2 EVA | 2 ACC | KEEN| AA |BLD 36| REC

Hael | HP: 80/80 | EN: 7/8 | DMG: 1

Vera | HP: 100/100 | EN: 7/10 | DMG: 1

Enemy:
Boulder 7/50 HP | -2 EVA

"Yessir," Vera shot back, with a polite nod. She knew better than to show authority anything less than reverence. She turned to face the others, namely the stone faced man emerging from the shadows. He didn't speak much by far. She gave him a quick glance before heading over to the boulder to prepare for a strike. She watched the captain strike with the prowess worthy of his title. His form was as fluid as waves, yet as forceful as a slamming brick. He cracked through almost half of the boulder in one resounding strike. She feared his full power.

Then there came the boy, bumbling and fired up to demonstrate his own techniques. He missed the rock by a hair, tripping on the laces of his boots. He was interesting to watch at play, like an in-person sitcom. As for her, she decided to pitch in. She was by no means versed at punching things. Her poison was and would always be the blade. Nonetheless, she produced a fist that slammed the rock, but all the force in her petite form could do nothing of significant impact.

An ire built up within her, one which drove her to pummel the rock with a hidden boost of power.

ID: 171611 / BD: 7+2 = 9 [ HIT ]

Players:

Kiluia 1090/1090 HP | 108/109 EN | 19 DMG | 79 MIT | 2 EVA | 2 ACC | KEEN| AA |BLD 36| REC

Hael | HP: 80/80 | EN: 7/8 | DMG: 1

Vera | HP: 100/100 | EN: 9/10 | DMG: 1

Enemy:
Boulder 29/50 HP | -2 EVA

The redhead tilted her head as an unspoken confirmation. "That I am. I think you'd need the luck." She smiled, however it was one that didn't reach her eyes. She approached a tree nearing the boulder and leaned against it. Arms folded against her chest, she zoned off. Her gaze fixed on nothing in particular as she hummed a soft tune.

In due time, the rest of the party showed up. She'd only noticed one man, with bright silver hair and an ornate garb. He'd given the impression of a seasoned player, confidence in his gait. Her interest piqued and she pushed herself off the tree. He was straight to the point. "After this dude," she cut in, with a look over her shoulder. She noticed the brunette addressing a rock and furrowed her brows, until she'd noticed a figure among the shadows. She jumped slightly and observed him from a distance.

Meanwhile, the party leader was fired up, making his way towards the great boulder. He was performing some sort of warmout routine, cracking his knuckles and stretching. He performed some bizarre display of a martial arts routine. She covered her mouth and stifled a snort in order to remain polite.

Vera hummed a soft tune and rounded the corner of the plaza. The weather was cool as always in the beginning settlements, a picture perfect utopia. Players and NPC alike assumed their tasks, Urbus bustling as always. She rounded the corner and went rigid once she passed an all-too-familiar apple cart. The vendor stared the cloaked figure down, seemingly oblivious to whom the other was. Vera, as the thieving woman she was, raided a few apples off the cart for sustenance. It was an act of desperation, to which she weighed the odds of trouble slim to none. She scrunched her nose at the memory of a tattling player.

Thus, the trek to the summit began, a peaceful stroll. She noted that as the path winded up the mountain, the further the road inclined. She peeked down from the edge, stomach somersaulting at the image of the ground many feet below. A drop from this height could spell certain death. She swallowed thickly and glued herself to the inner wall. She ignored the burning sensation of her thighs as she advanced upward.

At the top of the summit lied a boy, mousy brown hair and whiskers on his face. He seemed distressed, scratching at the markings on his cheeks. She quirked a brow and observed from afar. Oh. Was that lanky boy the party leader?

She snorted and approached the figure. "Your audience, as requested." She propped a hand on her hip.

Vera lounged on the patio of a hole-in-the-wall smoothie shop. For the past few days, she'd all but taken residence beneath the awning. A concoction of tropical flavors melted with soothing harmony. Tropical Twist, aptly named, for the blend of flavors she could not put a finger on. The woman hummed and swiped up her HUD. A snack and a quick perusal of her menus was the routine, it kept her informed of activities and opportunities. One in particular had struck her fancy. She skimmed the details and noted "audience". She'd heard tales of the infamous boulder quest, of those whose knuckles went bloody trying to beat the thing down solo. She wouldn't lie and say she was actually interested in that labor, but with parties came room for one straggler. She could squeeze in some skill points with little to no effort. She cracked her knuckles and conjured up a reply.

Smoothie downed, she made her way to the summit.

ID: 171151  | BD: 7 [ HIT ]

Boar Pup #9 attacks Vera ( ID: 171152 | MD: 7 )

Looting: ID: 171153  | LD: 11 [ 3/3 TUSKS ]

Party:
Vera | HP: 64/80 | EN: 3/8 | DMG: 1

Enemy:

Boar Pup #9 | HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3

ID: 171146 | BD: 2 [ FAIL ]

Boar Pup #8 attacks Vera ( ID: 171148 | MD: 9 )

Looting: ID: 171150 | LD: 3 [ NONE ]

Party:
Vera | HP: 67/80 | EN: 3/8 | DMG: 1

Enemy:

Boar Pup #8 | HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

PH

ID: 171140 | Looting Boar Pup #5 : LD20 [2/3 TUSKS]

Party:
[0,0](1-6) Vera | HP: 71/80 | EN: 3/8 | DMG: 1

Enemy:

Boar Pup #5 | HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3 

She felt fatigue impending. The absence of her sword art was weighing down on her. She panted, her grip tightening on the blade. Carob eyes trained on the boars which seemed to spawn one after the other, a never ending pack. Was this how they'd die? What a dramatic twist of events. She wouldn't let her life end to a pathetic little boar. Good things came with hard work.

With that motto, she squared her shoulders and cleared her throat. She would best him with her battle prowess. Or at least prove that she could hold her own against a pack of boars. Failure was out of the question. With all that resolve built up, she raised her axe back. With a powerful connection of swings, she sliced through thin air. Damn. She was just a hair off with her accuracy too. That much was enough to boil her blood.

Her attempt at an insult fell flat. Of course the man, as quick as ever, could find the proper set of words to set her in her place. She searched her brain for anything worthy of a comeback. "Hmm, judge much do you? This is my endurance test. I'm savin' up for something huge." She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "And when I've got every last point I need, just you wait." The look on his face dripped of sarcasm and it irked her. She whipped around, auburn locks flying with her. The porky nuisance trotted its small, stubby legs her way, at frightening velocity.

Fueled by rage, she evaded the charge and swept behind the mob. With a grunt, she mustered every ounce of tiny might into a swing. She'd show him. She leaned forward, the axe moving in tandem. She bopped the boar's skull with a sickening crunch. It was on its remnants of health.

Vera couldn't have felt any more stupid in this moment. She hadn't thought to invest in the sword art she needed for proper combat, nor could she afford a weapon of any quality. She was left with her measly might one one damage against two pestering pigs. She could feel the fatigue building up, even with her energy full. She looked aside to see Yukio in much worse state, on the vestiges of his energy gauge. She gave him a once over and smirked. "Tired already, boy?" She'd give him a little fighting spirit, ignite a little bit of enthusiasm. He was such a bore when he wasn't fired up over something.

She trained her axe on a boar headed straight for her. With swift ease, she wedged the end above the creature's shoulder. A sickening crack signified her success. It only surmounted to one. She could only hope her potion would be of use.

She frowned lightly at the laugh which escaped Yukio. She anticipated a smartass jest from the other, only to be met with nothing. The mild source of distraction caused the pudgy mob to collide into her, knocking her back with its curved tusks. She squeaked, landing on her rear end. The boar before her ignited in flames, reduced to a sea of ash. She watched the ash erode into pixels and drift off in the wind. Good riddance. She'd secured her first tusk. She made haste to scoop it into her inventory.

An infinite loop of boars seemed to spawn. The AI picked up on the strength of the duo and sent them coming, one after the other, for them to reap. She pushed herself off the earth and dusted her cloak. She fixed her axe in turn for the other boar that spawned. She charged straight ahead, to which it curved.

The boar rushed forward, but the older was swift to counteract. She side stepped, watching with mild amusement as the boar crashed into the flora. Tusks wedged into the soil, the boar grunting for escape. Oh boy, this was going to be a breeze, wasn't it? She yawned and fixed her grip on her battleaxe. "Watch and learn." She cocked a confident brow at Yukio and swung. In opportune time, of course the stupid boar gained the strength to break loose. It squealed, bounding forward with reckless abandon. Oh, what a joy. She had just completely and utterly humiliated herself.

She bit her tongue to retain a swear building up on it. Her axe was stuck in the soil, heavy and tough to budge. Yukio seemed to move with an element of finesse, lucky him. It was tough to say that she could best him, with the current leverage he had over her in strength.

"Good." She watched him accept the vial, though not without reluctance. She figured if he would be of any use, he could use the boost. She combed her strands back and stepped into the crowd, blending in with her environment. She hoped those players were gone by now, those poor excuse for patriots. A little bit of thievery was inconsequential, just a few mere pixelated apples. Whatever their reasons were, she didn't wish to stick around long to find out.

She scrunched her nose, the aftertaste of the spicy, viscous potion still lingering. She gulped it down and made haste for the field. Lo and behold, the cityscape transitioned into open ground. A small pack of boards hobbled around. It was a perfect chance to strike. She withdrew her battleaxe and squared her shoulders. She scanned which ones seemed vulnerable. They were all relatively similar in level. Would make the task easier. She raised her axe and struck.

Sure, she might have had a stick up her ass, but when didn't she? She thought it odd that their encounter was in opportune time. He seemed put off by her quip, oh well. In a twist of fate, he'd saved her ass from a band of angry players, and now, they were teamed together for this quest. She grumbled. The woman would much rather tackle this alone, but what could be done? Deep down, she wouldn't admit she enjoyed the company. Over a year of solitude in this world was getting old. Hopefully, for all the nuisance Yukio was, he'd be a source of entertainment. 

She moved past him and quickened her footsteps ahead. She would be the lead of this ragtag team. Gears whirred in her head as she planned out their next quest objective. They would have to come prepared. The redhead swiped up her HUD and located the immolation potions. With such low level and all odds stacked against them, a little precaution wouldn't hurt. The woman plugged her nose and downed the flaming essence. She pondered over the remaining potion, and ultimately, tossed it back at Yukio. "No questions, take this. You'll probably need it."

She slipped into the shop and slammed the door shut after Yukio. A shaky sigh escaped her as she slumped against it. Phew, saved by the bell. She turned her attention towards an elder man, white hair, receding hairline and all. His apron was covered in grime from his typical work. She glanced about the shop, taking in the sight of all the armory on display. She cracked her knuckles and approached the counter. The NPC glanced at the two and scanned them, as if to check if his sole prompt would apply to them. A soft smile overtook his features in lieu.

The prompts were exchanged and Vera moved for the door to leave. The raven haired man opened the door yet again, waiting for her. Her expression, unbeknownst to her, was slightly doe-eyed at the small gesture of politeness. She walked out past him and turned around, crossing her arms. "So, here at the same time. Did you follow me here or somethin'?" She cocked a brow, her words more of a jest to break the silence than much else.

Shivers wracked the redhead's lanky frame as she cowered behind the dumpster. Damn. Seldom was she actually swift at thievery, but most of the time? She could make it out without much of a hassle. The odds were against her this day, in a twist of fate. She cursed under her breath. Jail, really? She would put up a fight before she was forced to spend her glorious days cooped up in a cell. Her thievery was merely an act of self preservation.

After a moment, she slipped round the other corner of the alley and gulped. She had to have lost them by now. Cloak pulled tightly over her features, shrouding her form. She slinked back into civilization through the other, shady alley path. A whistle and a voice from across the square gathered her attention. She jumped and whipped her head around. The voice belonged to none other than her sworn enemy. She inhaled sharply, relieved it wasn't trouble. It still still not safe out here. She whipped her head around to find the pack of players scanned the herd. They were still onto her. She exchanged a hesitant look at Yukio and booked it after him. Why not? It was in the way of her quest. For whatever reason he had, he was trying to save her ass.

Honestly, she didn't mind having the younger for company. Solitude was something she was used to, seldom did she get the chance to interact with people like this. Were it some random Jo, she wouldn't have been so keen on the small talk. But Tsumugi? She was something precious. For the first time that day, a soft smile  graced her lips. Flowers in her hair wasn't her thing, but who was she to deny the younger?

The redhead sighed and knelt down. "Sure, have at it." The younger beamed, separating the flowers from their stems. She combed her unruly locks back and tucked a bright yellow bloom behind her ear. She pulled back and clasped her hands together in adoration. "How do I look?" Vera jested, playing along with her.

"Like a princess!" Tsumugi commented, with a giggle.

"Yeah, thanks kiddo."

She stepped on ahead, making distance. Smaller, stubbier legs struggled to keep up. "Hey, don't leave me behind!"

THREAD COMPLETE

2 SP, 400 COL, & 39 T1 MATS

"GET HER!"

Vera's pale complexion paled beyond physical bounds. The group of players turned to face her and her thievery. The NPC manning the cart grew furious.

"Guards!"

On cue, an array of armored knight-like guards marched towards her. They moved freakishly fast, as if to defy physics. She, on the other hand, would not be caught with an infraction and a jail sentence above her head. The redhead gulped. The quest marker wasn't far from this cart... she had to distract these guards long enough to slip into the smith's. With a heavy sigh, Vera pulled her cloak tighter against her form.

She grabbed more apples off the cart and stuffed them inside the band of her trousers. She wrapped her cloak around her waist to hold them in and sprinted forward. The clanking of armor followed her all about the town, fueling her paranoia. A twisted, sketchy alley was her only solace at this point. The trickster slipped into the alley and crouched behind a waste bin.

The redhead led her along the open woods, up to a field with a stray boar roaming about. She slipped behind a tree and gestured at the younger's knife. She hesitantly handed it over. Vera flipped it around and aimed it at the weak mob. She pulled her hand back, and with that, the knife went flying forward. The hog squealed, the blade digging into its flesh. The dagger vanished, and manifested yet again for the woman to seize. She threw it once more, tearing through its defenses. The hog was no more, the equivalent of pork.

"W-Woah that's so cool!"

Vera flipped the dagger and handed it back to Tsumugi. "Yep. Sometimes the tiniest weapons are the most lethal." She looked back to see the younger beam, a bit of the nerves ebbing away. "So, sprout, let's head back." She rallied her along.

On the walk, she turned back to see the raven hair with a fistful of vivid flora. She shakily held them up to her. "You're really pretty. Can I put these in your hair?"

ID: 169652

CD: 2

LD: 14

2 mats

The frown on the girl's face receded in place of a softer look. "I'm Tsumugi." She pulled away and reached for her hefty sword. She grunted, struggling to tote it around. Vera bit her lip, stifling a snort.

"Hey, Tsumugi, do you want another weapon? I think you'll like it better." The redhead swiped up her HUD and scrolled for a set of throwing knives. They were small enough for the little one to hold and safe enough for distance combat. She equipped it and turned the hilt, offering the blunt end to the other.

The girl tentatively reached out to accept it. "But it's so... small. It can't kill anything." She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout. She accepted it anyways and stowed away her great sword.

Vera raised a finger. "Heh. Watch and learn, sprout." She walked ahead, gesturing for the other to follow suit. She clutched the dagger and sheathed it in her pocket, trailing after the woman. She was kind, the girl felt a sense of gratitude for her life was saved. She plucked some pretty blooms from a patch along the way, they would serve as a nice thank you present.

ID: 169651

CD: 9

LD: 4

2 mats
--
LD check failed.