Hael

Hael whistled. "Wow gramps, you must've been a real Chad! Teach me your ways." He moved onto his belly, fingertips skimming the surface of the water. The view among the tranquil lake alluded to some vision of paradise, waters impeccably crystalline. He could see down to the sand from up here. He mouthed a look of astonishment. "Hey Val?" Hael hummed. "I'm gettin' bored. Can we do somethin' elseee?" The brawl with the fish had only wrapped up a mere minute ago, albeit the boy was ever impatient. He was one to be up on his feet on the regular. Productivity was not his strongest suit. His stomach experienced an uncomfortable squeezing sensation. "Uuh," Hael patted his stomach. "I'm hungry." His mind then traveled to the watermelon sale. Hopefully some units were still in stock. "Oh yeah! We can hit the bazaar and grab some more of those melons on sale."

Hael shrugged. "Hey, I don't know the first thing about fishin'. Like how to hold one and all that jazz." He leaned back on the rowboat, head propped against his chin. Other hand reached over to skim the water. It was a beautiful day out on the lake, the boat rocking steady with the movement of the waves. He hummed a catchy tune as he listened to the ol' man sit passive between them. He didn't expect the man to say anything as he wasn't an artificial intelligence, a mere dummy to orchestrate quest details. There was a little something scripted in him, however.

Hael stared dumbfounded at the rod placed within his arms. "No, really I-" his words were cut off by the jovial old soul moving over on the rowboat. He grabbed the rod to demonstrate how to fish and the brunet analyzed. "Oh, so y'do that and..." He had a sudden epiphany. "This is cake. C'mon, give it." He flipped his bangs to the side and cast the line, tentative. Much to his joy, it was a successful hook of something! Something like... algae. Hael scrunched his nose. "Well it's somethin', eh?" A deflated sigh escaped him.

Hael witnesses the slight outbreak with a quirked brow. The man named Enryu carried quite a head over his shoulders. A little toughness was good, he supposed. He meant it in good fashion. The retaliation provided ample distraction for the nepent to weasle out of range and counterstrike. Fortunately, the party member had evaded in time.

The remaining miniature nepent was quite the pest. Hael balled his fist to prepare to strike, only for their leader to intercept with a trained lunge of his spear. The nepents stems were snapped clean off, four wilting flowers dispelling a strange mist that clouded their vision. Hael squinted and rubbed his eyes for clarity. Some strange substance in the air caused him to cough violently. Once the fog cleared, the severed nepents conjoined into one entity, the giant boss they'd face. It looked horrifying, with a grotesque mouth snapping at thin air. Hael prepared an attack.

As soon as the fish spawned, it had met its swift demise. Hael whistled at the sheer expertise displayed. Oddly enough, the fish didn't crystalize as most mobs did when killed. Much like the typical fish, it assumed its natural state as a corpse. In fact, it had turned into an inanimate immortal object. Hael thought it odd as they both threw the swordfish overboard. The boy dusted his hands. "Well, that was both exciting AND underwhelming." He plopped down on the rowboat and crossed his legs. "Was hoping it would put up a fight." They were still a way from shore out in the middle of the greater lake. "So, teach me how to fish like that sometime! That was so epic."

"I wanna chill on here a bit longer. Shore's a ways ahead." He skimmed his fingertips through the water, feeling the warm waves glide amongst him. Aincrad never failed to show beauty in the midst of this horror.

"Yessir!" Hael nodded. On second thought, he looked down at his long trousers. The waves lapped up at the bottom of his soles. He was, unfortunately enough, going to have wet socks. He rolled up his pant legs as well and began to push the boat into the waves with all his strength. After a momentary struggle, the canoe was suspended above the water. He hopped on top, wobbling over the shaky flooring. He fell back on his rear, palms gripping both sides of the boat.

Val assumed fisherman duty, seizing the pole for himself. "Ooh," Hael commented, "Y'know how to fish a big one?" An question that was rhetorical once the man plucked the massive sword fish out of the water. The boy gulped. "W-Woah, you aren't here to play." He intercepted the swordfish with a glowing punch, sending it flying back into the water lest it tip the entire boat over.

Hael let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. It was a relief that Val wasn't mad, but again, he seemed rather stoic most of the time. He'd come to find that his comrade's default face was a neutral one, neither this nor the other. "Yeah, for sure! I'll take you back there after this is over with." He flashed the man a smile. He noticed that as time passed, conversation had grown smoother. It was a nice change and Hael was glad that they'd been getting along. Carob eyes diverted towards the boat ahead, the old man grabbing the hull.

The brunette rolled up his sleeves. "Hollup a sec, I'll get it." Thin, frail arms grasped the side of the boat tightly. He spared a glance at the fisherman to see that he was lifting up the hull. The back needed a third set of arms to push the rowboat into the waves. Luckily, three people seemed more than efficient for the task.

As per usual, Hael was running late. Punctuality was not his strongest suit for one, as he was a bit of a scatterbrain. A typical day would have him set out early, only to be distracted by something. Today was such a case. A crowd of players in the Town of Beginnings crowded at a vending cart, perusing cheap culinary consumables. Mop of unruly brown locks peeked in between the circle, to find a large, scrumptious watermelon on display. The usual good was marked down by twenty-five percent. The eager penny pincher stepped into the ring and fired up a transaction. At the convenient click of a button, he shifted two large ones to his inventory. They doubled as energy buffs, if desired, a perfect battle aid.

A quick stop at Hannah's on the way, and he received the package to deliver to ol' Pete. Just as he withdrew it from the inventory, he noticed how much time had passed. Hael gasped. Just how? He'd only left the house a minute ago---

Nonetheless, he fired up a message to let Val know he'd be there shortly.

In due time, Hael carried the bulky package down to the fishing dock. A familiar head of silver turned his way and he waved. "Oops, sorry about that. Watermelon flash sale! I couldn't miss such a deal." He handed the package to the grey haired man next to him. "This'll be your parcel, sir."

"Nope!" Hael responded to man named Enryu. And it was true. He'd only received a vague message from Val and didn't bother to inquire further. He trusted his comrade's judgment as a level-headed man. He decided if there was nothing worth fretting over, he'd gather the rest in time. The brunette tuned in to the other's discussions with tactic. He noted the dynamic of all three around him and frowned. All three were polite for pleasantries and straight to the business. Even a smile or a polite jest would have been good. He stood among the group, feeling alienated without much input to tact out of context. The heck was a secret medicine anyways? What's a Nepent? He zoned off and threw in a "Hm? Oh, yeah, for sure." Although everything went out the other ear.

The walk to the hunting ground was painfully silent and for once, Hael found the control to zip his mouth. His mind, instead, wandered elsewhere to preoccupy time. Not for long, however, when a group of those strange, plant-like monsters intercepted them. He tightened his wraps around his wrists and followed after Val.

"Roger that." Hael stayed on the lookout, form guarding the entrance of the secret passageway. The absence of his comrade left his nerves running. Back pressed against the stone, he peered through the darkness as much as his vision could able. He kept the other safe until he retreated. The duo, with not much else to do, decided to head off. The brunette twisted on his heels and set off behind Val.

The next objective was to deliver the goods to the rather talkative artisan. The party traveled to the grove prior and dropped off their individual packages. Hael dusted his hands for a job well done and accepted the next phase of the quest. Were they already on with the fourth one? A sense of satisfaction washed over Hael. He'd been more productive lately, perhaps because he had found incentive. For betterment, like most others. He waved his comrade ado and set off for his own path.

THREAD COMPLETE

Valentine - 4 SP ( 2 quest, 1 pg, 1 bonus ), 650 COL (200 split, rest loot) + 2 T1 MATS +1 ACC T1 Ring

Hael - 4 SP ( 2 quest, 1 pg, 1 bonus ), 200 COL, + 1 ACC T1 Ring

The worm went down in record time, much to the boy's surprise. He'd been too enveloped in battle to even consider the health bar above the opponent's head. The worm's body materialized into nothingness, alerting him of its demise. His tension ebbed away as he sighed in relief. "Whew, good." Free hand skimmed through his matted locks and pushed them back. A stack of loot appeared in place of the body and the boy's eyes glimmered with greed. He picked it up and stowed it away.  

Attention moved to Val and he nodded in confirmation. "Yup! Let's get outta here-" Hael noticed the clearing in the tunnel, a soft glow of light enticing him. "What's that over there? Wanna check it out?" He didn't wait to hear the other's confirmation. He seized the situation himself and followed among Valentine to see if there was anything worth reaping. Unfortunately, their luck had not been so great.

ID: 172551 / LD: 1 / No MATS

The concept of death at a game over kept him in check. It was weird to think that a few mistakes could have him digging his own grave, but that was why he weighed his options before each fight. His tact was hopeless as he preferred to move at whims, but fortunately for the duo, Valentine was an efficient tactician. He glanced back to his comrade who was fairing well on his own, spearing the grotesque worm. He'd thought too soon, however, when the worm rolled over to crush Val. Hael blanched for a moment and panicked, unsure of what he would do to be of use. He balled his fists and charged forward, fist glowing red with heat. He punched a dent through the worm's flesh, sprayed by its gut. He scrunched his nose in disgust. "YUCK!" He retreated and spared a look at his comrade. He was back up and in shape now. Hael flexed his palm.

The worm was a scene straight out of a science fiction horror film, titanic in size with a gut protruding about half the space in the cave. Slimy appendages skittered about the soil, making way towards the party. Hael scrunched his nose in distaste. The developers had an eye for detail, perfectly capturing the essence of a grotesque being like that. He held his wraps taut and studied the patterns of the worm. Due to the sheer weight of its body, the creature moved slowly. Maneuvering? Near impossible. That should've been the case until he'd charged at the worm, only to trip on the coil of its tail and fall forward. The creature all but rolled over to crush him and a chill went up his spine. Not under his watch! The brunette gathered himself and evaded for a safe distance. The worm moved like a brainless entity, slithering towards no direction in particular, only striking when in proximity. He found it odd.

On the way to the rendezvous point, Hael crossed the heart of the bazaar. The town of beginnings was bustling with life like usual. Vendor wares and goodies lined the streets, beckoning him to take a peek with his empty pockets. Envy welled within at the sight of things he could not afford. Whims put a dent on his earnings.

He forwent the necessities in favor of a luxurious meal. In the aftermath, he'd been penny pinching his way through life. Several thousand col accounted to his entire earning. One day, he'd surmount enough wealth to sustain a luxurious life.

He glanced at his clock and blanched. "Uuh, Val's totally gonna flip," he muttered, under his breath. Footsteps quickened to make time. Upon arrival, he greeted a party of three. First he noticed the tallest among the bunch, his pal Val. Why did that rhyme? And further along, there was petite redhead, arms crossed with honey eyes darting his way. He approached and faced the two he did know. "Heyy. Sorry I'm late to the shindig." He turned to face the unfamiliar figure and pointed at the cursor above his own head, name printed in fine green. "Right up here, the name's Hael. You rollin' with us?" He 

In what felt like seconds, another cave guardian had spawned from the cave's dark recesses. The armor clad guard skulked over, the clattering a dead given sound. The brunette spun around to remain alert, checking over his shoulder towards his surroundings. Among a flickering of light, he caught a telltale glimpse of the creature's armor. Brows furrowed in concentration. Before his next breath, Val stepped in for the kill with remarkable expertise. The boy had silently applauded him. Val had always given the impression of a hardworking, driven man, with his meticulous schedules and his attention to strategy. He was not surprised that he'd climbed the ranks so quickly since their last encounter. "Nice one!" He cut in, watching as the mob crumpled to a heap before them.

Next up on the field, a giant worm out of who knows where at this point? The bruenette heard a skulk from behind him and punched the air out of impulse. Unbeknownst to him, he had punched a decent dent into a giant worm mob.

ID: 172420 | BD: 7 [ HIT ] | 5*4=20 DMG

Party:

Valentine | HP:180/180 | EN:15/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:9/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Giant Worm | 70/90 HP | 27 DMG

His anticipation built up at the sound of a count. An enemy was spotted, and in light, both men assumed stances of defense. The shadows provided ample cover for them, however against a creature of the night? The stakes heightened from there. Heavy vibrations shook the ground beneath his soles, rocks falling from the cavern roofs. Hael, in a rush to preserve himself, braced his face with his forearms. 

When his comrade was flung aside like a ragdoll, Hael's blood ran cold. Despite his orders, he threw caution to the wind and went racing forth blindly. The narrow path diverged into an open space, a luminating source of light providing scant clarity. He gritted his teeth and wound his wraps tighter. "Hey, shitface!" He hollered, waving his arms about in an attempt to poke fun. "Eyes over here!" He raced forward, and with frightening velocity, he pummeled a dent through the iron clad guardian's armor. Pieces of armor clattered to the ground, a transparent vessel crystalizing into nothingness. He dusted his hands from the filth.

ID: 172405 / BD: 6 [ HIT ] / 5*4=20 DMG

Party:

Valentine | HP:180/180 | EN:18/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:12/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Cave Guardian | -10/20 HP | 5 DMG

Hael kept rambling to distract from the jitters crawling up his spine. A faint echo and a sound of distant skulking drove him anxious. From about every direction, there was a different sound seeking his attention. He wound his handwraps tighter around his fists and clenched them, prepared for the worst case scenario. As they moved further, the addition of water dripping served more as a fuel for paranoia than a calming sound. "Gghh... this better be worth it," he spat out. "This is givin' me the heebie jeebies."

He peeked his head from the taller man's side, gaze resting on a vibrant red gem. It shone bright enough to be a blinding hazard. "Ooh. How much COL would this give us?" he mused, aloud. He didn't hesitate twice to snatch the gem from its perch. Small palms nestled the ruby, sharp and pristine at its edges. "Heh," he chuckled, "Sweeeet motherlode!" He bit his tongue shortly after, realizing his lack of tact. 

Hael, as spontaneous as ever, only gave the quest list a quick glance. He was not aware of a dark cave, the mere thought of one sent a chill up his spine. Well, he supposed, if anything lurked about in there that could ambush them, at least he wouldn't go down alone. He swallowed thickly and urged on to the cave's entrance. With tentative footsteps, and a nod in acknowledgement to Val's advice, he entered the cave.

Instantaneously, a thick blanket of obsidian shielded his vision. He peered in the dark, his vision returning slowly as he adjusted to his new environment. "Yessir! Let's find that gem. And maybee..." he trailed off, in thought. "Maybe we can find even more gems for profit. Right behind ya." He shot the other a thumbs up, albeit he was certain he couldn't see it. Hael couldn't really make out more than the silhouette of his hand, a faded luminescent glow lighting the path.

The sun's scorching rays permeated his thick, dark armor. He fanned at his nape and the thin film of sweat forming upon his brow. "Ugh." The perks of an open pasture? No flippin' tree or shade to be found in sight. He stood in the middle, carob eyes scanning in search of a silver haired man. The rays were all but blinding, and thus he shielded them with a hand over his eyes like a visor. A scuffing noise from behind alerted his attention in that direction. He whipped around  to find Val. "Oh, there you are." He parted his lips to speak, however the other had no time for pleasantries. He made haste to drag the boy to location on the marker. "Boo, okay." He sealed his lips shut and followed the man to meet Hannah, an artisan in tacky, medieval garb. He tossed the package to her and zoned out through the prompts. An unamused expression overtook him as he glanced at Val, an unspoken "when will this woman stop talking?" exchanged.

At last, they were free with the objective on Hael's marker updated. Valentine stepped forth as leader and Hael followed suit. "Yesssir." He whistled a quick tune, pulling up his menu to down the potions.

Consumes Safeguard and T1 Immolation.

"Maris!"

Hael threw his rolling pin down on the counter and raced over to the culprit, a silver haired girl, with cherry glazed fingertips and an impish smile on her face. "You look like a raccoon right now. Hands off the pie." He placed a firm hand on the petite girl's head, pushing her away.

"Geez, it's just a bite. Why are you so stingy?" The girl scrunched her nose and licked off the remnants of the glaze. "Oh, and more sugar to that. You're welcome." She twisted on the balls of her heels and made way for the dining table. Colorful beads were scattered atop the table for the aspiring artisan to hone her craft. One day, she could muster enough to start her own cozy shop.

Hael rolled his eyes and tended to the dented pie crust. Fortunately, the dough was unbaked and pliable. He remolded it into suitable shape and tossed it into the oven. The perks of advanced reality, baking took half the time. For now, he could keep himself busy. In opportune time, a message pinged on his HUD.

We have a quest to do. It is not supposed to be hard but you can meet me at this location. (XX.YY)
- Valentine

Hael shrugged. He had little planned for the day as is. He sent a message of confirmation, however another face had come to mind shortly after. Vera, was it? The sassy redhead, an enigma in her own right. Enigma's seemed to be the trend in his company.

Quote

Yo, red! Questing with Val today. Don't be a stranger. (XX. YY)
- Hael

The first agenda of his quest: head to the kind ol' smithy's and pick up a package. Hael rounded the corner and stepped onto the shop, greeting the old man with a wave. The NPC, rigidly programmed, went straight to business upon a quick scan. He tossed him a package, one to deliver to a lady named Hannah. Sounded like a piece of cake so far. He knew he wouldn't take upon a quest if it risked his ass getting handed to him.

He set the location on his marker and traveled with the package in tow. Her location was marked on the map... yet... why was it so hard to find her? He scanned the open field. Maybe he blind as shit after all. He sighed heavily and reached for the spyglass looped around his belt. Nothing out there but birds, boars, and grass. He made haste to keep moving, lest he was ambushed by yet another heard of those pesky pigs. He was much more equipped to handle it now, but he refused to deal with it today. This week's grueling brawl served as nightmare fuel.

He swiped up to send a message to Val.

Quote

To: Valentine
From: Hael

Where tf is this lady? I need your help finding her : ( Come here pls I think she's close

Joining Firm Anima was a decision done with reluctance. The center of his world were his two friends, the remaining members of his former guild. They'd kept the name of what once was alive in memory, however there was no denying there was nary a benefit of their teamwork. A group of three listless teenagers could only be so efficient without guidance and structure. Upon receiving the invitation to join Firm Anima, he thought it similar to betrayal to the others. He stewed over the offer, and then brought it up to the two. Much to his surprise, they'd agreed, but only as a package deal.

Thus, three more had joined the ranks.

Come noon, Hael gathered himself for an agenda. He possessed no motive behind his drive for these quests. They were as is, fun. Watching those checkmarks tick and those bars fill up granted him a brief sense of satisfaction.

Brought Along: Immolation T1 & Safeguard Potion

He paid heed to the blue haired woman opening the chest. She worked with precision, it made the boy wonder how often she went treasure hunting. She seemed like an elusive lady, a bit intimidating despite her kindness due to her aura. She put the items back in the crate and turned to them.

"Here, you two can discuss the treasure. I think it'll give you a boost. Consider it my treat."

Hael accepted the chest and turned to Val. "Woah. Lookit all of this. I think you deserve it. You busted your ass the hardest here." It was an atypical act of generosity from the teenager, who would've much rather kept every bit to himself. His actions proved that Val was in good graces.

The captain received a sudden message which urged for her attention. She skimmed it for a moment and marked the coordinates. "Oh, duty calls!" She swiped away the menu and clasped her hands together. "Anyways, I'll see you two around. I've something important to tend to."

And with that, she crushed a teleport crystal.

After Val, he'd noticed the absence of their captain. "Oh yeah, where'd she run off to?" He took the lead, stepping ahead. "Let's go find her so we can say thanks." He moved through the field, stopping in his tracks at the sound of something rustling nearby. The source of the noise directed at a bush, a piece of blue hair tangled in it. He perked a brow and stepped close to investigate the situation. There she'd been, tinkering with what looked like a locked wooden box. A patch of loose dirt had been left from where she'd dug up the treasure. "Ooh. What's in that?" Hael stepped close to observe. He all but invaded her personal space in excitement of seeing a treasure chest up close. His luck alone was not enough to pull up a chest. Maybe his friend could, but he was better off in his own right with skills and prowess.

ID: 171909 / LD: 5 / NO LOOT

With all the tusks collected, Hael stepped out of battle. He gave a glance over his shoulder at the silver haired male, spear pointed and ready to strike. "Have at em'. I got what I needed. Just holler at me for support, kay?" He shot him a thumbs up. "I'll be pickin' herbs by the lady." He felt a sense of guilt wash over him, for he had not a clue who she was or what her name was. The only higher ups he'd been around often around to remember were the provisional captain, Kiluia. The cool, kickass martial artist who'd helped him out with his quest.

He could only hope to be that great one day.

He traveled over to the bluenette, who was relaxing on the grass. She alternated her attention from her book and back to the battle, keeping a close eye lest anything go wrong. He knelt down, searching for a herb that turned out to be a deformed blade of grass.  A frown painted his features.

With the shift of the winds, so had the tides turned in battle. He switched up his tactic. Instead of moving about, he would let them crash into him. He stood with arms spread out, feeling the boar's angry tusks pick at him. On impact, they ignited in flames, sizzling into a fine smoke. They vanished into thin air, two leaving behind a set of tusks. Eager, Hael snatched it up in a heartbeat. "YES!" He called across the field, in announcement to both his comrade and the woman surveyed the field. "I finally got em' all! MAN!" He pumped his fist and returned to the fray. Just one more nuisance remained, circling around him and sizing him up. It was a poor display of intimidation. The boy snorted. "Yeah, keep bein' tough. You're bacon now." She popped his jaw with his palm and flexed his fingers. He seized his grip on the blade and hollered over to Val.