Acanthus

Acanthus nodded solemnly, the humor entirely lost on her. “Children are hard workers. I’m sure he would see them helping in your shop and realize how much the arrangement benefits both you and the children. Although I don’t know if learning a trade here would really translate into the real world if they get back...When they get back.” Her voice softened at the mistake. “Does, um, does Wulfrin have a shop? Oh, you said he was a blacksmith already. Forgive me.” A warm, black lump of fur distracted her from her conversational tailspin. Kumaki's mouth contained a trace amount of cookie—just e

“Wait, the ice cream here combusts? I’m not sure I’d want to eat that. Also, I thought you were the hot dog man. The ice cream… is that a recent thing? Are you just slowly picking up all summer-themed American foods?” Acanthus briefly considered asking if he would consider trying to recreate a McFlurry in Aincrad, but thought the better of it. She didn’t need anyone else knowing about her weakness for cheap fast food. Plus, if a McFlurry did to Aincrad whatever it did to the McFlurry machine, there was a good chance attempting to recreate the dessert in Aincrad would spell their doom.

I'll give you your next break >:( Recovery. +1 EN. +0 HP Main Action: ST-1 -> Morningstar (-8 EN) ROLLID | BD 7 + 4 - 4 | Hit! 8 * 10 = 80 + 20 = 100 damage. Swift Action. Vampire Noble's Knife (-2 EN) | Additional 20 damage (included above). +20 HP. Acanthus | HP: 236/440 | EN: 5/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT: 56 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (2/2) | FTK (7/7) Morningstar | HP: 9/450 | EN: 12/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | FLN: 4 | PARA-V | SUSHI

I can just paste the exact last block Recovery. +1 EN. +18 HP Swift Action. Nothing Main Action: Paralyzed Morningstar, you scallywag. You absolute blaggard Acanthus | HP: 248/440 | EN: 14/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT: 56 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (2/2) | FTK (7/7) Morningstar | HP: 109/450 | EN: 8/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | FLN: 4 | PARA-V | SUSHI

No smack Recovery. +1 EN. +18 HP Swift Action. Nothing Main Action: Paralyzed Morningstar, you scallywag. You absolute blaggard Acanthus | HP: 230/440 | EN: 13/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 51 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (1/2) | SHATTER: -5 (3/3) | FTK (6/7) Morningstar | HP: 109/450 | EN: 8/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | FLN: 4 | PARA-V | SUSHI

smack(:nod:) Recovery. +1EN | +18 HP Swift Action. None. Main Action: ST-1 -> Morningstar (-8 EN) 243117 | BD 6 + 4 - 4 | Hit! 10 * 8 = 80 damage. Acanthus | HP: 249/440 | EN: 12/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 51 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (2/2) | SHATTER: -5 (2/3) | FTK (5/7) Morningstar | HP: 109/450 | EN: 15/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | HLY: 4 | FRZ | SUSHI

No smack Recovery. +1 EN. +18 HP (32 - 14). Swift Action. None. Main Action: Rest (+10 EN) Acanthus | HP: 249/440 | EN: 19/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 51 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (1/2) | SHATTER: -5 (1/3) | FTK (4/7) Morningstar | HP: 189/450 | EN: 4/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | HLY: 4 | FRZ | SUSHI

Smack Recovery. +1 EN. +18 HP (32 - 14). Swift Action. None. Main Action: ST-II -> Morningstar (-11 EN) 243098 | BD 6 + 4 - 4 | Hit! 10 * 11 = 110 damage. Acanthus | HP: 256/440 | EN: 8/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (0/2) | FTK (4/7) Morningstar | HP: 189/450 | EN: 9/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | HLY: 4 | FRZ | SUSHI

Smack Recovery. +1 EN. +0 HP. Swift Action. None Main Action: ST-I (-8 EN) 243094 | BD 8 + 4 - 4 | Hit! 10 * 8 = 80 damage. Acanthus | HP: 278/440 | EN: 18/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (2/2) | FTK (3/7) Morningstar | HP: 299/450 | EN: 18/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | HLY: 4 | FRZ | SUSHI

THREAD SUMMARY Experience Acanthus | [Word Count: 6068/10 = 606.8] * [True Tier: 7] * [Group Factor: 0.5] = 2124 * 2 = 4248 EXP Jomei | [Word Count: 6068/10 = 606.8] * [True Tier: 12] * [Group Factor: 0.5] = 3641 * 2 = 7282 EXP Wulfrin | [Word Count: 6068/10 = 606.8] * [True Tier: 6] * [Group Factor: 0.5] = 1820 * 2 = 3640 EXP Kiyabu | [Word Count: 6068/10 = 606.8] * [True Tier: 2] * [Group Factor: 0.5] = 607 * 2 = 1214 EXP Col Acanthus | 318 col (Laurel Wreath) Jomei | 546 col (Laurel Wreath) Wulfrin | 273 col (Laurel Wreath) Kiyab

THREAD SUMMARY Winner is Acanthus (close fight though! gg) (Word Count does not include Kindling's Introduction) Experience Acanthus | [Word Count: 2917/10 = 291.7] * [True Tier: 7] * [Group Factor: 0.7] = 1429 * 2 = 2858 EXP Vigilon | [Word Count: 2917/10 = 291.7] * [True Tier: 7] * [Group Factor: 0.7] = 1429 * 2 = 2858 EXP Col Acanthus | 428 col (Laurel Wreath) Vigilon | 428 col (Laurel Wreath)

Chilly Recovery. +1 EN. +18 EN Swift Action. None Main Action: None (Frozen) You best hope your luck keeps up Acanthus | HP: 278/440 | EN: 25/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (1/2) | FROZEN | FTK (2/7) Morningstar | HP: 379/450 | EN: 5/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | HLY: 4 | FRZ | SUSHI

stop that!!! Recovery. +1 EN. +18 HP. Swift Action. Antidote Crystal (-2 EN) | All negative status effects cleared (Freeze, Burn, Shatter) Main Action: ST-I -> Morningstar (-2 EN) 243022 | BD 4 + 4 - 4 | Miss. Acanthus | HP: 324/440 | EN: 24/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | FTK (1/7) Morningstar | HP: 379/450 | EN: 12/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | HLY: 4 | FRZ | SUSHI

oof ouch owie my bones Recovery. +1 EN. +18 HP Swift Action. Forgotten King's Authority (-5 EN) Frozen removed. Main Action: ST-I -> Morningstar (-2 EN) 243009 | BD 4 + 4 - 4 | Miss. Acanthus | HP: 372/440 | EN: 27/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 51 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:14 | HB: 18 | LD:3 | BURN: 14 (0/2) | Shatter: -5 (2/3) | FTK (0/7) Morningstar | HP: 379/450 | EN: 17/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 4 | REC: 2 | LD: 4 | HLY: 4 | FRZ | SUSHI

Frustration grew with each missed swing. The only ground she could gain was the inevitable damage of her flames and thorns. Morningstar himself was too fast and too smart to hit. Emotions rose and caught in her chest with each step forward and back. She hated them—hated each and every entwined feeling that she could not pick out, and analyze, and return to a neatly labeled container in her mind. Unconsciously, her mind sorted what it could. She felt sad. What she had done on Floor Nine was unforgivable. Morningstar had every right to hate her. She felt afraid. Her actions were h

Morningstar darted in, severing another strand of her patience with a decisive strike, while Acanthus’ sword sliced the air where he had just been. He’s fast. That’ll save his life someday. ...It already did. Nervous, her body fused to the floor, refusing to press the withdrawing figure. Instead, botan formed a feeble line between her and Morningstar. “Stop it.” The words fell from her mouth, less a command than a plea. “Stop it.” Morningstar appeared deaf. His face locked into a grimace she had only seen at the bandit camp itself. Was it too late to talk? It’s

Initiative: 242993 | LD 20 Acanthus had dreaded this moment since her brief lapse of judgment on floor nine. Hadn’t she earned a little more time before dealing with Morningstar? When she had seen the scheduled fight, her heart dropped. Three draft messages lay abandoned in her messages folder, begging Minako to reconsider the match, or even just threatening to forfeit before the fight started. But those drafts remained unsent, and now she was here. Acanthus’s mind clouded over, desperate to stay away from the feelings that had overtaken her in the midst of battle. Memories grew blac

No good. She scowled and fell back, taking a moment to catch her breath. <<I might as well sit down in front of you. You’re too weak to even take a swing at me.>> Hirru seemed like the last person to be goaded with such an obvious ploy, but she’d take any chance to move the game along. <<How have your other fights gone? I shudder to imagine a mirror match for you.>> Before she could conjure up another half-baked insult, Emrakul spoke to her. An inky black canvas washed away the fight, and the noise along with it. All that remained with the voice (the very no

THREAD SUMMARY Experience. [Word Count: 5499/10 = 549.9] * [True Tier: 7] * [Group Factor: 1] = 3849 + 1500 (quest) = 5349 * 1.1 (Slime Farm) = 5883 EXP Col. 400 (bonus) + 577 (Laurel Wreath) + 1500 (quest) = 2477 col

Softly, like handling a newborn child, Haru lifted her Dad from the floor. She recalled her de-escalation exercises from the hospital, but she never thought she’d be using them here. “Dad, I solved a cipher in one of the later journals.” Noboru stared wildly around the room. “Really? Really?? What did it say? No, wait, I want to solve it—” She cut in, “no, Dad, Mom said this was urgent. She said you have to start taking your meds again.” He shook his head. “She wouldn’t say that, she can’t talk to me unless I’m listening.” “She said… She said she needs a break.” Haru bit her lip unti

The creature had fallen silent, and appeared to be looking at her with pleading eyes.

Spoiler content: the following post contains spoilers for the quest <<To Shine a Light.>> The staff worked really hard to make a really neat quest with a reveal; personally, I think you’re doing yourself a disservice to not work through the puzzles and experience the reveal yourself. Because not many people have done this quest at the time of reading, I’m keeping the narrative below as spoiler-free as possible. Run the quest if you’re interested in all the juicy details.

The universe felt millions of kilometers away. The rain pounded on windows a million kilometers in the sky as her fingers worked the padlock of a secret passage that someone else had discovered a million years ago. The code slid in effortlessly as it had a million times before. The hatch opened with a shriek that sounded from a million star systems to the left. The bones of Acanthus moved down into the hole, and her soul followed after. —-- The warped stairway spiraled down in a manner that destroyed her sense of direction. It followed the spiral of the lighthouse at first, but then

Haru was shocked to find that much of the study was the exact same as she had remembered from her brief glimpse seven years ago. Books lay strewn on the floor, the office chair still tilted on its side in the middle of the study. But the differences made her gasp. Her mom’s journals and letters had been nailed, tacked, and stapled across the walls in a garish display, hung like the body parts of Christ in a gruesome display of reverence. Large sections of butcher paper had been strung in-between the notes, scrawled with messages such as “eight nonograms found in pages 78–89” and “possible Vige

She couldn’t believe her ears. This thing was… scolding her? It had the audacity to hound her every step through Aincrad. It whispered awful things in her ears. It nearly drove her to the precipice of killing not only herself, but other players. And now it was the one deciding what memories she could remember? Fury built up in her chest. “You—you don’t have the right. These are my memories! What gives you the right? Or, or the power?!” She drew botan, as if it would do anything. The voice chortled at the display. RIGHT AND POWER, SHE THINKS ARE TWO THINGS. RIGHT IS POWER. AND THE POWER IS