[SP-F5] A Time To Hunt - Shifting Sands and Sneaky Sharks <<Blood in the Sand>> - COMPLETE!

[Brax 0]

ID 47131

Spoiler

BD 8 +2 ACC LD 18 MoBD 10

Brax 72/76 [15 + 2crit - 30 MIT] x 4 = 4 DMG EN 8/19

Dune Rat 1 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Dune Rat 2 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Dune Rat 3 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Dune Rat 4 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

     "Back again, on Floor Five," said Brax to himself as he exited town, making his way into the windswept dunes of the desert.  Another quest to embark on, this time in search of a <<Sand Shark>> that roamed around beneath the, well sand, that encompassed the entire floor.  Though, from what he had gleaned from the quest posting, he should have better luck in finding the beast, as it did not seem to require abundant slaying to summon; instead, it would simply need to be found.  That was where the true quest lay, in the search for the creature as it swam under the sands.  His axe hefted upon his shoulderguards, Brax looked at his map just a moment to confirm he was headed in the right direction, the area where the shark supposedly lived, and where he would begin his search.

     On the trip out of town, just beyond the last rock-masoned house, Brax saw several shadows peeking out over a nearby dune.  Not thinking anything of it, as the shadows were too small in their dimensions, he strode out into the desert with little fear.  As he stepped over the dunes, however, he was accosted by the flitting shadow creatures, having revealed themselves to be Dune Rats, a decently sized mob that awaited players who chose to enter the desert blindly and uncaring to it's dangers.  Though their attacks were little more than pinpricks against his armor, Brax was immediately frustrated by the tiny creatures, and summoned his strength the eliminate them hastily.  They moved quickly, but not quickly enough, and the green flash of his Trample Act made swift work of the offending rats.  Looking around for more, and satisfied there were none, Brax continued his entrance into the dusty plain and his ultimate destination where the field boss lay hidden.

+4 materials

+760 col

Spoiler

On ‎8‎/‎18‎/‎2014 at 8:46 AM, Saix said:

<<Blood in the Sand>>

This Repeatable quest takes place on Floor 5

 

Word from the Information Brokers speaks of a hidden respawning Field Boss on Floor 5. A small party reported having encountered a dangerous unknown enemy in the sand dunes of Floor 5. 'Swimming' through the sand, the shark like creature would attack by bursting out of the sand and biting with powerful jaws. This monster <<Sand Shark>>, proved to be a dangerous opponent for the relatively low leveled party, and dropped a powerful alchemical concoction.

 

This RP will not count in the benchmark

 

Requirement: 

<<Sand Shark>> must be defeated, Maximum Party Size of 3

At least two [2] Pages  (21 or more posts)

 

Rewards: 

1. [sand Armor Potion] This incredibly potent alchemical salve can be applied to a piece of armor, increasing damage mitigation/resistance by one point for one battle. (MIT +3)
2. [3 Skill Points]

 

 

<<Sand Shark>> is a respawning Field Boss and has the following statistics:

HP: 125

Damage per Attack: 30

 

• Parties or Groups of low level players are encouraged.
• You are free to control Sand Shark yourself, however he must be Rp'd responsibly.

 

Note:

While you may repeat this Quest as many times as you like, the 3 Skill Point reward will only be obtained on the first completion of the Quest. Repeat completions will only yield <<The Sand Armor>>

 

Good Luck Players!

 

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     The two floors were diametrically opposite of each other, Floor Four and Floor Five.  Both functioned at opposing ends of the spectrum, and Brax had experienced them both in full: the first when he went in search of Avalanche, and the second during his awkward trip during <<The Traveler>>.  Thankfully, during that second quest he had received the Survival Skill, which was supposed to afford it's owner with a modicum of protection from the elements, whatever they were.  As of yet, though, he had not felt it's presence, not now, nor during his day-long search for Avalanche.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     What was the point, he idly wondered, of gaining skills and then not having them activated?  Were there requirements to their successful implementation?  Brax did not know, nor at the moment, care overmuch.  He had enough water rations to engage in a thorough search of the location where the Shark lived, and was...mostly unconcerned...with the pervasive heat.  It was an advantage of his unfeeling nature, that not even the environment could ruffle his feathers, so to speak.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     No, the only thing that could send him for a loop was social interaction.  The necessary piece of life in Aincrad, and the world in general.  Brax, or rather Brandon, had not done much in the way of worldly interactions while in the real world, as most of the people he knew were...well, different.  But here, in Aincrad, he had met quite a few individuals while out and about, friendly ones such as Coddexx, or closed off ones like Creius, or even hot headed ones like Morgenstern.  And those were only the only he had personally interacted with.  Shopkeepers, townsfolk, barkeeps and others had mingled in and out of his life in unending fashion, a cavalcade of people that acted...normal...or at least more normal than his usual fare.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 47132

Spoiler

BD 5 +2 ACC LD 19 MoBD 8

Brax 71/76 [15 - 30 MIT] x 4 = 4 DMG EN 8/19

Kobold Lurker 1 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Kobold Lurker 2 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Kobold Lurker 3 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Kobold Lurker 4 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

     Brax's reverie was broken by the arrival of another mob, a group of Kobold Lurkers in search of meat and materials, a scavenger party out wandering the desert sands.  They believed that the heavily armored man was easy prey; they couldn't be more wrong.  With his axe set on his metal shoulder, Brax charged their position to engage in battle.  Seeing their packs, he suspected that this team had gathered themselves a decent haul, and he wished to make it his own.  The Kobolds' threw their makeshift spears at him, but the javelins did little to damage his impeccable defenses.  When he had finished his charge to appear among them, Brax set in motion his Trample Act, the green flash of his Battle-Axe rending the party limb from limb.  As their pixels rose into the dusty sky, he quickly searched through their belongings and confirmed his suspicions: they had gathered quite a haul of supplies and col.  Brax put the loot in his inventory swiftly, and moved off of the battlefield, just in case they happened to have friends patrolling the area.

+8 materials

+760 col

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     'What, I wonder, is normal, though?' thought Brax after concluding the battle, again becoming lost in thought.  It was a question he routinely asked himself; as a patient at a mental hospital the answer meant a great deal.  It was a question of baselines, of comparisons and levels, and of what people, especially those who did not suffer from his 'complications', thought of him and his actions.  He had seen how others reacted to his presence, whether they were like Ishida who mocked him, or Creius and Morgenstern who looked at him with mistrust and suspicion.  Even Teayre, as brief as their interactions had been, had observed a...different kind of aura surrounding him.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Try as he might, Brax could not rid himself of his inability to react 'properly', whatever that might entail.  And, by not doing so, he had made those who chose to join up with him for a time most uncomfortable.  Although, Coddexx the alchemist had expressed a desire to see him again.  The boy was... much more open...than Brax had expected, and while he could not truly appreciate the subtleties of the interactions between them, still...it was most definitely a beneficial encounter, one that he would possibly count on again in the near future.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 47133

LD 8

     The wind passed over the dunes like waves from a beach lapping at the sands, an endless ocean of desert sprawled out as far as the eye could see.  It was not a good place in which to do a materials search, as the desert held nothing but the sands, with little underneath it but...more sand, as well as monsters that could hide behind it's ever-shifting façade.  The undulating dust that flowed under his feet could be likened to a mask, protecting dangerous treasures of powerful proportions, such that Brax would soon see.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 47134

Spoiler

BD 7 +2 ACC LD 12 MoBD 3

Brax 74/76 EN 8/19

Cactuar Brawler 1 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Cactuar Brawler 2 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Cactuar Brawler 3 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Cactuar Brawler 4 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

     As Brax continued his trek, the sands revealed one of their hidden dangers: animate plants covered in thorny hides.  They were Cactuar Brawlers, taking refuge beneath the desert from the blazing sun above.  Specifically designed for these arid conditions, they moved with assuredness and purpose, at home in an area where few would venture.  They had almost surprised the intrepid adventurer, but his shark hunting senses had detected a faint rumbling from beneath the ground, a sound that heralded their ambush.  After all, he needed to keep an eye out for the Sand Shark, and be ready for it's arrival.  How could he do so, if he did not listen to the sands?  As a result, Brax was able to position himself accordingly and avoid their pugnacious assault, answering with one of his own.  His Trample Act was activated thusly, and with a final wide swipe of his axe sent their pixelated remains heavenward, if such a thing existed in a digital world such as this.

+4 materials

+760 col

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Looking around once more to see if any other creatures would be spawning and finding none, Brax sheathed his large axe back across his back.  Venturing away from the battleground, he continued to walk towards to patch of desolation that housed his prize, the field boss for the quest.  No enemy would deter him from the path, no obstacle would stand in his way.  For soon, Brax would find himself mastering his weapon, the powerful axe he wielded quite well, and then, more of the world would open up to him.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     It was an interesting though, the mastering of one's weapon.  Brax somehow knew instinctually that he had not been any sort of warrior in his previous life, the one he struggled to remember.  His form was toned, and his muscles decently strong, but he was not...combat ready, or at least had not been so at the start.  Indeed, it had taken him some time to build up his skills, and still he was slightly more comfortable with allowing the system to move his body, rather than engage in combat with his own skills.  The way the Cardinal assisted his battle capabilities was...the word 'comforting' came to mind, though only the word and not the associated feelings.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     The idea of combat had...I suppose the word would be 'grown'...on him, on Brax, or rather Brandon.  He viewed violence in the same way he view many things in his life: a necessary evil, when the situation called for it.  He had seen quite a bit of it, vicious and ugly, such as when one or two of his fellow patients had 'gone off the rails', so to speak.  The doctors and nurses and even the attendants were forced to use rather extreme measures to detain and then sedate the rampaging inmates.  But, as he considered the differing situations, he imagined that despite the individuals' excessive actions, they were not truly fighting for their lives, only their freedom.  Interestingly enough, much like they who were trapped here in Aincrad.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 47135

LD 17

     A momentary glistening of light flashed from the ground, catching Brax's eye.  Walking over to a disturbed sand patch, he brushed away the coverings to find some supplies, remnants of an expedition that seemingly failed in it's quest.  Though, their loss was his gain, and Brax pocketed the treasures in his inventory.  He engaged his thoughts again briefly, wondering if he would be able to truly master the weapon his brain had chosen for him, the mighty axe that he had donned.  Surely, somewhere in this world of Aincrad, there was a place where he could meditate and think on such things.  He would have to find it, and soon.

+1 material

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 47136

Spoiler

BD 7 +2 ACC LD 15 MoBD 3

Brax 76/76 EN 8/19

Sand Snake 1 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Sand Snake 2 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Sand Snake 3 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

Sand Snake 4 0/38 DEAD [8 x 6 Trample Act - 10 MIT] = 38 DMG

     For now, Brax would have to be satisfied with his Cardinal-enhanced skills against the monsters that populated both this floor and the others currently unlocked.  Monsters such as the Sand Snakes, dreaded serpentine creatures that tunneled beneath the dusty dunes, much like the Sand Shark that he was on the hunt for.  He half thought the rumbling that preceded their arrival was, in fact, his ultimate prey, but when the serpents burst forth from the ground, he instead felt simply a mild frustration, which he then proceeded to unleash onto the beasts.  Charging forward, Brax tackled one of the undulating snakes, and with that one move activated his Trample Act yet again, following the charge with two swift and sharp sweeps of his Battle-Axe, glowing green with energy.  Bisecting the creatures with ease, he procured his winnings from their vanishing remains and checked his map once more, suspecting an answer to his search was nigh.

+4 materials

+760 col

Edited February 1, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     "As expected,"  Brax said aloud, his voice carrying over the shifting sands and into the fiery sun up above.  He had arrived at the field boss's domain, where the dreaded creature held sway.  Brax drew forth his axe from the sheath on his back, hefting the heavy weapon and tossing aside his discomfort from the blazing heat.  The sweat pouring from his body was in equal parts from the stifling inferno that was the floor's environment, and his concentration, focused solely on discovering the hiding place of the Sand Shark.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     His eyes swept over the dusty dunes, trying in vain to pierce the sandy covering that hide the loathsome creature's body.  Brax would not be able to see through such things until his Search and Detect skill was of a higher level, which after mastering his weapon would be next on his list.  It would leave him...underdeveloped against more, shall we say, powerful prey, such that one would find from quests or floor clearing raids, but since he was primarily a solo player, he would toil in the wilds until making the advancements in the other areas, bringing him up to par with the assault team.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Noticing a swiftly moving shadow beneath the sands, Brax tightened his grip on his weapon.  The Sand Shark was moving about, most likely in an attempt to ambush the armored man and take him by surprise.  He trained his eyes on following the creature, but in was moving much too fast for him to keep track of, at least at his present level.  Thinking quickly, Brax opened his inventory up and pulled out his Matriarch's Stinger, a semi-useless potion that he would never really use, preferring to stick with alchemical concoctions from the shopkeepers that populated the entirety of Aincrad.  He consumed the potion, and felt it's power pervade his body, adding just a little more strength, hopefully enough to tilt the odds in his favor in the battle to come.

Consumed Matriarch's Stinger (+1 damage for a battle)

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 47137

Spoiler

BD 2 +2 ACC LD 8 MoBD 7

Brax 75/76 [30 - 30 MIT] = 1 DMG EN 18/19

Sand Shark 125/125

     He was ready.  With axe held high, Brax took a moment to watch the Sand Shark's movements as it slithered under his booted feet.  Taking a gamble, and knowing that the attack would probably do little if any damage, Brax slammed his mighty axe on the shifting ground beneath him, activating his Grand Destruct Sword Art as the weapon hit the ground hard.  The vibrations from the assault rippled out into the ground, hitting the field boss and forcing it to emerge, launching out of the sands and into the air.  While he was correct in assuming the attack did no damage, it effectively brought the creature out of hiding and into the light, where Brax could do some serious damage.  Unfortunately, since he had used a Sword Art, his body was frozen in the post-action delay, leaving him wide open to a vengeful counter-attack.  Which the Sand Shark dealt presently, slamming into Brax with the full weight of it's body behind the blow.  He was flung back hard, flying through the air with the Shark still atop him, but thankfully Ishida's well crafted armor, as well as his own miniscule skill, was enough to deaden the blow.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 41738

Spoiler

BD 5 +2 ACC LD 14 MoBD 8

Brax 74/76 [30 - 30 MIT] = 1 DMG EN 12/19

Sand Shark 62/125 [9 x 7 Crescent Avalanche] = 63 DMG

     As he flew through the sky above the sand, Brax was freed from the post-action delay.  Shaking it off, he retaliated immediately with a mid-air Crescent Avalanche, his Matriarch's Stinger potion empowering his attack further.  Seven slashes, thrusts and hilt jabs struck the flying Shark in it's midsection, eliciting a shriek that echoed across the desert.  His flashing axe hit hard, and the Shark responded in kind, wildly slicing the air to get the offending player away long enough for it to recover.  The frenzied attack knocked Brax to the side, where he bounced two times before coming to a stop about a dozen feet away.  The Shark itself landed hard, but buried into the dunes, not to escape, but to try and ambush the man again, and to lick it's wounds.  Brax was not overly damaged by the blows, though; his armor held tough.  Spitting out a mouthful of sand, he again hefted his axe to ward off the field boss when it returned.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 47139

Spoiler

BD 6 +2 ACC LD 19 MoBD 7

Brax 73/76 [30 - 30 MIT] = 1 DMG EN 6/19

Sand Shark -1/125 DEAD [9 x 7 Crescent Avalanche] = 63 DMG

     Brax's attack had taken much of the creature's life, cutting off more than half of it's health in the attempt.  He had seen the rivulets of virtual blood pixelating off of the Sand Shark as it dove into the dunes, and he knew that he would only need one more clean hit to finish it off.  But, before he could do so, he would have to find it.  Shadows moved, and Brax's eyes kept their laser focus up, tracking each one as it appeared and disappeared at random.  'Where will the beast show itself?' he mused, not wishing to be surprised.   A rumbling behind him momentarily distracted his attention, and in that moment the Sand Shark struck, leaping out of the desert to assail him from the front.  Brax was hit square in the chest, again flying back several feet from the power behind the blow.  But, he would not be done in.  He would not fail.

     As the Sand Shark began to dive back into the ground he charged forward, taking hold of it's squirming tail and hanging on for dear life.  Bracing himself to the task, Brax's feet managed to find purchase in the soft sand and he wrenched the creature out of the ground.  Tossing it high in the air, he briefly wondered how he had amassed the strength to accomplish such a task, but put the thought to the side for future consideration, for right now he had bigger fish to fry.  As the Sand Shark came back down to earth, he instigated his Crescent Avalanche yet again, peppering the field boss with multiple blows of flashing green energy.  The Shark fritzed for a moment, hung in mid-air like a fish awaiting it's picture to be taken after being caught, then it exploded into a crystalline shower, raining down onto Brax and the battlefield.

     As he blinked into the blazing sun shining high above through the pixelated remains, another 'Quest Completed!' sign appeared, signaling the end of the endeavor.  Tired from the exertion, Brax sheathed his axe onto his back.  He made his way back to town and the rest that would follow, his mind now on his next goal: the mastering of his weapon.  But, where would he do so?  These questions, and more, followed his wondering and wandering body back to civilization.

+2 materials

+625 col

Edited February 2, 2016 by Brax