[SP-F1] Gathering and Hunting Day 2 - COMPLETED

[Kranzer 0]

The sun had yet to up rise up over the Town of Beginnings as it surely would within the next hour. Much as it had every other day since he'd logged into SAO. It was the one constant thing Kranzer could truly rely on in this digital world. The sun would always rise in the morning and set in the evening. The young man rested in a relatively decent bed in his room at one of the many Inns that could be found here in town. It wasn't nearly as comfortable as his bed back at home of course but he never woke up with a sore back. He didn't roll out of bed at first. The interior of the room was still cast in darkness so the urge to sleep still weighed heavily upon his eyelids. He wanted nothing more than to just roll over and go back to sleep. However, he'd made the decision to spend his days hunting and gathering in order to gain more strength and that's exactly what he had to do. Due to the increase in the amount of gear he had and his increased knowledge of the first floor's layout Kranzer woke up early each morning to prepare for his daily venture outside of the town's walls. Due to just how time consuming the act of gathering materials was he eventually just chose to wake up before dawn and get things prepped so he would be damn certain he'd be back within the walls before dusk.

Kranzer yawned and sat up as he wiped away the last bit of sleep from his eyes. While his back didn't hurt his muscles still felt stiff which was strange considering this body wasn't actually real. The game was quite amazing in that regard. That is unless this was just the effect of their imprisonment in this place. Nevertheless Kranzer spent a few moments stretching out his muscles before he finally stood up and opened his menu with a swipe of his hand. His eyes shifted along the list of his equipment as he zeroed in on the list of weapons first. He possessed two daggers of note so far. One built for accuracy and the other was a combination damage and accuracy with the focus on damage. When he tapped the option for <<Faith's Hand>> the dagger suddenly appeared on his hip. It's sheath already fastened to his black leather belt. He wore the same dark grey clothes he was typically seen in. A long sleeved shirt with a low collar and slacks that were pulled down over a pair of plain black boots. The dagger was removed from its sheath as he tested the edge which wasn't really necessary but it made him feel more at ease. Once he was happy that the dagger was battle ready he slid it back home in its sheath while the index finger of his right hand swiped through the items list to settle on his armor.

With a press of his finger a long dark grey cloak formed around his body. As it settled the coat's tail settled down just below his knees. Black leather had been sewn into the fabric to reinforce the torso and along the color. On the shoulder of the left sleeve there as the personal mark of Ariel's forge. The profile of a lion's head with a crown. There was a slight rustling of fabric when the coat appeared  and Kranzer pulled it up on his shoulders to make sure it was worn properly. For the next thirty minutes he sat down at a table as he worked on plotting out the route he should take this day and also planned various routes of escape should he find himself in danger. Kranzer was a practical man and preferred to plan for as much as he possibly could before he acted. Once his planning had concluded he opened the door to his room and stepped outside.

Spoiler

Starting the Thread at level 4. Equipped Items: Faith's Hane(+2 Dmg, +1 Acc); Merlin's Shroud(+9 Mit, +2 Eva)

 

Edited March 24, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

Even with the early start he made sure to get Kranzer's progress through the town's congested streets proved to be agonizingly slow. He'd only managed to cover half the distance to the main gates and the first rays of light already started to peek over the eastern wall. At this rate the sun would already be completely visible by the time he got there. A prospect that didn’t appeal to him at all. If he got too late of a start it would prevent him from fulfilling his daily before he would eventually need to pass back through the gates. When his impatience finally get to better of him Kranzer started to press his way through the gathered crowds.

While he passed between the crowd that consisted of a mixture of NPCs and other players Kranzer got to overhear a few bits and pieces of the massive amount of conversations that were currently going on. The collective noise of all the voices that rang out across the busy streets seemed to coalesce into one oppressive noise that bore down upon the young man. Kranzer did his best to keep his mind focused on the task at hand but it was a difficult task. His mind would often wander as he found himself listening to one conversation or another.

Evidently there was some player giving away free gear to the lower level players. Whispers of it was abuzz all over the place but Kranzer wasn’t greedy and had no use for free gear based on what he had already. He’d let other players who truly need it get it and so he started to push his way through again. That is until he overheard something rather peculiar that made him stop in his tracks.

[Kranzer 0]

At first he thought he heard the person wrong. That had to be the case right? According to the short discussion that he'd overheard there had been a number of lower level players that had gone missing lately. They seemed to vanish from within the very walls that were supposed to act as a sanctuary for them and when they vanished there wasn't a single trace or clue left behind that could shed any light on the situation. It was that reason that Kranzer decided to just chalk it up to idle gossip sine there wasn't any actual proof on the matter beyond idle gossip. With his focus finally reforged Kranzer actively picked his way through the crowds. To think that the streets would be so packed that early in the morning. Idly Kranzer started to ponder. If the streets were going to be this congested with foot traffic tomorrow then would it be best if he woke up even earlier to get a head start on his day. Granted he'd never leave the gates before sunrise but he didn't mind too much sitting down and resting until the right time. In his mind it was better to wait at the gates and leave on time than to be late altogether.

Soon the gates loomed up before him and with one final look over his shoulder Kranzer walked through them and stepped out into the grassy fields beyond.

Edited March 17, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

Once outside the gates Kranzer adopted a casual gait as he surveyed his surroundings. No sign of those wolves nor their incessant howling which was a promising sign. Once again his daily allotment would be to try and find at least five materials. If he could maintain that pace eventually he'd increase that number but for now he was intent to keep his goals challenging but still within a range that would be reasonable. If he couldn't attain the goal within a certain time frame then the standard had been set too high and needed to be adjusted. After a bit of walking he came upon a small clearing in the vast expanse of grassland. Here it only reached up to his ankles so finding any stones that might be hidden within would be much more easily accomplished. In order to conduct a thorough search Kranzer started at the outer edge of the area and started to circle around. With each pass he'd step a little to his left so his path would grow smaller and smaller.

Kranzer sifted through the grass at his feet and his fingers brushed against something that he could only assume was a small stone that was rough against his skin. Kranzer picked it up and navigated through the menu interface. When nothing was detected within the stone he wasn't really that surprised. Finding something on his first try would have been great but from experience he knew it was rather unlikely.

Spoiler

ID#51942; LD: 14 [Nothing Found]

 

Edited March 17, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

Kranzer didn't let the fact that he didn't find anything during his last search discourage him. This was just like any other game. He would need to just grin and bear it. Failing to find something again didn't really help matters any. A soft curse was uttered as he stood up suddenly. The sound of a gasp from somewhere to his left immediately drew his attention. Instinct took over and Kranzer spun around using his heel as a pivot point. He expected to find a threat there looming over his back like the sharp blade of a dagger that thirsted for his blood. Instead he found a little girl who couldn't have been more than 13 years old. His brow furrowed slightly as he straightened up. At the idea of a potential threat he'd dropped into a stance that'd allow him to spring in away if necessary to avoid any strike thrown at him. This however? Not what he expected.

 

She had light brown hair cut to a length just above her shoulders, tanned skin, and gear that indicated she had some experience out here in the wilds. The plain chest plate she wore was situated over a bright yellow tunic and slacks. Kranzer was a little taken aback by her choice of attire as a bright color made hiding more than a little difficult. On this floor especially. Her green eyes were wide with fright and they kept transitioning from his face to his hand. It was then that Kranzer realized he had an iron grip upon the hilt of his dagger to the point his knuckles started to turn white. His hand fled from his blade and he held them up and quickly offered an apology.

“Sorry about that. You startled me,” he said and he felt a little ashamed over his sudden reaction. She took a step back and Kranzer noticed the warhammer she held in a loose grip with her right hand. The weapon was held low and it nearly touched the ground die to how she held it. “It's ok, he said as he took a few steps back. That seemed to ease her nerves a little so he knew he was off to the right start.

Spoiler

ID#52215; LD: 11

 

Edited March 19, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

He was just about to say something else to her when she suddenly got startled and turned and started to run away. At a rather fast pace actually which astonished the young man and left him there with his jaw lowered which left his mouth hanging slightly agape. "Eh," he said as he reached out a hand as if he thought he'd be able to stop her from running away only to find herself in danger if she continued. "I-I didn't mean to startle her," he said to no one in particular. He let out a soft sigh as he turned around and shook his head. There wasn't anything he could do now. If he ran after her to try and keep her from running into danger that would only serve to complicate the situation further. She'd likely get a fright from seeing some strange man that was intent on chasing after her. As much as he didn't like it he'd just have to trust that her swift feet would carry her away from any dangerous situation. So with that in mind he crouched down and continued his search once more.

Maybe it was due to the concern he felt over that girl that ran or the sinking feeling that she only tried to lead him into a trap that was the reason for his lack of finding anything useful. Either way his search left him empty handed and with a subtle headache starting to take hold.

Spoiler

ID#52475; LD: 4

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

Kranzer continued to move about the area as he searched through the grass for anything that might work as a material but try as he might he just couldn't seem to find anything. His lips formed a frown upon his face as he stood up and brushed his pants off. While it was true his day hadn't provided any fruit to his labor that wasn't really what had him down. His thoughts would return to the girl that he'd startled off ever so often. Doubt clouded his mind about if he'd made the right decision by not following after her. He knew if he just sat there and thought about it that it wouldn't really accomplish anything. She wouldn't be any safer for it if danger had befallen her and his hands didn't move quite so deftly through the tall grass when his mind was taken away from the task at hand. A soft sight escaped his lips as he fell back as the grass rose up to swallow him. His dark-eyed gaze stared up at the cloudless sky while he took a moment to relax.

That is until he was suddenly startled by a feint scream that carried on the breeze. Kranzer sat up hurriedly as he focused in an attempt to see if he'd just imagined it. Several moments passed and he was just about to dismiss it as a trick of the mind when he heard it again. This time it was much closer and it was definitely a scream. In an instant he was on his feet only to hesitate before he took off running. He faced towards the town and away from the scream at first he considered the option that it was just another trap but the twin howls cut through his body like a cold wind and rooted him to the spot. He heard a woman's voice, that was remarkably young, scream out for someone to help her. The muscles in his jaw tensed as he frantically swiped his finger down to open the menu. Kranzer swiped over to his friends list and his finger hovered over Dynaon's name. He'd save her. Heck he probably would have chased after her the instant she ran off. That's assuming this was the same girl after all.

His hand trembled as it hovered there and Kranzer realized that there wasn't anyway that the fool would get here in time to save her. The howls grew ever closer and he came to the conclusion that sent a wave of fear that swept through his body like a storm. He was the only one close enough to do anything about this. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he turned and started to run towards the source of the screams. He just knew he'd regret this, but then again he had to survive in order to regret it.

Spoiler

ID#52524; LD: 12 [Nothing Found]

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

Kranzer darted across through the grass as the line of trees loomed ever closer before him. The scream echoed out from within the depths of the patch of woods once more. He let out a low grumble as he tried to reason who'd venture into that place all alone. Well he hoped this person was alone and that this wasn't just some elaborate trap designed to lure in the unwary. Once he broke through the initial line of trees he quickly realized that his was no trap. At least not an intentional one. He could hear the girl as she sobbed somewhere ahead. The soft growls of the wolves could be heard shortly there after. For an instant Kranzer hesitated and started to wonder if these were the same ones who'd been tracking him over the past couple of days. Suddenly he shook his head as he dismissed that thought. Now was not the time for fear or indecision. With a deep breath he pushed forward and came out into a small clearing. The same girl he'd startled earlier had her back pressed to a tree as she frantically swung around her sword at two <<Dire Wolves>> that circled around her as they waited for an opening. Kranzer let out a soft sigh as he pulled back the edge of his coat and freed his dagger from its sheath. Then he rushed forward as lavender light flowed across the blade's surface. He had to end this with one decisive blow if they were both going to survive this.

He timed his approach as the path of the two wolves brought them near and then he landed right between them. The wolves' hackles rose as they turned to face him but not before he pivoted on his heel and spun his dagger around leaving a deep gash in the side of both wolves. Their HP gauges took a major dip. The first wolf went after Kranzer but he quickly jumped back and out of his way. The other rushed in and a quick roll to his right took Kranzer out of harm's way. Regret tinged his adrenaline due to not finishing the two in the first strike but at least he'd taken their attention away from the girl. "Get out of here!" It was the only warning he could give her.

Spoiler

Roll ID #52535 - BD: 10[9+1] [Kranzer CRITS with Round Accel!]
MD:  1 [3-2]  [Two Dire Wolves MISS!]

Kranzer: 20 HP | 1[5-4] EP | 4+1(2x1)=10 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 21 MIT
Dire Wolf: 3[10-(10-3)] HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT
Dire Wolf: 3[10-(10-3)] HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT

Hate: Kranzer[1]
Turns: Kranzer > Dire Wolf 1 > Dire Wolf 2

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

The two wolves circled him and that hint of regret that poked at him a moment ago had steadily picked up in intensity. A quick glance at his energy revealed that it would take time before he could utilize that technique again. If the growls from the two wolves and the saliva that dripped from their open maws was any indication it was that time was one thing he didn't have. Regardless it didn't mean he had to say on the defensive. He had enough energy to activate another Sword Art and at least take one of the beasts out. Only having to focus on one would drastically increase his odds for survival. "Gah," he muttered as he rushed one of the wolves. Lavender light flowed over the blade's surface and he quickly unleashed the pent up energy with every intent to kill the beast where it stood.

The blade cut through the beasts flesh with ease. Red flared against its grey coat until the beast simply burst into a shower of blue shards of data that slowly dissipated on to vanish with no trace of the beast left behind. The other charged forward but it was hit by the body of the other as it started to deconstruct and was sent way off course. A slight smirk spread across the young man's face as he realized this was going much more smoothly than he could have hoped for.

Spoiler

Roll ID #52537 - BD: 8[7+1] [Kranzer HITS with Side Bite!]; LD: 2 [Nothing Found]+1 Material
MD:  1 [1-2]  [Dire Wolf CRIT MISS!]

Kranzer: 20 HP | 0[1+1-2] EP | 4(2x1)=8 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 21 MIT
Dire Wolf: Dead[3-(8-3)] HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT
Dire Wolf: 3 HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT

Hate: Kranzer[1]
Turns: Kranzer > Dire Wolf 2

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

His dark-eyed gaze fell to his energy gauge and watched it refill just enough to allow him to unleash a normal attack which wasn't all that ideal. He wasn't sure how his normal damage would stack up against this beast's mitigation but either way he couldn't delay much longer. The wolf had started to get back on its feet after having been knocked down at a most ideal time for Kranzer. He rushed forward with his dagger held low. His gaze shifted over towards the tree and he simply couldn't believe what he saw. She was still there! Her sword in hand and it was obvious what she thought about doing. She wanted to rush in and help but he couldn't have that. Just his luck she'd die before he could dispatch the remaining beast. "Why haven't you run yet!? Just stay back I have this!" The distance that separated him from the wolf vanished in an instant and his dagger was thrust forward with a desperate shout.

His blade found its mark but the beast's HP gauge was barely affected which incited a silent curse to escape the young man's lips. He quickly jumped to the side and tucked to roll out of the way just as the beast's teeth snapped. Kranzer thought he felt the bite snag at the cloth around his arm which was entirely too close for his liking. He had to end this and soon. A quick glance towards the tree revealed that the girl was still there but from the way she was backed against the tree at least it didn't look like she'd do anything foolish.

Spoiler

Roll ID #52542 - BD: 9[8+1] [Kranzer HITS with Side Bite!]
MD:  5 [7-2]  [Dire Wolf MISSES!]

Kranzer: 20 HP | 0[0+1-1] EP | 4 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 21 MIT
Dire Wolf: 2[3-(4-3)] HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT

Hate: Kranzer[2]
Turns: Kranzer > Dire Wolf 2

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

At this rate if he attacked there was no way he'd be able to replenish enough energy to unleash a Sword Art capable of downing the beast in one decisive blow. However, if he chose to wait the wolf might very well decide to turn its attention to the girl. His brow furrowed as he settled in for a battle that would prove to be a little longer than what he was used to. After all he picked his targets very carefully and never resorted to a prolonged engagement. The longer something dragged on the more odds of something dangerous occurring increased. Granted he knew that the girl wasn't truly in danger here so long as he maintained the hate he'd generated with the Mob, but that didn't mean there wasn't another lurking just around the next tree. Once more Kranzer pushed off the ground from where he'd rolled to and closed in on the wolf. The blade of his dagger glinted as light caught it on its path towards the beast's neck.

The wolf leaned its body just enough for his dagger to miss its mark. Kranzer's gaze widened as the beast's maw closed around his arm and bit down hard. He winced from the pain even though his HP gauge barely registered the damage. The girl released an audible gasp and Kranzer had to shout out for her not to interfere. Without being in a party it wasn't possible for her to see his HP gauge which meant for all she knew Kranzer had just taken a devastating blow. "Stay back! I'm ok!" The young man lifted his dagger as he started to circle the beast and the hackles on the back of its neck rose as it followed suit. Its low rumbling growl sent a shiver down Kranzer's spine.

Spoiler

Roll ID #52546 - BD: 1[3+1] [Kranzer MISSES!]
MD:  6 [8-2]  [Dire Wolf HITS!]

Kranzer: 19 [20-(6-21)] HP | 0[0+1-1] EP | 4 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 21 MIT
Dire Wolf: 2 HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT

Hate: Kranzer[2]
Turns: Kranzer > Dire Wolf

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

Both the wolf and Kranzer continued to circle one another as each sought out an opening that would allow them to attack the other. Kranzer wanted to end this quick but it didn't seem to be working out quite like he'd hoped. The teeth marks along his right forearm were proof of that. So far he'd managed to kill one of the beasts but the last one had managed to survive solely due to the fact Kranzer lacked the necessary energy to unleash an attack capable of killing it outright. The wolf's step changed suddenly and as if he'd received the signal he'd been waiting for Kranzer charged forward with his dagger held low. The wolf moved in response as it sprinted forward with its teeth bared. Steel versus fang.

Kranzer's blade nearly missed its target but the edge cut a line down the side of the beast's head. The wolf on the other hand was more tenacious than the young man. Its teeth clamped down on his leg hard which incited a yell to escape Kranzer's throat. The young man quickly jumped back but nearly stumbled as the red wound stood out clearly against the dark grey cloth of his pants.

 

Spoiler

Roll ID #52564 - BD: 6[5+1] [Kranzer HITS!]
MD:  8 [10-2]  [Dire Wolf CRITS!]

Kranzer: 18 [19-(8-21)] HP | 0[0+1-1] EP | 4 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 21 MIT
Dire Wolf: 1[2-(4-3)] HP | 8[6+2] DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT

Hate: Kranzer[2]
Turns: Kranzer > Dire Wolf

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

The girl still had her back pressed to the tree as her knuckles were white from the tight grip she held upon the hilt of her sword. Kranzer almost wished she'd run away then he might have been able to simply follow suit. With her just standing there he couldn't in good conscience do that. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he looked at the vastly depleted bar above the beast's head. It was nearly dead and based on how it fell with each strike he figured it would take one more strike. That is if he was able to hit it. The battle had gone back and forth so far and only the increased mitigation his gear gave him saw to his survival. Otherwise that last attack could have very well sealed his fate. "Let's end this," he shouted as he rushed forward with the dagger held high. Fully prepared to bring it down upon the beast's head.

The blade struck a clean blow against the beast and it quickly broke apart into blue shards which marked its passing from this virtual world. The young man fell back to sit on the ground as he let out a sigh of relief. He did it. Finally he faced the two wolves that he believed were the same two that had been tracking him these past few days. At least he hoped that these were the same two as unlikely as that was. If that was the case then perhaps he could finally travel beyond the walls of the Town of Beginnings without much worry. Well no more than usually anyway. He was just about to lean back to rest fully against the ground when a slight noise from the girl made him remember that she was there.

Spoiler

Roll ID #52566 - BD: 6[5+1] [Kranzer HITS!]; LD: 15 [+1 Good Item]; +1 Loot
MD:  N/A  [Dire Wolf DIES!]

Kranzer: 18 HP | 0[0+1-1] EP | 4 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 21 MIT
Dire Wolf: 0[1-(4-3)] HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT

Total Loot: 1 Good Item; 2 Material[Combat]

Hate: Kranzer[2]
Turns: Kranzer > Dire Wolf

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

She moved her hand as if she meant to reach out towards Kranzer which wouldn't do her any good considering the distance that separated them. Then as if she reconsidered she pulled her hand back and leaned back against the tree. Several awkward moments passed which caused a blanket of awkward silence to settle between the two. When that silence was finally shattered he was the one to speak. Slowly he stood and proceeded to sheath his dagger so he wouldn't startle her again. "A-Are you ok," he asked feeling a little nervous about the entire situation. He also took great care to maintain his distance. A gesture she seemed to appreciate unless he misread her expression. Which was entirely possible. She still had a death grip upon the hilt of her sword and once she realized that it was finally over she collapsed to her knees and let out a heavy sigh. "I'm still alive," she said as she exhaled sharply. "We're both very much alive," Kranzer was quick to confirm. "What were you thinking running out here like that? You must have known wolves prowled these woods." He could see his words had stung her but he just couldn't be moved by her reaction or feel regret for speaking as bluntly as he had. She was lucky he'd gotten here before those wolves had torn her apart.

The girl's head lowered slightly as she fought back a sob. "I thought you might have been the one who kept sending them after me so I thought they'd be with you. I was so surprised when I ran into them." Her voice started out soft but with each word her tone picked up and she spoke with more confidence. The last word was practically a shout which incited one of his eyebrows to raise. She placed her hands to her mouth. "I'm sorry. I've just been a little on edge. They've been after me for a while." Her brow furrowed as she went to stand up. "Though they didn't seem eager to attack me they just circled around and kept me pressed back to the tree." He nodded slightly. "What do you mean you thought I was the one who kept sending them after you?" He'd heard that you could get a familiar through a certain quest but to have two? He'd already dismissed her statement as being nothing more than paranoia. The girl nodded frantically as she took a step forward. Her fear-filled eyes flitted around the area like she expected another wolf to leap out of the underbrush at any moment.

When she spoke next it was barely a whisper but the forest had grown so silent that he could hear every word. "I saw him once. The wolves circled around him before he pointed and they ran after me like they were his pets." Kranzer tilted his head slightly as he considered her words. That just didn't seem possible. Was it? "What did he look like? Did you see his face?" There was always a possibility that this was simply a floor boss. He just couldn't believe that a player would have such control over the Mobs here on the first floor. She only confused him further as she shook her head. "No, he was wearing a cloak and his hood was pulled forward. Though he did wear crimson armor," she added in hoping that it would convince Kranzer that she spoke the truth.

Edited March 22, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

A dark cloak and crimson armor? That didn't really narrow things down and it certainly didn't sound like anyone Kranzer had ever encountered before. This wasn't the place to sit idly by though and ponder on such events. He motioned for her to follow him as he turned back towards the direction of the Town of Beginnings. "Let's head back to the city. We'll be safe there." He took several steps before she made a sound that hinted at her hesitation to leave. When he looked back at her he noticed that she was playing with the hilt of her sword again but her gaze was cast down towards the ground so as to avoid meeting his gaze. "What's wrong?" His tone wasn't soft so his question sounded a bit harsher than he intended. She flinched but wasn't immediately forthcoming with an answer. "I was hoping to get stronger while I was out here." He blinked a few times as he pondered her words. "You wanted to work on leveling up?" They really didn't need to linger around in the area. If someone was controlling those dire wolves then they may decide to come and check on them when they didn't return. She offered a brief nod but she still didn't meet his gaze.

Kranzer groaned softly as he looked away. That wasn't really his concern and he certainly didn't owe her anything and with her not in any immediate danger she didn't really need him around. That was his reasoning on the situation anyway. "Well in that case. I'd advise not doing that here. If you can't handle those wolves then you'll just get yourself killed. Try the boars closer to the city walls." He was just about to turn around and leave but he was stopped as she called out. "Wait... I mean could you show me?" This drew an incredulous gaze from Kranzer. "The way to the boars?" She nodded slightly and he let out a soft sigh. "What level are you?" Once more she adverted her gaze as she answered. "It's high enough." it was a little evasive but he didn't press the matter. She'd know better than he was she could and couldn't do after all.

[Kranzer 0]

"This way," he said as he turned to leave. Kranzer didn't wait for her to ask anymore questions. Only the sound of leaves and grass crunching beneath her feet alerted him that she hurried to catch up to him. The trip there was largely carried out in silence. Her blade had been returned to the scabbard on her back which was a good sign. If she'd kept it in hand any longer Kranzer might have mistaken her fear for hostility and opted to simply leave her behind as he made a direct path for the town's gates. Once they emerged from the edge of the woods she's fled into the walls that encircled the Town of Beginnings came into view. Kranzer pointed towards it as he turned to look at the girl. "There you go. Just head that way and you'll find the boars. I trust you can manage from here." Once more he turned to leave and head out parallel to the walls and away from her. However the girl reached out and grabbed old of the edge of his sleeve. "Please wait!" Kranzer looked back and blinked in surprise by her sudden outburst. Before that she'd been very soft spoken.

She seemed to be well aware of that fact and quickly let go of his sleeve. "Sorry," she quickly said. "I was just wondering if you could escort me the rest of the way." Kranzer stared at her for a moment before he turned and started to walk away. "Sorry but I'm not a very good babysitter." The sound the girl made was one of both surprise and anger. She must have been pretty desperate for help though as in her current state she quickly blurted out, "I don't know how to fight alright!? I'm still level one!" Kranzer's foot hesitated as he heard this. When glanced back over his shoulder he could see the look of regret on her face. One of her hands was pressed against her mouth. He wasn't always good at reading people but it was painfully obvious she hadn't meant to reveal that. Kranzer's gaze moved away and focused on his feet as he let out a low grumble. "Crap," he muttered under his breath as he turned back around. He didn't mind leaving someone to their own devices but he couldn't just leave someone to die. "If you're only level one what the heck are you doing this far out?"

Edited March 23, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

Once more to tone of his voice was a bit harsher than he intended it to be. She winced and lowered her gaze. "It's not like I wanted to come out here," she shouted as she waved her arm out to her side and took a step forward. "I only came out here because I got a PM from Jeias asking me to meet him out here. Only when I got to the area listed in the PM he wasn't there," she said as her arm moved around to grab hold of her opposite shoulder. "I waited there but those wolves arrived before Jeias made it." Kranzer's brow furrowed slightly as he took a few steps closer. "Wait you were asked to come out here, and how is this Jeias? A friend of yours?" If Jeias was a friend of hers then perhaps he intended to help her level up. Was it possible that the wolves got him first? That thought was mildly disturbing and if it was true then a player had just died recently. That thought instilled a small sense of fear in Kranzer which made him want to get back to the safety of the town all that much sooner.

She nodded in response. "Jeias and I go to," she hesitated for a moment. "We went to the same school." Kranzer understood her hesitation. After all everything he went through before this game seemed like some distant memory. A falsehood his mind produced in the dreams that streamed through his consciousness as he slept. For most it might seem like this place was the true reality and their past lives was nothing more than the "game." In some aspects that was true. To survive in this place they had to accept the reality of their situation and move forward. Well in Kranzer's case it was to simply exist rather than making any strides towards clearing this place. For Kranzer moving forward meant just getting up each day as the sun rose and play through the little routine he'd set up for himself. For others though? That reality came to a crashing end as their bodies broke up into blue shards that contained their data before they ultimately ceased to exist. The only proof that they even existed in the first place was the memories others had after they were gone. It was a line of thinking that opened up a path that could lead someone down the path of insanity if they put too much thought into it.

[Kranzer 0]

"For now I can show you how to handle a boar." He nodded for her to follow. She seemed to be distressed over her friend and he didn't really have the heart to tell her that he was probably dead. He reached down and picked up a small pebble. "You don't want to charge into that situation," he said as he indicated towards the small gathering of boar. "If you get too many on you at once they'll quickly overwhelm you and deplete all of your health." The girl gulped but nodded. "What's with the stone? Why not just use your dagger?" She was inquisitive. Kranzer was thankful for that it meant she'd ask questions rather than rushing off to do things. It also meant she'd probably analyze her situation first. Both would see to her continued survival. "Listen to what I just told you. Like I said you don't want to go into that large of a group. With nothing more than a dagger and alone I would be overwhelmed and killed. The stone," he said as he held it up for her to inspect. "Will be used to bring one of them our way." When he saw the look of fright settle upon her face he motioned for her to remain still. "Don't worry I will handle this one." He opened his menu and angled it around to send her a party invite.

By the shift in her gaze he knew she'd received it. "Party," she asked as she looked up. "Yes it'll let you share the experience. I wouldn't advise fighting these things at level one. I tried it once and nearly died." She offered a meek nod as she accepted it. Kranzer was happy she at least understood the seriousness of this lesson. He turned and hurled the rock but it missed his intended target and instead hit one of the larger ones. His brow furrowed but he remained quiet. No need to let her know that he'd messed up. Instead he simply drew his dagger and prepared to evade the inevitable charge it'd take. "Stand back," he said as he waved her aside with his free hand. The <<Frenzied Boar>> rushed forward just as he knew it would. He managed to jump aside just in time for it to pass him by. 

Spoiler

 

Roll ID #52922 - BD: 2[1+1] [Kranzer CRIT MISSES!]
MD:  1 [3-2]  [Frenzied Boar MISSES!]
Kranzer: 20 HP | 5 EP | 4 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 12 MIT
Frenzied Boar: 10 HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT
Hate: Kranzer[0]
Turns: Kranzer > Frenzied Boar

(Using Fate’s Hand[1 Acc; 2 Dmg]; Merlin’s Shroud[12 Mit; 2 Eva])

 

Edited March 24, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

"I'm going to use a Sword Art unique to daggers called Side Bite. Watch closely." Kranzer offered a quick explanation on how she could activate her own sword arts as he rushed forward. The edge of his dagger radiated lavender energy as his blade flashed out twice in rapid succession. The two strikes depleted roughly half of the beast's HP. Kranzer quickly jumped back as he beast wheeled about and charged forward. As the beast's tusks came in the young man quickly dodged to the side in an attempt to get the creature to travel in a direction away from his party member. It wouldn't do to have it accidentally run into her and kill her as a result. That would be a horrible note to end his day on. "The thing with Sword Arts though is you need energy to use them. At your level you probably don't have enough to use any yet." The young man circled around the beast to make it turn in order to reengage him.

Spoiler

Roll ID #52923 - BD: 9[8+1] [Kranzer HITS with Side Bite!]
MD:  2 [4-2]  [Frenzied Boar MISSES!]
Kranzer: 20 HP | 5-2=3 EP | 4(2*1)=8 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 12 MIT
Frenzied Boar: 10-(8-3)=5 HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT
Hate: Kranzer[1]
Turns: Kranzer > Frenzied Boar

(Using Fate’s Hand[1 Acc; 2 Dmg]; Merlin’s Shroud[12 Mit; 2 Eva])

 

Edited March 24, 2016 by Kranzer

[Kranzer 0]

The beast charged forward as a lavender glow radiated off of the dagger's blade. "Come on," he said with a slight smirk. It almost looked like he intended to taunt the boar into charging. As the beast rushed in it was met by the cold steel of his dagger as it split its flesh twice. Its HP gauge emptied to mark the beast's death. It's body broke apart into a series of blue shards before they vanished altogether. A small grey window popped up which showed the young man what he'd gotten. His eyes hovered over the single material he'd gotten from it and he frowned slightly. "No item," he muttered. Better luck next time he supposed. "Let's get going," he said as he looked over towards the girl. "It's getting dark and I will take you around some more tomorrow if you want to help you gain some experience. Your friend may also be waiting for you in town." She didn't say much but she followed him none the less. "Lyra," she said in a voice that was barely audible. He looked back over his shoulder. "What?" She looked up and met his gaze. "Lyra. My name is Lyra." He held her gaze for a while before he looked away and silently cursed the fact she felt the need to tell him her name. It opened up the path to familiarity and if she ended up dying he wanted to know as little about her as possible. He sighed though and eventually introduced himself. "Kranzer."

Spoiler

Roll ID #52924 - BD: 9[8+1] [Kranzer HITS with Side Bite!]; LD: 2[Nothing Found]; +1 Material
MD:  [Frenzied Boar DIES!]
Kranzer: 20 HP | 3+1-2=2 EP | 4(2*1)=8 DMG | 1 ACC | 2 EVA | 12 MIT
Frenzied Boar: 5-(8-3)=0 HP | 6 DMG | 0 ACC | 0 EVA | 3 MIT
Hate: Kranzer[2]
Turns: Kranzer > Frenzied Boar

(Using Fate’s Hand[1 Acc; 2 Dmg]; Merlin’s Shroud[12 Mit; 2 Eva])
Total Found: 3 Material [Combat]; 1 Good Item

 

Edited March 24, 2016 by Kranzer