[SP/F1] <<Secret Medicine of The Forest>>

[Alec 0]

Alec and Humphrey continued their walk through the forest Alec’s mood suddenly shifted from one of light hearted introspection to a dark gloomy cloud of negative emotions regarding his current state and predicament. Alec really didn’t like what this place was doing him. At home he was always happy always laughing. Here everything had a darker side to it. Every memory was a double edged sword that cut deeply as it brought joy and happiness. No wonder so many other players hadn’t been able to bear the stresses this place placed on its inhabitants and had chosen to end their own lives. Not that Alec would ever do that. That was a selfish weak choice the trials and tribulations of life were what molded and sharpened your resolve. How else could you grow stronger and tougher than by facing those difficulties and defeating them and rising above them. That was life after all.

[Alec 0]

Alec and Humphrey emerged from the forest and were forced to stop at the peripheral of the tree line and pause letting their eyesight become adjusted from the dim shadowed world of the forest to the blazing searing brightness of the plains outside the forest. After only a moment or two Alec’s eyesight had recovered and he looked down to his only friend and companion here in this digital world and asked “So Humphrey. You ready to finish this quest and see what the Second Floor has is store for us? I guarantee that as a team there’s nothing here in this world that can keep us down or hold us back.” Alec shot Humphrey a hard fierce steel eyed grin that received a sonorous growl from the bear cub as it stood onto its hind two legs and pawed at the air in front of it and if Alec didn’t know better would swear it was a dead ring for Humphrey pantomiming someone boxing.

[Alec 0]

Alec let out a full bodied laugh and huge smile as he reached out and scratched the bear cub on the neck and behind his ears in response. “That’s my boy!!” Alec bellowed “You and me against the world! Bring it on Aincrad do your worst! YOU GOT NOTHING!!” Alec bellowed in his deep rumbling voice. With that the pair resumed their walking and entered the small village at the edge of the forest. As the entered they again saw the old man sitting on the porch in his rocking chair. As they neared the old man Alec called out. “Sir, we have the Nepent’s Ovule medicine your town needs. What should we do now?” The old man stopped his rocking and looked to the large man and his bear cub follower as he opened his mouth and said. “Excellent lets gather all the sick here in the village square and we can give them the medicine they need.”

[Alec 0]

Alec nodded in response to the old mans statement and made his way to a small grassy square in the center of the houses. The old man stepped inside his house and soon came out with several people of varying ages and sexes who began going from door to door and gathering people whom they ushered into he town square before Alec. Alec opened his inventory with a quick swipeand scrolled through his items until he found the Nepent’s Ovule Quest Item and tapped the icon for it. The bottle of green and yellow viscous liquid shimmered and wavered appearing in Alec’s hand. Alec slowly and carefully approached each village inhabitant starting with the children and carefully poured some of the thick greenish yellow liquid into their opened mouths then handed the bottle over to the adults and allowed them to each take a drink form the offered bottle.

[Alec 0]

Once all members of the village had sipped from the bottle of greenish yellow liquid Alec heard a triumphant chime and a banner appeared directly in front of his vision. <<QUEST COMPLETE!!>> Alec smiled and looked over to Humphrey. “Good job my friend looks like we’ve successfully saved the village.” Alec said with a happy smile to his friend and companion. Humphrey responded with a happy sounded growl from the bear cub. Alec patted the bear cub on the neck and looked around the village. The adults of the village offered to throw Alec and Humphrey a picnic lunch in the village green which Alec happily accepted. The village inhabitants produced sandwiches and lemonade which Alec happily accepted and Humphrey began playing with the village children playfully wrestling around with them and allowing them crawl all over him like some sort of furry living play structure.

[Alec 0]

Once the picnic was complete Alec bid the villagers farewell and waved as he and Humphrey walked down the hard packed dirt street and exited the small village. A true sense of accomplishment and fulfillment filled Alec with the completion of this most recent quest. The others had left him proud but this quest he felt he had really helped people even if they were computer generated non player character fake people. They were people non the less and this was good practice for the rest of the people Alec would help while he was trapped inside this virtual prison he now called his life. Alec and Humphrey made their way away from the village and slowly walked along the edge of the forest skirting the grasslands as they walked. An idea came to Alec and he shrugged at the thought. “It couldn’t hurt to try.” Alec mumbled to himself as he glanced down at Humphrey and turned walking back into the forest.

[Alec 0]

Alec turned and stepped back into the forest and began walking for a short time before he stopped and looked around at the forest surrounding him. This was as good a place as any Alec thought to himself. Alec began intensely searching his surroundings. He had heard people idly talking about how sometimes in the wild areas outside the towns you could find treasure chests and secret dungeons and the like. Alec had also heard that for the dungeons you needed to visit a merchant and purchase blank dungeon maps to save their location. Alec hadn’t done that yet and he was still waiting on a Merchant to identify some items for him he had received of some mobs he had fought on his earlier quests. But maybe this was a good spot to find a hidden treasure chest. I mean after all who didn’t like finding hidden treasure Alec thought to himself as he searched diligently through his surroundings.

 

Spoiler

 

Roll: 113914

LD: 20

 

As Alec searched his surrounding area he was taken aback and froze in place when sure enough hidden in a hole beneath a hollowed out tree stump Alec found a treasure chest buried within.

[Alec 0]

Alec reached inside the hole under the hollowed out tree stump and grasped the heavy wooden box with iron handles and hinges. Alec braced his feet and lifted his his legs as he hauled the heavy chest out of the hole and set it on the ground before him with a heavy solid thud. Alec was flabbergasted! He had heard of people knowing people who had found treasure chests while out questing or even just heading out and searching for the chests but Alec had never thought he’d actually come across one. Alec looked at the heavy wooden box with its sturdy iron hinges and then then he saw the large thick iron lock holding the lid shut. Alec just stared at it he had heard that you could also buy keys from Merchants to help you unlock them. Well that was something else Alec hadn’t

[Alec 0]

With no key to open it Alec had only one option left open to him. If he was going to open this locked treasure chest he was going to need to use brute force. Alec hefted his Mithril Battle Axe in his hand and looked from it to the heavy iron lock securing the chest closed. “I’m really sorry.” Alec whispered to his beloved axe as he glanced from the axe to the iron lock securing the chest again. Alec raised his Mithril Battle Axe high over his head and said a silent prayer that this wouldn’t damage his axe or any treasure inside and swung his axe down with all his might aiming for where the hasp met the wood of the treasure chest. There was an ear splitting screech of metal on metal as his axe and the iron of the lock connected and sparked like a flint and steel as the lock fell off the chest and Alec breathlessly reached out to open the treasure chest to see what lay inside.

[Alec 0]

With the heavy iron lock chopped off the treasure chest and the heavy wooden box now unlocked Alec held bated breath as he reached out a hand that quavered mildly from anticipation. He couldn’t wait to find out what treasures lay waiting inside this old battered treasure chest. As Alec’s had touched the side of the lid he noted the worn rough texture of the chest as if it had been subjected to the elements for many years. The wood was rough tot he touch and the iron cold and smooth. As Alec lifter the lid of the treasure chest it let out a pronounced CCRRREEEAAAKKKK as the lid came open and Alec stared intently at what lay within.

 

Spoiler

 

Roll: 113919

LD: 8

 

Inside the treasure chest was a pile of Col that looked be about seventy five in total. As he reached inside the treasure chest and also found within three Tier 1 Materials within the chest and finally as he sifted his hands through the pile of Col he found two <Unidentified> Consumables of Rare quality.

Treasure Chest contents:

Spoiler

 

75 Col

(3) Tier 1 Materials

(2) Consumables (Tier 1 - Rare)

 

 

[Alec 0]

Alec smiled to himself as he took the items from the treasure chest and placed them inside his inventory. This was looking like a very good day for Alec after successfully completing a quest and now finding a treasure chest with some nice items inside Alec was feeling very pleased as he stood up and the now empty treasure chest began to shimmer and waver and then exploded into a shower of brown pixels that sparkled as they fell then disappeared into nothing. Alec looked to his friend and companion Humphrey. “What do you say pal? Want to head back to Town and get some dinner then see what Floor Two has to offer a pair guys out looking for adventure?” Humphrey responded with a loud affirmative growl and a nod of his large furry head. “All right then friend. Let’s get gone.” Alec replied with a smile at his friend Humphrey.

[Alec 0]

The pair of friends began to walk again and soon found themselves again at the edge of the forest and grasslands. Alec blinked a few times adjusting his eyes to the brightness of leaving the shaded forest and entering the direct sunlight of the prairie again. Alec and Humphrey stepped off side by side and slowly made their way casually across the grasslands and towards the Northern Gate and the Town of Beginnings beyond. The walk was pleasant and Alec found himself again singing a song to himself and Humphrey this time it was Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones. Alec walked along happily singing in his deep baritone voice loud enough for himself and Humphrey to hear, not that there was anyone else around within eyesight that he could see. Alec smiled to himself as he enjoyed the sun and the breeze and the general feeling of happiness that was growing inside him as he walked with his friend.

[Alec 0]

The sun shone down brightly on the pair as they made their way across the grasslands and toward the Northern Gate. The Gate loomed larger the more they walked and the closer they got. Alec could almost see the people milling around inside the courtyard inside the large Northern Gate. Normally nearing the town and its crushing mass of people filled Alec with a deep sense of dread and loathing, but since he had found Humphrey Alec had found himself in a much happier mood generally and found that much less irritated him as it had before. Alec seemed genuinely more pleasant and at ease with the bear cub by his side. Alec deeply wished he hadn’t been so handicapped at the beginning of the game trying to figure out all the simple things within the game that others took for granted so that he could have found Humphrey sooner and made that connection earlier on.

[Alec 0]

Alec and Humphrey casually and easily entered the Town of Beginnings through the Northern Gate and stopped inside the crowded courtyard. The courtyard was filled with its usual mass of milling and chatting people discussing various goings on with the world of Aincrad and current events, most of it seemed pre programmed to Alec but it varied slightly when new events happened and Bosses were defeated or new levels unlocked. Alec reached out his large hand and with a quick downward swipe he opened his inventory and scrolled through the growing list of items contained there in. Alec scrolled till he reached the equipped items list and hovered his finger over his Mithril Battle Axe before tapping the icon associated with it and causing his beautiful mirror finished axe to shimmer and shudder before finally disappearing from the loop at his hip where it had been hanging as he had walked through the grasslands toward the town.

[Alec 0]

Next Alec scrolled through his inventory items till he found his equipped Shield of the Thunderhearts and tapped the icon that represented his shield on the list of items. His shield with its beveled edge and cool lightning symbol engraved on the front began to shimmer and waver like a heat mirage. Alec looked to the inside if the shield one last time and read the inscription there as the shield disappeared into nothingness along with his Mithril Battle Axe. “When the tides rise, become the storm.” Alec intoned softly and deeply to himself as the shield disappeared. That inscription always brought a welling of emotion and a sense of purpose to Alec when he read it and Alec knew it would play a part in his role here within the Death Game known as Sword Art Online. He wasn’t sure what exactly it was yet and how it would play out but he knew it was there non the less.

[Alec 0]

Finally Alec scrolled through his items till he found his newest piece of equipment in his inventory and raised his large hand and pointed his index finger at his Adamantine Pauldrons and gently tapped the icon the represented his Heavy Armor on his items equipment list. His Heavy Armor shoulder guards also began to shimmer and waver before they too disappeared into nothing and left Alec standing amide the crowd of people packed into the Northern Gates courtyard wearing his customary thick brown pants. He wore his sturdy brown leather boots and draped across his shoulders was his bear skin shoulder wrap. Alec breathed a heavy breath as his armor and weapons disappeared and he was left standing in his usual vanity attire. Alec looked down to Humphrey once his items were unequipped and asked. “So ready for that dinner? First though I think I need to stop by a Merchant and see if I can get those two new consumables I found identified Then it’s to the inn for dinner and drinks my friend.” Alec said with a smile.

[Alec 0]

As Alec made his way along the streets he swung past the teleportation pad. He had heard some murmurings of a new Merchant located on Floor 17. Alec had never ventured that high but he figured if it was within a town it should be a safe zone so there shouldn’t be any real issue with going there and checking it out. As Alec stepped onto the pad his vision went dark and then as his vision cleared he found himself in a town that seemed to have distinct Roman or Greek architecture and styling. Alec had never personally been drawn to that style but he had to admit was very nice. It reminded Alec of photos he had seen of small islands in the Mediterranean. As Alec walked along he eventually found the shop he was looking for. Now this shop had a name he could get behind It was called Valkyries Ascension.

[Alec 0]

Alec stepped up to the door of the Merchant shop and placed his large hand on the door handle and opened the door. As Alec stepped through the doorway he instinctively ducked his head and twisted his shoulders slightly to accommodate his massive frame. As the stepped into the shop he gently closed the door behind him. The shop was small and Alec instantly felt self conscious about his nearly six and half feet (two meters) of height and his massively wide shoulders. He cautiously looked around ensuring he wouldn’t bump into anything or knock anything over as he slowly approached the front counter. “Hello? Excuse me but I have a couple items that I found while out adventuring and I was hoping to get them identified.” Alec announced in his deep rumbling baritone voice. With that Alec placed a pair of Tier 1 Rare Consumables on the counter and waited patiently for the Merchant.

[Alec 0]

Having completed his business at the Merchant Shop on Floor 17 Alec made his way back to the teleportation pad and transported back to the Town of Beginnings again. Once he arrived and his vision cleared Alec began to slowly make his way through the crowded streets of the Town of Beginnings toward the Inn where he rented a modest room there in. As Alec walked along he thought to himself that tomorrow would lead to a whole new adventure as he ventured to the Second Floor to begin questing there. Alec had heard the higher in the Floors you progressed the exponentially harder the creatures that lived there were. Well that just meant Alec would have to get stronger so that he could defeat those threats. Soon enough Alec found himself in front of his Inn. Alec reached out and opened the door and stepped inside the Inns common room.

[Alec 0]

Alec walked heavily across the floor and took a seat at an empty table in the Inns common room. When the Innkeeper arrived he ordered a steak rare and a potato for himself and a raw steak for his friend Humphrey. Alec also asked for a mug of ale and glass of whiskey to finish out his day. Alec sat and ate his dinner contentedly talking long draws from his mug of ale as he ate. When he had finished eating he stood up and picked up his glass of whiskey heading over to the fireplace and seating himself in one of the oversized recliners there sipping contentedly at his drink as he relaxed and watched the fire in the fireplace snap and pop. When his glass was empty he looked to his friend and companion Humphrey. “Well pal. Ready to head upstairs and get some shut eye before we begin again tomorrow?” Humphrey responded with a contented growl that ended in a large long yawn. “I hear you buddy.” Alec replied. “Lets go get some shut eye.” With that the pair retired to Alec’s tiny room with his tiny bed and drifted off to sleep.

 

Spoiler

 

Quest Summary:

[SP/F1] <<Secret Medicine of the Forest>>

 60 posts

3 complete pages

Col:  75 (Treasure Chest)

(3) Tier 1 Materials

(2) Tier 1 Unidentified Rare Consumables

5 SP (2 from quest reward + 3 for complete page)

1200 Col (for  full page of posts)

TOTAL Col: 1,275