[SP/F5] <<The Traveller>>

[Alec 0]

 

Spoiler

 

<<The Traveler>>

This quest takes place on Floor 5
This quest is repeatable

A mysterious NPC wearing a thick cloak that wraps around her entire body, including her face, approaches and explains that she has precious cargo in the depths of the deserts, hidden beneath the sand. She has become weak with sickness, and must rest. However, the goods must be recovered within two days. It's up to you to find it.

The trip into the desert will take a day and a night, so you must be prepared to survive. Once in the desert, you lose 20 points of health every time you roll a 1 on your crafting die due to the wind and the sand. Due to the sandstorm, all Out of combat healing has been reduced to zero. If you manage to survive this quest and find the cargo, you will be gifted with the <<Survival>> extra skill.

This skill will give you the ability to survive harsh areas.

Requirements:

-At least two [2] Pages (21 or more posts)
- The cargo must be found
- Repeat completions will not reward the player with additional skill points.

Rewards:

1. ►Survival
   Cost: 3 SP
   Passive
   Effect: Increases out of combat health regeneration to (15 * Tier) per post. Grants immunity to most damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.
   Description: After braving the harsh sands of the desert, harsh environmental hazards no longer affect you.
2. 1 Skill Point
    

Parties or Groups are encouraged and all party members participating can earn the skill. Health recovery items recommended.

Recommended Level: 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

Alec - Lvl: 22 / HP:  440/440 / EN:  44/44 / DMG:5 / MIT: 50 / ACC: 2 / EVA: 0

 

      (Shield) Thorns (1)
Cost: 1 Slot
Cap: 2 Slots
Effect: Successful non-critical attacks against you deal (9 per slot * Tier) (9) unmitigated damage to the attacking enemy. Only activates on damage dealing, melee attacks.

9 DMG - Thorns

             (Shield) Paralyze (1)
Cost: 1 Slot
Cap: 2 Slots
Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot)remove the enemy’s action on their next turn. Paralyzed opponents lose any evasion properties.

            (Heavy Armor) Recovery (1)
Cost: 1 Slot
Cap: 2 Slots
Effect: Regain (1 per slot * Tier) (1) additional energy on natural CD rolls of 6+.

               (Battle Axe Bleed (2)
Cost: 1 Slot
Cap: 2 Slots
Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) deal (12 * Tier) unmitigated bleed damage each enemy turn for 2 turns. Bleed damage does not stack, but can be refreshed.
Applicable to: Weapons

EQUIPPED ITEMS:

Adamantine Pauldron

Shield of the Thunderhearts

Axe of Rending

 

BATTLE READY ITEMS:

1) (2) Tier 1 Healing Potions (+ 40 HP)

2) (2) Starter Healing Potions (+ 50 HP)

3) 

4) 

5) 

 

For some unknown reason that could not fathom Alec found himself in a horrible environment. He was standing in the town of Fortaleza on the Fifth Floor of Aincrad. Everything here was a shade of brown from the sandstone wall surrounding the town to the polished sandstone buildings surrounding him and it was HOT not like let's find a lake or river kind of hot this was the I want to die kind of hot. This whole damnable floor was nothing but a gigantic desert for Pete's sake Alex thought to himself. Alec had no intentions of staying here one moment longer than he absolutely had to be. As he passed through the Town a smaller person staggered into him. The person was wearing sand colored clothing and a full scarf that wrapped their head and entire face with its protection. As the person bumped into Alec they staggered and nearly toppled to the ground as Alec shot out an arm and snagged them up supporting their entire weight with his arm. This person didn't weigh much based on their size so Alec assumed it was a female he was dealing with.

Edited April 29, 2019 by Alec

[Alec 0]

As the individual began to fall over and tumble Alec shot his arm out and caught them easily supporting their weight with one giant arm. "Whoa there." Alec said in his deep baritone rumble as he gently lifted the person and slid an arm more around them and up under their arms to keep them upright. "Are you ok?" Alec rumbled with genuine concern in his voice. The stranger let's out a choked and strangled cough that wracks their entire body for a shirt time as Alec supports them and holds them upright. After a time the person takes a ragged stifled breath before speaking. The voice is distinctly female if muffled from the wraps that cover her entire body to include her face. "I was travelling through the desert with some valuable cargo which I was forced to bury when I was beset by bandits." the woman said before another coughing fit over took her body again.

[Alec 0]

As the coughing fit subsides she begins telling her tale again. "The bandits raided my camp and I was forced to bury a crate of supplies in the sand to keep it hidden from them. I then snuck out of my camp and made my way here through the harsh weather and conditions of the deep desert. I have become very sick from the harsh winds and blowing sand of the desert. Cough! Cough! Cough!" she broke into a fit of full body coughs again trailing off. "My cargo must be found within the next two days or it becomes worthless. Please, you must venture out and find my cargo and return it to me." the woman pleaded as she broke into another spell of a coughing fit. "The weather in the desert is harsh and unforgiving. Please Sir?!?" she pleaded. "Help Sir of please help me you're my only hope?!?" she begged before being cut off by another round of coughing that shook her entire body causing to nearly collapse were it not for Alec's support.

[Alec 0]

Alec nodded to the weak weathered form he was supporting in his arm. "Ok. I'll go look for your supplies at your camp site." Alec replied as he slowly began to move with the injured woman. "But first we need to get you somewhere safe do you can rest and recuperate. Plus so I'll know where to find you when I find your supplies and make it back here. This town isn't very big but still I don't want search it to find you after I've found your stuff." Alec said as he continued to usher and support the woman towards a door he saw that had a sign tacked to the wall next to it. The worn sign said it was The Deserts Rose Inn. Alec smiled and opened the door for the bandaged injured woman and escorted her inside. After negotiating with the Innkeeper Alex handed over a fist full of Col which could have gotten a room for a month on several other floors he'd been to but it was worth it this woman needed a safe clean place to stay and rest and good food to help her recover. Alec had bartered all that into the price he'd given the Innkeeper.

[Alec 0]

As Alec half walked half carried the weak desiccated body of the woman up the stairs to the room he had paid the Innkeeper to house her in tell he got back or she got better he was forced to hunch over as they made their way up the stairs and into the hallway at the top. Alec ushered the woman down the hallway to the first door on the right where he grasped the knob and turned the handle opening the door to the room that looked like any other he had rented since arriving and becoming stuck here in this digital prison. As they entered the room the woman's strength finally gave out and Alex caught her as she began to crumple to the floor. Alec gently scooped the woman up and carried her to the rooms bed where he gently laid her down atop the covers. Her breathing was slow but steady as she slept the sleep of exhaustion. Alec slowly backed out if the room closing the door behind him as he reentered the hallway. Alec's boots thudded heavily as he made his way back down the stairs and over to the Innkeeper.

[Alec 0]

Alec walked down the stairs his booted feet thudding heavily with his passage. As he reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the common room he stopped and looked around quickly spotting the Innkeeper and making his over to him. "Now we have a deal right?" Alec asked intensely in his deep baritone rumble. "You make sure she gets all the food she needs and one of your female staff cleans her up and cares for her till she's better. Right?" Alec asked eyeing the Innkeeper. The Innkeeper just nodded his ascent. "Not good enough." Alex growled leaning closer. "Say it!" he very nearly growled. "Ok ok." the Innkeeper said raising his hands defensively. "She gets all the good food she can eat and one of my girls will clean her and care for her till she's better." the Innkeeper hastily replied with his hands held up defensively. "I'll be back." Alec said to the Innkeeper as he turned and made his way across the common room. "Should be longer than a day or two at most." Alec offered as he reached out for the door handle to the street outside.

[Alec 0]

Alec pulled the door to the Desert Rose Inn open and stepped out into the sweltering heat of the Fifth Floor. He had almost forgotten in the short time he was inside the Inn how unbelievablely hot it was on this floor. Summers in the Mid West we're hot as well but this was a totally different degree of heat. It was like sticking your head in an oven then turning on a fan while placing a bucket if sand in front of it. This was completely miserable and Alec couldn't even fathom why someone would choose to live here. Alec pulled the door to the Inn shut behind him and began walking the street outside on his way to the main gate. The sooner he found these missing supplies the sooner he'd be done and off this floor. It couldn't happen soon enough in Alec's opinion. At least the Fourth Floor was nice and had snow Alec thought. Now there was a nice place you could really relax and have fun in.

[Alec 0]

Alec made his way through the streets of the Town till he reached this towns main gate courtyard. It really wasn't much different architecturally than the other floors main towns he'd visited so far, other than it was made mostly from sand stone was hotter than Hades and was covered in hot gritty sand. But yeah all in all it was conceptually the same. Alec walked into the center of the courtyard and stopped looking down at his friend and companion Humphrey. "My friend I totally understand if you want to sit this one out. It's hot it's miserable and it's not out scene. But I promised if find those supplies so I got to go. If want to wait at the Desert Rose I won't hold it against you or think any worse of you. You're my pal and I support you like you support me my friend." Alec offered in his deep baritone rumble if a voice. Humphrey merely looked up at Alec and shook his head knocking loose sand free of his fur and let out a growl if ascent. "Ok pal. Ok. I was just offering. It'll be good to have you by my side as always." Alec replied with a smile to his best friend and only travelling companion.

[Alec 0]

As Alec stopped at the center if the courtyard he reached out with his index finger extended and swiped downward opening up his inventory and allowing him to view the items contained within it. He scrolled through the list of massed items some identified some not until he reached the items he was looking for. As he scanned the items he reached out and touch the icon which stood for his Adamantine Pauldron and touched the icon. Around his shoulders the air shimmered and wavered as his Heavy Armor shoulder guards appeared from no where as if through a hear mirage. Alec took a second to visually inspect them. They were made from an ultra dense greenish ore that once forged had darkened to a dark color neatly indistinguishable from black. The armor offered an exceptional degree if protection and severely diminished any damage he took. They also had a special property that allowed him recover a small amount of Energy from time to time throughout combat.

[Alec 0]

As Alec continued to scroll through his inventory looking at the items contained within he stopped his scrolling when he came to his shield. Huis finger hovered over the cursor for just a second before reaching out and poking the icon for his Shield of the Thunderhearts and watched as the air around his forearm began to shimmer and waver like a heat mirage as his shield came into view strapped to his forearm. The shield had a beveled edge and was made from a white metal with a very cool lightning symbol engraved on the front of it. As his eyes traced the surface of the shield they were invariably drawn to the inside of the shield where an inscription was engraved. "When the tide rises, become the storm." he intoned softly under his breath. The inscription caused his spirits to soar and his resolve to harden. The words always had the same effect on him. He took a deep breath as he drew his eyes away from the Shield and looked back to his inventory.

[Alec 0]

Alec continued his scrolling through the items contained within his inventory. As he reached the next item he was looking for he stopped his scrolling and reached out his index finger and tapped the button which stood for his Axe if Rending. As Alec tapped the button the air near his hand began to shimmer and waver as if from a great heat before his Axe of Rending appeared gripped within his fist. The one handed Battle Axe was all sharp lines and angular planes. The weapon was of a deep black material that had a sinister look. The blade Alec's Axe of Rending had a viscous razor sharp serrated edge to it that would slice deeply before tearing the wound open so as to cause extra bleeding and keeping the wound open longer. Alec took the weapon after a detailed visual inspection and slipped it into the loop at his hip. The Axe of Rending was much heavier than his Mithril Battle Axe and drug down at his hip. Alec continued scrolling through his inventory till he reached the final section of items he was looking for as he began to review the items within the last section.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Alec

[Alec 0]

As Alec reached the last section of his inventory he began searching through the Battle Ready Items list and making his choices for his available items. It sounded like this could be different from other quests he'd faced so far so Alec took a little extra time contemplating his choices. He didn't want to rush this by being rash and ruining his chances to complete this quest. After careful consideration Alec reached our and tapped the picture for his Tier 1 Healing Potions and placed two of them in the first of his five slots then reached out and tapped the picture for his Starter Healing Potions and placed two in the second slot of his Battle Ready Items list. Alec thought for another moment or two before nodding his head and reaching out and tapping the Accept button to lock in his choices before he tapped the button to close his inventory as he turned towards his friend and companion Humphrey. "We'll pal?" Alec asked with a smile. "You ready to head out there and see what this desert is like?"

[Alec 0]

Humphrey looked up at the big man who was his friend and companion and let out a loud growl with an over exaggerated shake if his large head. The comedy of the action from the American Black Bear cub was too much to not find funny. "Yeah. I know you big baby." Alec teased. "I'm not too keen on the idea of roaming around a hot Sandy desert either but it's where we have to go cause that's where the quest is. So come on and strap on your big boy pants and let's go see what this desert has to offer us." Alec said in his deep baritone rumble as he ruffled the fur on the back of the bear cubs neck and behind his ears earning a happy growl of contentment and enjoyment from the bear cub as Alec began to walk out if the main gate and into the hot desert sun.

[Alec 0]

As soon as Alec left the Main Gate and entered the desert of the Fifth Floor the hear and wind hit him like a super heated sledge hammer. This Floor was no joke Alec thought to himself as he bent his head to protect his face and eyes and wished desperately he had a scarf or something to wrap around his face and eyes. The heat was unbearable and the wind whipped the sand as if blasted from a hose. How could anyone not hate this Alec thought to himself as bore down and trudged forward. One foot in front of the last he kept reminding himself as he plodded slowly towards the dot on his map which marked the approximate location ifi the woman's camp and her hidden supplies. All Aleve had to do was keep moving because if he stopped he might not start again. Alec glanced down at Humphrey his friend and companion and gave him a sorrowful smile of apology. "I'm really sorry pal. This is miserable and I'm sorry I had to drag you into this with me. This is horrible and I'm sorry to have to subject you to this." he said to his friend.

[Alec 0]

As the pair ventured out into the heat baked sand blown open desert of the the Fifth Floor the sheer magnitude of his current situation hit him. Alec had grown up and lived in the mid West so he understood heat but that had been accompanied with humidity. This was pure unadulterated dry heat as soon as his body began the process of sweating to cool his body the super heated wind blew across his body and swept it away leaving no chance for his body to cool itself. As the wind whipped past him it also carried with it course granules of sand that stung and bit at him as they streaked past and slammed into his unprotected areas of bare skin. He had no choice now so Alec gritted his teeth lowered his head and trudged on deeper into the desert. He mentally berated himself for not packing a poncho or other items that could have greatly increased his chances of survival or at least his comfort, but he hadn't so no use crying over spilt milk just grit your teeth suck it up and drive on he told himself as he continued on deeper into the desert.

Spoiler

 

Roll: 115951

CD: 11 (Nothing)

 

 

Edited May 3, 2019 by Alec

[Alec 0]

The farther Alec walked into the open desert the worse the conditions got. The wind began to whip harder and faster is if someone had taken a switch on a fan and carelessly flipped it to high while throwing fistfuls if sand and pebbles in front of it. The debris pummeled him leaving small welts and raw red skin as if hit with a sand blaster. Not to mention the heat! As Alec progressed deeper into the open desert the heat began to steadily raise higher and higher. Alec could feel his skin becoming super heated from the sun and a burn beginning to set in on his exposed skin. This truly was a miserable floor and Alec couldn't wait to be done with it and leave it behind without a second thought. Alec tipped his head down and leaned into the billowing wind as he continued his weary trudge through the hellish desert he found himself travelling through toward the tiny dot on his heads up map overlay that represented the approximate location of the sick woman's camp and her hidden supplies.

Spoiler

 

Roll: 116005

CD: 4

 

 

[Alec 0]

Alec continued his arduous journey through the scorching blazing sands of the Fifth Floor's desert. Alec couldn't believe that the farther he went into the desert the worse it got. How could it get worse, it was already unbearable. Alec couldn't fathom any reason that anyone would want to visit much less live here. This had to be what Hades was like Alec thought to himself as he tucked his head down farther and hunched his shoulders more to protect his face from the relentless pounding of the driving sand that flew at him in a continual wall. The sand was never ending it just kept coming and assaulting and buffeting and scouring him away to nothing. Plus the heat continued to climb as if he were standing directly stop the sun it felt like.  But Alec had a mission to accomplish. He had to get to the camp and find the hidden supplies for the sick woman he'd met and return them to her. He had made a promise and he'd never reneged on a promise and he wouldn't start now even stuck here in this fictitious digital world.

Spoiler

 

Roll: 116014

CD: 3 (Nothing)

 

 

[Alec 0]

Still Alec continued to trudge through the miserable surroundings of the Fifth Floor's desert on his way to campsite of the sick woman he'd met in the town of Fortaleza earlier. It was nearing mid day as he continued his trek of misery. The unbearable heat had unbelievably continued to raise. It's was already as hot as the sun and still the temperature rose steadily and with no sign of shade in sight Alec had no choice but to continue on and keep moving forward. The wind had picked up further. How that was possible Alec had absolutely no idea it was game force winds blowing a solid wall of grains if sand which struck with the force of bullets scouring Alec's flesh and leaving it red and raw. This was by far the first experience of Alec's life to say the least. It felt like sand paper was being scrubbed across every bit of his exposed skin continuously.

Spoiler

 

Roll: 116019

CD: 12 (Nothing)

 

 

[Alec 0]

The overwhelming heat of mid day shifted to late afternoon nearing on early evening and thankfully the over powering heat of mid day began to lessen and began cooling down which was one positive that Alec could count. The wind continued to whip around at near gale force speeds pummeling and buffeting him with a never ending wall of solid sand that beat relentlessly at Alec and threatened to knock him to the ground at every step he took. This floor was pure torture and Alex gritted his teeth to fight back against the raging of the storm. His skin felt like it had been boiled and then sanded with a belt sander on high speed. He ached and was sore and raw from tip to tip. As he continued to walk the temperature continued to drop slowly and steadily to a small degree of miracle the wind began to lessen at miniscule increments as well.

Spoiler

 

Roll: 116020

CD: 6 (Nothing)

 

 

[Alec 0]

As early evening turned into sunset the wind dropped off slightly more now merely a strong biting wind that whipped and buffeted him with every step and the sander that was grinding and grating his skin was lessened to medium speed instead of the overdrive setting it was set at earlier. However that overwhelming heat was quickly plummeting and was now reaching a point of frigidity that rivaled that of the Fourth Floor. What was happening Alec thought to himself as he began shivering uncontrollably due to the intense cold he was feeling his skin still burned and throbbed from the burns from the sun he'd suffered earlier not to mention the blasting of sand he'd received throughout the entire day. His skin was hot sore and raw and now it puckered and pimpled painfully in goose bumps as his teeth threatened to shatter themselves from the pure force with which they chattered together. As the light began to fail he tripped and fell half sliding half tumbling into a large hidden hole he hadn't seen a moment before.

Spoiler

 

Roll: 116021

CD: 5 (Nothing)

 

 

Edited May 4, 2019 by Alec