[PP|F2]<<Venomous Warg>> Edge

[Shay 0]

Walking off the teleporter in Floor 2, Shay had to adjust to the temperature change. Snowfrost was so insanely cold compared to other settlements. She had been lucky to find a hot spring to build her house around. It kept the temperature warm enough to live in without it being intolerably frozen.

Once she had finally adjusted to the temperature difference, she made her way to the merchant in the quest information. This was a relatively easy quest that she could solo. With her equipment, she could avoid being attacked by the enemies and defeat them rather quickly. Though her sword arts kind of suck compared to what other people can output she would have to resort to using her strongest solo target sword art and take them down one by one. 

Once the antidote item was acquired, she went ahead and chugged it. They would likely inflict her with the poison anyway so why not.

Spoiler

Shay
Level: 14
HP: 280/280
EN: 28/28

Stats:
Damage: 7
Evasion: 3
Accuracy: 1
BLD: 12
REC: 2

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: (Katana)Murasame α: BLD 2; DMG 1
Armor: Leather Overcoat: EVA 3
Misc: Deep Red Tie: Recovery 2; ACC 1

Skills:
Curved Sword [Rank 1]
Katana [Rank 3]

Battle Ready Inventory:
3 Starter Healing Potion

@NIGHT

[NIGHT 0]

One might think Basuke would've been the one who'd invented Rank 5 Hiding. The slippery hype beast seemed to always be missing despite the fact that he'd want to be around people. How was that possible? NIGHT grumbled while spamming the 'send mail' button, her shadowy form lost amongst the trees. Right beside the clearing was her safest bet of being able to capture sight of some random newbie popping in and spawning the quest mobs -- with any luck, she'd be able to snipe them before they would even get the chance to be attacked.

And subsequently, she'd net herself their last hit item. Manners were manners, but the tavern was slow today. Just like yesterday. And the day before. NIGHT was getting sick of loitering around. With an eye towards the passage way to the forest, and an ear open just in case some poor novice was arriving, she returned to her monumental task of contacting her missing friend, hoping a response would give her an excuse to leave.

@Shay

	NIGHT   | HP: 1195/1195 | EN: 114/114   | ACC: 3 | DMG: 20 | EVA: 2 | MIT: 99 | LD: 3   | BURN: 36 | BLIGHT: 72 | BLEED: 36   | Stealth Detection: 3 | Stealth Rating: 7
- - -
[Examine] [Equipment] Jack's Executioner -- [ Burn I | Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 deal 36 unmitigated burn damage each enemy turn for 2 turns. This effect does not stack, but can be refreshed. ] -- [ Blight II | Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 deal 72 unmitigated blight damage each enemy turn for 2 turns. This effect does not stack, but can be refreshed. ] -- [ Bleed I | Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 deal 36 unmitigated bleed damage each enemy turn for 2 turns. This effect does not stack, but can be refreshed. ] Reinforced Steel Plate Armor -- [ Mitigation III | +81 MIT. ] Silver Crescent Necklace -- [ Accuracy II | +2 ACC ] -- [ Evasion II | +2 EVA ] [Battle-Ready Inventory] - - - - - - - - - Skills Skills Mod Count: 7/8 Two-Handed Straight Sword | Passive | RANK 5/5 > Ferocity, Precision, Finesse Heavy Armor | Passive | RANK 3/5  > Athletics Searching | Passive | RANK 3/5 Hiding | Passive | RANK 4+1/5 > Blindside, Vanish, Surprise Attack: Trickster Extended Mod Limit | Passive | RANK 3/3  [Extra] Survival | Passive  Concentration | Active -- CD: 3 Familiar Mastery: Fighter | Passive | RANK 3/3 Consumed Buffs | Requires attention. SotW Statues unlocked. Spoiler Kumatetsu Statue | +1 DMG - - - - - - Misc. Buffs Spoiler Dimensional Backpack, Item Stash | +2 Battle-Ready Inventory Slots. Well Rested | -1 EN for the first three expenditures of each combat.  Relaxed | +(5 * Tier) HP per out-of-combat post. Full energy restoration occurs after two turns out of combat. Squeaky Clean | -25% DoT damage taken from the first DoT applied to this player in a thread. Skylight: Hiding | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cooldown of 30 days to reassign. Multipurpose | +1 LD/Prosperity/Stealth/Detection to one post per thread. Can be applied after a roll. Filling | +1 T1 slot to a food consumed by this player in a thread. Can exceed Cook enhancement caps. Col Deposit | +5% col from loot-minimum mobs, +10% col from treasure chests.

[Shay 0]

The potion given to her by the quest giver had absolutely no taste, which was surprising to the raven-haired player. It honestly was just water. Well, at least that made it pretty easy to down.

The callous look dotting her expression, Shay makes her way towards the edge of town where the quest marker would lead her to the mob of wolves known by the town as the Warg. They were terrorizing any going-ons in the city by ravaging the outskirts with feral intentions. Seems like this merchant was one of the most effected by it, hence why he insisted on seeking help. Shay would easily oblige since she needed the experience anyways. If she didn't do it now, she wouldn't be eligible to get the exp reward.

It didn't take long to find the wolves at least. Not far from the safe zone barrier, they jumped of the bushes, looking to tear her a new asshole. She simply removed her blade from the saya that she held and tossed the holster on to the ground behind her. Readying herself for battle.

Shay | HP:280/280 | EN:28/28 | DMG:7 | EVA:3 | ACC:1 | BLD:12 | REC:2
Night | 

Wolf 1: 40/40 | DMG: 25
Wolf 2: 40/40 | DMG: 25
Wolf 3: 40/40 | DMG: 25
Venom Snapper: 150/150 | DMG: 35/50 | EVA: 1

@NIGHT

[NIGHT 0]

So it was the rustling of grass that called her attention to the new figure. Trailing dark hair, sharp red eyes. It almost gave NIGHT a pang of longing for her longer locks for a moment, but the woman took her attention off their appearance. Though the player's style was right up her alley, it showed too much skin for NIGHT to have found it likable.

Oh, sorry, she thought to herself, waving away her interface for a split second before launching her first -- and only strike, if she could get away with it. Looks like the system made a hiccup. This boss isn't too tough.

It's just one wolf, after all.

Three strikes towards the field. During their interim, she arced herself forward, with the spins of her blade carrying her through the art movements. Each of them struck true and fast, shattering the various enemies into pieces before they could reach the newbie.

Spoiler

ID: 155168 | BD: 7 (5, +3 -1)
<<Calamity Disaster>> vs Venom Snapper.
20 * 12 = 240 DMG

ID: 155167 | BD: 4 (1, +3)
NIGHT missed!

ID: 155166 | BD: 7 (4, +3)
<<Calamity Disaster>> vs Wolf #2.
20 * 12 = 240 DMG

ID: 155169 | BD: 11 (8, +3)
<<Calamity Disaster>> vs Wolf #3.
20 * 12 = 240 DMG

Venom Snapper | HP: -90/150 (-240) | DMG: 35 | EVA: 1
Wolf #1 | HP: 40/40 | DMG: 25
Wolf #2 | HP: -200/40 (-240) | DMG: 25
Wolf #3 | HP: -200/40 (-240) | DMG: 25

[1, 0, 1, 1] NIGHT | HP: 1195/1195 | EN: 100/114 (-14) | DMG: 20 | MIT: 99 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 2 | LD: 3 | BRN: 36 | BLGT: 72 | BLD: 36
[0, 0, 0, 0] Shay | HP: 280/280 | EN: 28/28 | DMG: 7 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 3 | BLD:12 | REC:2

[Shay 0]

A red beam of light emitted from the katana user's blade, ready to strike down her first target. Or she would have if something hadn't attacked from out of nowhere and destroy three of the mobs then and there. It seemed like they missed one though, so she wouldn't hesitate to join the battle all the same. Her weapon still beaming with energy, the crimson eyed swordsman dashed forward and split the beast completely in two. It shattered into nothing but data.

With her mark done, the girl nodded and retrieved her saya. The work pretty much done in seconds, she was pretty happy to see that it was done quickly and painlessly. The blade sunk deep into it's holster and clanked against the metal. "Where are you?" She asked, waiting for the other player to make a move it could be dangerous if it was an orange player. She would be ready to run back to town if need be.

Venom Snapper | HP: -90/150 (-240) | DMG: 35 | EVA: 1
Wolf #1 | HP: -8/40 -(48) | DMG: 25
Wolf #2 | HP: -200/40 (-240) | DMG: 25
Wolf #3 | HP: -200/40 (-240) | DMG: 25

[1, 0, 1, 1] NIGHT | HP: 1195/1195 | EN: 100/114 (-14) | DMG: 20 | MIT: 99 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 2 | LD: 3 | BRN: 36 | BLGT: 72 | BLD: 36
[0, 2, 0, 0] Shay | HP: 280/280 | EN: 28/28 | DMG: 7 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 3 | BLD:12 | REC:2

[NIGHT 0]

Where...?

NIGHT had to admit, she hadn't expected the novice to have spoken and reached out to her. But of course, her actions were a strange occurrence to begin with. With silent steps she made her way out towards the field, her form flickering out of existence the moment her shape met the sun. Had the other been observant enough to notice the mysterious presence, she might've caught the notion of a smaller shadow and the frame glitch that caught them in between.

Then, there was nothing, except the brushing of grass from quiet, hurried footwork.

Cautious eyes, scanning the field. NIGHT felt like a ghost walking close to the novice, hesitant at her confidence that she wouldn't be able to notice her. There was a power in that, she felt as she rounded the woman, trying not to let her gaze linger too long when NIGHT examined their appearance closer.

"Over here," the player whispered, growing smirk invisible, and when she was certain the stranger had followed her movements, NIGHT took a few paces back.

Spoiler

ID: 155183 | LD: 22 (15, +7) | Entering Stealth.

[Shay 0]

The moment Night made a sound, Shay whirred her blade through the air with no caution. She didn't feel a connection with anything solid when she made her attack though. Loosening her tensed muscles she did her best to listen for footsteps or a flicker of the figure. But it was no good, the sounds of the ambient forest took over any other sounds for her.

"Hiding in the shadows is pretty cowardly. Is that just for show?" She teased the other player, attempting to make them show themselves. It was hypocritical of her to say considering that she wanted to take the same path of stealth for her own build, but she wouldn't be using it to pray on lower leveled players like this. "If you think it scares me, then you've got a bad impression of me. If you want to fight, why don't you come out in the open and show me what you're made of."

[NIGHT 0]

NIGHT couldn't help but chuckle at the newbie's response. For some reason, her movements hadn't been enough to knock her out of stealth just yet. What was once a game to her now only lent the woman more power -- and it brought a smile to her face knowing just that.

Of course, she wasn't malicious. Not like the other player would know, though.

"A fight? ...I'm not a killer." She'd kept a healthy distance between her and her quarry, now noticing that she was keen on swinging her blade around. It didn't matter much if she got hit -- her armor would easily negate the damage. But where was the fun in getting found out?

Arms held out wide open. There was strength in her expression of freedom, even more so when she knew she wouldn't be seen. "I'm only speaking to you because you asked for me. The better question between the two of us should be: what is it that you want out of me?"

Spoiler

ID: 161907 | LD: 24 (17, +7) | Maintaining Stealth.

[Shay 0]

The intruder was obviously of a higher level if they could maintain stealth the way that they are. Not to mention being able to clear the field of enemies in a single attack. The rogue surveyed the field again, trying to find indents in the ground with the grass to find the location of the pursuer. They should know better than anyone what she needs from her.

"I came here to complete this quest. In order to do so, I need to show the item to the quest giver. I don't care much about it, so if you want it, keep it, but I need it for a short time so that I can get the experience gain." Shay explained, still keeping her hand on her weapon, ready to fight just in case. She wouldn't let this person just make her let her guard down by saying she wouldn't kill anyone. That's exactly what a deranged killer would say to their victims just before they killed them.

[NIGHT 0]

"Funny. I don't recall my previous marks needing this."

A soft jingle of bells coupled with the scatter of noise near the ground where the stranger was looking could give away the player's position easily. The small vial of poison fell out from the air, gently landing on soft grass.

"Just the kill alone would be enough to register the quest's completion. That's how it's always supposed to work. ... But if you're so insistent..."

Still invisible, the last thing she'd done in stealth was to kick the bottle towards the other woman. It skipped across the green to land and roll around the stranger's vicinity, as NIGHT set her own foot down on the ground, glitching her way back into the girl's vision.

"... You might as well take it back."

Unamused. The player rolled her eyes and glanced back to her hiding spot, before heading into the brush behind her.

Spoiler

ID: 162779 | LD: 8 (1, +7) | Dropping out of Stealth.

[Shay 0]

Shay kicked up the vial of poison that was rolled to her. She wouldn't need it once the quest was finished so she could take it back. In the small time that the player unstealthed, Shay got the chance to see that they were at least a green cursor. That made her less on edge.

The girl then disappeared back into the brush like some kind of edgy phantom. Real classy. "You can have it back when I'm done with it. I don't give a shit about these types of consumables. Follow me there and take it back for all I care." Shay said, returning her katana to its home in her inventory. Heading back to the town where she had accepted the quest, she talked with the quest giver and got credit for completing the quest. Assuming her assailant was still stealth around her, she would hold up the vial and let it be taken from her. "Here, it's yours, take it."

[NIGHT 0]

Imagine following this woman like a goddamned stalker from the shadows. NIGHT hadn't pinned herself down to be up to such criminality, and yet the prospect of snagging that vial back from the other player was more than enough to lure her into tracing her steps a few feet behind from the brush.

Down the well-trodden dirt road back to town, and at some point, NIGHT had slipped back into daylight, keeping her own paces silent. Either it had been of no dice, or her associate had been expecting the player to have followed after all (What? This could not be normal for either of them) but when the poison was held out in her palm, NIGHT grumbled from her distance before trudging forward, swiping the bottle away from the newbie.

"What," she scoffed, rubbing the item's glass surface against her tracksuit before she relinquished it to her inventory, "is this like a normal Tuesday for you or something?"

@Shay

[Shay 0]

Shay folded her arms. She had a hard time dealing with people that wanted to annoy her purposefully, so once she had realized that was all this woman was doing with her, she was not going to give her the satisfaction. Her initial reaction to the girl was natural of the anyone. You would want to protect yourself from what seemed like an attacker, though she seemed as though every reaction she had was outrageous.

"I just don't care. As long as I got the experience for the quest, that's all that matters. Why? Is this a normal Tuesday for you? I figured someone so high leveled would have a lot more to do than screw around with a level 14 player who was just trying to finish up the beginner quests." Shay said, taking a good look at the player. She had a pretty appealing style for her taste at least.

[NIGHT 0]

"Every other Tuesday," NIGHT snipped, "thank you very much." It was a lie, but she felt better about pretending to have a regimented schedule for the week she'd spent trying to reel a shadow from the realm of the living. "On the other hand, your likeness for being followed--"

It was strange, to say the least. And for some reason, whilst NIGHT wanted to deliver a piece of her mind to the fresh face, the woman seemed to be holding the same like-minded chagrin that NIGHT could personally bring out on her own. What was she like during then; moody? Untalkative? Certainly no better in languishing with her other party's response. Keen as the stranger was on fulfilling her duty and getting on with life, so too was NIGHT and fetching another jar of poison for her own usage.

So the player did what she thought was best for the two of them. Shake her head, grumble, "Whatever. You do you."

Then trek back off to the clearing before the wargs were to spawn again. Eventually.

@Shay

[Shay 0]

Shay watched the other woman walk off towards the Warg's spawn point again. She must have been farming the drop then, even though it wasn't the strongest drop. Were there not better poisons that she could farm up than a beginner level damage over time potion. Not really her problem though.

One thing was for sure, that girl was really strong. As much as their confrontation wasn't the most pleasant first impression, she would hate to have her on her bad side. Shay swiped her hand down in front of her and sent the woman a friend request. It would be reassuring if she did accept it, though she doubted she would.

After that, she made her way back to the teleportation terminal and started to head back home. She wondered what Chase was up to and if he wanted to do anything. Maybe the could go and farm another boss.

[NIGHT 0]

A--

A friend request.

As much as NIGHT didn't want to accept it, if it meant keeping another player in the loop of Aincrad's machinations and away from death's door, she should be on board with the idea. But given how on edge they were with her presence, the invitation was one of the last things she'd expected to see from the novice. With a sigh, she'd hit the accept icon, the jab a tad forceful in annoyance; when all was said and done, she spotted the name 'Shay' appear in her contacts list.

Brilliant. Time to clamber back to the shadows, then.

The player rounded the side of the clearing she made her way back to, eyeing the side at which she took her position last. Back there again? She'd managed to miss one of the creatures from there, but it made for good target practice given any newbie's inclinations.

She'd make do with it, for now.

@Shay

[Shay 0]

Back on the fourth floor, the rogue found her way home rather quickly. Chase was no where to be seen, so he must be out doing something on his own. No matter, she could use some time alone. She skipped across the stones of the hot springs to her house with ease. Once she opened the door, she walked in and closed it just as quickly. A sigh escaped her lips as she took in the familiar scenery of her house. She was lucky to be able to get that quest done while it was still available to her. If she had leveled up any more than she was right now, she would have over-leveled the quest.

She went up into her room and laid down in the hammock that she normal slept it. A swipe of her hand and the menu shined in her face, lighting up the dark room. Looks like that person had accepted her friend request. NIGHT? Hunh.

[NIGHT 0]

...

 

 

No one else came. Cue sad trumpet noise. Neither did she get a response from her hard-headed friend either; seriously, if she hadn't an interest to invest her SP where she needed it, she'd have poured it all into Searching and Tracking by now just to hunt the kid down. Where was he off to, anyway? NIGHT struggled to imagine how many places that would be welcome to a player like him -- through gritted teeth and a tired stretch she growled her dissatisfaction before picking herself off the ground. It was already dark out by now, and if the skies weren't cloudy this night she would've been able to appreciate the stars in her lonesome.

A message in her interface finally came through. Her heart leapt.

It was not the person she was hoping to receive a message from.

DAY: It's pretty late out, are you coming back soon?

NIGHT is typing...
NIGHT: omw

[Shay 0]

Shay opened up her messages with Night and looked over, wondering if there was anything that she wanted to say to the girl before she went to bed. Nothing really was coming to mind, but maybe she could say something just to tease her? Nah, she didn't want to give her a bad impression. After all, if she had the tracking skill and really wanted to inact some revenge, she could easily just come after her and attack her in her sleep considering her home was outside of the safe zone.

Eventually, she decided against screwing with the higher leveled players and closed her menu. Adjusting in her hanging hammock she tried to get comfortable underneath a blanket and work her way to sleep. After a few minutes, she would find herself falling asleep before Chase made it home. She wondered if he was doing alright by himself. He gets way too nervous on his own.

[NIGHT 0]

Through the quiet streets of the Town of Beginnings, NIGHT walked with an eerie silence, drumming up the last of her messages for the day to one unfortunate info broker.

NIGHT: if you see some kid named basuke can you let him know im looking for him
Bistro: Neither of us see usernames very often. How's he look like, do you know?
NIGHT: black spiky hair, wearing gaudy clothes
NIGHT: pretty sure he has a supreme hat???
Bistro: Wait, is this the rumored player from Urbus?
NIGHT: he's not in urbus anymore
Bistro: I'll keep an eye out.

An exhale, before she shut out her menu. In the distance, she could spy the familiar pseudo-manor, a tall rise of white now blanketed in grey peeking out in the distance. It was like a beacon in the darkness -- the spotted yellowed glows of light through her windows felt more comforting than the streetlamps along the city's main road.

Through the gates, past the door. Her shoulders relaxed when her companion piped back a welcome.

"I'm home."