Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 #1 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 Spoiler STATS LEVEL - 31 PARAGON LEVEL - 51 HP - 820 EN - 120 DMG - 23 MIT - 44 ACC - 2 EVA - 4 FALLEN - 8 HOLY - 16 LD - 6 STEALTH DETECTION - 5 HOLY BLESSING - 16 BATTLE HEALING - 41 PHASE HOME BUFFS » WELL RESTED ➥ -1 EN FOR THE FIRST THREE TURNS OF COMBAT » RELAXED ➥ +20 TO OUT OF COMBAT HP REGENERATION ➥ FULL ENERGY REGENERATION AFTER TWO POSTS OUT OF COMBAT » SQUEAKY CLEAN ➥ REDUCE INCOMING DOT DAMAGE BY 25% FOR FIRST INCOMING DOT INFLICTED IN THREAD » FILLING ➥ INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SINGLE CONSUMED FOOD ITEM IN A THREAD BY +1 T1 SLOT » ITEM STASH ➥ +1 BATTLE-READY INVENTORY SLOT » DELICIOUS ➥ COMBINE 3 IDENTICAL FOOD ITEMS INTO A FEAST ONCE PER THREAD » PRACTICED ANGLER ➥ +2 GATHERING EXP PER ATTEMPT ➥ +1 LD & CD TO GATHERING ATTEMPTS » GREEN THUMB ➥ +2 FISHING EXP PER ATTEMPT ➥ +1 LD & CD TO FISHING ATTEMPTS » MULTIPURPOSE ➥ GAIN +1 TO LD, STEALTH RATING, STEALTH DETECTION, OR PROSPERITY TO ONE POST IN A THREAD ➥ CAN BE APPLIED AFTER THE ROLL » DECOR: <<SPOOKY AMENITY>> ➥ REDUCE INCOMING DOT DAMAGE BY 5% FOR FIRST INCOMING DOT INFLICTED IN THREAD SKILLS UTILITY SKILLS » LOCK PICKING R3 ➥ PASSIVE ➥ +3 LD WHEN PICKING LOCKS ON CHESTS ➥ DISMANTLING ADDON: +2 LD WHEN OPENING A TREASURE CHEST » SEARCHING R5 ➥ PASSIVE ➥ +5 LD ➥ +5 STEALTH DETECTION COMBAT SKILLS » BATTLE HEALING R5 ➥ PASSIVE ➥ WHILE IN COMBAT, USER HEALS FOR 5% (41 HP) OF THEIR MAX HP EACH TURNTURNS » ENERGIST ➥ PASSIVE ➥ +20 EN EXTRA SKILLS » CONCENTRATION ➥ FREE ACTION ➥ GAIN ABSOLUTE ACCURACY ON NEXT ATTACK ➥ COOLDOWN: 5 TURNS » DISGUISE ➥ FREE ACTION ➥ +1 EVA UNTIL START OF YOUR NEXT TURN ➥ MINOR CRITICALS DO NOT AUTOHIT DURING DURATION ➥ COOLDOWN: 5 TURNS » MEDITATION ➥ POST ACTION ➥ RECOVER AN ADDITIONAL 16 ENERGY ➥ COOLDOWN: 3 TURNS » FORGOTTEN KING'S AUTHORITY ➥ FREE ACTION ➥ DISPEL ANY DISABLING EFFECTS ON THE USER ➥ COOLDOWN: 7 TURNS ➥ COST: 5 EN » PHOTOSYNTHESIZE ➥ FREE ACTION ➥ IMPROVE THE EFFECTS OF ANY HEALING THE USER DOES (DISREGARDING PASSIVE) UNTIL START OF NEXT TURN BY 20% ➥ COOLDOWN: 5 TURNS ➥ COST: 5 EN » ASSAULT MODE ➥ FREE ACTION ➥ SWITCH ACCURACY AND EVASION VALUES UNTIL START OF NEXT TURN ➥ COOLDOWN: 4 TURNS ➥ COST: 5 EN » FROZEN HIDE ➥ FREE ACTION ➥ APPLY ONE SLOT OF FROST AURA AND ONE SLOT OF FROST THORNS EQUAL TO TIER OF USER UNTIL START OF NEXT TURN ➥ COOLDOWN: 4 TURNS ➥ COST: 5 EN » PARRY ➥ POST ACTION ➥ REDUCE FINAL DAMAGE OF NEXT ATTACK AGAINST YOU BY 50% (ROUNDED DOWN) AND NEGATES STUN/PARALYSIS EFFECT OF THAT ATTACK ➥ PARRY STATUS LASTS 3 TURNS ➥ COOLDOWN: 3 TURNS (UPON ACTIVATION, UNLESS HIT, AT WHICH POINT COOLDOWN IS REFRESHED) ➥ COST: 9 EN (UPON PROC, NOT ACTIVATION) COMBAT MASTERY » DAMAGE R3 ➥ PASSIVE ➥ +12 DMG WEAPON SKILLS » WARHAMMER R5 ➥ PASSIVE ➥ +7 DMG WHEN WARHAMMER IS EQUIPPED ARMOR SKILLS » CLOTH ARMOR R5 ➥ PASSIVE ➥ +20 MIT ➥ NIMBLE ADDON: +1 EVA AND +1 LD WHEN WEARING LIGHT ARMOR MODS » CLOTH ARMOR MOD: ATHLETICS ➥ PASSIVE ➥ +1 DMG WHEN WEARING LIGHT ARMOR » WEAPON MOD: WARHAMMER FEROCITY ➥ PASSIVE ➥ +2 DMG WHEN USING WARHAMMER SWORD ARTS » WEAPON MOD: STAMINA ➥ PASSIVE ➥ REDUCES THE EN COST OF ALL ATTACKS BY 2 EQUIPMENT WEAPON » [EQUIPPED] "DAWN'S DEMISE" - WARHAMMER (T4 - DEMONIC) ➥ HOLY 2 ➥ +12 TO BASE DAMAGE ON NATURAL ROLLS OF 9 OR HIGHER ➥ FALLEN ➥ +6 TO BASE DAMAGE ON NATURAL ROLLS OF 6-8 ➥ PHASE ➥ IGNORES 50% OF MIT ON NATURAL ROLLS OF 9 OR HIGHER ARMOR » [EQUIPPED] "BLOODSTAINED COAT" - LIGHT ARMOR (T4 - DEMONIC) ➥ +24 MIT ➥ +1 EVA ➥ HOLY BLESSING ➥ AFTER TAKING DAMAGE, USER HEALS 2% (16 HP) OF MAX HP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FOLLOWING TURN ➥ RISKY ➥ AFTER TAKING DAMAGE, USER GAINS 4 BASE DMG UNTIL NEXT SUCCESSFUL ATTACK TRINKET » [EQUIPPED] "EAGLE'S EYE" - TRINKET (T1 - DEMONIC) ➥ +2 EVA ➥ +2 ACC FAMILIAR » [EQUIPPED] SWINE BAJESUS - SCOUTING FAMILIAR ➥ +2 LD TO SEARCHES FOR SUB-DUNGEONS OR LABYRINTHS, AND WHEN OPENING TREASURE CHESTS BATTLE-READY INVENTORY » TELEPORT CRYSTAL (5) ➥ ALLOWS USER TO BYPASS ROLL DURING FLEE » HYPNOSIS 2 INSTANT CRYSTAL (3) ➥ -2 ACC TO SINGLE TARGET » LULLABY 2 INSTANT CRYSTAL (1) ➥ -2 EVA TO SINGLE TARGET » MISPERCEPTION INSTANT CRYSTAL (3) ➥ REDUCE FINAL DAMAGE OF SINGLE TARGET BY 10% » SELF HEAL RECOVERY ELIXIR COMPOUND (5) ➥ HEALS 15% (123 HP) OF MAX HP Spoiler Bahr: HP: 820/820 | EN: 120/120 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 8 | HLY: 16 | BH: 41 | HB: 16 | LD: 6 | PHASE LEVEL B1 Among the changes Aincrad had undergone during the system update, it seemed that a new dungeon had been found. Whether or not it existed prior to the update, Bahr wasn't sure - but what seemed obvious were two things. The first was that it was dangerous. The second was that there was the potential to find some really incredibly things within its walls. What those things were, Bahr was yet unaware. But, if there were to exist a place like this, surely it was to hide something truly extraordinary. Right? As he descended into the murky darkness of the corridor, he couldn't help but feel a chill crawl along his spine. He'd heard that the first couple of floors were easy enough, but it didn't stop him from feeling uneasy. In places like this, anything could happen - and he still wasn't used to his new gear or weaponry. While he wanted to assume that he would be fine, there was a certain nervousness that just seemed to follow him down into the dark. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 Author #2 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 The further into its black stone halls he crept, the more eerie it seemed. How had something like this lingered beneath the Town of Beginnings for all these years with nobody noticing? Or was it possible that people had noticed, and had just failed to notify anyone about it? The thought had even crossed his mind that particularly greedy Players may have used this as a private hunting grounds of sort, using it to glean all sorts of powerful or exclusive loot that the rest of the Player base was completely unaware of. If that were the case, what of them now, and their silence ever since the Black Iron Dungeon had been made public? Had this place gotten the best of them in the end? He shook his head, doing his best to ward off the intrusive thoughts. His speculation was starting to run rampant, and already his paranoia was concocting bizarre conspiracy theories to justify the unrelenting sense of dismay he'd been feeling ever since stepping foot within. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 Author #3 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 He needed to calm down. Think. Allow himself to process the information of his surroundings. Nothing had happened yet, and he had been walking for a while. The reality of the situation was that the anticipation was probably just getting to him, and he was simply being impatient. There was always the chance that something more sinister was waiting around the corner, but that had always been the reality of Aincrad. A big part of Bahr felt exactly as he had when the announcement had first been delivered, and he was made viscerally aware of the permanence of death in Aincrad. As far as he knew, though, he was on the easiest level of the dungeon. There was nothing here that would likely be able to so much as lay a finger on him. He just needed to stop, breathe, and have confidence in his ability to survive if things went south. After all, he'd brought Teleport Crystals. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 Author #4 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 If things did take a turn for the worse, he had options for getting himself out. He had plenty of health and power to boot, but in the worst case scenario, he would be able to make an escape so long as he could reach into his coat pocket. All he had to do was keep his wits about him, play it safe, keep his distance if something appeared, and be prepared to pull out. A bit more cautious than he was used to playing it, but now wasn't the time to get foolhardy and make assumptions about his survivability. Everything was still up in the air - including whether or not he could even wield the new hammer the system had bestowed upon him. What a stupid goddamn occurrence, too. Had he not been fearing for Lessa's life, he'd never have swapped his beautiful sword for such an ugly hunk of metal. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 Author #5 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 Where before he felt he had room for a certain sort of elegance and form, now he felt boxed into a version of combat completely foreign to him. Slow, clunky, and messy. Though some would argue that was the way he fought before, he'd come to appreciate a more refined art of swordplay the more experienced he became. Now he was back to square one. It was possible that, with time, he'd come to appreciate the nuance of the weapon and its weight, and perhaps even devise a way to use it as elegantly as he had once wielded his blade. The simple fact of the matter was, he didn't want to. So lost in his chagrin was Bahr that he almost hadn't realized he'd reached a dead end. When had that happened? He'd only been going straight, right? Wait a second. There was a chest there. A welcome sight after having spent so much time walking aimlessly in the dark without so much as a pebble to call a landmark. Spoiler ID: 188355 LD: 18+6+2=26 Chest Room found! Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 Author #6 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 Slowly, he strode toward the vessel, eyeing it skeptically as it swelled in size from his approach. While he'd never heard of a trapped chest in Sword Art Online, there wasn't anything wrong with being cautious. After all, it was a bit odd, the manner in which it was placed. Typically one might fight a chest tucked away behind a thicket row in a forest, or the deepest darkest trenches of a cave. Not out in the open, in the center of a room, presented in all its luscious temptation, as though beckoning Players to step forth and see for themselves the treasures it held within. There was a lock on the chest. But, to Bahr's surprise, his fingers worked nimbly to pick the lock and cast it aside, before grasping the edges of the lid and slowly hoisting it up. To his surprise, there was nothing within. What was more, the room became tinged red, and the entrance from whence he came shut. He was locked in. Spoiler Opening Black Iron Dungeon Chest ID: 188356 CD: 5 Trap triggered! Mob Encounters Black Iron Golem 1 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 2 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 3 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 4 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 5 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 6 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 7 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 8 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 9 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Black Iron Golem 10 HP: 200 DMG: 60 Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 Author #7 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 No sooner had his exit collapsed than the walls of the chamber began shifting. One by one, lumbering masses of obsidian began shuffling out from previously concealed cavities behind the wall. Far more than Bahr could have anticipated. In an instant he found himself trapped and surrounded, with nobody but himself to blame. And while he wanted to use a Teleport Crystal, he knew he wouldn't have the chance unless he cleared some of them out first. So he summoned Dawn's Demise and cracked it forward, clocking two of the mobs and sending them spiraling into oblivion instantaneously. The rest descended upon him shortly thereafter, but he found the damage that they dealt to be a paltry sum in comparison to what he'd feared. Though it was still uncomfortable to be being essentially manhandled by the monsters, Bahr found that his health was dwindling at a comfortably slow rate, and that he had plenty of time to turn the tide of the battle. Spoiler Bahr: HP: 786/820 | EN: 110/120 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 8 | HLY: 16 | BH: 41 | HB: 16 | LD: 6 | PHASE Bahr used [x10 AoE] Twister against Black Iron Golems 1-4, -6 EN Black Iron Golem 1: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188395 | BD: 7, Hit for 31x10=310 DMG | Black Iron Golem 1 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 2: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188396 | BD: 3, Miss | MD: 1, Miss Black Iron Golem 3: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188397 | BD: 3, Miss | MD: 8, Miss Black Iron Golem 4: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188398 | BD: 4, Hit for 23x10=230 DMG | Black Iron Golem 4 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 5: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188399 | BD: x | MD: 9, Crit for 61-44=17 DMG Black Iron Golem 6: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188400 | BD: x | MD: 4, Miss Black Iron Golem 7: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188401 | BD: x | MD: 1, Miss Black Iron Golem 8: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188402 | BD: x | MD: 9, Crit for 61-44=17 DMG Black Iron Golem 9: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188403 | BD: x | MD: 8, Miss Black Iron Golem 10: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188404 | BD: x | MD: 5, Miss -10 EN TOTAL Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 Author #8 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 "That all you got?" he heard himself mutter, tone crossed with annoyance and disbelief. While it was a relief that he wasn't going to flat out die at the hands of these proverbial goblins, it was a tad irksome that he now had to deal with them. That, and the fact that he had been so cautious going in. Had he known that the first level was going to present such easy mobs to him, he wouldn't have bothered being so slow at first. He would have picked up the pace and explored more at a faster rate. It was likely he would have already been done with this room and moving on by now. But the time for regret was for after he'd dispatched them. Watching another mob get vaporized under the weight of his hammer did wonders to assuage Bahr's chagrin, but there was still a gaggle of them remaining that was much larger than anything else he'd solo'd in quite a while. Spoiler Bahr: HP: 803/820 | EN: 103/120 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 8 | HLY: 16 | BH: 41 | HB: 16 | LD: 6 | PHASE Twister CD: 1/2 Bahr used [x13 AoE] Double or Nothing against Black Iron Golems 2-3 and 5-6, -9 EN Black Iron Golem 2: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188405 | BD: 3, Miss | MD: 2, Miss Black Iron Golem 3: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188406 | BD: 7, Hit for 31x10=310 DMG | Black Iron Golem 3 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 5: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188407 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 8, Miss Black Iron Golem 6: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188408 | BD: 2, Miss | MD: 8, Miss Black Iron Golem 7: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188409 | BD: x | MD: 9, Crit for 61-44=17 DMG Black Iron Golem 8: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188410 | BD: x | MD: 2, Miss Black Iron Golem 9: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188411 | BD: x | MD: 4, Miss Black Iron Golem 10: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188412 | BD: x | MD: 5, Miss -11 EN TOTAL Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 14, 2021 Author #9 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 This was getting to a point that it was making Bahr uncomfortable. Something about the update had done something to the targeting algorithm - or, at the very least, it felt that way. He just wasn't hitting things with the same reliability that he once had. Luckily, in his arsenal of brand new Skills that had come with the update, he'd found something that seemed to be a good fit for just such a situation. He was aware that his evasion was quite a bit higher than his accuracy at this point, and seeing as these things couldn't really hurt him even if they tried, he didn't need to worry so much about being hit. Assault Mode was made for situations like these, and it would allow him the leverage he needed to bust out against these fools. He activated it, and let the axe do the rest of the work. In an instant, three of his foes were annihilated. And, while he took more hits than he may have otherwise, he still felt content in their destruction. Spoiler Bahr: HP: 788/820 | EN: 84/120 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 2 | FLN: 8 | HLY: 16 | BH: 41 | HB: 16 | LD: 6 | PHASE FREE ACTION: Assault Mode, +2 ACC | -2 EVA | -5 EN Twister CD: 2/2 Double or Nothing CD: 1/2 Bahr used [x15 AoE] Wallbreaker against Black Iron Golems 2 and 5-7, -12 EN Black Iron Golem 2: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188413 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 6, Miss Black Iron Golem 5: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188414 | BD: 2, Hit for 345 DMG | Black Iron Golem 5 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 6: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188415 | BD: 5, Hit for 345 DMG | Black Iron Golem 6 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 7: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 188416 | BD: 3, Hit for 345 DMG | Black Iron Golem 7 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 8: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 189370 | BD: x | MD: 8, Hit for 60-44=16 DMG Black Iron Golem 9: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 189371 | BD: x | MD: 8, Hit for 60-44=16 DMG Black Iron Golem 10: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 189372 | BD: x | MD: 1, Miss -18 EN TOTAL Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #10 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 There were only four remaining, and they were lined up perfectly for a strike. It just so happened that as soon as they arranged themselves in the perfect assortment to get thwacked, the cooldown for a Sword Art he'd issued earlier manifested its conclusion. The moment it was ready, he let it rip once more. Spinning on his heel with the hammer held outward like a Beyblade on crack, he allowed himself to dreidel his way right into the lot of them. One after another, they met with the business end of Dawn's Demise. And, one after another, they disintegrated into a shimmering assortment of azure bulbous shards. While it was satisfying to see them fall, he knew that he'd been lucky. A few more undue misses, and he would have been in trouble. He thanked his lucky stars that he'd had the where with all to look at his stats ahead of time and arrange a game plan for exactly this sort of scenario. Spoiler Bahr: HP: 820/820 | EN: 74/120 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 44 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 8 | HLY: 16 | BH: 41 | HB: 16 | LD: 6 | PHASE Assault Mode CD: 1/4 Double or Nothing CD: 2/2 Bahr used [x10 AoE] Twister, -6 EN Black Iron Golem 2: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 189373 | BD: 9, Hit for 400 DMG | Black Iron Golem 2 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 8: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 189374 | BD: 8, Hit for 310 DMG | Black Iron Golem 8 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 9: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 189375 | BD: 5, Hit for 230 DMG | Black Iron Golem 9 defeated | -2 EN Black Iron Golem 10: HP: 0/200 | DMG: 60 | ID: 189376 | BD: 6, Hit for 310 DMG | Black Iron Golem 10 defeated | -2 EN -14 EN TOTAL Black Iron Dungeon Roll ID: 189378 LD: 9+6+2=17 Nothing happens. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #11 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 He supposed that, to at least some extent, it was indeed a testament to his ability when it came to matters of forethought and planning. Not that he wanted to toot his own horn or anything, but there was no telling how long he would have been locked in that combat if not for the ability to swap some of his stats around on a whim. In the end, however, it was something that most any Player could probably do at this point. It wasn't as though the Terra Firma, which he had apparently earned the Skill from, was a particularly tough opponent. Sure, it seemed scary at first glance, but countless other Players had bested the beast before him, and he was sure that countless had done the same after the fact. What he'd pulled off in that room wasn't anything special. If anything, it was just what had come to be expect in SAO. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #12 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 Just the bare minimum to make it in a place like this, where he could be locked away at any moment and forced into combat with a gaggle of fearsome mobs. He couldn't even imagine what an encounter like that would have looked like on a lower floor in the same dungeon, where the mobs apparently multiplied in their ferocity and vigor. What if he'd been trapped in a room full of mobs comparable to him in level? He shuddered at the thought. He'd have been minced to bits before he could even use his Teleport Crystal - assuming the room itself didn't have a condition that blocked their efficacy, since apparently that was a thing now. Or had it always been? If he was being honest, he hadn't used them much prior to the Floor Boss fight, where he discovered that his had been rendered useless. Was that a normal occurrence, of something that only transpired in the most dire of fights? Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #13 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 Whatever the case, it had certainly made him a tad more cautious in the matters of attempting crawls like this. There really was no telling what would happen in any given corner of the floating castle Aincrad, on any given day, and what it might mean for him or any of the people he held dear. And if their lifeline - the Teleport Crystals they'd grown so comfortable gambling their mortality against - was now the sort of thing that could be turned on an off on a whim without announcement, it meant that everyone had to be every more careful. Lest they one day find themselves trapped in a room full of mobs they can't handle, with a crystal in their hand that has become worth little more than a paperweight or makeshift weapon for a Martial Arts expert. It was due to thoughts like these that Bahr had slowed down a bit since the update, and really started taking care when going anywhere or doing anything. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #14 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 There was a part of him - the more primal side - which seemed to nag at him for doing so. Dive forward and into the fray, it seemed to say. You used to do it all the time, and you turned out just fine. What's the worry? You'll be okay, and keep it together, just like you always have. But that part of him was a liar. This was uncharted territory, and the only reason he'd managed to come out alive on the other side of so many conflicts prior was due to the hard work and diligence of the prioneers that came before him. The ones that tested the waters, discovered what did or didn't work, and distributed that information throughout the Player base; whether that meant selling it to an Info Broker who held the information ransom, or telling everyone they met to arm them with the knowledge they needed to navigate this damned place without constant anxiety revolving around their mortality. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #15 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 It did seem, though, that the nagging had gotten through to him to at least some peripheral extent. Because as he rounded a corner and came upon yet another suspicious chest room, he couldn't help but feel himself drawn in by it. The mystique, the intrigue, the possibility of fortune. He'd never been a vain sort of person, and felt no tinglies at the sight of a horde of col or gold. But there was something about rare items that really did it for him. And if the last room was a fluke and this one could provide something a tad more tantalizing then, well, maybe it was worth it to check it out. He gave the room a thorough inspection this time, before even approaching the chest. He walked the entire length of the walls and ran the tips of his fingers along them, feeling for any would be seams or notches that may have tipped him off to the presence of hidden mobs just beyond the veil. Spoiler Black Iron Dungeon Roll ID: 189382 LD: 13+6+2=21 Chest Room found! Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #16 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 When he felt content in that there were no traps along the walls of the room, he made his way back to the chest that filled its center. Even after having conducted his inspection, he still felt apprehensive about opening it. He felt confident in his search, but he'd felt confident the first time as well. And sure, he could handle the mobs that started to pour into the room if the chest was indeed trapped. At least, presumably, he could. There was still no guarantee there, either. But, eventually, that nagging got the best of him and he flung the chest wide open, immediately grabbing the staff of his hammer in preparation for what may come after. But when he was pleasantly surprised by the lack of mobs and crimson coating the room, he took a peak inside the vessel. There, waiting for him at its base, was a singular violet shard. Spoiler Opening Black Iron Dungeon Chest ID: 189383 CD: 12 | LD: 19+3+2=24 (1) Demonic Shard found! Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #17 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 He picked up the small ornament and inspected it, taking note of the subtleties in its shape and coloration. It was violet in color, crossed with streaks of corruption; like an amethyst left to rot. He turned it over in his fingers and tested its shiny surface against whatever little light existed in the dungeon. From what he could tell, there was nothing out of the ordinary about it. Just a rock in a chest, as though it was supposed to mean something. But just because his eyes couldn't deduce the true value of the object didn't mean the system couldn't provide more enlightening insight. A tap against the object populated a window with more information, such as the item's name, weight, description, and use. After a moment, an audible 'wow' filled the chamber. "You've got to be kidding me." It was all he could think to say. Had something like this always existed in Aincrad, and he simply hadn't known about it? Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #18 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 It was something called a Demonic Shard. The system promised that, apparently, one could collect enough to upgrade an item from Perfect quality to Demonic. He'd just found a priceless treasure. "All of that time I spent grinding events to assemble my gear, and a way to grind it out was sitting right under our noses the whole time." He was excited and annoyed all at the same time. On the one hand, this meant he had the potential to really control his build now. On the other hand, it meant that he probably did have such a capability all the while, and had simply failed to investigate it thoroughly enough. That, or the information had never been made public. His mind traced back to his earlier thoughts about Players who had known of the Black Iron Dungeon prior to its existence being made readily available to the public, and his heart sank. There was a chance that other Players had been keeping this to themselves the entire time. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #19 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 It wasn't the fact that other Players had had access to this sort of thing and he hadn't. Well, that was at least a part of it. There certainly was an aspect of jealousy to the whole thing, if he was being truly honest with himself. But more than that, Bahr wondered how many Players had met their end when they might not have needed to. How many deaths could have been prevented by access to this sort of item? Countless, he was sure. Not everyone in Aincrad was blessed with the sort of kit that Bahr had. There were tons of Players - even on the Frontlines - who were running around with Perfect gear and no Unique Enhancements. The thought sent a shiver up Bahr's spine, because he knew how difficult that could be. And now, knowing what he knew, he also knew that it didn't need to be that difficult for them. Link to post Share on other sites
Bahr 0 Posted April 19, 2021 Author #20 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 After walking for what felt like forever, Bahr found himself back at the entrance to the dungeon. As he peered up those steps to the gleaming light that sat at the top, he pondered staying within its cool depths for a bit longer. But, in the end, he was tired. Not because it had been a particularly exhausting day, just because... this place seemed to have that sort of effect. It kept him on edge. Tense, pensive, on high alert. And while that was, at one point, a feeling that he cherished, he no longer did. He just wanted to relax. At whatever rate, he'd managed to score a nice treasure for the day. It was probably best to quit while he was ahead and cash in. So, he started the first of a long line of steps to the top of the staircase, and to the light that lay beyond. He was done for the day. Spoiler Black Iron Dungeon Roll ID: 189395 LD: 9+6+2=17 Nothing happens. Link to post Share on other sites
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