Bistro 0 Posted July 18, 2023 #1 Report Share Posted July 18, 2023 (edited) location: the scarlet line. things were getting busy of late. and at last, it would finally settle down, at least for the present logisticians of the raid. for starters, most of the furniture in the office had been shifted out of the way. the office doors were tucked away to reveal the workshop's original open floor design; the west wing had a long table, meant to serve appetizers and refreshments, while the east had a smaller, sound-proofed room, should players need to speak in private. in addition, there were a lot more chairs present than normal – no room for sofas, but somehow masa was able to loan a couple of throne-like seats from her own guild hall, so perhaps players would be able to feel a little comfortable, if they could withstand their gaudy appearance. the objective of that day was to rally any players new to boss fights, and to discuss the potential strategies they might need to consider before the day of the raid itself. from night's flyers, they had set the deadline near the start of the next month, scattered across the first floor and mailed to a few larger guilds they knew the names of. upon them, too, was the address of iris' workshop, and bistro was to host the meeting... today. fingers crossed that things were going to go fine. context: the scarlet line. Spoiler approximate address: first floor, town of beginnings, north-western quarter of the city, somewhere along the main road. exterior: the front is carved from various stone materials and silk, of crimson, silver and gold. a luxurious palette. frequent wanderers on the first would have noticed its perpetual 'closed' status, with a stanchion barrier blocking off its entrance. today, the rope dangles loosely on one of the poles. interior: glass stairs that leads customers downwards from the workshop door. the floor is marbled, its surface polished enough to reflect the intricate crystalline chandelier hung above. the main room has several single seats lined along the walls, with a white table at the back flanked by gold plants and crystal trees. this allows players to rest their drinks or snacks upon when not being held. west wing has food, east wing for privacy. plastered at the front of the room are a few sheets of paper; players can draft out an approximate party make up, or list their preferences for members to be assigned with on these sheets. a few markers have been provided. the workshop is small by design – if anything, bistro is hoping the claustrophobia will get players out as soon as possible, seeing quick conclusion of the meeting room past optimum efficiency. context: hosts. Spoiler bistro: speaker/mediator/host. please do not approach for small talk. iris: taking notes about supplies. welcome to approach for small talk, but keep this to a minimum (her preferences). night is present to share boss information. open to small talk. ooc: the objective of the meeting is to discuss boss findings, determine a brief party make up and to establish which players require item furnishing before the raid begins. this meeting thread will conclude by 1st august (tuesday). ideally, the raid thread is expected to go up within the first week of august. (1st august, 2023 is the target date, but staff members please help me out on this.) boss information will go live on 20th july (thursday), as bistro starts the meeting proper. Spoiler BISTRO | Lv. 13 | DMG: 7 | HP: 260/260 | EN: 44/44 equipment: n/a. skills: combat mastery r3, spear r5 Edited July 19, 2023 by Bistro Link to post Share on other sites
Oscar 0 Posted July 19, 2023 #2 Report Share Posted July 19, 2023 No sooner than Oscar's hunt had reached its crescendo did he receive the call. His old haunts on the first floor harkened back to a simpler time - before Oscar decided to get involved in things earnestly. From the square all, the sights and sounds of the Town of Beginnings pulled memories of the before times to the front of his mind. He had been gone for some time. Things had mostly shaken out in the aftermath of his war. He thought it best to lay low and keep his distance lest history repeat itself. Some disgruntled former Guildmate of his ward could always very easily cause more than a few issues for Oscar and those he cared for. Still, chief among his duties was to answer the call. The end goal never changes, after all. So did the Beast enter the shop. He small smile crept over his features as his eyes settled upon a familiar face. His time in Tarot was enjoyable. But like his memories of himself before he found his spine here, such joyful thoughts were enough to make a man sick. He picked up one of the flyers and gave it a once over. "You know. I got my information from a random guy on Floor 4. How am I the first one here?" //stats and formatting when home <3 Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted July 19, 2023 #3 Report Share Posted July 19, 2023 (edited) Just like that, the Labyrinth Guardian had been defeated. Morningstar clearly recalled the surprise he felt whilst scanning the flyer he discovered. Floor 28 was on the horizon. He had steered clear of the frontlines for so long but perhaps it was time for him to make an appearance. He lived by the philosophy "better late than never". Walking through the Town of Beginnings felt different to him now, although nothing about it had changed. He wondered if it was he who was no longer the same; he wasn't, of course, but self-awareness was hard. His silver plating sparkled in the sun's rays and the red cape that hung off his shoulders swayed in the gentle breeze. His hair had, over time, grown into long locks of bright gold and he thought it suited him more. His mother would have disagreed—back home, he would have been chewed out for letting it do such a thing. It did not take long for Morningstar to find the shop specified on the flyer. The Scarlet Line—he had never heard of it—appeared to be a shop for appraisals. He gazed up at the sign, reading the name over in his head once more before entering. Of the four faces he saw, he only recognized one. Incredibly short with dark hair. There was no one he knew that fit that description aside from NIGHT. He nodded to her, making his way into the shop. He overheard the other man's attempt at a quip and chuckled. "Info flows quickly on Floor 4," he joked. "Too cold for brokers." MORNINGSTAR | Lv. 31 | status: alive | Hide contents notes n/a MORNINGSTAR | HP: 620/620 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 107 | LD: 5 | Stealth Rating: -5 | EN Cost: +1 (+0 on first 2 turns) equipped royal greatsword DMG III armor of fallen radiance MIT III lexa's light ACC III battle-ready inventory teleport crystal skills Hide contents mod count: 7/7 2HSS | RANK 5/5 precision, stamina, ferocity shift: tech HEAVY ARMOR | RANK 5/5 impetus COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 5/5 night vision, detect ENERGIST CHARGE extra SURVIVAL buffs Hide contents statue n/a consumables n/a n/a paragon n/a misc Hide contents housing Rested | -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat. Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down). Filling | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30. Tasty | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. Relaxed | Increases out-of-combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Basic Training | +5% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post. gathering n/a Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Alkor 0 Posted July 19, 2023 #4 Report Share Posted July 19, 2023 He'd almost assumed people stopped trying to progress. Everything had fallen into a pattern, a monotonous rhythm that felt almost comfortable in harmony with their discomfort. They did quests, they ate, they slept, and on fancy occaisons, the game deigned to throw social events at them. For a prison, it did a good job of keeping the masses sedated. So when news spread that someone had defeated the Labyrinth Guardian, he was startled to hear it. The Frontlines were moving again. Those same Frontlines he had left behind, shadowed by the guise of death. That was then, though. Alkor heard the call for strategy and preparation, and he determined that it was time that he stopped waging war against his inadequacy and start channeling his efforts in a more productive way. Namely, it was time to attend a meeting and to see some of the faces old and new who he would be fighting to protect. Fighting for their freedom, and his own. Ambling through the Town of Beginnings at dawn was a tedious venture. The shopkeeps who began and ended their day with the sun were just setting up, and the smell of baked goods wafted across his nostrils. Everything that felt so real, and now so familiar after all the time they spent there, just stood as a reminder of why their efforts were so important. How long would it be until they forgot what the real thing was like? How long before they stopped caring if they ever saw reality again? The First Sword pulled his hood back from his face as he pushed the door open, taking a quick look around. Did he know anyone? Did anyone know him...? 820/820 HP 116/116 EN Base Damage: 23 Mit: 30 Acc: 5 Eva: 3 Blight: 32 In addition, a target afflicted with Blight loses 20 Mitigation for 2 turns Bleed: 48 Paralyze Battle Healing: 50/turn Survival: 10% increase to healing effects Total EXP: 184209 Total SP: 190 Current Level: 32 Paragon Level: 35 Unlocked Paragon Rewards: Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 10% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD to looting Lv. 25 | Free Skill respec Inventory Equipped: Item Name: Witchfang Item Tier: 4 Item Type: OHSS Item Enhancements: CURSED / BLIGHT / BLEED / PARALYZE Description: "Forged from the fang of a massive Black Dragon slain by a nameless hero in ancient times, it was given as offering to placate a Sorcerer intent on bringing low the Kingdom. He struck a deal with the hero, in exchange for a reprieve in his generation, the fang would return to haunt their world one day. Witchfang promises ruin to those who are struck by it. The weapon's edge is fashioned of Obsidian and invested with myriad afflictions. One of Aincrad's Cursed Weapons, its very presence inspires fear and invokes the chill of darkness." Item Name: Cloak of the Wandering Warrior Item Tier: Tierless Item Type: Light Armor Item Enhancements: EVA III Description: "Tattered from the wear of many battles, this cloak was once worn by a warrior who faced the trials of the Castle and through the flames found the strength to walk again." Item Name: Eye of Osiris Item Tier: Tierless Item Type: Accessory Item Enhancements: ACC III Description: A pin fashioned in the style of Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, depicting the eye of the god Osiris. Consumables: Imugi's Inspiration | MASS HP RECOVERY [157448] Fruit Infused Tea | HP Recovery III [158815] | [158819] | [158822] Spyglass (2 uses) - Effect: Use to reduce the number of posts required to search for a dungeon or familiar by 5 posts. Effect lasts for one thread. Item is destroyed once all charges have been used.. Galaxial Water Snake x1 - Tier 1 Unique Consumable Provides +1 CD when rolling to train familiars in <<Taming your Friend>>. Can also be used to change a familiar’s appearance to a starry sky’s form of itself. Single-use item. CD buff lasts for one thread. Gold Star Stickers x1 - Tier 1 Unique Consumable | Charges: 1/3 | Untradable. +1 DMG, +1 LD or +15MIT for one thread. Stacks on top of other food/alchemical consumable buffs, but does not stack with Scent of the Wild totems. Milky Way Rail Blueprint x1 Tier 1 Unique Consumable +1 CD to a day's worth of crafts or item identifications. <<Lightning Rod>> Grants a weapon a one turn paralysis effect on a critical hit. Lasts for one thread. Takes a post action to apply. Cerberus Soul: Adds 12 Burn damage for two turns to a weapon on a Natural BD roll of 8-10 for the duration of the thread. Does not stack with the Burn Enhancement. Memory of Battle - Double the bonus from Scents of the Wild totems for one thread [170465] Well done steak [Protein 2] [164405] Lemon Berry Palmiers [+3 LD] [167323] Liquor of Light [+3 DMG] x2 Demonic Shard x2 Gleaming Scale Link to post Share on other sites
Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0 Posted July 19, 2023 #5 Report Share Posted July 19, 2023 (edited) First floor, where it all began on that wretched day. The question of 'why would people organize meetings here?' kept popping in Ariel's head every time she was summoned to this place; be it for business or pleasure. She continued to watch over the meeting place from an opposite rooftop. (u can skip this spoiler, it's just some tangent writing practice) Spoiler Fortunately this time around, she left Kimba back at the dojo, to (train)play with some of the younger recruits. Last time she brought her, the lioness wasn't all that inconspicuous. "Sensei, can we come inside with you? I wanna see some hot frontlines." came a from her left side, pulling her back from her internal musings. 'of course she would say that' she thought with a smile, as she turned towards Elle. Reaching her hand out, she ruffled her pristine white hair despite the obvious protest: "I don't this they'd like that. I already suspect we'll have enough of a peanut gallery even without you there." Ariel extended her free hand and after a few slides and pushes, materialized a recording crystal that she started tossing it in the air like dices. " I'll make sure to record the meeting, we'll probably want to filter out after the important information from the clutter. " Then with an obvious smirk she looked in her student's eyes and continued: "You can help me with that." She saw how L's face lit up, understanding what the blonde implied. Then Ariel turned to her right and continued, with a more neutral tone and a straight face: "You too M! I want you both out of sight until I'm finished here. Especially keep an eye on her." "Yes Ma'am!"came the curt reply from the 3rd person, who seemed to be more interested in how his short pink color hair stood rather than pay attention to his surroundings. Still, the way he snapped into attention and his firm reply, were enough to assure the blonde that he would actually be up to the task he received. 'I'm off now, message me if u need something!' she said with a wave before dropping down next to the shop entrance. She dusted off her blue themed kimono with koi patern and after a quick glance at her reflection on a nearby window, entered the shop. The dull sound of her wooden footwear against the glass stairs and the marbled floor would alert most of the present attendants to her arrival. She would offer a soft smile and a nod to any who would turn their gaze her way, so far recognizing all the present players except for the one that seemed to be their host and anothere person close nearby. She pulls a flyer out of her kimono's sleeve and lightly waves it in front of her: "I had to check with other sources to see if this info was legitimate, you have my congratulations on defeating the labyrinth boss!" she said with a sincere smile, then raised an eyebrow: "Although I personally never liked the idea of a meeting as important as this one being an open invitation to just about everyone." she paused and looked around the place, hoping to emphasize on how crowded this place could get real fast, real soon. None the less, she took a seat on one of the chairs, not before she helped herself to a cup of tea and one of the sheets of planning paper. Ariel | HP: 860/860 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 23 (+8) | MIT: 12 | AA | ACC: 3(5) | EVA: 1 | +45 BH | +9 LD | Fallen (1) | Keen (2) (Well Rested, ST Shift) Spoiler Skills: Stats: HP: 860/880 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 23 (+8) | MIT: 12 | AA | ACC: 3(5) | EVA: 1 | +35 HB | +45 BH | +9 LD | Fallen (1) | Keen (2) Spoiler Level 32 +59 (Paragon) 860 HP (640 +20*11) | 102 Energy(80 +2*11) 30 Mitigation (30[skill]) +3(5) Accuracy (1[weapon] +2[trinket] +2(keen)) +1 Evasion (+1[addon]) 23 Base Damage (1[base] +7[weapon skill] +1[athletics] +12[mastery] +2[ferocity]) +8 Fallen Damage (Successful BD: 6-8 (before modifiers) add fallen damage to your total base damage.) +36 HP Holy Blessing +Survival (After taking damage, heal HP at the beginning of your next turn. Can only trigger once per round.) +46 HP Battle Healing +Survival (While in combat, recover 5% of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.) +9 LD (+5LD [skill] +3LD[item] +1LD[addon] /+2SD[mod] /+1LD[looting] /+3 LD[mods] -> dungeons: 10 5 posts CD & labyrinth: 3 posts CD) Absolute Accuracy (Attack rolls of 1 no longer automatically miss. Gain +1 to the BD when attacking. Cannot be used to trigger a critical hit.) Keen (After a successful attack, gain +1 BD until your next successful attack, at which point this bonus is removed.) Equipment: ≪Onimaru Shi#187508≫ ≪Guardian Cloak#187511≫ ≪Keen Eye#151723≫ T4: Absolute Accuracy | Keen | Fallen (Katana) T1: Loot Die | Loot Die | Loot Die (Cloth) T1: Accuracy | Accuracy | Keen (Trinket) An odachi with it's saya made of polished maple, adorned with brilliant golden colour etchings and ceremonially decorated with tufts of white feathers. The long blade itself is black as the shadows and the flaming etchings on the steel seem to come alive at the wielder's will. A gray cloak with silver trims, on its backside lay four guild icons all crossed with a blood red X. pic. A obsidian ring with thin parallel silver linings, that is said to increase one's eyesight. Inventory: Spoiler 5x ≪Tier 4 Blank Dungeon Map≫ Spoiler Empty Spoiler Empty Spoiler ≪Leonidas' Strength#151568≫ T4: Holy Blessing | Holy Blessing | Risky | Risky (Cloth) A blood red cape with a black inverted V design in the middle of the back, if worn as light armor; one of the trademark items worn by the Spartans that fought until the last man. Spoiler ≪Mothbrand#156715≫ T3: Vampiric (Off) | Vampiric (Off) | Accuracy | Accuracy (1HSS) An antenna taken from Mothra's corpse, sharpened that could be used as a weapon.The grip is orange and yellow-like colored while the blade itself is blood red with orange runes in the middle. Spoiler ≪Shirajishi-ryū Keikogi#189021≫ T1: Evasion | Evasion | Evasion (Cloth) Initially designed as a uwagi, some creative liberties transformed it into a high low hem jacket. The long pristine white backside with blue accents and black trims, reaches down to ground level. Branded with 白獅子流 (white lion style) kanji on the back, it brings the item closer to the initial design. Buffs: Search IV -> V: "Skylight" +15% XP-> Col [Laurel Wreath]: "Paragon lvl. 5" +1 LD to Looting: "Paragon lvl. 10" -1 EN [3/3]: "Well Rested" -25% DoT [1/1]: "Squeaky Clean" +20 HP & [2/2] EN OOC regen: "Relaxed" +1 BRI slot: ≪Dimensional Backpack≫ +1 BRI slot: "Item Stash" +10% EXP: "Advanced Training" -5 posts dungeon/field boss CD:≪Spyglass# 201969≫ Edited July 21, 2023 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 20, 2023 #6 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 (edited) "Who said you were the first to arrive?" The man's voice pierced the shadows enveloping the darkest corner of the excessively cozy chamber. Tone tinged with playful smarm, the first signs of form came as the emergence of a trademark cowl tucked low to conceal his features. Oscar didn't need to know he's snuck in right behind him as he entered. Better to play his perceived and cultivated part and stick with his shtick. The Whisper's charcoal hood nodded in deference to their recently shared ordeals. Freyd knew the personal toll they'd taken on the man, but kept any reference to them silent out of respect. There was also vague recollection of the blonde man standing beside him, his stature and tone sounding familiar. "Didn't we meet at the Valentine's Day Tourney-thingy? I remember the intro and that talk we had about the thing after that stuff happened." Alkor's arrival was similarly foggy. They'd shared a brief sojourn near Ellesmera once - something about a moldy treant with clinical depression? He couldn't recall how it ended, but nodded just the same. The crowd was still thin for a proper raid meeting. "Shouldn't there be another dozen of us here? This is looking a little lean at the moment." Persi, his inky shadow mongoose familiar, was already slinking amorphously over towards the hors d'oeuvres, her blazing blue eyes giving away her intent. "Hey! None of that. That's paté, not a miniature slime king!" He was about to interfere with the spoopy little creature's plans when the door opened once more to grace their presence with a white-haired woman with more elegance and poise than every man in the room put together. "Oh, hey Ariel," Freyd blurted out entirely too casually as he strode right past her, eager to keep his pet from downing the entire spread in a single surreptitious swallow. She'd worked with Calrex, off-tanking for their group back in the raid against Shadow. It had been a bit of a slog though, Orgoth landing a few nasty blows before they could recalibrate his noggin. Speaking of which... "Wait a sec," he muttered, distracted by the stray thought into resurveying the room, thereby giving Persi her opening. "No offence, but where are all the heavy tanks?" *** Freyd | HP: 1140/1140 | EN: 148/148 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 103 | EVA: 2 | ACC: 4 | BH: 62 | LD: 5 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | REC: 8 Spoiler Freyd, The Whisper in Shadow Level: 32 Paragon Level: 115 HP: 1140/1140 EN: 148/148 Stats: Damage: 23 Mitigation: 103 Evasion: 2 Accuracy: 4 Battle Healing: 62 Loot Dice: 5 FLN: 16 HLY: 16 REC: 8 Equipped Gear: Weapon: Samael's Pride (T4 MA | HLY 2 | FLN 2) Armor: Fallen Angel Garb (T4 LA | Mit 2 | Rec 2) Misc: Fight O'er Flight (T3 Trinket | ACC 2 | EVA 2) Skills: Martial Arts R5 Battle Healing R5 Light Armor R5 Searching R4 Charge Energist Quick Change Extended Mod Limit Fighting Spirit Active Mods: Night Vision Tracking Meticulous Untraceable Vanish Surprise Attack (Assassin) Addons: Ferocity Precision Resolve Reveal Stamina Active Extra Skills: Disguise Survival Hiding R5 Brawler Inactive Extra Skills: Meditation Forgotten King’s Authority Photosynthesize Frozen Hide Battle Ready Inventory: Teleport Crystals x7 Mass HP Rec [Inst] (+30*T HP) x7 Mass HP Rec [Inst] (+30*T HP) x7 Crystal of Divine Light (Reusable) x1 Rhino's Horn (Reusable) x1 Hmr.Pk: The Thing Behind All Lies (T4 Demonic MA, AA, Blight, Static, Para.Ven (Off)) x1 Housing Buffs: Rested: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down) Working: +2 EXP per crafting attempt Filling: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. Item Stash: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot Delicious: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Relaxed: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Skylight (Searching): +1 Rank to the Searching skill. Angler: +1 material gained when fishing Advanced Training: +10% Exp to a thread. Limit one use per month [1/1] Multipurpose: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll Decor [Potted Tanabata Bamboo Tree]: This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members. Guild Hall Buffs: Lucrative: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters receive +1 crafting attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters receive +2 crafting attempts per day. Col Deposit: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests. Scents of the Wild: Tanos Statue: +25 Mitigation for a thread. Wedding Ring:n/a Edited July 23, 2023 by Freyd Link to post Share on other sites
NIGHT 0 Posted July 20, 2023 #7 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 (edited) one by one, individuals would trickle in. oscar, then freyd and star and alkor. somehow ariel afterwards. familiar faces – though mostly veterans. despite the flyer discussing it's focus on new players, more old ones seemed to have popped up instead. to freyd and alkor, she gave a curt nod, a brief acknowledgement of his presence amongst others. and for @Oscar and @Morningstar, she tilted her head. "is there something you two want to tell me, coming here together from the fourth?" (no, she wasn't so much as interested in those matters herself.) her second greeting to @Ariel - The Crowned Lion was with regards to the open invitation – "wasn't my plan." it was her suggestions for a smaller space, however. at this rate, if there were more front liners than otherwise, then they would be forced to end things quickly, so that the crowd wouldn't be too much for the players to bear for long periods of time. "but it's been a while," night justified, "so maybe we'll see some new faces for the fight. maybe not." "Wait a sec. No offence, but where are all the heavy tanks?" her head whipped to face @Freyd at the question. yuki was at the forefront of her mind, remembering that nari had already switched away from being a tank. "can't get in contact with mine. does firm anima have any on loan? i'd assume your military's got some enlisted." and for once she was afraid that she couldn't tell if her words were in jest – or not. Lv. 142 | NIGHT | HP: 1080/1080 | EN: 146/146 | DMG: 13 | equipped: no... i don't want to think about it... Edited July 20, 2023 by NIGHT Link to post Share on other sites
iris 0 Posted July 20, 2023 #8 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 the one seat in the corner was iris' very own. her choice of spot for observation and taking notes while the meeting was to be underway. but while it hadn't begun, she stood by the entry stairwell, giving each of the entrants a bow as they descended the stairs. a stoic, practiced smile as per usual – her masterful craft – but it broke into a wider grin at her once customer from an old invitation, @Alkor. (she wasn't supposed to play favorites, but it was desperately dull when her job was focused on the usual customers. a break from script once in a while was fine, was it not?) "alkor," iris called, waving to him – and neither night nor bistro had seemed to pay enough attention to have minded. or perhaps she didn't care, in the moment. when he'd reached the workshop floor, the appraiser pulled him aside gently – her care was tantamount, and it only served to make room for other newcomers to round the lounge safely at the bottom of the steps. "it's been a while since we've met. i'm iris – if you remember me modifying your weapon! are you well? i didn't know you were interested in the boss fight, either..." fingers smoothed over the frills of her own dress, her own fidgeting, suppressing the excitement of hearing from an acquaintance. "if i do recall from last you'd asked – no, i'm not bound to get out of here much. part of the expectations of being a private practitioner on the first. but i assume..." her hands stopped. remembering something about what bistro had said to her in passing made her words trail off. but iris gathered herself quickly to accommodate. "... how is blightsteel, if you've trialed it in combat thus far?" Spoiler Lv. 3 | iris | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 1 ♦iris. Link to post Share on other sites
Alkor 0 Posted July 20, 2023 #9 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 (edited) He watched and listened, because that was his nature. Be seen and not heard, learn, and adapt. The social anxiety had taught him to survive by making himself malleable but not conforming. In the group, yet not truly a part of it. He was working through it, little by little. It was with several comments from starkly different perspectives that he finally got a sense of where he was, and who was around him. Ariel, who's information it seemed rivaled the direct source, felt that raid meetings should be more exclusive; and Freyd, who he had met briefly, thought that they were scant few for a boss encounter. Alkor had to muse about the state of things, and how anyone could stay married to the concept of exclusivity when their numbers had dwindled so vastly. Freyd had the right of it. They were few in number to be facing down a largely unknown threat. And then, he was greeted by the one person who he knew would be in this place, as he had been here before. He offered @irisa soft smile and a bow as she called him aside. "I do remember," he said. "I was surprised when this was chosen as the venue for the meeting, but very glad that I would be somewhere that I knew someone." She was either already famous or steadily coming up in the world if her shop was chosen as the venue for a boss meeting. Alkor was glad to see the woman doing well for herself. When she asked about his weapon, he nodded. "It's been tested and well proven now," he told her. "A powerful weapon with devastating attributes." He drew the blade gently, offering it out to her with both hands for inspection. The name Witchfang loomed over it now, and the description that followed her changes to the weapon were clear. A Cursed, Demonic blade- perhaps not befitting a Knight? Or perhaps, a blade that only a Knight would be able to master. "It's good to see you Iris. I thank you for the work you've done for me, once more." He wasn't sure, as ever, if what he was saying was proper, but he hoped that it was. Edited July 20, 2023 by Alkor Link to post Share on other sites
Jomei 0 Posted July 20, 2023 #10 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 It was about this time on the previous floor - if he could even really use time as an appropriate way to measure nowadays - that his cushy life had shattered, leaving Jomei to attempt to pick up the pieces. When word of a raid team meeting spread, and the impending war against, what one could assume to be, the toughest enemy they would need to face loomed on the horizon like a black storm cloud, slowly drifting into shore. Last time, Jomei did not involve himself, he had other much more personal matters to deal with. Though, while he did not participate in the formal boss fight, Jomei did find himself working with other players to formally close the 26th floor in other ways. So when rumors of the labyrinth boss' defeat - at the hands of a single player, supposedly - Jomei knew that choice would arise once more - fight, or stay back. Part of the journey to the meeting location was already past, as the ginger found himself sitting upon the stone steps of the teleport gate within the central plaza. The large, Black Iron Palace casted a tall shadow that ended just at his feet, a strange reminder that the risk of death as a frontliner was always creeping, reaching out to him, trying to pull him in and turn him into nothing but a memory and a name etched on a large stone tablet. Finding himself staring across the way at the tall entryway into the palace, Jomei pushed himself up to his feet. Even if certain death was a risk, the raid party needed him. Even though the number of level-ready players rose, the sheer amount of frontline veterans fell at an alarming rate. While he knew he wanted that cozy, peaceful life once more, he would just be sucked back into the fight. His feet carried him to his destination, one that was vaguely familiar to him, The Scarlet Line. Slowly, he would descend the stairs into the meeting proper, seeing a room filled with familiar faces; some seen recently, others from a time long past. Too much weighed on his mind to offer any sort of cheerful greeting, as was accustomed to the man. Instead, he opted for a general bow of his head to any of the others who had caught his eye as he entered. Taking whatever seat was closest to him, the green clad ginger would lower himself into the chair and lean forward, elbows resting on his knees, and gaze lingering on his clasped hands. Jomei the emerald duelist Spoiler notes Level: 32 | Paragon: 69 | Tier: 4(111) Jomei: 900/900 HP | 128/128 EN | DMG 23 | MIT 44 | EVA 3 | ACC 4 | BH 49 | HLY BLS 19 | FLN 16 | HLY 8 | AA | LD 1 | F.Sprt. equipped Fragarach Vestige of St. Patrick Alatreon's Will battle-ready inventory Antidote (3/3) skills Spoiler Skills Saber R5 | TECH Spec. Combat Mastery DMG R3 Cloth Armor R5 Charge B Healing R5 Energist Fighting Spirit MA R2 Extra: Concentration (x) Survival (x) Meditation (x) Parry Forgotten King's Authority Hiding R.4 Assault Mode Mods Athletics (x) Vanish (x) Emergency Recovery (x) Addons Stamina (x) Ferocity (x) Precision (x) Nimble (x) data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs Spoiler Housing Buffs: Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down) Dining Room: Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. Living Room: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Link to post Share on other sites
Bistro 0 Posted July 20, 2023 Author #11 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 this post is in accordance to the release of the boss information as stated in the first post of this thread. players who are joining the thread from this point onwards, please feel free to operate under the assumption of having joined the meeting punctually, and thus have listened in to the information below. amidst the bustle, there was a set high-pitched clinks from a glass being tapped light with a metal spoon – bistro had wanted to speak. and with a few small pips – "sorry!" – she made her way through the crowd from the front of the room towards the back, ushering players towards the seats at the side through sheer smallness of the room. by the table, she emptied her cup in one swift motion down her throat, before setting it aside on a nearby table. "attention! please..." she waited until the room was quiet before speaking, starting off first and foremost with a bow. "thank you all for gathering here today. my name is bistro, and i run the cintimani, supplier of alchemical goods for players who frequent the first floor." if bistro had memorized a script – well, it showed. but the little twitches in her face gave away the alterations she was aware of having to have made on the fly, especially in lieu of the veterans who had showed up, contrary to plan. it didn't matter. the show would go on. "with regards to our hosting the discussions pertaining to the floor boss, i understand the precedence for this might seem unusual. after all, matters related to the front lines are usually not open to the general public." "but not in our case. understand – it has been a while since most of us have heard any action regarding our progression out of here, so some of us have opted to take the initiative moving forward instead." "presently, the highest floor is the 27th; home to ronbaru, amongst four others residing in various biomes. there was a quest chain that we were made aware of early on, spanning the four different regions of the floor. from this, our sources were able to gather small pieces of information, described as words of power." with a wave, bistro summons a stack of cards, separating it into two halves before passing them to each side of the room for distribution. every card has the following, scribbled in someone's handwriting: All things become dust, to be accepted into the earth, and born again. The smallest raindrops nurture the tallest trees. Learn from the summer heat, for even when the fire claims the forest, the trees grow back stronger. Ore in the ground is precious, but it is useless without heat and hard work. When the war is done and the blades go cold, let the rain they gather cleanse a broken world. "at first glance, these words don't seem like much. they create a poem of sorts, with some elements leading into each other, though they don't appear to be incredibly consistent. however, we now have reason to believe that these words of power are substantial evidence to defeating the floor boss – especially after the elimination of the labyrinth guardian. i think it's best we let the individual who'd been present discuss her findings with us. night?" bistro looked over to the player, calling her over with a wave. "you're up." Link to post Share on other sites
NIGHT 0 Posted July 20, 2023 #12 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 (edited) even in her tracksuit, in front of her old friends, the player just felt small. how did baldur do this, again? night couldn't remember – it had been too long. still, she shuffled up to the front, taking one of bistro's passed cards and flipping it around – on its back was a polished diagram she'd sketched during her examination of the room before the floor boss. because the door wasn't open just yet. "right. thank you for your attendance, everyone." the player had to adjust her volume after speaking, realizing how soft her voice had sounded. "a few days ago, the labyrinth guardian was eliminated. it took the form of a giant golem, with a crystal core heart, that failed to dissipated after its defeat. presently, its rubble blocks the door to the boss room, appearing to be unmovable –" and night expected a few complaints, so quickly continued, "– but inscribed upon it were another few sets of clues. if you haven't noticed the other side of these handouts, please turn them over. they indicate an elemental system, with its symbols corresponding to those described in the words of power." "after some consideration of the present mechanics known to player, especially after the most recent system update, we have reason to believe that these elements have some commonality with the damage over time ailments on certain identified weapons. i understand that this is very much a stretch in theory, which is why we've hosted this meeting: to gather the opinions of the public, and to provide you with the clues so that discussion might occur; all this for an optimal strategy in removing the guardian barricade and confronting the floor boss afterwards." the player paused, assessing the room before continuing. "our working theory requires the following unique enhancements: burn, frostbite, blight, envenom and static. more accessible alternatives under consideration include paralyze, paralytic venom, toxic venom, and thorns." as she spoke, bistro was nearby with her clipboard, jotting down and organizing the information night had relayed on a different piece of paper. fire = burn water = frostbite wood = envenom/blight/toxic venom/thorns earth = blight(?) metal = static/paralyze/paralytic venom "we were operating under the assumption that the elements were akin to an eastern concept called the wǔxíng, 'the five agents'; of fire, water, wood, earth and metal, and that the enhancements would correspond equally to their respective elemental counterparts. however, pairing metal with electrical-based enhancements suggests that we should also consider operating in the reverse fashion – that the enhancements should be matched with their weaknesses instead. for example, frostbite to fire, instead of frostbite to water." "then there's also the consideration of if we are able to activate these enhancements on the golem's body – or its core – in a timely manner, or in the right order expected of us." night stopped, rubbing the bridge of her nose. if she was a little more familiar with her own cultural concepts from when she was outside of the game, perhaps things would be a little more clear cut now. if anything, this raid mechanic only highlighted to her a requirement to understand her culture better – if not for survival, then perhaps for her pride as an asian. a mental note to be stashed away for later. she gathered herself before continuing. "then there's the mechanical observation i'd made during the fight. the weapon i'd carried inside had fallen on it, which the guardian appeared resistant to... after we'd checked our internal logs." "in accordance with eastern concepts, there is also tai chi; the balance between yin and yang energies. though traditionally they are identified as feminine and masculine energies, under our enhancement theory, we believe they correspond to weapons bearing fallen and holy. we are not sure if the boss within will be susceptible or similarly resistant to these enhancements, and because of this, we recommend coming prepared to alter our weapons accordingly on the fly." (they'd tossed out the idea of needing an equal amount of male and female players long ago; too specific and controversial. if cardinal did take that route, night wondered if yuki would count for two.) "in conclusion: the guardian, stoneheart, had mentioned it was attempting to protect something. in its defeat, it had blocked the door to the floor boss, preventing us from starting the raid before we are able to clear its fragments from the entrance. i suggest that we take its precautions to heart, and consider all clues available to us to help us prepare for the floor boss, which may potentially have elemental immunities or a structured elemental-based attack pattern. if its weaknesses include requiring an elemental-based line up as we move forward with the fight, then so be it." another shifted gaze from night, acting speaker, trying to discern if her speech had been worth any help to the players present. but, wanting to shed the attention from herself, she took a light bow instead. "that concludes what i've got to say. thank you very much for listening. if there are any other suggestions as to what the elements could be in accordance to, please bring them up now. i understand that our perspective on the situation may be skewed due to my-- er, our histories in analysis, so i will be opening the floor to what you might have to say." from here, bistro would be their acting mediator. perfect. night took a deep breath and sank into her seat, weary, once she sat back down. tl;dr Edited July 20, 2023 by NIGHT Link to post Share on other sites
Nari-Lanreth 0 Posted July 20, 2023 #13 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 Voices could be heard from the area beyond the entryway, and yet Nari had paused at the door. She knew that the meeting was important - if she was intending to take part in the clearing of the floor, she would need every advantage given to her, and being her first engagement in such an event, this was the best way to learn what she was lacking. So why was she hesitating? None of those voices are familiar, and...and what if she's here? The shiver that had run down her back was one that Nari was somehow familiar with, even now. She'd considered, for a few seconds, turning and leaving - she could arrive at the actual fight and simply follow direction - but something pulled at her, told her that she'd be making a mistake. Her arrival into the actual confines of the meeting was likely unnoticed by most. She confirmed, with a quick glance around, that she knew few of the others in attendance. She had spotted Jomei rather quickly, his orange hair standing out against the otherwise wash of colours. Her eyes passed over others, some that she had seen before, or encountered briefly, but many that she didn't recognise in the faintest ways. Elites, who have spent their time away...beyond the reach of those who came after them...they're the true elites of this game... She wasn't sure what she felt at the moment, whether it was anger, jealousy, or something else, but the feeling wouldn't leave her alone. She's here. Somehow Nari had realised it before the woman had even been called up, Bistro having given the introduction and explanation for the meeting being called, before handing the floor off. Nari had listened, silently, with an expression that almost bore upon a look of frustration. She considered the concepts that the woman - their apparent designated leader, or instructor - provided the group. She'd had no intention of speaking, no intention of making her presence known, but the words slipped out before she could even consider it. "I cannot speak to the actual plan itself, which sounds...basic, but workable...but, what about the actual preparation period? I'm assuming that the intention is to strike as soon as possible, and...unless I'm mistaken, we require a collection of...well, essentially of elemental based weapons. Fire, water, earth, air, lightning...perhaps in different forms, but a pretty standard collection. How many are we missing? How many do we need? How much time do we have to collect that which is outstanding." Her words were covered with a tinge of something dark, an almost bitterness to them, as she spoke. She refused to look up from the floor in front of her, her arms crossed against the otherwise plain black and white short-sleeved shirt she was wearing. She hated calling attention to herself, especially here, especially when she was nothing more than a newcomer. Yet she wasn't able to stay quiet. "For what it's worth, I can cover the static. I know a few others may be able to cover the fire...but what else do we have, and what else are we missing?" Statblock Spoiler notes -- Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 47 | HP: 860/860 | EN: 100/100 | ACC: 5 | DMG: 20 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 30 | B.Healing [+47] | L.Momentum: 1 | LD: 5 | Static: 40/24 Tier 4 | Tier 8 equipped Reaper's Charge [Scythe; Tier 4 Daemonic] Enhancement: Accuracy [3 Slots] Enhancement: Static [1 Slot] Reaper's Defence [Light Armour; Tier 4 Perfect] Enhancement: Evasion [2 Slots] Enhancement: Light Momentum [1 Slots] Twin-Fox Bracelet [Tier 4 Perfect Jewellery] Enhancement: Recovery [2 Slots] Enhancement: Evasion [1 Slot] battle-ready inventory Teleport Crystal {3} Starter Healing Potions {4} | Heals 50 HP Divinity's Wait {4} | Tier 2; Perfect Potion | Mitigation III Divinity's Protection {4} | Tier 3; Perfect Potion | Overhealth III Cold Brew Coffee {3} | Tier 1; Perfect Potion | HP Recovery III Percephonius Pyratius {9} | Tier 4; Perfect Potion | Damage III Ketchup Chips {3} | Tier 4; Perfect Snacks| Probiotics III Siúil a Rún {2} | Tier 3; Perfect; Masterpiece Support Song | HP Recovery III [Mass] skills Spoiler Utility Skills Extended Weight Limit [Active: Passive. Effect: +2 additional Battle-Ready inventory slots.] Searching [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: +1 LD per rank. +1 to Stealth Detection per rank.] [Rank 3 Searching Mod] Detect [Active: Passive. Effect: Grants +2 Stealth Detection. Grants +1 LD when searching for dungeons and labyrinths.] Quick Change [Active: Free Action. Effect: Allows the user to instantly equip, unequip, or swap any equipment in their battle-ready inventory. All active and temporary buffs and conditions granted to the player by the unequipped item are immediately lost, unless the new item carries the same enhancement (e.g. Keen, Heavy Momentum, Risky, etc.).] Combat Skills Battle Healing [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: While in combat, recover 1% per rank of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.] Weapon Skills Polearm [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: +7 DMG] Dagger [Rank: 1. Active: Passive. Effect: +3 DMG] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Stamina [Active: Passive. Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Precision [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 ACC.] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] <<Weapon Type>> Focus [Active: Passive. Effect: Decreases minor critical threshold by 1. Also reduces DoT thresholds by 1. Players cannot use Focus and Ferocity at the same time for the same Weapon Type.] [Rank 5 Shift] TECH Specialist [Active: Passive. Effect: For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. No other Shifts may be taken.] Armour Skills Light Armour [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: 30 MIT. Mitigation is capped at 2 slots.] [Light Armour Mod] Meticulous [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 base Damage.] [Light Armour Add-on] Resolve [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 Accuracy and +10 * Tier HP.] Active Extra Skills Concentration [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 5 turns. Effect: As a free action, gain Absolute Accuracy on your next attack. In the case Absolute Accuracy is already present, increase your Accuracy by 1 instead. Effect lasts until the start of next turn.] Meditation [Active: Post Action. Cooldown: 3 turns. Effect: Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy.] Parry [Active: Post action. Energy cost: 9 EN Cooldown: 3 Turns. Effect: Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns.] [Parry Mod] Vengeful Riposte [Active: Passive. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect: A successful Parry also returns 50% (rounded down) of the raw damage that would be dealt to you back to your opponent. The reflected damage can be mitigated by the opponent.] Survival [Active: Passive. Effect: Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.] Inactive Extra Skills Assault Mode [Active: Free Action. Energy Cost: 5 EN. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect: As a free action, switch your accuracy and evasion values until the start of your next turn.] Brawler [Active: Free Action. Energy Cost: 5 EN. Cooldown: 5 Turns. Effect: Increase mitigation by 10*tier until the start of your next turn.] Frozen Hide [Active: Free Action. Energy Cost: 5 EN. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect: As a free action, apply one slot of Frost Aura and one slot of Frost Thorns equal to your tier to yourself until the start of your next turn.] Combat Mastery Damage [Rank: 3. Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 * Tier additional Base Damage per rank. Ranks of this Skill obey Damage enhancement caps.] Familiar Skills Protector Familiar [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 3 Posts; Effect: The next time you would take damage, your familiar rushes to your aid, reducing the final damage by 10%.] data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== sword arts Spoiler [x12] ST-I (12 10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x15] ST-II (15 13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (20 18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll. [x11] AOE-I (11 9 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x14] AOE-II (14 12 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x16] TECH-A (16 14 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. [x16] TECH-B (15 13 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a status condition that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn. [x16] TECH-C (15 13 EN) | COUNTER | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, places [Counter] around the player. [Counter] reduces the final damage taken by its user by 25% (rounded down) for one turn. [x16] TECH-D (15 13 EN) | SHATTER | A single-target sword art that applies [Shatter] to an enemy for 3 turns. [Shatter] is a debuff that can stack up to a cap of 3. Each stack of [Shatter] removes -20 MIT from an enemy, down to 0, if it has MIT. [x12] TECH-F (11 9 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE STUN | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. All struck targets are stunned for one turn. [x16] TECH-G (15 13 EN) | BURN | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Burn] on the enemy. [Burn] is a DoT ailment that deals [14 * Player Tier] unmitigated Burn damage for 2 turns. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs Spoiler Estate Buffs Bedroom [-1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat.] Living Room [Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.] Storage Closet [+1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot] Basement [Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll.] Extended Workshop [+2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt & +1 crafting attempt per day.] Greenhouse [+2 Gathering EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to gathering attempts.] data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Link to post Share on other sites
Vigilon 0 Posted July 21, 2023 #14 Report Share Posted July 21, 2023 The time was coming, sooner than expected, in fact. He knew Krysta would be coming, though she might arrive a minute after Vigilon, for she had something she was in the middle of dealing with. Things were starting to pick up, though Vigilon had yet to find out how or why. All that mattered, is that he needed to take a look at the situation. At the rate things were going, he might find himself doing one of the most dangerous things in this game...but hopefully he'd know what he was doing at that point. What he wasn't expecting, however, was for the place the meeting would be held in, to be a treasure in itself. Whose place was this? How were they able to afford it? If anything, it would be wise to act carefully, as a physical slip up would probably lead to a hefty fine. "Man...this place is a real sight..." He thought as he took in the view as he slowly made his way to the area of the room where the meeting would be taking place. At a glance, he only recognized three faces. Night, Jomei, and...Freyd. He probably didn't have much time to talk before the meeting started, so he could only hope this would go well. He listened intently, though he was a terrible note taker, so he'd have to remember listening to all this. The current theory was that there was an elemental system at play here, based on an Eastern Five-Element system. Vigilon, of course, would only see little more than a web full of lines. While it could have easily been a circle based element counter in terms of what is good or bad against what, Vigilon was already trying to see in his head if he could use Pokemon logic to figure out the weaknesses. Didn't necessarily offer very much, so of course he'd also have to consider the current suggestion that was the elemental circle that even had the arrows there. Maybe figuring out the advantages was a mid-fight puzzle? Hopefully they'd be able to figure it out before the fight even begins... A woman with red hair would give her thoughts on the scenario, and mention that she could provide static. Vigilon took a deep breath. This would be his first time speaking in a meeting that planned out a floor boss raid. "Time to shine, bud. Don't screw this up..." He thought. "I have a weapon I'm almost done restoring. When it's finished, which will be soon, the weapon will have Fallen, Blight, and Burn. If we are considering the Tai Chi concept as well as the Elemental advantage theory, I should be able to get some fair offensive coverage with it. The downside is that it's the only unique weapon I have, so I don't think I'll be swapping anytime soon." He explained to the gathered players, hoping they'll understand what he wanted to communicate. "However, I can't help but shake the feeling that, although I'm probably wrong and the boss is likely to be resistant, if not immune to it, what if bleed was an applicable ailment in a case like this? There is iron within blood, though I'm honestly not sure where such a not-so-special ailment such as bleeding out a mass of liquid and cells containing lots of iron and water, would fit in a scenario like this." He added. "Stop it, you're embarrassing yourself!" He thought, for he was not confident in this attempt to add more options in the slightest. "And what of Rending?" He continued, though he was likely to be wrong here too. "Having a Rending Familiar myself, I've come to learn that different familiars might apply Rend in different ways, depending on the creature. Because of this, I actually don't know if Rend will work at all, though the Cardinal is unlikely to apply anything better than the originally intended damage for the Rend ailment, due to the wide range of methods that familiars can use to inflict it." He noted. "Stop trying to act like you're thinking what nobody else has considered! Are you really lacking the stuff that's actually important??" He thought to himself yet again, as he attempted to hide his insecurity under his expression, not that he knew it was leaking through to a slight degree. "What I'm trying to say is, there might be more options than meets the eye that aren't easy to spot, which could be helpful to any here who might be uniquely impaired." He stated, finishing his barely baked thought. "Though, admittedly, with the concept of blood, Vampiric might make more sense against it if it were a lifesteal thing..." He muttered, unintentionally thinking out loud, not to mention not knowing how the Vampiric enhancements actually worked due to not having used any or knowing that a defensive variant of vampiric existed. Resting his left elbow on his leg, his left hand held up his forehead when he lowered his head, nearly sighing in self-frustration over the fact that he knew he could have done or said something better, yet didn't. Vigilon was clever in some aspects, but not all of them. There had to be something he could get right in this scenario... "There's gotta be something we're missing...why haven't I thought of anything viable yet?" He thought to himself. Stats and Equipment: Spoiler Main Stats: Level: 32 Paragon Level: 25(paragon stat bonus totals: +100 HP, +10 EN) Paragon Rewards: Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD to loot and chest rolls Battle Stats: HP: 780(Base[740], Resolve[40]) Energy: 112(Base[92], Energist[20]) Base Damage: 23(SS R5[7], Combat Mastery: DMG[12], SS Ferocity[2], Meticulous[1]) Mitigation: 78(Silver Night[+48], Light Armor R5[+30]) Accuracy: 2(SS Precision, Dragon's Eye) Evasion: 2(Silver Night, Dragon's Eye) Loot Die: 6(Searching R5[+5], Dragon's Eye[+1]) T4 Blight: Inflicts Blight on BD 9-10 Fallen Damage: +16 DMG on BD 6-8 Additional conditions: -2 on all stealth rolls(Light Armor Rank 5) Equipment: [T4]Kyrkuran(2 Fallen, 1 Blight) [T4]Silver Night(2 MIT, 1 EVA) [T1]Dragon's Eye(1 ACC, 1 EVA, 1 LD) Consumables: Teleport Crystal x1 Skills: Straight Sword Rank 5(30 SP) Light Armor Rank 5(30 SP) Searching Rank 5(30 SP) Extended Mod Limit(10 SP) Charge(10 SP) Extra Skills: Combat Mastery: Damage Rank 3(13 SP) Familiar Mastery: Rending(10 SP) Survival Meditation Mods: Meticulous(4 SP) Night Vision(3 SP) Detect(4 SP) Shift: AoE(10 SP) Addons: Resolve(6 SP) SS Ferocity(6 SP) SS Precision(2 SP) SS Stamina(4 SP) Link to post Share on other sites
Crozeph 0 Posted July 21, 2023 #15 Report Share Posted July 21, 2023 *munch munch* "They don't know I've been here the whole tim-" as if by some kind of joke he was handed an item containing information about the boss. He had the chance to be a part of two battles. It seems no one from Jacob's Ladder was in the meeting, Ariel is counted as an ally but other than that he's seen the familiar faces and with Night and Bistro hosting the whole meeting. How he reached and found the place doesn't matter, he's here and that's that. "Bistro a true homie" he uttered. Maybe some heard and some not but it is true. Bistro was a true friend who made Crozeph his cursed drink that tastes like roasted beef. Now to the info at hand Crozeph looked and listened. Elements, quite intriguing but he wasn't familiar with wuxing. Back when he studied engineering, there were less mentioned of impressive chinese engineering and so he had less info to work with. "It does represent them well" he muttered before munching on another rice cake. Musashi had same concepts when he wrote Five Rings but Crozeph find it absurd to connect it to that with how wuxing seem closer to it. Ereshkigal, his katana, rested on his shoulder and he started to loosen the tie on his neck. "A Tao system I've read had a similar concept, a balance of strong and weak. Counter a weak attack with strong, counter a strong attack with weak. So it's highly possible and I agree that this fight would be more on swapping to be flexible in battle." "What if we assign teams with one element to focus on? that way we got one team to focus healing while we still have one team who can hit hard. I'd just assume if one element doesn't have its weakness or strength they'd receive neutral damage." *munch munch* Muttering to himself and his thoughts start to get louder and louder Link to post Share on other sites
Katoka 0 Posted July 21, 2023 #16 Report Share Posted July 21, 2023 Double checking the flyer in her hand, Katoka looked up once again at the building in front of her. She had passed it before in her times on the first floor but never made an attempt to go inside for one reason or another, there were so many shops and various buildings here in the Town of Beginnings after all. Putting the piece of paper away she fussed with her hair slightly, something she did on occasion when she was nervous, before opening the door and entering. Following the voices of conversation the samurai made her way into the room and found a spot in the back where she could attempt to see everyone while staying ever so slightly out of sight. This was her first floor boss meeting after all, and she wasn't familiar with most of the faces in the room. One person did catch her eye, the cowled and perpetually shadowed Freyd, her friend and guildmate. She tried to catch his eye and gave him a meek wave as she stood nervously in the sea of unfamiliar people. "So these are the frontliners huh?" she thought to her self. They certainly were all a unique group of individuals. When a girl in a track suit gave a run down of what information was gathered about the boss Kat listened intently. Opening a text window she began to take a few notes that she could reference in the future, just in case. Once the presentation was over a few people began to share a few of their theories on strategies and such. The small blonde looked around the room at each of them, making sure to soak up as much information as she could. She wasn't confident enough in herself to come up with anything worthwhile, but she wanted to listen to each of them just in case something did come to mind. ---- Katoka | HP: 720/720 | EN: 106/106 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 78 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 4 | BH: 31 | AA | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | REC: 3 | STK: 40 Spoiler Katoka, The Cerulean Storm Level: 32 Paragon Level: 10 HP: 720/720 EN: 106/106 Stats: Damage: 23 Mitigation: 78 Evasion: 1 Accuracy: 4 Battle Healing: 31 AA BLGT: 32 P.V.O REC: 3 STK: 40 Equipped Gear: Weapon: Raijin's Corruption (T4/Demonic/Katana) | Abs.Acc, Blight, Para.Ven (off), Static Armor: Bushido Haori (T4/Perfect/Light Armor) | MIT 2, EVA 1 Misc: Black Zephyr’s Zeal (T3/Perfect/Trinket) | ACC 2, REC 1 Custom Skill: Skills: Battle Healing R4 Katana R5 Light Armor R5 Energist Active Mods: Meticulous Vengeful Riposte Inactive Mods: Addons: Ferocity Stamina Resolve Precision Active Extra Skills: Survival Concentration Parry Inactive Extra Skills: Battle Ready Inventory: Teleportation Crystal x5 Starter Healing Potion x3 Housing Buffs: Rested: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down) Filling: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. Relaxed: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Col Stash: +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests Basic Training: +5% Exp to a thread. Limit one use per month [0/1] Guild Hall Buffs: Lucrative: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters receive +1 crafting attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters receive +2 crafting attempts per day. Col Deposit: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests. Scents of the Wild: Wedding Ring: Link to post Share on other sites
Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0 Posted July 21, 2023 #17 Report Share Posted July 21, 2023 (edited) A few others joined the gathering and the blonde was delighted to notice that her favourite Irishman also made his way here. It was good to see more dependable individuals joining the frey though she wished more would come. Hopefully they just skipped today's meeting and she would see more of her old acquaintances at the actual raid. After their host finished explaining and Ariel received Night's card, she stared at it for a while. Then took one of the markers available and started scribbling on the planning paper: Quote 'All things become dust, to be accepted into the earth, and born again.' - boss/adds have different stages, probably resurrects after defeat. As we encountered before. 'The smallest raindrops nurture the tallest trees.' - everyone will have to contribute in one way or another. a specific task or trial? outside of fighting and dealing damage? Raindrops/water hint 'Learn from the summer heat, for even when the fire claims the forest, the trees grow back stronger.' - adding on the 1st phrase, returning stronger? fire (enhancement) explicitly mentioned could prove to be an advantage? or it will just help to resurrect boss/adds? 'Ore in the ground is precious, but it is useless without heat and hard work.' - reinforcing the idea of fire enhancement and teamwork? what else? 'When the war is done and the blades go cold, let the rain they gather cleanse a broken world.' - importance of water in the final moments of the raid? elemental swap/selection on weapons? use water on the boss room obstruction? The diagram cemented the elemental system theory they had. Though she frowned as she though it to be more of an ordered circle or cycle system where each element is equally viable, rather than a complex Rock-Paper-Scissors-Spook-Lizard scenario where there is a hierarchy of elements. People we're coming with ideas but the blonde felt like she had to express her thoughts on setting a foundation, before they started speculating further. "Is there any chance that the diagram is incomplete? maybe the middle space wore off or was purposely removed?" she asked while looking at @NIGHT, the one she knew for sure that was at the boss room. Then stood up from her chair and addressed the host. "If not, I suggest we form teams prioritizing the basics: allocate at least 1 tank and 1 healer in each team. Then add a note that a diverse array of enhancements could give us an edge." she added with a sigh while looking around. There were too many enhancements and not enough players with items using those enhancements. As usual, the info was slim and they could go down a rabbit hole with theory crafting. "Maybe Cardinal will throw us a bone and let us temporary alter enhancements once we start." she mused with a ironic smile. "We'll most likely be provided with some sort of environmental support to compensate for our lack of specific enhancements... at a cost. One thing I know from experience, we always have a way to win. Cardinal is surprisingly abiding in that regard." pretty basic stuff, but she felt like she had to get it out for the new frontliners... present and future. As she waited for an answer, she sat back down and adjusted her kimono. Then started scrolling though her inventory to check for items in her possession with elemental enhancements, as listed by Night and suggested by others. Edited July 21, 2023 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion Link to post Share on other sites
Freyd 0 Posted July 22, 2023 #18 Report Share Posted July 22, 2023 (edited) While the others focused on the clues provided by NIGHT, Freyd was more concerned about logistics. Their present mix might not represent every player intending to attend, but the roster was lacking in key areas. So far as her shot about Firm Anima's military was concerned, he merely ignored it. Let them think the guild was an army. It served their interests to foster that particular image, to an extent. 'Strange how being organized and competent makes others think of us in such a way,' he mused behind a neutral, pondering mask. Ironic, that it was actually a crafting guild. "No Shield, Yuki, Eruda, Griswold, Raidou or Calrex." They were not the only competent tanks, but among the first to come to mind based on past performance. "Others have proven capable," he acknowledged Oscar and Ariel, "but would serve best as off-tanks in the field." Legs and arms crossed, fingers raised to his lips, he looked deep in though in the bowels of his hood - like a helmet-sized thinking cave, just really, really soft and comfy. A flash of Cerulean by the door and tiny wave of acknowledgement from the Assault Team Captain. Other faces were noted as entering, but by that point he was fully lost in other thoughts. Freyd set his jaw and nodded back to his friend, not wanting to discourage her from participating, but concerned that the staked had suddenly been raised. If Katoka was here, he could no longer just walk away. It was his job to keep them all safe - not typically by standing in the way of the pointy bits, but options were apparently few. Cogs and wheel turned furiously within, analyzing, calculating, synthesizing, and finally concluding. It would be risky, and involve considerable leg work before the raid set forth, but it was the right choice. He sighed. "Fine. I'll tank." Under any other circumstances, it might have been thought of as a joke. The systemic differences between the two builds were significant and not easily adjusted overnight. But his tone was dead serious. "We're going to find some healers or supports though. They bring a skill set few others bother to carry, and something tells me we won't want to be without it. Ariel has the right idea." A few waves of one hand captured NIGHT's diagrams with Ariel's added notes while the other readied a message to the figure that immediately came to mind. With most of Firm Anima committed elsewhere, Hirru was the best other healer he knew. Details were packaged and sent with dexterous grace and speed, along with a few formulated thoughts of his own. Hoping he would catch his old companion at the right moment, fortune chose to smile. A response came almost immediately. "It looks like we can count on Hirru, as always." Freyd rose and scribbled a series of notes on the sheet, adding to what had already been spoken and jotted before. "He offers these thoughts for our deliberations, along with his regrets for not attending." Returning to his seat, he waited to hear more from the others, his mind afield of various resources that could be brought to bear to help address their needs. @Hirru's Notes: Earth is the beginning and the end of most life. Healing starts and ends on the physical layer. Water is the most prominent requirement for life. The flow heals as time goes on. Wood is nature, with attributes tending towards healing, but not always. Life germinated. Metal is cold and unfeeling, but forged in fire, it can Mend and Reforge. Fire is destruction, but also renewal. As everything returns to the earth, to be used for new life. Now.. when would Healing the boss be viable, if such a thing was needed.. If set as phases instead of the enhancements.. Earth would be heavy mit, with aoe. Possible extra feature after fire phase. Water would be fluid, so hate may be bypassed. Adds maybe. Possible CC Wood would definitely bring adds. Metal will have high mit or dmg (or both) Fire would be high dot, but possible self damage which would start a regen during next earth phase Speculation Healing during fire phase my negate regen after. Though, priorities going to players would mean that mostly doesn't matter. And again, speculation Edited July 23, 2023 by Freyd Link to post Share on other sites
Bistro 0 Posted July 22, 2023 Author #19 Report Share Posted July 22, 2023 oh boy. where should she begin? even when stepping up to the front, she realized how much the veterans had to say, and immediately she felt a little more comfortable than night's own death glares on her individually assigned tasks. communication, she could handle a little better. with night on jotting duty, that left room for her to speculate and correct. to @Nari-Lanreth (oh, she totally saw that look of frustration from earlier), she simply nodded, arms folded. "a very good question. the scarlet line's specialty is in item identification, and so we've amassed a number of elemental weapons for the cause. iris, the store's proprietor, is willing to offer her stock for use – talk to her, at the back of the room. we'll build it according to your specifications if need be, and the turn around is near immediate – bring the shards and scales, and the cost of construction will be free." the corner of her lips quirked up for a second, before being suppressed. "consider it a sample, though note that we don't have the yin/yang dichotomies in stock." @Vigilon's suggestion was tossed over to night for note-taking – "we also have vampiric in stock, too, if it happens to work." and to @Crozeph, she was a little more wary, "as much as i'd like to agree with that level of preparation, i'm afraid we may not have enough manpower to fill out different teams with individual elements." case in point, ariel and @Freydwere quick to notice their lack of several key players present... perhaps for the fight. "so hasty to jump – is firm anima's leader not attending, freyd?" ignore the tone of the question – or perhaps not, because she did mean to incite. her reiteration was to make sure that their notetaker hadn't forgotten this critical element, because that meant less support for them to work with, and a validation of a prior theory. go figure. that being said, she noticed his writing on the sheet provided – hirru's words. "ah. i take it that he's attending, then?" and, for comfort, "if push comes to shove, the cintimani's willing to churn out mass healing crystals for the flock. we won't be able to guarantee to meet all orders, but we'll do as much as we can to provide necessary support." Link to post Share on other sites
NIGHT 0 Posted July 22, 2023 #20 Report Share Posted July 22, 2023 right. as soon as she heard her guard's voice, night immediately remembered how much of her guard she couldn't let down just yet. her shoulders stiffened, and though she'd sunk into her seat, she immediately righted herself to pull open her interface, beginning to type. and fast. not thinking was the best thing for night to do, following instinct instead – though her expression changed several times as she realized bistro's different queries and call outs. no single-element teams. missing tanks. supply might be an issue, but it mightn't, either, depending on who was able to show up. and oh, she had to answer @Ariel - The Crowned Lion. "there wasn't a space at the center from what i'd noticed." night considered the possibility again, before continuing. "the closest concept in relevancy i'd consider is the tai chi proposal. or, the different ways elements would interact with each other – the traditional thinking of fire beating water, for example, though i'm not too familiar with what else follows that train of thought." when all was said and done, she looked up to notice the additional information that had been presented forward – in text, written by freyd – and she went over to take note of that, too. "as phases, rather than as weaknesses..." she wouldn't jump to conclusions that the boss would require healing itself, but hirru was a man with a different perspective, and she'd acknowledge it without complaint. "a sound theory. we did consider it, but without being able to peer into the boss room proper, it's difficult to draw conclusions from what it can do through speculation alone." before night returned to her seat, she scanned the room to count the attendees. admittedly, this should've been done before they'd began, as were minutes standards, but night had to speak and had the jitters and forgot. "are all present today representative of the raid's turn out? hirru included. i'm hesitant to say yes, but we'd be filling two teams at maximum by the look of things. unless i'm mistaken. what's the best way to distribute ourselves, knowing we've got one support and tank thus far?" tentative team arrangement consideration: feel free to grab this and edit it as the conversation goes along. Party#1 Party#2 TANK | Freyd TANK | N/A HEAL | Hirru HEAL | N/A DPS | N/A DPS | N/A DPS | N/A DPS | N/A DPS | N/A DPS | N/A DPS | N/A DPS | N/A Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts