Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 #1 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) Quest He left his home early in the morning, just after daybreak. The weight attached to his waist was lighter than usual, the result of a brand new sword. His fingers dangled around the blade's hilt. Dying Sun, it was called—two powerful swords concocted into something far above what he was accustomed to. Side by side, Bleeding Giant was an ant, although its size might fool the brightest of apes. Surrounded by armed guards was a state that he was growing less and less fond of. First in Glyndebourne and now in Marsonia, he was on constant surveillance. Across the sandstone table was the Chief of the city, a wise and well-respected leader. His reputation, as they always did, brought enemies to his doorstep. One came from within his most inner circle. "Uso-Tsuki," the Chief explained, "was akin to a son to me; my most trusted lieutenant. An attempt for his arrest was made, ending in failure. He escaped, and the sting of his betrayal has lingered ever since." Morningstar listened, intent to hear the man out. Normally, he ignored dialogue like this. The Chief, however, seemed pained. His emotions felt real. "He is a bold man, Uso-Tsuki. Cunning, too. He plans to take my life," the Chief stated grimly, fingers locked beneath his chin. "I know not his motivation, nor he intends on bypassing my guards. We are blind to his strategy, left only to theorize. "And that's where I come in?" "Precisely. Follow Uso-Tsuki and return with information detailing his plans, and the reward will be yours. My agent," he gestured to the man on his right. "will guide you to Uso-Tsuki's current whereabouts." [ lv. 52 -> lv. 33 / p. 19 ] MORNINGSTAR | HP: 828/828 | EN: 110/110 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 60 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3 Hide contents notes. Hide contents equipped dying sun FLN II, AA, PAR VEN red longcoat EVA II, REC I sapphire ACC III, EVA I battle-ready inventory teleport crystal x5 magdalyn's cuckoo popcorn x10 | VIT II skills. Hide contents mod count: 3/5 2HSS | RANK 5/5 precision, stamina, ferocity shift: tech CLOTH ARMOR | RANK 5/5 athletics, nimble COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 4/5 (5) night vision, detect BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 ENERGIST CHARGE extra SURVIVAL FORGOTTEN KING'S AUTHORITY LADY LUCK DISGUISE buffs. Hide contents statue n/a consumables liquor of light | DMG II crème brûlée | ACC II mortal instants | MIT II smores | EVA II gelato | LD III mousse | PROS III shadows withal | OH III breakfast fry | PROTEIN II paragon Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD arts. Hide contents en cost matches multiplier unless stated otherwise. shift underlined. ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x11 -> x14 TECH-A | x16 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x16 | DELAY TECH-D | x16 | SHATTER TECH-F | x12 | AOE STUN misc. Hide contents Well Rested | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. Squeaky Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (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. Advanced Training | +10% 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. Multipurpose | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. Skylight (Searching) | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Working | +2 EXP per crafting attempt gathering n/a Edited March 27 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #2 Report Share Posted March 27 Without a farewell, Morningstar was ushered out of the Chief's office, led by an agent. No names were given to him for privacy reasons, he imagined. The agent was a spy—that was obvious enough. It made sense that they would be hesitant to reveal his identity to a stranger. Trust aside, Morningstar was a suitable candidate for the job. His skillset was geared towards one-on-one combat and while he had limited experience with stealth missions, he was confident that he could get in and out of Uso-Tsuki's hideout without being noticed. He followed the Chief's agent outside, to the edge of town. They passed the docks, where the fishing boats were located, as well as a couple of miniature market stalls. Like some sort of ninja, the agent scaled the wall of a nearby building, reaching the roof in seconds. Morningstar was slower on the uptake but made it up eventually. The agent paid him no mind. Crouched, they looked upon the city. From their vantage point, they could see many of Marsonia's focal points. The agent pointed towards a street along the outskirts, lined with shops and the sort. "Uso-Tsuki was last spotted there, according to our intelligence. The store is a front. His men use it as a safehouse. Gather the intel and return to us without being seen. May Sol's light protect you," the agent finished, before slipping into the shadows. Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #3 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) Parkouring over the low rooftops, Morningstar made it to the shop the agent had referred to. It was a bakery, he discovered by listening to a young couple passing by. He hugged the top of a neighboring store, careful to not be spotted by either civilians or assassins. His sword had been unequipped for efficiency whilst maneuvering from building to building. He slid down the rugged wall of the bakery, clinging to the ledge of a half-opened window. He forced himself through the tight gap, tearing his jacket on a sharp piece of rock. The jacket was already a right mess. Tears from a billion different quests had accumulated over time; it could hardly be considered clothing anymore. It was beginning to look unprofessional—not that "looking professional" was in his job description. He had a standard for himself, though. Inside the building, it was quiet. He found himself in an attic, the highest part of the building used only for storage of goods. There were non-perishable baking supplies as well as tools and gadgets used to craft more efficiently. He hid behind a box, mentally planning out his route from there. The only visible path out of the attic was through a door in the floor. He snuck over to it, lifting the heavy wooden lid and taking a peek below. Unlike the attic, it was light on the next floor down. Acknowledging that dropping would be noisy, he used the retracting ladder built into the attic's floor to climb down. Voices passed through thin walls. Morningstar could hear most of what they were saying, his brain calculating the missing words through context and common sense. The Chief was mentioned twice, confirming that he was in the right place. Spoiler STEALTH CHECK 220839 | ld12 | stealth failed 0/3 s | 1/3 f Edited March 27 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #4 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) The safety of the city melted around him. He had experienced safe zones deactivating in pockets before. This quest, he expected, was similar to what he had seen on Glyndebourne; although, unlike Glyndebourne, this was not a sporadic event. It was a planned questline, with the intention of pulling him from his comfort zone. He tiptoed down the hallway, attempting to listen and creep simultaneously. It was difficult, juggling eavesdropping while also worrying that a single creaking floor board would ruin his entire plan. The crucial component of a stealth mission was not being caught. He dreaded what might happen if he was. "We will begin tomorrow, after sunset," came the voice of a man. "Difendā, Purotekutā, and Hogo-Sha—you will enter the palace at my side. Guards are posted at all entrances throughout the night. Expect increased patrols, likely every 15 minutes. He will be wary of us and our numbers warrant a high level of security. We will enter through an unprotected skylight here," he explained, probably pointing at a diagram of the Chief's palace. Spoiler STEALTH CHECK 220840 | ld17 | stealth succeeded 1/3 s | 1/3 f Edited March 27 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #5 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) The exact number of Uso-Tsuki's followers were unknown to Morningstar who, thus far, had yet to take a look inside the room. The entrance was directly to his right. A few more slow steps and he would have a better idea of what they were up against. In the past, he might have simply stormed in and done whatever he could to take down the group of assassins. He knew better now. After years of experience in the field, his battle intelligence had grown substantially. "We will find the Chief here—in his private quarters. Two armed guards will be positioned outside of his doors. Take them out, but do it quietly. It's best if he does not call for help." "Not that it'll do him much good." A few chuckles followed, but were quickly snuffed out by their leader. "Kage, take the Wādā Twins and position your men around the palace. Keep out of sight and await my command." Spoiler STEALTH CHECK 220841 | ld2 | stealth failed 1/3 s | 2/3 f Edited March 27 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #6 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) All went silent for a moment, before Uso-Tsuki finally spoke again. "Questions? Good. Dismissed." "Except for you." Inches from Morningstar's face, a blade pierced the door. His stealth had been a lie from the start. Uso-Tsuki knew he was there behind the wall and fed his assassins the plan anyway. He wanted Morningstar to know. But why? "Hogo-Sha, go." Ripping around the corner came a suited assassin with a greatsword. He twisted his body as he swung at Star, smashing a hole in the wall in the process. A quick glimpse of Uso-Tsuki was all that Morningstar would get before the betrayer vanished into the shadow of the city. He drew his blade in response to the attacker. They clashed briefly before Morningstar was overpowered and pushed through a wall. He landed in the street, empty except for a few witnesses. Hogo-Sha did not care either way. He leaped out of the house, following the dazed spy. Morningstar rolled and Hogo-Sha's greatsword slammed into the ground where he had once been. Spoiler STEALTH CHECK 220842 | ld12 | stealth failed 1/3 s | 3/3 f CAUGHT! USO-TSUKI ESCAPES; FIGHT HOGO-SHA! Edited March 27 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #7 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) Morningstar fought back, and the sheer force of Dying Sun broke through Hogo-Sha's parry. They were a well-matched pair, identical in many ways. While the thickness was incomparable, their blades gave off a similar aura that could only be described as bloodlust. Wordlessly, Morningstar followed up on his first strike with a flurry of vertical and horizontal slices, using the lightness of his blade to his advantage. He could move quicker, even if only a tiny bit. Hogo-Sha's greatsword was powerful, yet slow in comparison to the blonde's longsword. Even the strongest of swordsmen would have been troubled swinging around the weight of the assassin's slab of iron. It almost seemed unfitting, seeing a man of stealth fighting in the streets like that, and his weapon of choice was odd as well. Greatswords were the very opposite of concealable, nor were they easy to carry. As a long time greatsword wielder himself, Morningstar was an expert. Spoiler POST ACTION | TECH-A ID220843 | bd7 +6-1 = 12 | cd3 | -> Hogo-Sha (28+16) * 16 = 704 DMG 704 - 75 = 629 DMG 629 - 50% = 314 DMG 13 +3-2-1 = 13 EN Hogo-Sha | HP: 686/1000 | DMG: 175 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | STUNNED | StunImm[P] (0/3) Expecting Eye | Parries first attack. Parry | Blocks 50% DMG on CD 9+ (attacker's role) Morningstar | HP: 828/828 | EN: 97/110 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 60 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3 Edited March 28 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #8 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) Morningstar worked to keep Hogo-Sha on defense, matching every one of his swings with two more. Uso-Tsuki was long gone now, and there was no way for the blonde to catch up to him. Even if he could finish off his bodyguard in that moment, he wouldn't know where to look for the traitor. His mission was a bust. He had screwed up—no, it wasn't his fault. Uso-Tsuki had known he was coming from the moment he stepped foot in the bakery, maybe even earlier. Not a word of their plans was trustworthy information and bringing it back to the Chief would only spell his demise. Metal reverberated through the air of the empty street. Windows and doors shut, fearful of the public brawl. It was a shady area, but the local NPCs couldn't have been accustomed to such violent duels, particularly between skilled swordsmen. Common thugs and thieves were the norm, not hired assassins and spies. Spoiler POST ACTION | TECH-D ID220845 | cd4 ID220844 | bd5 +6-1 = 10 | cd7 | -> Hogo-Sha 28 * 16 = 448 DMG 448 - 55 = 393 DMG 12 +3-2-1 = 12 EN ID220846 | bd8 +2-6 = 4 | -> Morningstar Hogo-Sha | HP: 293/1000 | DMG: 175 | MIT: 75 55 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | Shatter (1/3) | StunImm[P] (1/3) Expecting Eye | Parries first attack. Parry | Blocks 50% DMG on CD 9+ (attacker's role) Morningstar | HP: 828/828 | EN: 89/110 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 60 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3 Edited March 28 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #9 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) He deflected Hogo-Sha's blade and pierced the assassin's shoulder, twisting before releasing. The man stumbled back, clutching it with one hand while gripping his greatsword with the other. Bloody particles spilled out of the wound and through the gaps of his fingers, floating and dissolving in the air. "Give up. Tell me Uso-Tsuki's true intentions and I'll let you live," Morningstar promised. Hogo-Sha's expression remained stoic and still despite the pain shooting through his shoulder. Not a word left his lips. Guards rounded the corner, a scene that Morningstar was all too familiar with. As they closed in, Hogo-Sha lunged at him, wielding his giant sword with a single arm. He had made his decision, and although it would result in unjust actions, it was an honorable one. He had chosen not to betray his leader, his friend, and stay consistent with his own beliefs. A guard shouted from behind them, probably to stop, but neither of the swordsmen could hear them. Spoiler POST ACTION | TECH-D ID220847 | cd1 ID220848 | bd4 +6-1 = 9 | cd12 | -> Hogo-Sha 28 * 16 = 448 DMG 448 - 35 = 413 DMG 413 - 50% = 206 DMG 12 +3-2-1 = 12 EN ID220849 | bd6 +2-6 = 3 | -> Morningstar Hogo-Sha | HP: 87/1000 | DMG: 175 | MIT: 75 35 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | Shatter (2/3) | StunImm[P] (2/3) Expecting Eye | Parries first attack. Parry | Blocks 50% DMG on CD 9+ (attacker's role) Morningstar | HP: 828/828 | EN: 81/110 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 60 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3 Edited March 28 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 27 Author #10 Report Share Posted March 27 (edited) Dying Sun cut across Hogo-Sha's torso in flash. His body dropped to the ground. They shared one final emotionless look before the assassin died. Guards surrounded Morningstar, spears drawn. He sheathed his longsword, a dozen weapons pointed at his throat, prepared to strike. "I'm a freelancer, hired by the Chief," he stated plainly. A few looked at each other before one, a captain, he thought, ordered the crew to lower their spears. "Come with me," the captain said, gesturing for him to follow. A new item appeared in his inventory at the same time. It was a coded missive, unreadable to the naked eye. He gathered that it was the true plot of Uso-Tsuki. The captain and his guards returned Morningstar to the Chief's palace, guiding him to the room where he and the Chief had first spoken. It was a meeting space, probably for strategy and such. The guards left him there, alone, where he awaited the arrival of his employer. Spoiler POST ACTION | TECH-D ID220850 | cd3 ID220851 | bd9| cd1 | -> Hogo-Sha 28 * 16 = 464 DMG 464 - 15 = 449 DMG 12 +3-2 = 13 EN Hogo-Sha | HP: 0/1000 | DMG: 175 | MIT: 75 15 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | Shatter (3/3) | StunImm[P] (3/3) Expecting Eye | Parries first attack. Parry | Blocks 50% DMG on CD 9+ (attacker's role) Morningstar | HP: 828/828 | EN: 72/110 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 60 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3 LOOTING ID220854 | cd5 | ld12 + 9 = 21 (8000 col, 2 materials, Perfect Armor/Shield (1), Perfect Consumables (2) TOTALS: 8000 col 2 materials Perfect Armor/Shields [1]: 220854a Perfect Consumables [2]: 220854b, 220854c Edited March 28 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #11 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) Impatient, he took to the cipher. He analyzed its cryptic components, seeing if he could pick out any pieces that made sense to him. None of it was in English, which did not help his case. He wasn't sure if it was a real language or something that the system developed specifically for this quest or city. Educating himself on foreign languages was difficult when none of the languages were used by relevant people. A quest in a tiny part of the world didn't exactly warrant hours of study. If only he knew more about Uso-Tsuki and his followers, maybe he could have some idea of what they were thinking when they developed the coded message. He flipped the unreadable words and phrases around, treating it like a puzzle. It almost reminded him of his first visit to Glyndebourne. Puzzles were a specialty of his. They were a hobby of his, in his old life. He was out of practice, aside from a short stunt at Magdalyn Manor. Spoiler DECODE THE MESSAGE 220890 | ld3+8 = 11 | failed Edited March 29 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #12 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) He scanned for patterns in the code, looking specifically for similarities between symbols. He would have killed for a Marsonian to English dictionary, or for Google Translate. The system only seemed to translate Earth languages, though. It was probably because of scenarios like this that they didn't include easy-to-access translation tools. Cardinal wanted players to be resourceful and to work for their solutions. It was a real headache. He thought about checking at a local library, but decided against it, worried that the guards wouldn't let him leave the palace until after his debrief with the Chief. A sigh escaped his lips as he puzzled away, mixing around bits of the coded message. The symbols, which were probably their version of letters, resembled languages like Arabic or Persian. They had flow to them, some strings connecting while others were left on their own. They were also entirely undecipherable from his narrow-viewed western perspective. He knew a handful of languages, all of Latin origin and of little use to him in the game. If he were to speak Portuguese or Italian, the system would simply convert it to whatever languages the people around him spoke. It was brilliant technology—Morningstar could not argue that. He expected it would have negative long-term effects on his efficiency with languages, too. Spoiler DECODE THE MESSAGE 220891 | ld4+8 = 12 | failed Edited March 29 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #13 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) Pacing around the room for a bit helped entice his brain to get to work. His mental gears turned slowly as he sat back down and took another look at the cipher. It made no sense to him. Except for one bit, that looked the same as another. He thought that, maybe, they went together. A journal materialized before him, alongside a pen. He scribbled down combinations and rearranged unreadable words in different orders, trying to see what stuck. There was no way he could get it, not without a translator of some sort, but if he could put together a theory it would save him some trouble down the line. When he finally had a result that looked almost like sentence structures, he called it quits. Then, the Chief and his entourage of guards entered. "Morningstar," he smiled, although not in a friendly way. "You've returned. I look forward to hearing your good news." Spoiler DECODE THE MESSAGE 220892 | ld19+8 = 27 | successful Edited March 30 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #14 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) Morningstar didn't hesitate, but his reply was not immediate. He took his time, considering his word choice carefully. The Chief, while a commendable leader, was not exactly a trustworthy ally of his. He was not a Marsonian citizen, he was a freelancer. A spy for hire. A mercenary. And twelve armed soldiers circled him, each one holding a glaive. One order was all it would take for them to put him down. Not that he would let them, of course, but senseless violence was not in his nature. He held up the coded message. "This is the key to Uso-Tsuki's plans. He is intent on assassinating you and he does not work alone. I was able to intercept this at the cost of being caught. Hogo-Sha, who I believe was a member of his inner circle, was defeated this afternoon. I found this coded message on his body. Correctly deciphering it will reveal their true plans." "True plans?" The chief asked. "Do you mean to say that there are 'untrue plans'?" Morningstar stared at the Chief. "I overheard a plan, but it was intentional. I don't believe that it was their true strategy." The Chief stared back, his fingers entwined. He didn't show it, but Morningstar imaged that he was nervous. "Hm. Very well. What resources do you require to decipher this message?" "A translator." "Is that all?" He laughed. "Very well. Send for the Professor," he gestured towards the door and a guard hurried out. Spoiler LOCATE A TRANSLATOR 220893 | ld2+8 = 10 | failed Edited March 30 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #15 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) It didn't take long for the guard to return. By his side was a sophisticated looking man with short hair, round glasses, and a burgundy robe. He introduced himself as Ai Chi, Professor of History and Anthropology at the University of Marsonia. Morningstar didn't realize that the game had universities. Apparently, he learned something new every day. "Good. Now that you are both acquainted, please have this decoded by sunset." The Chief and his guards left Morningstar and the Professor alone with the message. Professor Chi seemed unthreatened by the Chief, despite the fact that decoding it by sunset was obviously non-negotiable. "Interesting..." Morningstar squinted, peeking at the message. "What's interesting?" "This language is old—no, dead is more accurate. It's an ancient language, similar to Sahaginese. There are discrepancies though; the letters sway strangely and some words are spelled differently. Actually, some letters are entirely exempt." "Layman's terms?" "Yes, my apologies. The Sahagin are a fish species that dwell at the bottom of the sea. They are ancient; however, many believe that there was a civilization that lived long before them. I've spent years searching for proof of their existence, but I've found nothing of substance. Some documents have arisen, but there is no concrete evidence linking them to an era pre-Sahagin. What's interesting is that this message appears consistent with what I've studied... of course, it is entirely possible that the writer simply made mistakes, but..." His sentence fizzled out at the end, thoughts overtaking his mental stack. "Can you translate it?" Morningstar asked, after a while. "Hm? Oh, yes. I can. Give me some time..." Spoiler LOCATE A TRANSLATOR 220894 | ld11+8 = 19 | successful Edited March 30 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #16 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) "It's done," the Professor called. Morningstar turned. He had been gazing out at the city, mindlessly for the most part. Professor Chi read the contents of the message to him and his eyes widened. Their plan was exactly as explained during Uso-Tsuko's meeting. The Professor was just as surprised by this when Morningstar told him. "It's strange that if they knew you were there, they would openly discuss their plans. Still, it's not impossible for them to change them at the last minute. Or, perhaps this is a ruse as well," He shook the message. Professor Chi opened the door and asked for the guard to call for the Chief. "The message has been deciphered. Please send for him." Morningstar's gaze returned to the city. It was quiet, like the calm before a storm. The quest, technically complete, was only the beginning. Another replaced it, with a different title but the same premise. He was to stop Uso-Tsuki from assassinating the Chief at all costs. Spoiler READ THE MESSAGE 220895 | ld19+8 = 27 | successful Edited April 1 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #17 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) The Chief looked grimly at the pair as they explained the contents of the message. He didn't believe them the first time around, but allowing him to read it for himself changed his mind. "Very well. Thank you for your assistance in the decoding of this message, Morningstar, Professor. You may go." A hefty sum of change flowed into Morningstar's virtual col wallet. Professor Chi turned to leave; however, Morningstar did not. "Go? I should stay and defend you, should I not? Uso-Tsuki and his men will be here tonight," he said, a hint of frustration in his words. "My guards will suffice. Now, leave my palace at once. I no longer require your services, mercenary." He could see why they wanted him dead. The Chief was a real piece of work. Morningstar left, following in the Professor's footsteps. The walk through the palace was quiet. Guards watched him warily as he walked, keeping a close eye on his every move. He imagined that spies would trail him out of town as well. Edited April 3 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #18 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) He hid away in a tavern, somewhere near he center of Marsonia. The Chief's decision to cut him out annoyed him. He knew that Uso-Tsuki was capable of entering the palace undetected. He would not have offered up his plans on a silver platter if he couldn't follow through with them. The Chief would die tonight and but at his own hand, not Uso-Tsuki's. Morningstar was fully capable of protecting him. The palace soldiers would not stand a chance. A long sip off his drink was followed by a low "damn it." He stood from the one-person table he had picked out for himself and turned for the street. The sun had fallen. Uso-Tsuki's plot was already in motion. Morningstar used what extrusions he could to climb to the roof tops, from which he watched the sleeping city. Shadows danced from building to building, heading straight for the palace. Keeping a distance, Morningstar followed. Edited April 3 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #19 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) Six assassins perched about fifty yards from the palace. The twins at the front whispered to each other. The left brother flashed a signal and the party moved, quickly and stealthily closing on their target. A muffled yelp escaped the throat of the assassin at the very back of the group. The twins took notice first, glancing down mid air. The assassin's body crashed to the ground, landing face first on the sandstone. They pivoted as soon as they set foot on the next rooftop. Morningstar stood directly opposite to them. The remaining three lesser assassins joined them at the side, awaiting their orders. The twins smirked, their dark red curls messy in the breeze. "Who've we here?" the left twin called to Morningstar. His face was masked in the dark, but night vision allowed him to see theirs clearly. He wondered if they, as assassins, carried the same skill. They primarily worked in the shadows, he believed. The right twin laughed. "I think that's the guy from earlier. The one who took down Hogo." "Oh, yeah? Still kickin' around, huh?" "What do you say, brother? Should we teach him not to meddle?" Spoiler Using Random Dungeon Map #219953 POST ACTION | TECH-F ID220936 | bd3+6+1-1 = 9 | -> Marsonian Assassin 1 ID220937 | bd10 | -> Marsonian Assassin 2 ID220938 | bd8+6+1-1 = 14 | -> Marsonian Assassin 3 ID220939 | bd9 | -> Marsonian Assassin 4 28 * 12 = 336 DMG 336 - 60 = 276 DMG (28+2) * 12 = 360 DMG 360 - 60 = 300 DMG (28+16) * 12 = 528 DMG 528 - 60 = 468 DMG (28+1) * 12 = 348 DMG 348 - 60 = 288 DMG 8 +3+8-2-1 = 16 EN Marsonian Assassin 1 | HP: 124/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | STUNNED | StunImm[P] (0/3) Marsonian Assassin 2 | HP: 100/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | STUNNED | StunImm[P] (0/3) Marsonian Assassin 3 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | STUNNED | StunImm[P] (0/3) Marsonian Assassin 4 | HP: 112/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | STUNNED | StunImm[P] (0/3) Morningstar | HP: 828/828 | EN: 94/110 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 60 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3 LOOTING ID220940 | cd8 | ld1 + 9 = 10 | 3,600 col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket (1) Spoiler LOOT TOTALS: 11,600 col 4 materials Perfect Armor/Shields [1]: 220854a Perfect Consumables [2]: 220854b, 220854c Rate Trinkets [1]: 220940 Edited April 4 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
Morningstar 0 Posted March 28 Author #20 Report Share Posted March 28 (edited) "I think we should." A flick of the left twin's wrist prompted the three Marsonian assassins to attack. Their movements were simultaneous. Their strategy was sound, overpower him with numbers. Morningstar was accustomed to that type of combat, however. A swift arc of his blade and all three of the assassins were dust. Bloody pixels floated off the tip of Dying Sun. It burned hot, even in the dark of night. In unison, the twins clicked their tongues, frustrated. "Fine," one said. "We'll do it ourselves," came the other. They were distinctively quicker than the other four men, and stronger as well. Still, Morningstar had no trouble keeping up with their agility. He deflected slash after slash, playing with the reach of his longsword. Their daggers put them at a disadvantage. Put him against two of Hogo-Sha and it might have been a different story. He clipped one of the twins on the cheek, the fresh wound setting them apart. Spoiler POST ACTION | TECH-F ID220945 | cd4 | recovery failed ID220942 | bd10 | -> Marsonian Assassin 1 ID220943 | bd9 | -> Marsonian Assassin 2 ID220944 | bd6+6+1-1 = 12 | -> Marsonian Assassin 4 (28+2) * 12 = 360 DMG 360 - 60 = 300 DMG (28+1) * 12 = 348 DMG 348 - 60 = 288 DMG (28+16) * 12 = 528 DMG 528 - 60 = 468 DMG 8 +3+6-2-1 = 14 EN Marsonian Assassin 1 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | StunImm[P] (1/3) Marsonian Assassin 2 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | StunImm[P] (1/3) Marsonian Assassin 4 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 | StunImm[P] (1/3) Morningstar | HP: 828/828 | EN: 84/110 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 60 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3 LOOTING ID220946 | cd1 | ld8 + 9 = 17 | 3,200 col, 2 materials, Rare Consumable (1), Rare Weapon (1) ID220947 | cd11 | ld6 + 9 = 15 | 3,600 col, 2 materials, Rare Armor/Shield (1) ID220948 | cd5 | ld18 + 9 = 27 | 6,000 col, 2 materials, Perfect Weapons (3) Spoiler LOOT TOTALS: 24,400 col 6 materials Rare Weapons [1]: 220946b Perfect Weapons [3]: 220948a, 220948b, 220948c Rare Armor/Shields [1]: 220947 Perfect Armor/Shields [1]: 220854a Rare Trinkets [1]: 220940 Rare Consumables [1]: 220946a Perfect Consumables [2]: 220854b, 220854c Edited April 4 by Morningstar Link to post Share on other sites
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