[SP-F11] The Sewers of Taft

[Morningstar 0]

Twisting roots threatened to tangle the swordsman, regrowing every time he cut them down. They spiraled around him, clinging to his arms and legs. His movements were restricted by the tightening roots. They crept up his body, fully engulfing him with their wrath. Enclosed in the heart of the forest, he suffocated slowly.

Over and over, a single command repeated in his mind until a burst of red light cracked through his wooden cocoon. It ripped and tore through roots, exploding at the authority of the Forgotten King. The forest would obey him, or face death.

The swordsman chopped, cut, and sliced through roots, sharpened into spears and expelled from the ground in his direction. Back and forth, he swayed around missile-like attacks. His clean evasion led him straight to the source of the barrage.

A lone treant stood at the center of a grove. In its grip was a longsword, artistic in design and structure. It had a hallowed look to it, but the swordsman new better. Throughout the world, it was known as the Wicked Wood, an apt name for a creature with a wicked soul.

[ lv. 54  ->   lv. 33 / p. 21 ] MORNINGSTAR | HP: 851/851 | EN: 112/112 | 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 magdalyn's cuckoo teleport crystal x5 dewdrop salve | HP REC III 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  imperial quarter blend | DMG III creme brulee | ACC II mortal instants | MIT III smores | EVA II gelato | LD III smores | PROS III hearty soup | 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. 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.  gathering n/a

Edited April 5 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The fight began immediately. A dozen more tentacle-like roots poked out of the ground, flying towards him like javelins. He deflected a few with his sword while dodging the remainder. The gap between them was closed with a lunge. The swordsman grappled with his opponent, clashing against the silver-blue blade the treant wielded. Their weapons flashed, sparks flinging off the metal with each hit. They traded blows, but none of their shallow wounds could keep either at bay.

Many times before, he had found himself in that exact position with a variety of differing foes. Whether it was a monster, a beast, or a human mattered not to him. From his perspective, they all fell the same.

A vile, dark feeling crept over the swordsman; however, it came from himself. An ominous and black aura engulfed the swordsman's blade, invisible to the eye but not to the heart. With a single swing, he broke the treant's poise. It stumbled backwards, catching itself with its own rising roots.

Spoiler

POST ACTION | TECH-D

ID221409 | bd8 | -> The Wicked Wood

(22+8) * 16  = 480 DMG
480 - 55 = 425 DMG

12+3-2-1 = 12 EN

The Wicked Wood | HP: 625/1050 | MIT: 75 55 | DMG: 110 | ACC: 2 | Shatter (1/3) | PARALYZED
Burning Timber | BURN effects applied to the Wicked Wood won’t run out.
Set Aflame | While afflicted with BURN, the boss’ MIT will be reduced to 50, and its DMG increased to 125.
Ingrain | On a CD 9+, the boss will root itself in the ground instead of attacking. This will heal it for 120 HP, and it will roll again to attack. However, its EVA will be reduced to -2 until its next turn.
Tier Lock | Player stats reduced to T2.

Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 90/102 | DMG: 22 | MIT: 40 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 2 | FLN: 8 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3

 

Edited April 6 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The evil feeling did not pass, coursing from his blade and through his body, shaking his very soul. The swordsman did not despise it in the same way he did his previous sword. The other took away his control; from him, it stole his mind.

This blade, however, worked with him. It was an otherworldly source of power, but asked nothing of him but to be wielded. And so, in return for its strength, he did wield it, and would continue to until their communion no longer served either of them a purpose.

Today, they were one, sword and swordsman. An upward stroke took a portion of the treant's face. It had dragged over its eye, blinding it. On a human, it would have left a scar, but the treant simply regenerated using the lifeforce of the forest around it. Rather than retaliate, it dug its roots deep into the earth, sucking the energy from the plants and trees.

It almost looked like cannibalism; but, the swordsman realized that treants were not trees, but monsters. While they shared appearances, their wills and values differed greatly.

Spoiler

POST ACTION | TECH-D

ID221410 | bd6 | -> The Wicked Wood

(22+8) * 16  = 480 DMG
480 - 35 = 445 DMG

12+3-2-1 = 12 EN

ID221411 | md6+2-6 = 2 | cd11 | + 120 HP to The Wicked Wood
ID221414 | md4+2-6 = 0

The Wicked Wood | HP: 300/1050 | MIT: 75 35 | DMG: 110 | ACC: 2 | EVA: -2 | Shatter (2/3)
Burning Timber | BURN effects applied to the Wicked Wood won’t run out.
Set Aflame | While afflicted with BURN, the boss’ MIT will be reduced to 50, and its DMG increased to 125.
Ingrain | On a CD 9+, the boss will root itself in the ground instead of attacking. This will heal it for 120 HP, and it will roll again to attack. However, its EVA will be reduced to -2 until its next turn.
Tier Lock | Player stats reduced to T2.

Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 82/102 | DMG: 22 | MIT: 40 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 2 | FLN: 8 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3

 

Edited April 6 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Before the treant could steal too much from the trees, the swordsman cut it down. A final slash through its midsection did the trick, severing perfectly in two. It decayed before his eyes, and the wood crumbled to blue dust. It floated in the wind, up towards the sky, disappearing in the sun's light.

The sword's aura vanished. He returned it to the sturdy scabbard at his waist, taking one last look at the empty grove before retreating. His victory was not fruitless; he had been rewarded with a rare item. Blessing of the Wood was its title, and its effect was similar to the rooting ability the Wicked Wood had used. The difference was that he would not be thieving another's health. Not only could he help himself, but the entirety of his party in addition. It sounded too good to be true, and yet it was not.

He found his horse fighting off some antmen scouts at the edge of the trail. He shooed them off and, thankfully, they listened, skittering off into the woods. The swordsman clambered onto his horse's back and trotted leisurely along the path back to Taft.

Spoiler

POST ACTION | TECH-D

ID221412 | bd8 | -> The Wicked Wood

(22+8) * 16  = 480 DMG
480 - 15 = 465 DMG

12+3-2-1 = 12 EN

The Wicked Wood | HP: 0/1050 | MIT: 75 15 | DMG: 110 | ACC: 2 | Shatter (3/3)
Burning Timber | BURN effects applied to the Wicked Wood won’t run out.
Set Aflame | While afflicted with BURN, the boss’ MIT will be reduced to 50, and its DMG increased to 125.
Ingrain | On a CD 9+, the boss will root itself in the ground instead of attacking. This will heal it for 120 HP, and it will roll again to attack. However, its EVA will be reduced to -2 until its next turn.
Tier Lock | Player stats reduced to T2.

Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 74/102 | DMG: 22 | MIT: 40 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 39 | LD: 8 (9) | REC: 2 | FLN: 8 | AA | PAR VEN | PROS: 3

The Wicked Wood Drops the following:
“Blessing of the Wood" (T2/Consumable/Single Use) | The user roots themselves into the ground, providing a party wide shield that will absorb up to 250 DMG before breaking at the cost of the user’s EVA being reset to 0 while the shield is up.

Spoiler

Loot Total

1x T2 Blessing of the Wood 221413

 

Edited April 6 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The city was as he had left it: bustling and busy. He rode in on time to return his horse. He and the local stablemaster had a rocky relationship, to say the least. The swordsman had a history of making late returns and often had to pay extra as a result of his tardiness. It was a bad habit, he could admit, but also frequently out of control.

"Oho! Now, this is a rare sight," the stablemaster stroked his grown out beard. The NPC actually looked pleased for once. He even stood from his chair to greet the swordsman.

"Hello, Percival."

"Back early, are you?" Asked the stablemaster, a smirk creeping across his face.

"Hunting was easy today."

"That's a shame. It's good for business when you build up all those extra fees," the stablemaster laughed.

The swordsman did as well. "It's bad for my bank account."

They chatted briefly before the swordsman moved on, choosing to spend the evening at a local tavern that he did not know the name of. He was a regular in the city, but not a regular drinker. He had his favorite establishments and tended to stick to them. However, today he felt especially lazy and decided to remain in Taft for the night. 

[Morningstar 0]

He had learned that the tavern was called "The Tipsy Troll." It was a hole-in-the-wall establishment with more patrons than it deserved. He waltzed in, unimposing in appearance. He fit in well, dressed in his freshly repaired red coat. The players and NPCs that littered the bar were dressed similarly, mostly in their adventuring gear or casual clothes. It was a rowdy bunch, despite the alcohol in them having zero effect whatsoever. Placebo was a funny concept.

The swordsman took a seat at the bar and ordered the special. He was told that they had recently received a large shipment of an item called Fireflower Ale, and it was selling out quickly. It took little convincing to rope him into purchasing a pint.

"Burns the throat, but in the best way possible," a man next to him stated. An empty glass mug sat in front of him, waiting to be collected or perhaps refilled. He was the calmest person in the whole tavern, sitting silently by himself amongst a crowd of raucous fake-drunks. He wore a long trench coat and a prime amount of stubble, something the swordsman was envious of. His blonde hair could not compete with even the littlest beards. 

"What's it compare to?"

"Nothing I've ever had. It's selling out for good reason."

After a moment of silence between the two, the stranger reached out his hand. "Name's Kent."

"Morningstar," returned the swordsman.

Edited April 6 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

"Are you a regular here, Morningstar?"

"Hardly."

The bartender reappeared with Morningstar's drink in hand. He set it down on the counter before him. Morningstar paid, peeved by price gouging the tavern practiced. There was no way it cost them anywhere near 7,000 col to have the ale imported. Even for a rare item, it was a little much. He took a sip, eager to find out what was so great about the drink. It flowed down his throat like lava, burning and tingling on the way down. He coughed, half-surprised despite Kent's warning.

"Jesus," Morningstar coughed between words. "You drink this stuff?"

Kent laughed. "This'll be my fourth," he raised his refilled mug, sucking down the fiery liquid like a vacuum.

"To each their own," Morningstar winced as he took another swig.

"Been in the city long?" Kent asked, itching his stubble while he changed the subject.

"Less than a day."

"On what business?"

Morningstar shot him a defensive look. "My own."