[F01 | SP] Peace Among the Plains | <<Earning a Living: Forager>>

[Nymoria 0]

Previous EaL - EXP 1,154 Overpaid, Adjust on this Quest.

The night had been far from restful, and as Nymoria opened her eyes to the sunlight beginning to stream into the inn's room, she couldn't help but want nothing more than to return to sleep. She hated the tiredness that had overcome her, and the feeling it left her with - a dull, aching feeling throughout her entire mind and body. She was drained, and the early morning rising wasn't doing anything to inspire her to meet the day head on. 

I just want to go back to sleep...is that too much to ask for...? The groaning in her head reached her throat. The noise had clearly awoken Musei, and Nymoria found the weasel standing on the pillow beside her face, his beady eyes staring into her with a clear desire for her to rise. Yeah, yeah. You just want food. Alright, fine...but only because you're just so adorable...I couldn't say no to that face, even if I wanted to... She had to resist from giggling, knowing that the small weasel wouldn't understand - it hadn't quite yet reached the point where it could read her mind; at least, not that Nymoria had seen. 

Pushing herself from the covers, she rolled onto her side, pulling herself into a sitting position and closing her eyes as the dizziness took over her. She swayed for a few seconds, before the spell left her, and she could open her eyes once more without the feeling like she was going to faint. Today is going to be such a fun day, I can already feel it. The silent grumbling was kept within her mind this time, and she reached for the hearing aid that she had left on the nightstand for her period of rest. The piece had become a secondary part of her, similar to the ones she had in the real world, and she sometimes felt nearly naked without it in her ear; a fact that hadn't been lost on her. Even in this world...

Another sigh led her to leave the bed, the weasel jumping around on it in excitement as she moved towards the wash closet. She turned back to the small critter and signed quickly to him, before heading in for her morning routine. I'll only be a few moments, and then we can head out and get something to eat. Nothing as extraordinary as last night though. Basic! Think, basic!

  

Statblock

Spoiler Notes [Theme] Nymoria | Lv. 10 | P. 0 | HP [200/200] | EN [38/38] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [34] | BH [+6]  Tier 1 | Tier 1 Equipment Nymoria's Sabre [Sabre | Tier 1] Enhancement: Damage [2 Slots] Beginner's Chestplate [Light Armour | Tier 1] Enhancement: Mitigation [1 Slots]  Hearing Aid [Trinket | Tier 1] Enhancement: Accuracy [3 Slots] Battle-Ready Inventory Starter Healing Potions {5} | Tier 1 | Potion | Heals 50 HP Uncommon Health Potion {5} | Tier 1 | Potion | Heals 5% Maximum HP Health Potion {1} | Tier 1 | Potion | HP Recovery III Spyglass {2} | Reduce Search Posts x5 [Dungeon, Familiar, Field Boss] for one thread Skills Spoiler Utility Skills N/A Combat Skills Battle Healing [Rank: 3. Active: Passive. Effect: While in combat, recover 1% per rank of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.] Weapon Skills Sabers [Rank: 4. Active: Passive. Effect: +6 DMG] Armour Skills Light Armour [Rank: 3. Active: Passive. Effect: Gain Mitigation based on your rank in Light Armor. You can only benefit from one armor skill at a time (the respective armor type must be equipped). Your mitigation is capped at 2 enhancement slots.] Active Extra Skills N/A Inactive Extra Skills  N/A Combat Mastery N/A Familiar Skills N/A Estate Buffs N/A data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Sword Arts Spoiler [x10] ST-I (10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x13] ST-II (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. [x17] ST-B (17 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, this CD check applies to only the first roll. [x9] AOE-I (9 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x12] AOE-II (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 all intended targets the previous turn. [x10] TECH-A (11 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Estate Buffs Spoiler N/A data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

[Nymoria 0]

After a small amount of arguing, Nymoria and Musei had finally come to an agreement on a place for breakfast. The locale was slightly more expensive than Nymoria normally would've partaken in, but with their sudden increase in funds, she felt like a little bit of a better diet may not have been a bad thing. Even if they didn't necessarily gain weight or change based on their consumption, she felt like maintaining a proper eating style and choice within the game would make sure that when she eventually returned to the real world, she'd be able to maintain the habits created. 

Let's be honest, you also wanted pancakes. Musei just read your mind and forced you to make the decision. She sneered at the thought, stabbing into the fluffy piece as she tried not to laugh. It was true, she had been arguing against it largely because of the slight increase in cost. Not that it was so large of an increase that she couldn't afford to do it, but after having lived off of such slight earnings in the past, she had been reluctant to suddenly change her habit. The weasel hadn't resented, however, shaking it's body and hissing every time she tried to come up with an excuse. Eventually, the stubbornness of the animal had won out, and Nymoria had given up with a false sigh and a slight smile - leading them to the nearby bakery that doubled as a breakfast bar. 

She had to admit, the food was good - so good that she knew she'd be finding a way going forward to continue returning to the place every morning, so long as her col income could be maintained. Well, that's where today's quest should come in handy. Foragers are supposed to be able to find all sorts of goods and materials within the wildlands, without the need to hunt down dangerous creatures. A good sort of break when feeling worn out. Although, I guess it's true they don't necessarily earn more than combative players...but it's just another source of income. One which can subsidize the amounts I'm going to lose to this pancake place.

[Nymoria 0]

Her mood had been surprisingly positive since arriving at the bakery, a fact that she laid entirely in blame upon the fluffy pancakes themselves. The mixture of the sweetness that came from the treat, as well as the syrup that had been provided, had done wonders for the small bit of tired depressive aura that had hung over her. It had been wiped away, like a cloud of flies taken by a sudden gust of wind, leaving Nymoria feeling a lot happier than she had in some time. She'd even managed to consider her success over the last few days without any intrusive thoughts darkening her success.

Now I just have to do it again today. And from what I've heard, this version of the Earning a Living quest is a lot more difficult and frustrating. I wonder if I should've considered actually getting some consumables before heading out? It's likely too late now...well, maybe not too late, but...I don't want to waste more of the day than I need to, especially with how yesterday had gone. She'd glanced over the quest information once more, realising that it was going to be a challenge for sure - especially seeing as it focused on the ability to forage for materials, meaning that it wouldn't allow her to use anything she gained from putting down the various creatures that called the plains home. Ah well, I guess nothing can ever be too easy...but still, I should prepare myself for what's going to come.

She knew that if there was too much of a challenge, she may find her mind beginning to turn on itself - and although she felt happy and content in the moment, the darkness was ever present at the edge of her consciousness. Waiting for the moment when it could leap forward and break away into a ruinous state. She did her best, as always, to ignore it's presence - knowing that it would do her no good to truly focus on it for the time being. She wanted nothing more than to be rid of it entirely, but was also smart enough to know that it was as much a part of her, as anything else was. Just like my hearing...it's something I wish was fixed and gone, but would never be. It's who I am...and I need to learn to deal with that. I won't be able to keep going if I don't. And...and it's about time that I start trying to really overcome it. Or rather, face it. Face it head on...and learn to live with it. Even if I don't like it. Even if I don't want to face it...it's important that I come to terms with what it is, and who I am.

[Nymoria 0]

She left behind the bakery once the pancakes had been finished. She'd had to fight the urge to order another round, wanting nothing more than to remain there the entire day and simply consume the food without another thought. As tempting as it had been, however, she also knew that she needed to actually head out and begin her path on the forager quest. The first step is always the hardest. Especially when one is fighting against the loveable, desirable, temptation that is fluffy warm pan friend dough, mixed with the sweet and delicate taste of syrup covering...I'm definitely going back there tomorrow. Musei seemed to enjoy it as well. The small weasel had eaten almost as much as Nymoria had, devouring piece after piece as she laid it out for him. She'd eventually given up trying to ration the familiar, instead simply ordering a second plate and cutting up the entirety of it so that it could simply devour as it determined necessary. She'd found herself laughing at the excitement in it's form when the food had been placed in front of it, a single confirming glance thrown her way before diving in at her nod of assurance that the plate was for him.

From within her pocket she could feel the soft breath of the weasel as it slept off the food coma it had put itself into, the form rising and falling ever so slightly. Even though they'd only been together for a few days, Nymoria had already felt fully bonded to the creature - their connection strong enough that she knew she would feel an overcoming depression if anything ever happened to it. Not allowing the thoughts to rise, she instead turned her attention towards the menu that she had brought up, reading up on the other quest that she had been considering starting, before confirming that she would be finishing off the Earning a Living quest line. Training Musei seems interesting. I wonder what skills would be best for him...a tiny little weasel can be pretty versatile, although I would hate to have him taking any sort of combat stance for me. Maybe that hunting one...where he finds treasure? Aren't weasels good at that sort of thing? 

She vaguely remember coming across some sort of fact regarding it, tucking the idea aside for later. She would have to ask Musei his opinion, when the time came - but for now she wanted to focus on today's task. Unconsciously, she'd begun to make her way towards the gates leading out of the Town of Beginnings, knowing that she needed to head into the wildlands in order to find the NPC that would initiate the quest in earnest. It's getting easier to head out there now. Not like it used to be...I'd never really been afraid, not like some of the other players who had...no, don't think of that. It's getting easier, and that's a good thing. She'd shivered at the images that had passed through her head for an instant, before being able to ignore them and turn her thoughts away. Dark days had existed following the original announcement; a lot of people unable to handle the situation. Nymoria had, almost, been among those numbers - saved only by the thought of returning to her family, and the promise she had made them. She had no intention of breaking that promise now, and would do everything in her power to continue fighting for her freedom, no matter what it took.

[Nymoria 0]

Her hand rose in her typical wave towards the guard at the gate - Merv, she thought his name was - as she made her way out and into the wilds of the first floor. As always, the sun was beaming down upon the lands, it's warmth making the cool chill of the breeze spreading across the plains more bearable. She'd stopped for a few seconds, taking in the sight once more, still amazed at how beautiful it could look even after all this time. I don't think I'll ever get over this. It's breathtaking, all things considered. If only this hadn't turned out to be such a horrible situation...imagine what this game could have become. She despised Kayaba, for everything that had happened since they'd entered the game, but also for the corruption he had caused upon such a magnificent world. Although she'd been scared, terrified of the possible outcome of her involvement upon hearing the announcement, she'd also been angry. Angry that he had taken a game that, very well, could have been the foundation of the future, and destroyed any hopes by causing this.

The resentment had been boiling within her for a very long time, laying low but always on the cusp of her awareness. It had never, and likely never would, boil over into anything beyond frustration. She knew that she had been lucky to even be involved in such an experience, and there was no reality that she could see where she would actually speak out about her feelings. Still, as she looked out over the plains and saw everything that had become a reality, she knew that she was torn between her feelings. To be involved was a gift...but to be trapped is a curse. Two sides of the same coin, I guess.

Musei shifted in her pocket, his head popping out as if checking why they had stopped. She gave the weasel a soft tap on it's head with her two fingers, smiling as he stared up at her. There was a tired annoyed look on the small critters face, and she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than simply having his nap disturbed. She'd wondered, over the past few days, if there was a way for the familiar to somehow feel and understand the emotions that she was feeling - he always seemed to sense it and appear when she was feeling down, or inner turmoil. There was no proof to it, of course, and she had no one else to ask about it, so she had simply put it aside as a possible lucky streak in the system - like a pet understanding when she was feeling sad and coming over to comfort her, without really understanding what was going on. It would be interesting if familiar's were put into the game in order to monitor emotions...although then I guess one could question why we aren't given them to begin with. Or why some of them didn't necessarily help... She realised that she had begun to blame the familiar system, and turned her thoughts. There was no way that a simple digital animal could have stopped what had occurred, no matter it's purpose. It may have helped some, but not all. And that's all there is to it.

[Nymoria 0]

She'd begun walking across the field as soon as the thoughts had subsided slightly. A pack of nearby wolves had drawn her attention, and for just a moment she had thought about perhaps running over to take them down, before realising that getting sidetracked would only make her day longer. As tempted as it is, I'm going to be spending the day foraging for goods and materials. I'm sure that a little bit of combat would make it better...but not if it makes me remain out until - or even past - darkness falls. It'd be better to focus on the foraging aspect, and then...maybe if there's time later? The decision made, she'd moved on past the boars and continued to head into the depths of the wilds themselves, looking for the camp that was supposed to be hidden somewhere in the area. She'd had only a small description from the quest details to go on, the mini map blank of any sort of marker to guide her to the camp itself.

Probably part of the test itself. You have to show you can find the camp, before you can even begin to prove yourself a forager, sort of thing? It made sense, in a broad fashion. Still, it was kind of annoying if Nymoria was being honest; she'd have preferred being led directly to the camp, and then being given the task of searching for whatever needed to be found. I wonder how many people this quest turns away, once they realise they need to actually locate something, to locate stuff. Her amusement was far above what it should be for the consideration, and she began giggling as she walked onwards, turning a corner and spotting, by pure coincidence, a relatively welcoming looking campsite not too far off. A small fire, burning low in the daylight with a roast spit above it, sat in between a tent and wagon. Beside the fire, Nymoria could just spot the form of something humanoid, and she quickened her pace as she realised it was likely the NPC who would begin the quest in earnest for her.

As she strode up beside the woman, the NPC turned to face her - a blonde woman who couldn't be called unappealing by any means. Nymoria couldn't quite tell the expected age of the NPC based upon their features, but guessed that they wouldn't have been much older than herself - had they been a real person. As she came within earshot of the woman, the NPC began speaking, the words sounding distant, but perceptible even to Nymoria's ears. "Well, it appears another has found me. Well done, it's a challenge in and of itself, as I do tend to move around a lot and that seems to confuse you adventurers. Never the less, eventually one of you comes and requests my assistance. I supposed you're looking for some herbs, or perhaps some spices?"

The woman appeared pleasant, welcoming, and a bit lonely from what Nymoria could see. Although she knew that she needed to explain her purpose, she found herself staring at the blonde, wondering if it was right to simply arrive and demand something from her without first taking time to do...something. She's nice, but she's still an NPC. You can treat them fairly and equally, but...in the end they won't remember you. Good or bad. It's better if you just do what you came here to do, and move on. She's only appearing lonely because that's the way she was designed...it's not like you. She's not like you at all, and you shouldn't be trying to sympathise with her.

[Nymoria 0]

I'm looking to learn foraging. I want to be able to locate my own materials, to use in my creations. I was hoping that you would take the time to teach me, sensei. Her hands moved as she signed the words, the NPC's eyes drifting down towards them as she watched. It took mere seconds, the proficiency with the language so engrained into who Nymoria was that she could communicate as naturally as those who spoke, but when the blonde watched her hands it felt like she took forever to explain herself. A nagging, familiar feeling of dread rose within her mind, and she found herself being pulled towards the darkness and despair as she waited for the response.

"I've not seen many communicate like you do. It is...different, but refreshing. As to foraging...there are not many who make that request. A few, for sure, but most individuals who seek me out want me to do the work for them. They have no interest in doing it themselves, preferring to bypass the effort in favour of having me do it for them." Although the blonde spoke as soon as Nymoria's hands had halted, the stretch had felt enormous to the deaf girl. The words, however, had left her shocked, the response almost human in nature. She'd nearly missed the remainder of the statement, and had to shake off the feeling as the blonde continued her conversation, apparently ignorant of the player's reaction. "I'll loan you my compass. It's special, so you'll need to return it to me once you're done. The dark magic contained within it has made it capable of locating a material known as a demonic shard, a useful piece that can be used in the crafting of many items...taking them from the most perfect of creations, into something more."

Nymoria had heard of the material before; a treasured item alongside it's twinned item - the gleaming scales. Both had uses when it came to the crafting of various items, and many players had strived to obtain the foraging and fishing professions in order to find each of them more easily. She hadn't considered the idea of it before she'd started the quest, and suddenly she realised that she'd made the right decision deciding to get this one done so quickly into her experience after having started her path as an artisan in truth.

"Should you find one of these shards, then return to me and I will teach you the secrets of foraging. I wish you luck, and hopefully we'll see each other again soon." The sudden dismissal caught Nymoria by surprise, her thoughts lost as she was pulled back to reality by the final command and discharge to her new task. She took the compass from where it had been laid upon the seat beside the blonde, grasping it carefully as if it were some revered item. She stepped away from the camp, moving towards the open field as she considered her next steps. Right. Now I need to find this...demonic shard. Using the compass. This shouldn't be too difficult. I think... Suddenly everything she'd heard about the quest itself made sense - a search and return quest that had been a pain to those who had taken it. She sighed aloud as she resigned herself to the continuous walking she was about to partake in, knowing there was no avoiding it now.

[Nymoria 0]

Walking. Walking was the one thing she knew she'd be involved in with the quest. Somehow, though, she hadn't quite been ready for the amount of walking that she would have to do now. My legs hurrrrt...as much as I love Musei, it would've been nice to get a horse...then I could've ridden it everywhere...no. No don't even think that. Musei is lovely and I love him and I would never trade him. Not even for a four legged, beast of an animal that could carry me so I don't have to walk anymore. Never. Her thoughts had begun to spiral as she walked across the open plains, devolving as they did in times of great pain and suffering. Not that there was any true pain or suffering; the system may have been simulating the pain in her legs because of her mind believing it, but Nymoria found that she was able to walk on without issue. 

She wasn't entirely sure how long she'd been travelling after looking at the compass. The thing had pointed towards a distance range of hills, and she'd set off immediately. At first, the travel had been somewhat paced, her steps containing a skip of excitement at the prospect of perhaps completing the quest quickly. She'd checked the compass numerous times in the first while, glancing at it every few steps to ensure it hadn't changed direction on her as she'd covered more and more ground. As she'd continued onwards, however, and the compass had failed to change in the slightest way, she'd given up on looking at it so often. Instead, she'd glanced at it only after remembering that she hadn't checked it for a while, confirming that she was still heading in the right direction - to wherever it was leading her. 

Not that I have any idea where it's taking me. Or if it even works. I mean, the thing could be broken for all I know, and I'm just walking like an idiot in the last direction it had pointed towards. Like an idiot. She doubted the NPC would've given her a broken compass, but she also hadn't asked or confirmed anything before simply striding off with the piece, so certain and sure at the time that it would help her in quickly locating the demonic shard that she was hunting for. Now, however, she doubted that was the case at all. Maybe this is part of the quest, I need to find the demonic shard...with the broken compass. By using...what? My smarts? I'm shit out of luck if that's the case. I mean, what's a demonic shard even look like? How do I even know what to find, if I don't know what I'm looking for? It was stupid to just head off. I should've asked her more. Should've stopped and thought... She sighed as her eyes roamed over the open plains once more, trying to spot anything that might look like it could be considered a shard, demonic or not.

ID222573 | LD: 17 | CD: 10 | Demonic Shard Located!
Demonic Shard {1}
1 material

Edited April 14 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

Her foot had collided with something as she stared at the compass. The dial on it had begun to spin wildly, turning in a way that made her wonder if it hadn't actually broken during the time she'd been walking. She'd moved slightly around in a circle with it, trying to figure out whether there was something wrong with it, which had led to her stubbing her toe on something hard and half buried in the ground. Crouching down, she'd found what appeared to be a dark obsidian stone, barely sticking out of the ground and causing the compass to spin faster the closer it got to the piece. Closing the compass - as much in worry that it would fall apart as to be able to pocket it while she focused on the stone beneath her - she placed a hand on the obsidian piece. Her fingers ran along it, digging at the sides slightly in an attempt to loosen it from the ground.

It's stuck in there good...but I think I can dig it out if I work it a bit. Her fingers moved, pulling dirt away ever so slightly in an attempt to slowly remove the obstruction around the stone. It was tedious work, small bits of dirt coming off as she wiggled the piece more and more. It was clear that it wasn't far into the ground, and she wondered it there were any shovels in Aincrad that she could use in order to stop the necessity of dirtying her hands so much when looking to obtain whatever she was looking for with her foraging. A sudden shift, and the stone had come loose - a secondary piece of gemstone falling to the side as she slid backwards onto her butt. Oof! Got it though! And...huh, this looks like an emerald... She tapped the emerald, putting it away in her inventory even as she looked over the obsidian stone. I wonder if this is what she sent me out to look for...?

Without a description, she wasn't entirely sure, and she tapped it in the hopes that a name would pop up on it. She laughed in surprise and pleasure as the menu appeared, the label confirming what she had already begun to suspect. Giddy with excitement, she deposited the demonic shard into her inventory, before glancing around and realising that she now needed to make her way back to the camp she had left the blonde at. Damn, that means more walking...well, I guess that's the sacrifice I make. But...at least this didn't take all day? There might still be a bit more to it, but I can at least safely say that I've done the hardest part, from the sounds of it. Let's head back, and then maybe I can quickly learn whatever tips and tricks the blonde has...and then maybe the rest of the day I can spend working on foraging...or maybe I can go hunt down some of those boars? I mean, there's lots to do, so I don't really need to decide now...

At least with a bit of a plan laid out, Nymoria rose to her feet and headed back the way she had come. She wanted to at least get the quest done, so that she could focus on some other aspects during the day - giving her free time to make some extra money. Those pancakes aren't going to pay for themselves...maybe I should consider getting Musei that hunting skill. Then he can help out with the costs of breakfast. Although I don't think he'd really like the idea of having to actually do work...or maybe he would? Maybe he's bored?

[Nymoria 0]

The trek back across the plains was as boring the original walk had been. Nymoria had tried livening it up by spotting the flora and fauna in the area in an attempt to see what she had missed on the first pass through, but the attempt had fallen short fairly immediately as she realised that everything both looked the same, and entirely different all at once. It was a confusing situation, which made her head spin as she tried to wrap the concept around her mind, eventually deciding she was simply better off not considering it at all. 

For better or for worse, she had eventually returned to the blonde woman's camp, placing the demonic shard before the lady alongside the compass. She waited, patiently, as the woman inspected the shard before handing it back to Nymoria with a slight smile. "Well done, you completed that quickly. Some who come out here struggle, even with the compass. I think you'll find going forward it's going to be a bit more difficult without the compass to help you out, but...you should be able to get the handle on it. Now, as I promised, let's cover some basics of foraging - including what you can, and cannot eat out of the wildlands..."

Nymoria's focus remained on the woman as she began explaining the differences in vegetation, geography and other topics that she only barely understood. She did her best to follow along, focusing on the main points that the woman brought up as she explained each concept. The basics proved to be easy enough to comprehend, and although Nymoria found the more advanced scientific explanations - a topic that she had always been poor at, even in school - to be difficult and beyond her understanding, she made a note to clarify anything that she felt would be overly important. 

The sun had shifted in the sky by the time the woman was done. Nymoria's legs had begun to burn, the kneeling position she'd remained in for the majority of the lesson had tensed the muscles to a point where they were feeling overworked, and she was excited to leap up as the woman waved a hand towards the area around them. "I've taught you all I can, now you must head out and figure the rest out for yourself. The best thing now is to practice - it'll take time, and effort, but one day you may be able to spot the gemstones hidden in the dirt right beside your foot without a thought. Until then...I wish you luck, young one!"

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A

Loot Results
Demonic Shard {1}
1 material

 

Edited April 14 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

The camp proved futile, and as Nymoria turned back to the woman to tell her as much, she saw the smirk on her face. A test, and one that I'm not sure I've passed. Alright, fine. I can do this...I think. She stepped back towards the woman, close enough she'd be able to properly hear any responses. Bringing her hands up, she quickly signed to the blonde, letting the words flow out. There appears to be nothing of value here. I assume you already picked the area clean. In that case, I will take what you have taught me, and head out into the wilderness to better test, and perfect, my skills. Thank you for everything you have done, I will not forget this.

She received only a short bow in return, before the NPC turned back to the fire. With the conversation obviously over, Nymoria gathered herself and made for the edge of the camp, stopping only once she was a distance away to glance back at the NPC. The recognition of her communicative skills still had Nymoria thrown off centre, and although she wanted to ask more about how the NPC had recognised, let alone spoke in relation to it, she knew that there would likely be no answers of any worth. I guess it's just a mystery that will have to remain unsolved for the time being. Maybe, eventually, I'll learn more about it, but for the time being...well, for the time being I need to focus on getting better at this foraging. Excited at the prospect of honing a new skill, she headed off into the wilderness, determined to find a place where she could try and locate more of the goods that she would need for her profession. And perhaps I can even find some materials for other crafters. People are always in need...maybe there's a profit margin to be had there, if I sell them the materials for their own profession?

It was a unique consideration, and although she doubted it would be a worthwhile investment, it was at least something that could get her some pocket change. Enough col to cover the cost of her inn, and perhaps some of the food costs she knew she was going to start incurring now that she'd changed her dietary routine. Gone would be the days of the cheapest, least valuable meals - especially with Musei's tastes clearly laying on a line that bordered on wealthy. Well, between this, and perhaps starting my own shop...tied in with the loot I can find whenever I fight anything...there's the possibility that I could maybe, maybe, one day even afford a place of my own...although maybe that's being a bit too optimistic... She enjoyed the thought of owning her own place, and found that it gave her the enthusiasm she needed to truly begin her search - her eyes darting at the lower spots of nearby brush and flora, looking for the various herbs and plants that the blonde had pointed out during her training.

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222575 | LD: 20 | Material Search | Result: 1 material

Loot Results
Demonic Shard {1}
2 materials

 

Edited April 14 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

Her eyes had nearly passed over the soft brown coloured leaf that hung beneath a collection of green needles. She'd only registered it in a delayed fashion, stopping in her tracks as she turned back towards it and examined it closer. Her mind raced as she checked for the spotted underside, confirming that it matched one of the ones that the blonde had displayed to her - a common leaf used in a variety of potions and poultices by those of the alchemic career path. While not overly useful to her own shop or wares, she figured she could likely save it for any sort of transactions or payments she may need in the future. I've heard of some who trade materials for their completed products, so maybe it would be useful in those cases. Worth hanging on to it, at the very least - even if I can't use it myself. Someone else might be able to, which means it's valuable...sort of. In all honesty, she wasn't entirely sure that it was worthwhile at all, but she was apprehensive of throwing it away - especially seeing as there was no need to at the time. 

Having stored the item away, she closed her menu and took a quick look over the area once more before heading off again. The sun had barely moved since she'd left the camp, and although she knew that there would be a time soon where she needed to head home, she wanted nothing more than to remain exploring for the time being. The sunlight continued to shine down, the bright and cheery beams heating her skin nicely where it was exposed. Not too warm, so as to make her uncomfortable, it reminded her of a perfect spring day, where the air was dry and refreshing, the slight breeze cooling off the otherwise warming sun in a way that made everything feel comfortable. 

It's almost perfect, in a way. Her mind hummed with happiness, even if it was short lived, as she continued along the path she'd been following. She scanned, with each step, the areas to her sides and front, looking for anything else that might be worth grabbing. At some point during her jaunt Musei had moved from the pocket he'd continued napping in, to her shoulder, stretching in a manner that bespoke a laziness born out of nothing to do. It reminded Nymoria that she had wanted to consider training the familiar into a skill at some point, and she made another mental note to speak to him about it once they were back at the inn. She saw no need to harass the small creature while they were out and enjoying the lovely day, with something that could easily be handled at another time. 

Hey, Musei. The path goes left and right. Which direction? She signed to the small weasel as they came to a split in the path, her hands moving into the weasel's line of sight as she called his attention. The creature seemed to look both ways a few times, before tapping her shoulder with his paw and staring at the path on the left. It was enough for Nymoria, and she turned along the dirt in the direction the weasel had pointed, content to follow it's sense of direction - or at least it's concept of direction - for the time being. 

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222575 | LD: 20 | Material Search | Result: 1 material
ID222576 | LD: 5 | Material Search | Result: N/A

Loot Results
Demonic Shard {1}
2 materials

 

Edited April 14 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

The trees had been pressing in on either side for some time, and Nymoria was beginning to wonder if she'd made the right choice letting Musei choose their direction of travel. She figured there wasn't anything of immediate danger in the area, and yet a part of her knew that those were the most dangerous of areas found within Aincrad - the ones where you thought that you were utterly safe, and didn't need to let your guard down. Her eyes had been darting around for a time now, and although she had tried to stop it, her hand had naturally graduated towards the pink wrapped handle of the sabre; looking for comfort as much as preparing herself for the unsheathing of the weapon should anything suddenly jump out at her.

I saw something move. She would've wished that it were just her imagination, but she knew better. The movement had been subtle, hidden behind a collection of brush that she would've otherwise ignored, but it had been enough for her to take notice of it. Drawing the sabre, she set herself into a ready stance, letting the weapon sit with a slight tilt outwards from her, her eyes checking around her even as she prepared for the thing to jump out. A sudden burst of movement to her right drew her attention, and Nymoria watched as a group of wolves detached themselves from the woodlands, bounding onto the pathway in front of her and settling into a stance that showed they were ready to pounce her. Her breath caught in her chest as she quickly checked behind her, confirming that - at least for the time being - the creatures were only in her direct way, and hadn't circled around her yet. If I deal with these ones quick enough, anything behind me won't be a problem. I just need to put them down, and then I'm fine. So let's do that.

There was no over confidence in her thoughts. She had no concept of the fact that she was more than capable of bringing down the collection of wolves; there was only a desperate plan that she felt she needed to follow through with; a plan which would allow her to perhaps walk away from the danger she had found before her. Her feet moved of their own volition as she began shifting towards the wolves, hoping to close the gap and perhaps get the drop of surprise on the pack. She figured that they had targeted her because she appeared weak; a fact that she knew to be more than just an appearance. But she also knew that if she could launch herself at them quick enough, there was the chance that she could scare them enough to possibly drive them back and away. The thought of true victory not having crossed her mind, she raced forwards and lashed out with her sabre, aiming at the centre of the pack even as she brought the blade in a wide sweeping arc before them.

Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 10 | P. 0 | HP [179/200] | EN [21/38] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [34] | BH [+6]  | -17 EN -21 HP
Wolf 1 | HP: | 39/120 | DMG: 40 | -81 HP
Wolf 2 | HP: 30/120 | DMG: 40 | -90 HP
Wolf 3 | HP: 39/120 | DMG: 40 | -81 HP
Wolf 4 | HP: 39/120 | DMG: 40 | -81 HP

ID222578 | BD: 4+3=7 | <<AoE-I vs. Wolf 1>> | Hit: [9x9] = 81 damage | MOB: 4 | Miss.
ID222579 | BD: 9+3=12 | <<AoE-I vs. Wolf 2>> | Minor Critical Hit: [(9+1)x9] = 90 damage | MOB: 9 | Minor Critical Hit: [(40+1)-34] = 7 damage
ID222580 | BD: 4+3=7 | <<AoE-I vs. Wolf 3>> | Hit: [9x9] = 81 damage | MOB: 7 | Hit: [40-34] = 6 damage
ID222581 | BD: 7+3=10 | <<AoE-I vs. Wolf 4>> | Hit: [9x9] = 81 damage | MOB: 10 | Major Critical Hit: [(40+2)-34] = 8 damage

Edited April 15 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

The group of wolves had moved only once it became apparent that Nymoria was charging towards them, their sluggish reaction allowing her the chance to land the first strikes against them. The sabre's blade slashed through the first trio with ease, slamming into the fourth and sending it tumbling to the side and into the dirt with a solid thump, hard enough that she could feel the vibration of the impact even from a few paces away. She'd stepped backwards in an attempt to put some distance between herself and the wolves, but as the first of them slammed into her, she found herself tumbling, her guard and defence falling as another set of claws, and then teeth impacted on her side. She could see, out of the corner of her eye, as the health bar in her vision dropped slightly - far enough to put a mixture of worry into her mind. 

It's not that much gone. I mean, it's a bit, but it's not an excessive amount. I'm okay for now, if I can just...keep going. Most of them are almost done, so if I can just land one more hit...then I'll be okay. I can do the same wide sweep, and so long as I catch them all, this is over. And then I can just continue onwards, without a worry...alright? She wasn't sure who she was pointing the question at, but she felt herself calm slightly in response to the thoughts, playing out the logical portion of the situation. She dodged beneath another of the wolves, the claws missing her by a few hairs breadth, and pushing her further back along the path in the direction she had come from. A moment of consideration crossed her mind, as she thought about turning around and retreating the way she had come from, before realising the wolves would likely chase her down and attempt to swipe at her back - a decision which would leave her both defenceless, and at their mercy. 

Letting her held breath out, she took a step towards the wolves, swiping at the air with her sabre in order to drive them back. The attack was wide and wild, meant to drive them away from her rather than actually cause any damage, giving her the space she needed in order to collect herself for the actual attack. Her feet slid beneath her, moving into position as she prepared the sword art, readying herself to launch towards the group and bring them down once and for all. Even if I can just bring down most of them, then I can easily finish off the one or two that remains. I just need to give myself some breathing room...and time to think. Although, let's aim for all of them. I may not be able...no, no. I can do this. Let's do this, stop thinking!

Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 10 | P. 0 | HP [179/200] | EN [9/38] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [34] | BH [+6]  | +1 EN +6 HP | -13 EN -6 HP
Wolf 1 | HP: | 0/120 | DMG: 40 | -81 HP
Wolf 2 | HP: 0/120 | DMG: 40 | -81 HP
Wolf 3 | HP: 39/120 | DMG: 40 | -0 HP
Wolf 4 | HP: 39/120 | DMG: 40 | -0 HP

ID222583 | BD: 5+3=8 | <<AoE-I vs. Wolf 1>> | Hit: [9x9] = 81 damage | Wolf 1 destroyed.
ID222584 | BD: 7+3=10 | <<AoE-I vs. Wolf 2>> | Hit: [9x9] = 81 damage | Wolf 2 destroyed.
ID222585 | BD: 1+3=4 | <<AoE-I vs. Wolf 3>> | Critical Miss. | MOB: 5 | Miss.
ID222586 | BD: 2+3=5 | <<AoE-I vs. Wolf 4>> | Miss. | MOB: 8 | Hit: [40-34] = 6 damage

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222575 | LD: 20 | Material Search | Result: 1 material
ID222576 | LD: 5 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222587 | LD: 12 | CD: 7 | Results: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Rare Weapon (1), Uncommon Consumable (1)
ID222588 | LD: 4 | CD: 2| Result: 840 (360+480) col

Loot Results
1,440 col
Demonic Shard {1}
4 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1}| ID222587
Rare Weapon {1} | ID222587

 

Edited April 15 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

Two of the wolves exploded into shards as her weapon slashed through them, leaving nothing where they had once stood. Nymoria felt a minor moment of elation as she sidestepped and moved towards the two remaining creatures, only to find that they were no longer in the position she had last seen them. Her eyes darted around in confusion, noticing at the last second as they came from either side. She jumped backwards, watching as the first went sailing past her and landed in a heap on the ground. The second creature had managed to catch her side, the claws raking along the side of her torso where the chestplate didn't cover, leaving a collection of lines that seemed to glow red, and burn slightly, before fading. She saw her health bar - which had just recovered slightly - dip again at the impact from the wolf, the smaller bar below it noting that she was almost spent on her energy for attacks.

Can't keep this up. One more attack...and a single target one at that, and then I'm spent. I guess it could be worse...I could be entirely out of energy already - but if I miss, that's going to hurt...so I guess I should focus on just bringing down the one for now. Then I'll...deal with it as the time calls for it. She knew she was in a suddenly bad spot. A miss now would mean an unbalanced fight that could leave her in a very bad position, one which could be deadly if she wasn't careful. Shifting the sabre in her hand, she decided there was nothing to lose - she needed to do something in order to even the odds a bit, which meant she would need to put all her energy into a single strike focused on defeating one of the two wolves, no matter the cost. And if that doesn't work...I can think about and figure that out later.

The closer creature moved to intercept Nymoria, as if misreading her hesitation as a sign of weakness. She shifted her weight slightly, allowing it to spring past her and land behind her, before leaping to the side once more. She'd assumed - apparently correctly - that it would lash out to the spot she'd been standing in just moments ago. She could feel the small breeze caused by it's claws coming close to her side, and a moment of fear spread through her as she shivered in response to how close the attack had come. Landing on the balls of her heels, she spun and slashed with the sabre, aiming for the wolf's side in a desperate attempt to bring it down with the strike. Come on, just land! Land! Don't move, stay right where you are, please!

 Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 10 | P. 0 | HP [185/200] | EN [0/38] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [34] | BH [+6]  | +1 EN +6 HP | -10 EN
Wolf 3 | HP: 39/120 | DMG: 40 | -0 HP
Wolf 4 | HP: 39/120 | DMG: 40 | -90 HP

ID222589 | BD: 9+3=12 | <<ST-I vs. Wolf 4>> | Minor Critical Hit: [9x10] = 90 damage | Wolf 4 destroyed! | MOB: 2 | Miss.

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222575 | LD: 20 | Material Search | Result: 1 material
ID222576 | LD: 5 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222587 | LD: 12 | CD: 7 | Results: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Rare Weapon (1), Uncommon Consumable (1)
ID222588 | LD: 4 | CD: 2| Result: 840 (360+480) col
ID222590 | LD: 19 | CD: 2| Result: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Perfect Consumable (1), Rare Trinket (1)

Loot Results
2,040 col
Demonic Shard {1}
6 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1}| ID222587
Rare Weapon {1} | ID222587
Rare Trinket {1} | ID222590
Perfect Consumable {1} | ID222590

 

Edited April 15 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

Whether something had answered her prayers or not, Nymoria would likely never know with certainty. It didn't matter to her in the moment however, as the elation of another successful strike coursed through her. The final wolf had fallen back as it's companion had exploded, the sudden change in the dynamics of the fight giving pause to it's previous assaultive behaviour. Nymoria took the moment to regain her breath, the energy used to complete the sword art leaving her short of breath as much as depleting the actual energy stores that she used for the attacks themselves - a physical aspect brought about by the game in order to induce realism, as far as she could tell.

With just the one left, and no energy in my reserves, this is going to become a bit of a more back and forth fight...but at least it's more even ground now. Outnumbered I would've been in trouble, now I just need to be careful to avoid this one's claws, while also landing some more basic strikes...maybe I should look into something for keeping my energy up. It might be worthwhile...well, that's for the future. For now, let's just put this thing down for good. She knew it was easier said than done, as these things always were, but the success had her in good spirits for once - a belief that she could actually manage to survive the fight. She aligned her body in contrast to the wolf, sliding her feet in order to keep herself across from it, waiting to see what it would do. Her eyes followed it, only breaking away every few seconds to confirm that no others had come to join it now that the others had been defeated. The last thing I need is for more of them to suddenly appear. That would be very bad...I need to finish this fight before anything else can appear, and then maybe consider getting out of here safely. My energy stores being gone is really worrisome, I should be more careful not to get to this point if I can help it...in the future. If there is a future.

A shift in it's body was the only sign that Nymoria saw of it's sudden launch towards her, and she prepared herself to meet it head on, knowing that she wouldn't be able to entire dodge out of the way of any attacks it made. Instead she planted herself, bringing the sabre up into a ready strike before swinging it forward towards the wolf's frame. She let the motion come from the centre of her mass, deciding to let momentum and movement take precedence over her own physical power. She had no doubts that it would end up doing more to the wolf than her measly muscles could hope to do, assuming that she landed the attack to begin with. One left, I can do this...I just need to hold on a bit longer! 

 Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 10 | P. 0 | HP [191/200] | EN [0/38] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [34] | BH [+6]  | +1 EN +6 HP | -1 EN
Wolf 3 | HP: 30/120 | DMG: 40 | -9 HP

ID222591 | BD: 5+3=8 | <<Basic Attack vs. Wolf 3>> | Hit: 9 damage| MOB: 3 | Miss.

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222575 | LD: 20 | Material Search | Result: 1 material
ID222576 | LD: 5 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222587 | LD: 12 | CD: 7 | Results: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Rare Weapon (1), Uncommon Consumable (1)
ID222588 | LD: 4 | CD: 2| Result: 840 (360+480) col
ID222590 | LD: 19 | CD: 2| Result: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Perfect Consumable (1), Rare Trinket (1)

Loot Results
2,040 col
Demonic Shard {1}
6 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1}| ID222587
Rare Weapon {1} | ID222587
Rare Trinket {1} | ID222590
Perfect Consumable {1} | ID222590

 

Edited April 15 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

Her strike landed squarely into the side of the wolf, sending it off course and into the dirt as the flat of the blade impacted. The strike had left her arms jarred, and she found herself shaking slightly as she pulled back away from the creature, hoping to put some distance between the two of them. Although she knew that any gap she made would be quickly closed once it had regained it's footing, she also knew that it would give her the time she needed in order to react and respond to any sudden lunges it made - a fact that could easily change the battle in favour of either one of them, suddenly. 

The beast seemed sluggish as it rose to it's feet, and Nymoria couldn't help but wonder if it was feeling as tired as she was with the extended bout of combat. She knew that it wouldn't run away - now that it had engaged her, it would continue to attack until either it was dead, she was dead, or she had successfully fled from the area. She knew the latter two would likely end up in the same situation for her, an ending that she wasn't ready to accept. I can't break my promise, which means I can't die. Not in here. I need to keep fighting, to get back to them. Even as she thought about it, the familiar faces appeared in her mind's eye, and some of the tiredness seemed to disappear from her mind and body. 

The wolf had, in the time Nymoria had been thinking, shifted it's position in an attempt to circle her. She'd responded in kind, moving in the opposite direction automatically as she mirrored the movements, not letting it get the chance to flank around the side of her. The sword in her hand had begun to feel heavy, and yet Nymoria was proud to see that she was still managing to hold it somewhat steady, the tip wavering only slightly as she kept it angled in a ready stance. Her eyes had locked onto the wolf, giving up on glancing around the area as she realised she would need to focus everything on the fight before her. If any other dangers suddenly arrived, she knew she wouldn't have the energy to face them - and perhaps not even the energy to try and run away, either. 

The wolf made a sudden dash forwards, attempting to close the distance between itself and her once more. Nymoria responded quickly, sliding to the side and ducking as it launched itself over her, the claws of it's paws sailing over her head even as she brought the sabre up and around in an attempt to strike it from below. She could almost feel the heat of it's body pressing down towards her as the thing sailed over her form, passing through the air where she had once stood in it's valiant attempt to lunge her to the ground.

  Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 10 | P. 0 | HP [190/200] | EN [0/38] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [34] | BH [+6]  | +1 EN +6 HP | -1 EN -7 HP
Wolf 3 | HP: 20/120 | DMG: 40 | -10 HP

ID222593 | BD: 9+3=12 | <<Basic Attack vs. Wolf 3>> | Hit: [9+1] = 10 damage| MOB: 9 | Minor Critical Hit: [(40+1)-34] = 7 damage

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222575 | LD: 20 | Material Search | Result: 1 material
ID222576 | LD: 5 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222587 | LD: 12 | CD: 7 | Results: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Rare Weapon (1), Uncommon Consumable (1)
ID222588 | LD: 4 | CD: 2| Result: 840 (360+480) col
ID222590 | LD: 19 | CD: 2| Result: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Perfect Consumable (1), Rare Trinket (1)

Loot Results
2,040 col
Demonic Shard {1}
6 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1}| ID222587
Rare Weapon {1} | ID222587
Rare Trinket {1} | ID222590
Perfect Consumable {1} | ID222590

 

Edited April 15 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

The movement had cost both of them as the sabre slammed into the underside of the wolf, tearing a large slash into it's stomach. At the same time, Nymoria had felt as the weight of the creature fell on her, pinning her to the ground and allowing the wolf to slash at her with it's claws before she could shove it off and roll away. She'd leapt to her feet, intending to rush forward and try and take advantage while the wolf was down, but it had regained it's own balance and stance, staring and glaring at her with a look that appeared both dangerous, and somehow exhausted. She wondered, for a brief moment, if she didn't look the same to the creature's eyes. Is that how you see me, dangerous, tired and in your way? Was this whole thing just an entire misunderstanding? She shook her head slightly, knowing better. No, there was no misunderstanding here. You're just doing what you're programmed to do. Nothing more, nothing less. Your entire job is to attack me, and you're going to keep doing that until one of us is no longer here. There's nothing more to it than that.

Perhaps it was a very basic way of viewing the situation, but Nymoria felt it was the only way she had of thinking about it. The creatures in Aincrad had always appeared somewhat limited in their interactions. The NPCs, the non-player characters that made up the majority of the population within settlements and beyond, carried little in the way of personality that she had seen. Each had their own quirks, their own specialness that made them unique when interacting with a variety of them, but she'd never really felt like they were alive. That's not true, think of the blonde woman who taught you today. Didn't she seem different from the others? As if there was more to her than just...pre-programmed answers to questions posed? She'd thought she was just imaging it, that there was nothing more to it than her own expectations and maybe a bit of hope, but as she stared at the wolf, she couldn't help but wonder if she hadn't been missing something. You thought all the creatures were the same, too. That they were just attacking you because Cardinal made them, but...what if this wolf is doing so for a reason beyond that? Maybe there's den nearby, or younglings? Or what if it's angry that you killed it's companions? There could be any number of reasons...

The thoughts didn't bring any comfort. In fact, she felt a sudden pit in her stomach as she considered the creature having reason for wanting revenge against her. It made her question whether she could really wander around as a merciless killer, obliterating creatures simply because it benefitted her in the moment. Her eyes met the wolf's looking for some sign of intelligence in it's eyes, trying to find an answer to the unspoken questions, questions that she knew she really didn't want the answers to in that moment. Wow, I must be really tired. I can't consider this right now, I need to focus on the fight. Keep your mind sharp, otherwise that wolf is going to tear you apart, and I can assure you it's not considering whether or not you are sentient and have reasons. It's going to kill you, end of story. Don't let it.

She gave a half sigh as she stepped forwards, initiating the round of combat when she noticed that the wolf hadn't moved. It was clear that both of them were feeling the exhaustion of the on going conflict, and that they were both close to collapsing. She wondered whether she would be able to continue going after this, or if she would simply collapse in the dirt, resigned to whatever came next. Assuming, of course, that she was able to even survive the fight with the wolf - which was slowly becoming questionable as the seconds drew longer and longer into minutes. This is my longest fight so far, and wow am I exhausted.

  Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 10 | P. 0 | HP [190/200] | EN [0/38] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [34] | BH [+6]  | +1 EN +6 HP | -1 EN -6 HP
Wolf 3 | HP: 11/120 | DMG: 40 | -9 HP

ID222594 | BD: 3+3=6 | <<Basic Attack vs. Wolf 3>> | Hit: 9 damage| MOB: 8 | Hit: [40-34] = 6 damage

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222575 | LD: 20 | Material Search | Result: 1 material
ID222576 | LD: 5 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222587 | LD: 12 | CD: 7 | Results: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Rare Weapon (1), Uncommon Consumable (1)
ID222588 | LD: 4 | CD: 2| Result: 840 (360+480) col
ID222590 | LD: 19 | CD: 2| Result: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Perfect Consumable (1), Rare Trinket (1)

Loot Results
2,040 col
Demonic Shard {1}
6 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1}| ID222587
Rare Weapon {1} | ID222587
Rare Trinket {1} | ID222590
Perfect Consumable {1} | ID222590

 

Edited April 15 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

Her sabre slashed through the air, driving the wolf back a few steps as it weakly attempted to avoid her strikes. Not that her attempts were overly powerful to begin with, the tip of the blade missing the creature by a few hairs of a breadth and unable to come any closer as Nymoria's arms shook with the effort. Seeing the weakness in her form, the creature took advantage of the situation, rushing forwards and slamming a paw into her side, forcing Nymoria to her knee as she tried to remain standing. In retaliation, she jabbed out with the sabre, managing to slash the front of the wolf and drive it back, the creature yelping in sudden pain as it leapt backwards.

Almost...there...just a couple more good hits...and then it's done and down. I can do this. Then we can go home...just need to hold on a bit longer. Her arms, legs, lungs and sides all burned with the exertion of trying to keep herself upright. She wanted nothing more than to simply collapse on her side and fall asleep, but she knew that she couldn't do that. Not until she had defeated the wolf and made sure that the area was safe. Although she was unsteady on her feet, she raised the sabre in front of her, her face set into a form of determination that likely would've caused any other creature to pause in response. The wolf, however, appeared oblivious to the girl's change in stature, it's own tiredness obvious in the way it tried to step around to Nymoria's flank, the paws tripping over one another slightly and causing the animal to shake in what almost looked like a drunken manner.

Almost there. Just finish this off. You can do it. You have to do it. She repeated the words in her head over and over again as she watched the creature, looking for any sort of opening she could use to try and bring it down in a single hit. The faster she finished the fight, the better off she would be - a fact that they both knew. She could see it in the wolf's form and movements, the acceptance that it was being outperformed in the moment, and would likely perish. She pushed the awareness of the fact aside, knowing that it would only limit her in the here and now - something that she couldn't allow to happen.

Combat

Nymoria | Lv. 10 | P. 0 | HP [196/200] | EN [0/38] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [34] | BH [+6]  | +1 EN +6 HP | -1 EN
Wolf 3 | HP: 0/120 | DMG: 40 | -11 HP

ID222595 | BD: 10+3=13 | <<Basic Attack vs. Wolf 3>> | Major Critical Hit: [9+2] = 11 damage| Wolf 3 destroyed.

Spoiler

Looting
ID222574 | LD: 8 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222575 | LD: 20 | Material Search | Result: 1 material
ID222576 | LD: 5 | Material Search | Result: N/A
ID222587 | LD: 12 | CD: 7 | Results: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Rare Weapon (1), Uncommon Consumable (1)
ID222588 | LD: 4 | CD: 2| Result: 840 (360+480) col
ID222590 | LD: 19 | CD: 2| Result: 600 (360+240) col, 2 materials, Perfect Consumable (1), Rare Trinket (1)
ID222596 | LD: 4 | CD: 8| Result: 840(360+480) col

Loot Results
2,880 col
Demonic Shard {1}
6 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1}| ID222587
Rare Weapon {1} | ID222587
Rare Trinket {1} | ID222590
Perfect Consumable {1} | ID222590

 

Edited April 15 by Nymoria

[Nymoria 0]

The creature exploded in a shower of shards as Nymoria's blade lunged forward in response to it's sudden charge. She'd barely had the energy to aim it, instead placing both hands upon the hilt and holding it directly in front of her like some sort of lance or spear. It had been enough, however, as the creature slammed into the point without any attempt at avoiding the attack. Nymoria had seen, in the last instance, a measure of understanding in the eyes of the wolf, an acceptance of it's fate that brought a tear to her eyes as the thing exploded into shards and disappeared from existence. She knew, had she not collapsed then and there from the exhaustion, that she likely would've broken down into blithering sobs that would've wrecked her mental and emotional state, upon having seen the scene before her. Whether thankful or not, she had instead simply collapsed to the ground in a heap, exhaustion taking over and sapping any remaining strength from her now that the immediate danger was gone.

From within her pocket, the face of Musei had appeared, the beady eyes checking and making sure the area was clear before moving up to her shoulder. From her position on the ground, Nymoria stared up into the sky, content to simply remain for the time being. She wanted nothing more than to sleep the remainder of the day away, but knew that she couldn't do that now even if she wanted. I survived. Even in such a dangerous situation...I survived. I did it. There was no celebration to the tone of her mind, a simple statement that echoed hollowly as she laid upon the dirt. 

She wasn't sure how long she was there, but when she had sat up and dusted herself off, the sun had begun to shift in the sky. The hour was clearly late, and Nymoria realised that she needed to return to town before the darkness fell in earnest. Gathering up Musei and her sabre, she sheathed the weapon and turned away from the small battlefield that had already returned to normalcy. She didn't think about the wolf's eyes, right before it exploded. She didn't think about the impact it would have on her dreams that night, or the nights to come. She didn't have the energy, in that moment, to consider any of it. She simply turned and made her way back towards the Town of Beginnings, content to realise that she had completed the quest and survived her first major battle. Maybe I'm beginning to grow.

 

Thread Summary
Word Count: 10,043
150 EXP | 1,004 [10,043/10x1x1] + 300 [Quest] - 1,154 [Overpaid Amount]
3,280 col | 2,880 [Loot] + 400 [Thread Progression]
Demonic Shard {1}
6 materials
Uncommon Consumable {1}| ID222587
Rare Weapon {1} | ID222587
Rare Trinket {1} | ID222590
Perfect Consumable {1} | ID222590
<<Forager>> Profession Unlocked!

Edited April 15 by Nymoria