[[PP-F11]] Not all solutions are equal

[Mari 1]

It didn’t take Mari long to complete her task. Mostly - because her task was a near impossible one without the correct tools and equipment - so all she really could do was offer suggestions. Why did he even give her this? Why give her more work? Another test?

The dossier had been wrapped in a manila folder; and contained the following information

Pathogen; Airbourne, contact, bloodborne?
Airbourne pathogens in this case-would be preferred for fastest release and spread.

A. Pheromones. The biology of humans has adapted well beyond base pheromones and whilst the use of them in humans is widely debated we can say for sure that its far more common in base lifeforms.

Isolate and find a common protein in these - and use it.
Application would be airborne - may also attract mobs, but they’d be dead long before making contact. 

—
Was unable to fully test - diluted and mixed with secretions from the glans of various mammals. Breakdown in biology occurred. 

B. Cognitive breakdown? [Untested]
-humans should be smart. Creating something that humans would avoid, but mobs do not have the cognitive dissonance to avoid could result in an easily spreadable contagion.
Concerns - people are fucking stupid.
-contact diseases for mobs less than ideal.

-I DONT HAVE THE TOOLS TO RECREATE THIS?? I dont have a fancy lab.

FUCK . YOU.
Ps: 4 DAYS??? DO BETTER. PEOPLE WERE LOOKING.
–

Now…Mari just had to make it through Taft to get there. She stood at the entrance to the town, night had fallen. Hesitation hit her, Mari had never willingly set foot in a settlement since she had her orange cursor. Sure..there were times where she had been dragged into one - but…was she really willing to throw away one of the things she had held fast to all these years? Mari closed her eyes.

It would only take a moment…just a short run in and out. 

 

Besides…Mari did want to live more for herself now… “The things I do…” She breathed.
Then, Mari ran. A bee-line straight to the drop location. She expected there to be shouting - she expected there to be panic. For something..someone to stop her. But nothing happened.

The streets were quiet; aside from a tavern she passed - which roared with noise and laughter from within. Mari slowed her speed at that, lingering just a moment longer outside the establishment. She missed it. She missed cities…and towns..she missed the hustle and bustle of people. Being in the position she was …it was lonely. With a shake of her head Mari continued - till she found what she was looking for. A small box just outside the Grand Cathedral. “There…” Mari said quietly.

She wasn’t sure if she’d see the man again; considering they had no real way of communicating with each other. But at least she had done what she could. With what little resources she had.

Turning to walk away, Mari paused at a loud, reverberating sound.

*Bing Bong, Bing Bong*

“Oh…” It was…nice. She turned to look back up at the large cathedral - towering over all the other buildings in the city. Even from here, even in the dark of night, Mari could tell it was an architectural wonder. The white limestone practically glowed against the midnight blue of the dark - and colours shifted from within, behind painted glass windows.

This…sucked. Mari wished she could stay here.

“Oi! You! Stop!”

And there it was. Mari sighed as she turned to see two NPC guards running up to her. Ironic…how they yelled at her to stop, when she wasn’t even moving.

Yeh, no. She wasn’t going to deal with that today.

Mari turned; and began to run - two were easy to flee from. But it’d only take a few moments before they all were chasing her - and they’d do so till she left the safe zone.

That doctor better appreciate that shit.


<<Assist System Engaged>>

Spoiler

Name: Mari
True Tier: 9
Level: 7
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 150/150
EN: 37/37

Stats:
Damage: 12
Mitigation: 30
Accuracy: 5
Evasion: 2
Battle Healing: 8
Stealth Rating: 3
AA BLI: 8/-5
ENV-O: 8
PARA-V

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Paralytic Contagion | T4 | Absolute ACC I | Paralytic Venom I | Envenom OFF I | Blight 1
Armor/Trinket:
- Infernal Shadow | T4 Perfect LA | EVA II | Holy Blessing
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
- Glasses | T1 | ACC: 3

Combat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
- AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
- Rending Familiar

Custom Skill:
-

Skills:
- Battle Healing R5
- Charge
- Energist
- Light Armor R5
- Polearm R5

Extra Skills:
- Survival
- Hiding R5
- First Aid R2

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
- Focus
- Precision
- Resolve
- Stamina

Mods:
- Meticulous
- Surpise Attack: Trickster
- Untraceable
- Vanish

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:
- Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
- Alchemist[exp] R10
Gathering Profession:

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Mari

[Vitreous 1]

The flare of green glowed like candlelight from one of the large castle walls that adorned Taft's perimeter, the glimmer of a pocket watch as he'd look off into the city as if a silent vigil. The ticker spun, mirroring the clocktower with every passing second. A clutch closed, and he'd begin to walk down its length. His bill directed inward as he ran that thick glove down the length of the side, allowing the wood to splinter in its roughness. It would not permeate his PPE. The town was damn near dead silent, but when the birds were out the rats would play. The darker alleys at the southern side, where the pond scum loved to frequent whenever they could slip in. Some players had a habit of enabling such creatures in through a setting on their businesses, choosing coin above all else. Garbage, the whole lot...

*Bing Bong, Bing Bong*

His mark, Rodger Fresno, age 23. A glance over the balcony and he was right on schedule. The man reaches into his belt bag and removes a small glass sphere. Held in his hand, he'd lift his arm and extend it over the side and right before he has the chance to drop it...

"Stop Right there CRIMINAL SCUM." The sudden sounds of the constant droll of idiotic mimics ran through the city in a wave of stupid. Like a mindless droning on and on, same voice, same faces. A commotion, so late at night of all times. Someone stealing fruit at this hour? Or worse? A turn as he'd start to trail the wall back toward the southern gate. Although dark, that signature top of bright orange hair was a bit hard to mistake. Beneath a modulated breath, the man would murmur in a rough accent "Subtle."

The billowing of a jacket, he'd hop onto the side. That small glass sphere is swapped out for another, this one filled with an aggressive and abrasive toxin that would create a nasty and quick death. Dropping it straight off the wall, it would land right between the pack of moronic drones and Mari. It shatters, sending a wave of yellow fog in all directions. Dropping a second or two after, the crow drops into it like batman with a solid thud. While Mari was still busy coughing out a lung, she'd have a plague mask shoved onto her face. "Breathe." as he'd throw that rag of his over her. All before he ripped a knife out and started slitting the incapacitated guards throats as they'd gag and vomit.

---

<<Assist System Engaged>>
Level: 7
Paragon: 0
Tier: 1
True Tier: 1

Final EXP reward: +5%

---

Event:
Free SP | 185
Taken | Reflective (18)

---

Vitreous | HP: 140/140 | EN: 32/32 | DMG: 1 | MIT:18 | Thorns: 156

Spoiler

Name: Vitreous, The Grim Physician
True Tier: 1
Level: 7
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 140/140
EN: 32/32

Stats:
Damage: 1
Mitigation: 18

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - 
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Vanguard's Heavy Plate | T1 Heavy Armor | 232786 | MIT 3
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - 

Combat Mastery:
  - 

Combat Shift:
  - 

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:

Extra Skills:

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:

Mods:

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Vitreous

[Mari 1]

It  was two. Then three. Then five.

“Fucking seriously?” Mari muttered. The NPCs were ruthless. She had to pause and sidestep the swing of a guards sword.

Smash

Mari heard the crackle of glass - and the hiss of smoke. She didn’t stop to look behind her till she heard the cries. “Huh?” A wave of smoke billowed - and its noxious plume headed toward her. Mari took several steps back, shifting her gaze to the side - would it be possible to jump into one of the nearby houses?

She was already coughing - her chest heaving as her lungs burned. Her eyes burned. 

"Breathe."
 

Mari heard the command as she felt something slipped over her face - trembling hands reached out and felt the tough leather of gloves affix something to her face before shifting away. The woman took a moment to tighten it and breathed. Her rattled breath coming in short rasps even with the ventilator built into the mask.

What the…

It was Solnyshko? Why was he…helping her. Mari quickly opened her inventory - and swapped out her own clothes for the ones he had given her a few days prior. The long black pants, and shirt - lest the gas had any effect on her skin too. She had managed that just in time before being engulfed in it. 

“Solnyshko?”

Mari could hear screaming, gagging, gurgling - all belonging to the NPC guards - what was happening right now? Mari was focused on keeping her breathing steady. Keep her heart-rate steady.

They’re just npcs…
They’re just npcs…
They’re just npcs…

She kept telling herself that as she heard another scream.

He was helping her - he had gone into a full flurry attacking the guards. Mari could have gotten out on her own, probably - but he didn't know that and now he was also putting himself at risk. Mari shook her head, equipping her weapon. Just NPCS She never really cared about NPCs. They'd respawn.

So when one of the guards was about to strike the doctor from behind Mari swung her polearm into his side - sending him flying into a nearby building before he had the chance to hurt the doctor. Mari was shaking, her entire body visibly shaking. Her eyes wide. Her teeth and lips trembling. She was thankful the mask hid that. With a tilt of her beaked mask she glanced at him- as if to ask if he were okay.

One of them had to be

Edited 5 hours ago by Mari

[Vitreous 1]

A barreling wave of absurdity as they'd scramble for anything orange, hair or cursor. One is clipped down to pieces, catching a knife its chest and as he clasps the knife in both hands attempting to sub divide another, one of those damnable guards starts flailing around like a ravenous animal. On a back foot, the good doctor tries to rush and look for some out. A wide sweep from Mari sees one galivant out of the gas, bouncing across the cobblestone like flat rock on a lake. Colliding with a building, it shatters a wooden cover on a window with enough force for the shop sign to sway. Leaning down he picks up his hat and dusts it off with a heavy thud.

Ripping a knife out of the neck of the last, it would shatter like glass in a forceful wave straight up that is quickly lost in the fog of yellow. A black silhouette but not much more he'd manage to find her in the horrid fog, as more respawning guards kept helping themselves to an early grave. Like lemmings they'd rush into the cloud without direction and proceed to fall to their knees in agony within a few steps, drooling profusely out of any orifice that they could. Closing the gap, he'd scan her with a tilt back and forth wrapping that thick black rag of his around her like an oversized blanket. Girl was real fucking short. But it was better then expecting the single layer to prevent the mustard gas from burning a hole through her stomach.

He'd lean and lift his left hand, and pop it into the universal symbol for 'ok' a wave of his hand to beckon her he'd start to walk back through the gate. A safe zone, but unlike her he wouldn't appear even the slightest bit concerned. Tapping a singular disk into a wall as they'd pass, it blinks in metallic sheen. After all, he wasn't even sure if she had made her delivery yet. In his perspective, she was caught at the gate and had a dumbass barricade keeping her from going further. Down the darker passages of the city, as he'd slide through one of the nooks of the city holding his pocket watch out. A wall shifts slightly to the side, and he takes a quick left through the newly opened passage. It would be clear he spent a lot of time in Taft and its moving sections. Like a living maze, and he kept a timer on each little doorway and when it would open. A ping, sees the man lift his left arm looking at his wrist. A press of an awaiting button sees a loud screeching in the distance, one that sounded quite like a murder of crows. Into this small little cul de sac with a brown stone well at its center, he'd look into the well to confirm there were no extra bodies hanging out to hide from the bees nest they'd kicked tonight. A wave of his hand he'd ask for what she came with, without knowing she'd already shoved it into the chapel.

Edited 5 hours ago by Vitreous

[Mari 1]

OKay…
He was okay. Good.

After the first wave of guards had been felled the doctor came up to her, quickly wrapping her trembling form in more, thick material - and it wasn’t till he had that Mari realized her skin felt like it was stinging. She gave her head a small nod of acknowledgement, and thanks.

The man beckoned her to follow and Mari obliged. She did not want to stay here. They may just be NPCs - but the longer they stayed, the more likely it was a player would fall into the frey and that’s the last thing Mari wanted. She was silent as he lead her through various different sections of the city, she inched closer - a small hand reaching out to clasp one of his sleeves. The machinations…the trick walls…the hidden pathways…Mari never knew things like this existed. It seemed to be based on time - if his close eye on the pocket watch was anything to go by. 

He lead her into a cul de sac and it seemed…safe enough. Abandoned almost. Mari slowly let him go.

When they finally stopped he held his hand out expectantly. Mari furrowed her brow, then realized he couldn't see her facial expression. So she shook her head. Mari opened  her mouth to speak but all she could manage was a series of coughs. So she pointed from him to the chapel. She had already deposited what he wanted. But - what she could still provide.

Mari opened up her inventory, and out dropped the orange vial - half full. And a secondary vial - a murky green. She extended her hand to him. Offering them both. One, the solution he had given her - two - a very messily put together enzyme utilizing the common protein of animal pheromone - not that he’d know without reading her file.

[Vitreous 1]

The dead stare in a strange silence, until the girl shook her head. Did something break in there? Or was she still functioning on the idea of sleep and a prayer? Attempting to speak her voice immediately choked, the abrasive gas still making it difficult to speak. A fact he knew all too damn well. A glance up toward the chapel as she'd point he'd return and cross his arms in an x pattern toward his chest. Then he'd mimic little legs. The guards were surely out trying to poke every bush and tree just in case it happened to have offended a players feelings. But she opens up her HUD, sending him on edge but he tries his best to not pull a knife on her. Out pops a pair of colored vials to which she offers them, one the precursor and the other an unknown. A thicker green solution that moved a bit like syrup as he'd turn it on its side. Lifting his left sleeve, he'd pull the handle on that thing on his wrist causing it to spring open and he'd shove the thing into it. Rubbing the beak of his mask as if it were a chin, he'd notice the girl giving him the big eyed treatment. Her fixated stare would follow as he'd realize that it was locked to that device, moving it to the side see her tilt a little but it was hard to tell under the mask.

A muffled sigh escapes the mask, and he extends his arm given she had done more then enough to at least oblige her. Pointing to a brass dial, he offers her to turn it. As she did it would hiss and a jet of steam would pour out of a small valve on its side near his hand. The heat causes a single drop to transfer from the contained vial to one on its immediate right, and as it does a small little recording crystal transcribes its chemical makeup and reads it out through a little slip of reusable paper.

[Mari 1]

They couldn't go to the chapel. well no shit sherlock. Mari gave an exasperated sigh, and realizing he wouldn't hear that, she crossed her arms over her chest. Tilting a beaked head to the side. For now - the two would have to keep playing charades till she had her voice back. Was this why he never spoke? Not because he couldn't - but because it hurt to? Considering how often he had been around all manner of chemicals and gases...it wouldn't surprise Mari. That...was kinda sad. So much could be misinterpreted that way. Just how many people had misinterpreted him? His actions?

At least the man accepted the two vials. He pulled a handle on his wrist and Mari perked up - her eyes widening. He always had so many odd contraptions. Just...what did this one do? Mari was fixated on it, like a child a newfound toy. The man caught wind of this and gestured for Mari to come closer. She hesitated, just for a moment - her eyes shifting to his other arm - where he had kept the needle last time, but his intention didn't seem to trick her - but to show her. So Mari broached the gap. Standing real close to him now.

With a gloved finger he tapped a brass dial. Mari carefully took his arm with one hand, glancing up at him as if to ask is this really okay? Then with a nod - Mari turned the dial. A hiss of steam poured out the side of his hand - heating up the liquid. 

What the?

Was he....able to figure out the chemical makeup of her terribly put together concoction?

...That was going to be embarrassing. Mari had no real way to isolate things, so she just had to essentially liquidate the entire pheromone gland - as a rough sample. And here he was analyzing it???
Mari let go of his sleeve. How would she mime that she just didn't have the tools he did?

Mari pointed at herself, and made a cross with her hands, then she tapped his device, and made another cross. She didn't have this skills in engineering. They were panicked movements, as though she were embarrassed.