[PT-PP-F10] A Scarlet Dossier

[Bran 1]

« Endless Caverns ?? »

The ever dark depths that stretched on for miles would offer all that would foolishly wander them no safety or guidance. Small gatherings of markings drudged through them, carving down creatures as they'd respawn and keeping the little threshold clear. Some green, some orange but all aligned in goals that needed to be secreted away from the masses. The rough cavern walls drudged in an near endless absence of light, only small stones held would provide the ability to see. Any that stumbled upon this place would see themselves carved to pieces or fed to the nightmarish horrors as a fodder.

Inside, gaggles of players wander to and from cobbled structures into a makeshift outpost out of scraps of wood and metal. Supplies are piled into massive mounds of ill gotten gains, resources and equipment aimed to serve a purpose. There was a sense of order, as despite their behavior in the wild, within this place it was considered neutral ground. To break the three rules would spell death, and the overseer of this place would not hesitate to slit their throats and provide them an eternal tombstone upon the wall. His creed was taken, and his adherence to it absolute.

Sat in a cool grey yukata, a smoky grey hair sat upon his head. The shrine of sorts where composed hands lift a small white platter to his lips. A tea ceremony prepared for a special guest, to which the others knew 'she' was off limits. Hayate sat with his legs crossed beneath a small brown table, the green tatami mats beneath him. Leveled with a patience and eager to what 'she' would provide to help aid in the efforts of their little gathering. "Leave me." Bran barked with a level of unfaltering authority, causing the woman on a chain to wander from the room and slide close a paper screen door.

To uproot the very attempts of the frontlines, cutting off their hopes and destroying all their efforts with a single well timed stroke of a knife.

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

Final EXP Reward: +0%

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Bran | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 1

Spoiler

Name: Bran
True Tier: 1
Level: 1
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 20/20
EN: 20/20

Stats:
Damage: 1

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - 
Armor/Trinket: 
  - 
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - 

Combat Mastery:
  - 

Combat Shift:
  - 

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:

Extra Skills:

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:

Mods:

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - Starter Healing Potions (Heals 50 HP) x3

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:

 

 

[Arabelle 0]

"miss luka..."

eyes to the ground.

"...he will see you now."

the paper screen door slides open and the lady of the house of bones next door bows. not as low as she used to, in the long years of their working relationship where she asked after and practiced every formality hayate brought from his old place, knowing it would leave him pleased, but at an off-angle that would have confused a dilettante. deliberate or a sudden careless mistake?

does she appear careless to you?

she straightens, a coy apologetic smile on painted lips, then settles into a seiza position across him. she's dressed in a yukata, a white flower patterned one that she had tailored for the occasion, and her long ashen hair is arranged into a low bun.

another breach: arabelle talks first, and it's not about the tea. "it's hardly been a floor, hayate. missed me already?"

 

it's your favorite magical girl! ♡

Spoiler LEVEL 51 (BASE 34; PARAGON 17): HP: 740/740 | EN 112/112 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 20 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | HLY: 16 (9-10) | MAD: 12 (8-10) | RSK: 8 | BH: 5% | VD: 10% | HB: 4% | LD: 5 | WELL-RESTED: 3/3 | SQUEAKY CLEAN: 1/1 | MULTIPURPOSE: 1/1 ~~ ASSISTING LEVEL 1: HP: 20/20 | EN: 25/25 | DMG: 14 | MIT: 20 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | HLY: 4 (9-10) | MAD: 3 (8-10) | RSK: 2 | BH: 5% | VD: 10% | HB: 4% | LD: 5 | WELL-RESTED: 3/3 | SQUEAKY CLEAN: 1/1 | MULTIPURPOSE: 1/1 skills Spoiler  | skills mod count: 2/5 SCYTHE (AXE) | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +7 DMG [ADDON: Ferocity] +2 DMG [ADDON: Precision] +1 ACC [ADDON: Stamina] Reduce EN of all attacks by 2. [SHIFT: AOE Specialist] +4 to multipliers and +2 to EN cost; AoE-I, AoE-II. CLOTH ARMOR | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +20 MIT [MOD: Athletics] +1 DMG [ADDON: Nimble] +1 EVA, +1 LD COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 [BASE: Proficiency] +12 DMG BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] Restore 5% HP per turn. [MOD: Emergency Recovery] | Passive (10 EN) | Once per thread, when HP falls below 25%, recover 10% of maximum HP. ENERGIST [BASE: Proficiency] +20 EN CHARGE [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 8 EN, 3 CD] +3 DMG, -1 ACC (no auto) on a single attack. SEARCHING | RANK 4/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +4 LD; +4 SD | expenditure Spoiler Total SP: 185 | Spent: 179 | Unspent: 6 SKILL: Axe (30) ADDON: Stamina (4) ADDON: Precision (2) ADDON: Ferocity (4) SHIFT: AOE Specialist (10) SKILL: Cloth Armor (30) MOD: Athletics (4) ADDON: Nimble (6) SKILL: Combat Mastery (13) SKILL: Battle Healing (30) MOD: Emergency Recovery (6) SKILL: Energist (8) SKILL: Searching (22) SKILL: Charge (10)   equipment Spoiler damocles HOLY II, MADNESS II TIER 4 DEMONIC SCYTHE (AXE) | [state]: fused CELUI QUI S'ÉLÈVE ON L'ABAISSERA. this weapon takes the form of a black scythe, far larger than its wielder. its structure is noticeably warped, the defect most evident in the unusual curve of its rod and the sharp spear-like points that tip both ends of the handle, an unsteady grip, and a difficult weapon in the hands of all but its wielder's. when channeling sword arts, weapon and master are engulfed in a black flame. when spun once in the master's hand, the weapon folds itself into a key, small enough to be tucked in one's pocket, and can be resummoned forth in the same manner.  saint-germain RISKY II, VAMPIRIC (DEFENSIVE) II TIER 4 DEMONIC CLOTH ARMOR | [state]: fused a silk wrist cuff upon which a corsage of pure white roses is pinned. fleeting words ACCURACY II, HOLY BLESSING II TIERLESS DEMONIC TRINKET | [state]: fused a weightless spread of large white feathers cast in plaster and set upon a lapel pin. inventory Spoiler | dimensional backpack (3) Teleport Crystal | [>>] -- -- -- -- -- -- sword arts Spoiler st [x12] ST-I (10 EN) [x15] ST-II (13 EN) | Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (18 EN) | Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll. aoe [x15] AOE-I (11 + [2 * targets] EN) [x18] AOE-II (14 + [2 * targets] EN) | 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. tech [x12] TECH-A (11 EN) | STUN [x12] TECH-B (10 EN) | DELAY | [Delay] is a debuff that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn. buffs Spoiler -- | paragon LAUREL WREATH | Earn Col equivalent to 15% of player’s EXP earned in thread. | house 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). MULTIPURPOSE | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. FILLING | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. ITEM STASH | +1 Battle Ready Inventory slot. RELAXED | Increases out of combat HP regen by 20 HP and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. COL STASH | +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests. DECOR: DIWALI DIYA | Upon thread closing, obtain an additional +3 * loot minimum mob HP Col for every 5 authored posts.

Edited Tuesday at 09:38 AM by Arabelle

[Bran 1]

A slide of a small pot of tea would fill the little white platter, allowing the heat to escape in a billowing of steam. A rigid hook would claim it from the table and exhale causing the white trails to bend. "So quick witted." The man expresses before bringing the mixture to his lips. It clicks back onto the table with a rather stern press. Once the screen was shut completely, his senses perk up to assure that their enslaved cook was long out of earshot. Loose lips lead to loose ends. "Margaret." The man would extend an open hand to the seat opposed him if she chose to take it.

"News has come forward that the players on the frontlines have been cycling out. Some upstarts, new and outside our records. Given your status, I was hoping you could enlighten me." The man pours out a second platter, lifting and tapping it near the space she was offered. Beneath the table, he'd reach for the small collection of scrolls and papers. Bringing them up, they'd slowly unfurl and at his side the codex that allowed its translation. "The group is accelerating, and I need a weak point."

Her task as an informant was even more pertinent, and her cover even more dire. This secret was so utterly need to know that not even the others were aware of her infiltration. There would inevitably be a time to drop the act, when the bloodiest artery would lay exposed. The house of cards would fall down around its union, creating an endless cascade of chaos to which it would never recover. But the timing had to be perfect.

[Arabelle 0]

pity for the both of them. she meant it as an offering and a slight. the longer of arabelle’s nails click on the table, dissatisfied, as hayate pours his tea first and drinks. the next he breathes, it’s with her name.

margaret.

somewhere, in some long forgotten archive, the record of that old trial must still exist. when the strongest of them clumsily declared themselves justice, pinning the totality of a crime on its first confessor, they extended to her a feigned mercy in signing it underneath a name she could so easily discard. they didn’t tell her their authority hinged on condemning her like to the ends of aincrad — until they were all dead and complacent, the old establishment with them. and the laughing coffin was granting a witch audience and she was whispering into her new master’s ear.

arabelle accepts the cup, lifting it to her lips and dissipating the steam with a softly expelled breath. "is it?" she asks, not a challenge, but an invitation for hayate to explain his conclusion. arabelle pauses to sip from her cup herself as she mentally cards through what she knows. the frontlines have been clearing at the same pace, have they not? one or two a year, give or take. they have time. "we have time.

"when we first entered floor 29, i initially suspected its unique threat to the playerbase would instill a sense of urgency, but it became a distraction instead. my own scouting efforts, some weeks after i thought everyone was settled, garnered no interest. they were too busy protecting themselves — and whatever else they cared about. if this were to become the standard from now on, then we can expect roughly the same pace."

but that isn’t to say cardinal is on their side. it never has been. it rains trials down upon them, yet it knows that the frontlines will continue to plod forward somehow, never stop. with the scroll fully unfurled and hayate’s eyes lowered, arabelle decides to give him what he wants.

"other than me, there were three newcomers. acanthus, astralin, and wulfrin. in the previous raid, acanthus and wulfrin were slotted as damage dealers, astralin as support. none of them were with me, but i at least glanced at the other teams from time to time — if you would let me borrow some paper, i could approximate their skill and equipment investments on the spot." she just has to watch the entire thing all over again in her head. she won't accept scoldings for not having it already done prior; it was not as though he'd sent her an agenda! her memory makes her the perfect informant, just devastatingly neglectful of physical records. "and that's not all that you're asking for," arabelle guesses, "shall i go from the least interesting to the most? or, if you want it the other way around, you'll have to answer one of my own questions first."

cup returned to the tray, arabelle's fingers twine in a cradle beneath the table, out of hayate's view.

"what does the laughing coffin know about freyd?"

[Bran 1]

"Of course." The man offered in a nearly business style acknowledgement of her request. The highway of information was a two way street, and this affiliation survived on its ability to flow. "Freyd, based on our accounts is a member of one of Aincrad's larger guilds. Firm Anima, as I recall" Spoken as he'd pull a collection of parchment, sliding it across the table before moving the codex to apply the cipher. "Most of our eye witness accounts show that he is very 'fluid' in his activities, just as likely to appear on floor 1 as the upper limits." Hayate would offer his guest some more tea, before adding some to his own platter. A trade made happily, the man would continue to provide. "Holds a store on floor 13 coined the Freyd Edges, has been spotted on the regular with quite a few frontline members. Moreover, it would seem that it is fairly common for him to be requested to accompany others on all manner of quests or field bosses. A busy bee, if you will. Perhaps in honest aid, or perhaps in selfishness."

The line of questioning left him a tad curious, unsure if this was all knowledge to which Margaret was already partisan to. But the recount meant little to him other then another potential victim, so it was an easy trade. "We have like the others, been looking for an achillies heel. Like most frontline members they are exceedingly difficult to keep pegs on, and even more difficult to isolate. This Freyd, for example carries a pair of attack dogs around with him quite frequently. A special annoyance given we have lost a number of informants or for lack of a better term 'henchman' as misdirection to keep him from sniffing around. If you wish to go after him, they will need to either be absent or dealt with. My recommendation, is through his 'personal times'. Such as his recent hiatus with one Mari." It would appear rather well informed, yet what most would fail to understand is the lens of Laughing Coffin's network was rather broad. Every visit of a city, every use of a warp gate would undoubtedly leave one exposed to being transcribed. The drop of a statement within earshot of the wrong body, or being a little too loose lipped easily allowed itself to eavesdropping.