[PP-F29] <<Yzaslanik>> Beneath the Masks

[Telrenya 0]

A thin, eternal mist lay over the marred wastelands of the 29th floor. The soil sank slightly beneath Telrenya’s boots as she walked, sword drawn at her side and head swiveling side to side with each step. The main settlement of Ilridge didn’t offer any protections of a safe zone, yet somehow she couldn’t shake the additional layer of unease that came with drifting away from the dilapidated building and rain-slicked cobblestones of the town. A creepy, lifeless town, but a town nonetheless. A town with a teleport gate.

What was she doing here? This place wasn’t safe, she knew that well. She wasn’t a scout. She wasn’t an info broker. How many floors could come and go before the title of frontliner should be revoked? As if two measly bosses were an accomplishment worth parading around. Dancing in the shadows of those that dedicated so much more of themselves made her squirm with shame. It felt like a lifetime ago. Telrenya shook her head, almost violently, in an attempt to eject the insidious thoughts. Players had been buzzing about this floor lately, like a hive under threat. It may not be long before the fight against the 29th floor boss. She would be there.

While the grip on her sword tightened with an invisible renewal of resolve, the wind surged around her suddenly. Her blonde hair and white regalia whipped with the gusts, and she was forced to stay still to keep her footing. She had allowed her eyes to shut in a momentary wince, but forced them back open and brought a hand up to pin a chunk of her hair to the side of her face. The faint echo of a church’s bell reached her ears, but its source was indistinguishable. Was she hearing things? The snap of a twig she swore was real caused her to spin around with rapier at the ready. Yet there was no one standing there to attack her. Telrenya’s eyes drifted to one side, then the other. Through her tense throat, she choked out a quick, ”Hello?!”

Her free hand wanted to slink back to her belt and wrap around a teleport crystal. She should be strong enough to handle herself out here. She should be able to fight any normal mobs this floor could throw at her. But this floor wasn’t normal, and paranoia seeped through her skin like the fog that permeated the air. ”Is someone there…?” She couldn’t shake this feeling that she wasn’t alone out here.

@Morningstar @Mari @Acanthus

[quest info]

Telrenya | HP: 740/740 | EN: 112/112 | DMG: 21 | MIT:44 | ACC:4 | PHASE | EVA:3 | REC: 8 | LD:1 CHARACTER SHEET   Hide contents Telrenya's Character Sheet FULL STAT BLOCK   Hide contents equipped »mafiq (PHASE / ACC III) »Knight's Vow (MIT I / EVA II) »Moondrop (REC II / EVA I)   battle-ready inventory »Twilight Turmoil (Paralyze II / Bleed II) »[Equipped] [Perfect] Erin's Favor +2 ACC, +1 EVA »[Consumable] Teleport Crystal [x5] »[Consumable] T1 Health Potion (3) +40 HP »[Consumable] Cerberus Soul +2 Burn DMG »[Consumable] Snowfrost 1/2 Burn DMG for 1 battle »[Consumable] Bandit's Guile +1 EVA for 1 battle skills »Rapier R5 (+7 DMG) »Cloth Armor R5 (+20 MIT) »Energist (+20EN) »Extended Weight Limit (+2 Battle Ready Inventory) »Combat Mastery: Damage R3 (+3 DMG) »Protector Familiar extra skills [4/5] »First Aid R5 »Survival (10% increased healing from all sources, immune to damaging environmental effects) »Meditation (+16EN | 3 post CD) addons »[Rapier] Precision (+1 ACC) »[Rapier] Stamina (-2EN) »[First Aid] Hyperactive (+3EN for 3 turns on party member or self | Unique | 3 post CD | 5EN) »[First Aid] Field Medic (Heal self and all party members 25% max HP | 3 post CD | 15EN) »[Cloth Armor] Nimble (+1 EVA, +1 LD) mods [4/5] »Athletics (+1 DMG) »Purify (Remove all status conditions on self or party member | 1 post CD | 3EN) »Energize (Restore 8EN to party member | 10EN) »Barrier (Reduce final dmg from all sources by 15% on all party members for one turn | 2 post CD | 15EN) buffs »

 

[Morningstar 0]

In the dark, sitting on a church pew, Morningstar typed messages to Mari.

ms: wyd?
ms: looking for the sword rn. could use a hand.
ms: in the church @ kp.

Behind him, something moved. He craned his neck, searching for the source of the sound, only to find the shadowy figure of Acanthus approaching him. She looked tired. He guessed he looked the same. Morningstar hadn't gone home after the Spectral Knights stopped spawning. Instead, he wound up back at Kineallen Parish, searching for the lost Sword of Kings.

Clearly, Acanthus couldn't rest either. When he found her near the church, alone, he had nearly mistaken her for a shambler.

"I think most people are sleeping. I messaged Mari, though. Do you know her?"

His map expanded before him. Besides Kineallan Parish, he had skimmed all over the eastern edge of the floor and had no luck. The quest wasn't much help either. There was no hint, no specific information that might lead someone to the sword. There were only two simple instructions: find the sword and return it to its rightful place. He marked the church off his mental list.

"I think this place is a bust. Not sure where to check next. Would it be crazy to think that it's at the bottom of the ocean somewhere?"

The wind kicked up outside, startling Morningstar. Acting in horror films and actually living them were two entirely separate things. He thought he heard the voice of a woman calling out through the storm. "Did you hear that?" he asked Acanthus, obviously perturbed.

stats go here

[Mari 1]

ms: wyd?
ms: looking for the sword rn. could use a hand.
ms: in the church @ kp.

Mari stared at the message; trying to decode it. "The hell?" What the heck did half this mean? wyd? Why'd she what? It took Mari another moment to realize what it meant Oh.. What you doing. Mari was never very good at messaging people, she wasn't sure what kind of sword the man was looking for - and honestly - really didn't want to bother helping him right now.

But..

She did owe him one for the hellstorm potion...
And for all the identifying…
And helping her get her ring…
And her armour…
And Corvos sword…


Okay…so The guy had been incredibly helpful to Mari without asking for anything in return. With a sigh Mari replied back to him.The guy had been incredibly helpful to Mari without asking for anything in return. With a sigh Mari replied back to him.

Mari → Morningstar: Stealing expensive alcohol from NPCs
Mari → Morningstar: I don’t care about any of that.
Mari → Morningstar: But I’ll be there soon


So long as they stayed on this floor; she’d help out. Mari needed to try and flush out some wine from the more..tentacled things on this floor, so far it had been a treasure trove of sunken booze. Almost fitting considering the glitched quest on the floor.

It didn’t take long for her to find their location; one of the few semi in tact buildings on the floor. Before here stood both Morningstar, and Acanthus.

“Ah.”

At least there were familiar faces.

“So…what is this stuff about a sword?” Mari asked as she kicked a rock. This floor was miserable.

[Acanthus 0]

Quote

“So… what’s this stuff about a sword?”

Acanthus couldn’t help but share in Mari’s unenthused question. She had been so ready to find the sword. She had braved Miremore, ventured through dangerous catacombs, and even waded through the criminal underground of Aincrad, all for a chance to locate the fabled Sword of Kings. But after an all-nighter (of fighting Spectral Knights), she felt exhaustion creeping up on her. But Acanthus could feel a deadline looming in her virtual bones, and she knew that it was crunch time.

Quote

"I think this place is a bust. Not sure where to check next. Would it be crazy to think that it's at the bottom of the ocean somewhere?"

“Morningstar…” Her voice cracked as she rubbed her eyes. “Don’t say that again. Please.” She wanted to say more, but she knew it was her tiredness ready to take the reins and say something nasty. She choked down the choice words as a voice carried through the fog.

“I heard it, Morningstar.” Her sword came out, pointed weakly into the fog. She channeled her voice down through the tip of the sword, trying to carry a strength and confidence she currently lacked. “We’re members of the frontlines, looking for the Sword of Kings. Please identify yourself.”

(She was careful to avoid giving names and numbers until she was certain there was no danger, at which point she would introduce herself freely.)

Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 960/960 | EN: 128/128 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:3 | AA  | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:476 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 | F-SPIRIT

 

Spoiler

Equipment and Consumables

Spoiler

All enhancements reflected in the stat block unless otherwise specified.

Weapon. botan | AA | ACC 3
Armor. Corpse Flower's Kiss | Mitigation 2 | Thorns 2
Shield. Fractured Heart | Fl. Aura 2 | Holy Blessing 2

Consumables
Immolation Potion (+10 * Tier Thorns)
Gelato | LD 3 Filled!

Abilities (Skills, Shifts, Masteries, Add-ons, and Mods)

Spoiler

Combat Mastery and Shift
No Shift or Mastery Taken

Skills

• Straight Sword R1 (4 SP)
• Heavy Armor R5 (30 SP)
  • Impetus (4 SP)
  • Iron Skin (6 SP)
• Battle Hearing R5 (30 SP)
• Energist (8 SP)
• Fighting Spirit (10 SP)

Extra Skills

• Survival
• Forgotten King's Authority
• Photosynthesize
• Assault Mode

Inactive Extra Skills

Addons

• Impetus

Mods

• Iron Skin

92 SP Spent before specializations.

Specializations
Reflective x13 (130 SP)

222 SP total.

Battle Ready Inventory (7 Slots)
Dimensional Backpack + Item Stash

Spoiler

1. Lama Sabachthani | 236687 | Consumable - Soundtrack | Hypnosis 2 | Lullaby 2 (Instant)
2. Pain deeper than words, engraved by a hand that does not know its own heart.
3. Edict's Threnody | 236686 | Consumable - Soundtrack | Perpetuate (Instant)
   If my suffering will not end, then neither will yours.
4. Bear Trap | Set enemy EVA to 0 for one turn.
5. Meathook | 249118d | Consumable - T4 Reusable
   As a free action once per combat, apply a single stack of [Shatter] to one target of your choosing (No roll required). 
6. [Empty]
7. [Empty]
8. [Empty]

Housing

Spoiler

House Name: Villa of Coruscating Flowers (The Villa)
Location: Floor 24 - Paradise Islands
Description: See above
Plot Size: Estate - PK Accessible
Rooms: Listed below. All rooms are assigned to Acanthus.

• Master Bedroom
  • Well Rested | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat.
• Greenhouse
  • Green Thumb | +2 Gathering EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to gathering attempts.
• Extended Workshop: Recording Studio (25,000 col)
  • Hard Working | +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day.
• Mega Slime Farm
  • Advanced Training | +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.
• Living Room:
  • Relaxed | Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
• Attic (Bedroom)
  • Skylight (Searching) | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill (Searching). Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
• Basement:
  • Multipurpose | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll.
• Storage Closet: (10,000 col)
  • Item Stash | +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
• Master Bathroom: (25,000 col)
  • Squeaky Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
• Basic Kitchen (15,000 col)
  • Filling | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.

Crafting and Gathering

Spoiler

Performer | Rank 5
Apollo’s Metronome | Crafting Tool | Meticulous: +1 CD when crafting in one’s workshop.

Forager | Rank 5
Demeter's Cornucopia | Gathering Tool | Bountiful: +1 CD to gathering attempts.