{{PP-PT-F01}} I Guess Murders Ain't All Bad

[Reytac 0]

Reytac let out a laugh, his eyes crinkling up. "I don't necessarily need a 'better' companion. That can be a trap, thinking there's someone or something 'better' out there. Sometimes, it's just about finding the right one. That applies to people too. And thank you for keeping me company - I have a feeling Searching for these ravens could get lonely if I did it long enough by myself." One hand reached out and scratched the raven under his jaw, and the bird let out a little trill before leaning into the scritch. After petting the raven with a murmur of thanks to Cascade, Rey scanned around, until his eyes widened. Not far away was another set of corvid, though he couldn't really see how many. What he could see, though, was that one was already watching him. 

To make sure, Rey pulled up his Spyglass again and looked through it, blinking. Yea, that bird was definitely watching him. As if waiting for him. "Speak of the devil and he shall appear." Words just over a murmur escaped him, before he nodded in that direction to Cascade. He started off, walking slowly, keeping in mind that she had mentioned that he could come across as intimidating. That was probably very true for animals too. 

 

Spoiler

ID: 255332    LD:18 - 25 total. Birds found. 

 

Edited Friday at 03:12 PM by Reytac

[Cascade 0]

She chuckled, "That's exactly what im referring to, the right one." She smiled adding, "Anyways, I'm happy to keep you company, I've enjoyed it myself so far. Besides, do you really expect me to walk back towards madam voodoos lair alone?" she smirked, showing her goofy side as she made the smart comment. 

She watched him as he pet her Raven. Thankfully, he didn't seem to mind Rey, and had trusted her judgment with him.  She nodded to his thanks. She watched as he pulled out his spyglass and began to scan the area for new clusters. A few moments later and he had found one, gesturing her to follow him further down the road.

She kept the pace, walking next to him. He had decided to walk slower than normal this time. Must be due to what I said. He's being more cautious. She smiled briefly and looked forward, there was no telling how many birds exactly were in this next cluster. She noticed something though,  there was one who seemed to be standing still, and from the way it was shaped she figured it was looking at them, as if awaiting their arrival. She hummed, "Saepene exspectant propinqui tui, care mea?" she spoke quietly to her companion, but had done so without even realizing it. She continued to walk as though nothing had changed. 

 

Spoiler

Translation: Do your kin often wait, dear one?

 

[Reytac 0]

Reytac nodded softly, eyeing the bird that was eyeing him back. Slowly he paused and pulled the bowl of food from his inventory again. But almost as soon as he did, the bird took off, flying away from the branch that it had been perched on. It cried out to him several times, circling around his head as it looked down at him almost disdainfully.  He glanced at the bowl, then set it down on the ground, then slowly backed away from it. 

It seemed like Cascade was right - he was spooking the birds off just by existing. It wasn't his fault! He just - looked like this. He hadn't been expecting to get hit with the revelation thing that everyone else did. He'd tried making an unassuming character, but instead it just conformed him to look like his physical self. He gave an almost exasperated sigh and planted his hands on his hips and glared up at the birds. 

"I'll have you know I am a responsible pet owner with cats who love me! Get down here you feathered menace!" He scolded, almost tempted to wag his finger at the bird that was still circling around his head. 

Spoiler

ID : 255340     cd2  : attempt 1/4 bird no likey me. 

 

Edited Friday at 07:27 PM by Reytac

[Cascade 0]

It wouldn't be the first time she had done it nor the last. Though there was no telling what Rey would think had he heard it. A different language, one that seemed to work with the birds. She walked beside him watching carefully as he made his next attempts. Cascade chuckled audibly, "Reytac I don't believe threatening the creatures will put the ball very far into your court." she sighed and brought a hand to her chin in thought. He just needed to think from the birds perspective, sure it sounded silly, but it worked. If you were a Raven and a big towering, intimidating person came around offering you treats, you would be reluctant too! "Be gentle Reytac, they are clever creatures, but they are still at your mercy. Wouldn't even you find it a bit frightening?

She smiled and sat on the ground in the middle of the pathway, a few birds seemed to edge closer, curious about what had landed on the ground near and dear to where they resided. Being closer to ground level put you on their level. This, she assumed, was one of the reasons they peeked interest so easily, by putting yourself at their level, you showed vulnerability and intent. She simply sat there, and began to pet her Raven gently, talking with it quietly. She stole another glance at the disheartened man, "You're doing a fine job. You've come this far, don't give up," she offered kindly. 

[Reytac 0]

Reytac gave a light snort and shook his head, turning his attention to Cascade. "Oh, no worries about that Miss Cascade, I'm in no danger of giving up here. I've been dealing with animals for a long, long time. Though, I will admit, I have a tendency to prefer working with big dogs." A fond, nostalgic memory danced at the edge of his thoughts and he smiled fondly, before pointing at the bird that was circling above him. The bird landed on another branch and cawed at him, imperiously, and he snorted. 

" Yeah, you just sit there a moment and decide if you want to come down here. Now, Miss Cascade - you mentioned you're kind of rough on the basics of SAO, right? Well, one thing to know is that there's a couple things you can pick up for your spare time, the game isn't all about fighting. You can take one of two gathering professions, fishing, or foraging. Personally, I went with the latter as a Forager, so I can occasionally find resources in the environment." Reytac knelt down and pulled a rock up from the ground and held it up, then frowned when it crumbled to pixels in his hand. 

 

"Well, that didn't work. Sadly, it's skill based, and I'm still rough and new to it myself. Anyway, the second thing you can do is pick some kind of crafting profession - there are quests that will show you how to gather, and how to craft, ad there is a wide variety. Smiths, tailors, cooks, alchemists, artisans, even performers! And each can create buffs for themselves or for sale." Reytac ended his impromptu lecture with a rueful smile. "Personally, I went with Engineer. I like to tinker more than I realized. Gives me something to do to occupy my hands and mind with focus."

 

Forager Profession 74/149 R2

Successfully forage for materials on a LD 13+. Crits: 

Rank 2

CD:

[1-5] = No additonal materials.

[6+] = 1 additional materi al.

Edited Friday at 08:48 PM by Reytac

[Nisahime 0]

A small little thing that was dwarfed by the others at a staggering 5 foot 2, white hair and porcelain flawless skin. A sharp pair of blood red eyes that stared aloof at the pair holding the strangest conversation with the tree as if it were going to respond. Out of the brush seemingly without warning or a sound, the floors ambiance somehow masking her arrival. A soft breeze ripples through the air, carrying aloft leaves and hair alike on its change. "It's been quite some time since we last met, Reytac. Maybe if you threaten it more it will respond?" Nisahime was clearly being sarcastic as she spoke to Reytac just as she had within their little engineering trip, and the guy might have already been able to decipher as much. A whistle sees the bird come down from its perch without a second between, as if it were already trained. The black feathered creature perches on her left finger, the glossed eyes staring inquisitively as it quickly darts its attentions back and forth. A pair of pinched fingers pluck out a black feather, offering it to the air with a flick of them apart. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure. Nissa..." The white haired woman stares blankly at @Cascade with an introduction as if she knew more then she let on about her before looking back to the reason for her arrival. As a form of instruction, the maiden of crows in full disguise would lean forward and present the black feathered bird like a present to the man, curious if the beast would find him worthy enough to allow a claim. It jerks and twists locking eyes with his, the small mirrored reflection of his image painted on its iris. "Shhh. It's thinking." The snark was about 10 feet thick, as if it was the only thing left after all this time.

Active:
CS: All for One
Guild Rank 5: +5% Final EXP/Col

Galaxial Water Snake {Raidou} -> Given to @Reytac

Nisahime | HP: 1219/1219 | EN: 118/118 | DMG: 26 | MIT:203 | ACC:6 | TAUNT | EVA:3 | FL.AURA: 16 | FR.AURA: 16 | HB: 24 | REC: 8
 

Spoiler

 

Name: Nisahime, Maiden of Crows
True Tier: 12
Level: 35
Paragon Level: 79
HP: 1219/1219
EN: 118/118

Stats:
Damage: 26
Mitigation: 203
Accuracy: 6
Evasion: 3
Stealth Rating: -5
TAUNT
FL.AURA: 16
FR.AURA: 16
HB: 24
REC: 8

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Vengeance of Avon - Elsinore [Artifact] | DMG 3, Cursed
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Alban Royal Crusader - Bran Fendigaidd | Frost Aura 2, Flame Aura 2
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Avalon Rebis Aegis - Anam Cara | Recovery 2, Holy Blessing 1, Taunt

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Evasion R1
  - Combat Mastery: Accuracy R3
  - Combat Mastery: Mitigation R3

Combat Shift:
  - ST Shift
  - AOE Shift
  - TECH Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - All for One

Skills:
  - Curved Sword R5
  - Heavy Armor R5
  - Howl
  - Rapier R5
  - Straight Sword R5

Extra Skills:
  - Concentration
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Block R3

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
  - Ferocity
  - Focus
  - Focused Howl
  - Iron Skin
  - Precision
  - Stamina

Mods:
  - Impetus

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - Crystal of Divine Light [201986f] x1
  - Teleport Crystal x1

Housing Buffs:
  - Basic Kitchen: 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.
  - Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
  - Master Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
  - Master Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
  - Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
  - Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
  - Greenhouse: +2 Gathering EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to gathering attempts.
  - Mega Slime Farm: +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.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:

 

 

[Cascade 0]

She chuckled, "Well, that's good." she listened as he offered her advice. "Foraging and cooking would be great." she nodded, "Makes sense, you do seem like you'd do something like that to occupy your time." A voice rang out carrying throught the wind, a voice too close, too quickly. Cascade tensed, eyes shooting towards the source. A small girl had snuck up on them, and apparently she knew Reytac. How did she- She was quite cheeky with her words, was she as young as it appeared? Cascade stood, backing away slightly, the girl had zero problems with entering others domains. She whistled sharply, the bird that Reytac had been working with took it upon itself to glide down and land on the girls hand without as much as a second thought. Was it her bird? No that couldn't be right, they had found it and Rey had begun the taming process, so how- she plucked its feather throwing it to the wind. Cascade glared at the girl. How dare she. Everything about her seemed flat and snide, especially her introduction. Nissa huh?

She decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. "Cascade." she offered evenly. She watched as the girl brought the bird closer to Reytac, Is she just offering it to him? The whole thing was weird, the girl, her mannerisms, Reytacs lack of reaction, the bird. None of it felt right to her. Who was this girl? She was certain she wasn't a child, though she looked it. Perhaps it was just the girls level? Is that what it was to be strong in this world? Would things so menial become as easy as breathing for her too? The girls presence and demeanor still didn't sit right with Cascade, but she decided to let it go for now. It was more intriguing than alarming. Essentially because her companion already knew the girl. If there were something to be afraid of, Reytac would prove it. Nissa spoke, Shhh. It's thinking. She watched the bird intently, wondering what decision it would come to. Her own companion purred quietly on her shoulder. She reached up gently petting him, her eyes staying fixed on the scene before her. 

[Reytac 0]

"Oh, hello Miss Nisa, nice seeing you again! Miss Cascade, I met Miss Nisa here while I was learning to be an Engineer - she downright breezed through the quest like it was as easy as breathing to her!" Reytac let out a loud laugh and shook his head ruefully. It seemed like to both of the ladies, his playful scolding of the bird was coming across as harsher than he had intended. But to be fair, he was used to animals that he had worked with for a while, he hadn't had a fresh start like this in years. He watched as Nisa held the raven out towards him, and the animal tilted its head from one side to the other, watching him intently. The man blinked when he had an incoming item alert, and he pulled to up with a flick of one finger to get a surprise. When had the white-haired little mystery sent this over to him? Along with a tag to 'consume for greater chances'? Still - he hadn't any cause to doubt her, so with a shrug he pulled out the consumable to see a thin blue and white coil of snake.. skin?  Or a snake itself?

Wondering for a moment if Nisa had literally sent him a snake-oil charm to make him feel better, Reytac shrugged and activated the consumable and his eyebrows rose as a small buff joined the pheromone buff on the side of his character panel. "Huh. Well, alright then." He blinked and held out his hand towards the raven that was still staring at him with piercing, gleaming eyes. "How about it little beauty?" 

 

Spoiler

Using Consumable 'Galaxial Water Snake' +1 CD roll.
New Target Threshold for Tame Attempts: 7.

pleasefortheloveofgodgivememybirdnextroll

 

[Cascade 0]

Just as Cascade had thought, the peculiar girl was indeed significantly stronger than herself. Power hummed faintly around her, quiet but undeniable, like a storm pretending to sleep. Had she come by just to drop off the snake? No explanation- just that errie calm. She was an odd, little thing. Cascade shifted her weight, loosening her stance a bit. Fine, be mysterious.

She turned her attention back to Reytac and the bird. In all truth, she really did wish for Rey's success. She watched as he held out his hand toward the Raven. 

"How about it then, little beauty.

What's it gonna be then?

She crossed her arms watching intently from afar. The bird twitched slightly as its head tilted back and forth on either side, as if considering him. The white haired girl stayed perfectly still, her demeanor remaining unreadable. There was something about those eyes, not cold, no... but lifeless.

For a brief, unsettling moment, she wondered who resided behind the facade. There were few who had obtained that look in the world. Those who did had seen or been through things. Things that could never be forgotten..... things that could never be undone. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Cascade

[Reytac 0]

Reytac held his arm out to the bird, hoping the large, ink-dark raven would hop on over to him. Instead, the bird flapped its wings, exploding into motion, and dust kicked up, making Rey and Cascade blink. By the time the sudden explosion of motion settled, the bird was in the air, circling around Reytac and cawing judgmental. the small, white-haired girl, though, was gone - vanished into the ether like she had never been there. If it wasn't for the fact that Reytac still had the odd buff of 'Water snake' on his menu, and that there were still footprints in the dirt, he woudl have honestly wondered if he had seen something there instead of Nisa actually showing up. 

Directing his attention back to the raven though, he could tell that it was still nto trusting him, still playing keep away. It was odd, to see a raven circling like a vulture, but at least it was low down, where he could see it, instead of up in the air far and away. "Well, Miss Cascade, it seems like I still have some convincing to do. But while we wait, I can keep giving little bits of advice from the things that I've encountered so far? I only just got started on actually working on being more than a bump on a log myself. You'll want to find a guild to join - I don't know what your long term goal is, but I was fortunate enough to find one that was dedicated to helping people reach the front-lines, which is my goal. To get out of here, to get home to my wife." Emotion made Rey's last words thick as he turned in a slow circle, watching the bird that was watching him. 

 

Spoiler

ID:255518     CD:2 Attempt     2/4 BIRDIE Y

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Reytac

[Cascade 0]

An explosion of dust flew in the air for a moment. Cascade was nothing short of alarmed. By the time the dust settled enough to see Reytac, the white haired girl she knew as Nissa had vanished. The bird that had been perched on her hand had taken flight in circles above Rey, caring at him carelessly. The whole thing was like a fever dream. She knew she had seen the girl, encountered her, watched her, heard her. But the whole thing verged on being a hallucination.

Yet her small footprints still lingered in the dirt nearby. Even Reytac had been left disoriented for a time. The Raven kept close enough to view it comfortably, but it still remained out of arms reach. Rey had turned his attention back to the creature. It was refreshing to be accompanied by someone who stayed on task so willingly. 

"Well, Miss Cascade, it seems like I still have some convincing to do. But while we wait, I can keep giving little bits of advice from the things that I've encountered so far? I only just got started on actually working on being more than a bump on a log myself. You'll want to find a guild to join - I don't know what your long term goal is, but I was fortunate enough to find one that was dedicated to helping people reach the front-lines, which is my goal. To get out of here, to get home to my wife.

She nodded, considering his words. His last words were thick with emotion. She understood the feeling, in her own way of course. She dared... her voice calm, quiet, and slow. She was sure to articulate each word flawlessly. She didn't want her question to fly in the wind. 

"Reytac, does it ever suffocate you? This world.... our reality?"

Edited 3 hours ago by Cascade

[Reytac 0]

Reytac froze in place, his arm outstretched towards the raven that he had been trying to lure back in when he heard the tentative question. He could tell that she had been - maybe not afraid, but worried, about asking him that, her tone quiet. The brunette took a deep breath, his chest swelling to the point his sides ached, before he exhaled softly, the sound loud enough to be heard. His arm, locked up from the sudden burst of tension, fell back to his side as the raven landed on a branch, watching him cautiously. 

He put his repeated failure out of his mind as he turned in place so he could give Cascade his undivided attention. For a moment or two, he watched her, before nodding once, solemnly. ”It tries to, every single day. Like a thick blanket, pressing down over me, trying to drag me down into the dirt. An anchor around my neck that makes it hard to breathe, hard to get up out of bed when I wake up.” He brought one hand up and rubbed his face tiredly, feeling an echo of that exhaustion. Then he brought his hand down in front of his chest, and stared at it as he curled it into a fist, feeling his bones creak at the sudden pressure. ”And I let it win, for a long, long time, Miss Cascade. Fear, shame, loathing. I feel a weight on me every day, that I fight each time I move. I found a goal to drive myself towards, and I use that as the fire to fuel me to keep going. I don't know if that's the right answer for you - but it's the one that I have to offer.”

 

ID: 255520 CD: 3 Fail. Bird fail. Attempt 3 of 4.

Edited 3 hours ago by Reytac

[Cascade 0]

He froze, she flinched. It seemed as though she had hit a nerve. One deep enough to penetrate the depths of his soul. She wanted the ground to swallow her whole. Knowing that it was impossible, she settled for looking at the ground. Dirt, grass, rocks, bugs, weeds, pebbles, anything else she could focus on rather than the tired eyes that had turned towards her. She wanted an answer, she needed his answer, but it terrified her. What would he think? What would he say?

She lifted her head, hesitant and slow, meeting the mans eyes. He nodded to her once. His reply came. Her eyes widened, her body felt limp. Tears threatened to surface. The words he spoke, honest, brave, and kind. It was the most real thing she had heard in a long time. It was a reality check. The pain she felt was overwhelming, but others felt pain too, just like her. Somehow, despite every doubt she had ever had, the man before her had been able to voice her pain within his own. Words she had needed to hear, things she had been scared to face. It gave her strength. She settled, taking a deep breath. 

"It was everything I needed, thank you." she nodded back to him. "You will make it back to her, I just know it." Her Raven snuggled against her cheek offering comfort. He could feel her shift, they really were intelligent creatures. She smiled softly petting him gently. "Gratias tibi ago, amice carissimi." she was no longer afraid to let her secret go, her words were audible and clear. The words meant for both Reytac and her feathered friend. The Raven cawed once more and purred.

Spoiler

Translation: Thank you, my dear friends.

 

[Reytac 0]

”It's been two years. I hope she still remembers me. But - for now, she is my goal, my drive. Seeing her again, holding her in my arms, tasting her lips on mine - that is what keeps me going. Probably a bit selfish, I know, but - it's what I have.” Reytac shook himself, reaching up with his hand to wipe away the pickle of hot tears that stung at his eyes before he gave the white-haired girl a smile. What she had needed to hear, maybe, was just - that she wasn't alone in hurting. He was sure that some people would love to pretend that they weren't hurting in this place - and maybe there were even some who weren't.

 

All of them had been torn from their lives before this place, and stuck here for years. For those like him, that was painful, devastating, and had broken him. For others, some who might not have had the best life outside, this place might still be an escape. The threat of death? That was something that existed out there, too. Maybe not as immediate as it was here, where a random monster could strike you down if you were unlucky. He shook his head and turned towards the raven again, that was still watching him from the tree branch it had settled on. 

 

”Now, you.” The bird watching him for a moment, then let out a loud CAW - and took off, leaving him staring after it with a deadpan expression. 

”Well, looks like that one didn't appreciate my heartfelt words like you did, Miss Cascade.”

 

ID: 255521 CD:1 Attempt 4/4 Fail. Bird left. Gotta go hunting again. Wheeeee

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Reytac

[Cascade 0]

She offered a smile of her own as the thoughts swirled around in her mind. "It may be selfish, but I think we need to be sometimes, if only a little. Lest we forget the reasons we carry on.... that would be the real tragedy." she sighed, "We are one in the same, you and I. I Wish to return to the real world someday, bury my loved one, and carry on. Perhaps even stop running. Until then, I will fight, until my heart stops beating." she looked afar off, a distant, yet familiar glow in her eyes. 

Reytac had turned his attention back to the gliding avian. After a few taunts, it flew off. Reys tame had failed yet again. What what the issue? It wasn't supposed to be this difficult. She had done a fine job of acquiring a companion on her own, and he was ranked higher than herself! She chuckled at his sentiment. 

"Let me know if I can help you in any way." she crossed her arms and began to walk ahead, gesturing him to keep on keeping on.