[PP-F01] The First Few Lessons for the Weak

[Bael 1]

The plains stretched endlessly before them, an ocean of green swaying beneath the pale afternoon light. Far beyond, the floating fragments of land drifted lazily across the sky, their shadows cutting dark shapes over the grass. It was a peaceful sight, deceptively so.

Bael moved at the head of the group, his hood drawn low, the long poncho swaying with each measured step. The cloth concealed most of his frame, save for the faint metallic glint of the greataxe strapped across his back, a massive, single-edged weapon whose broad glade gleamed like a threat half-spoken. The six players trailing him took comfort in his calm stride, mistaking composure for safety.

"Are you sure this path leads to better spawns?" asked Aliwyvern, the self-appointed second-in-command. His rapier dangled loosely at his side, its tip occasionally brushing the tall grass.

Bael didn't turn. "Trust me," he said evenly. "The outer herds gather near the ridges. You'll gain levels faster there."

Bbunnie, the party's healer, let out a relived laugh. "Finally! I'm almost out of potions. Please tell me these things drop something decent."

"You'll have your share," Bael replied. His tone carried warmth to sound convincing.

They had met by chance outside the Town of Beginnings, or so they believed. Six eager faces, all low-leveled and desperate for guidance. Bael had offered advice, direction, and just enough charisma to pull them into his orbit. It hadn't taken long for them to follow his lead. Hope was a powerful leash.

Ahead, the ground sloped gently toward a widen stretch of open grass. A pond shimmered at its center, reflecting shards of sunlight. Nearby, a small pack of Forest Boars grazed their tusks dull, their movements lazy and predictable. Perfect targets for new players.

"There they are," Bael said, stopping at the crest of the ridge. "Six of you, six of them. Keep tight formation and don't scatter. The moment you panic, you die."

Axon stepped forward, straight sword drawn, shield lifted high. Erickk and FinnLin followed, blades catching the light as they took flanking positions. Meryan and Bbunnie readied their bows, while Aliwyvern twirled his rapier with eager precision.

"Let's do this right," Axon barked, and they surged forward.

The clash broke the calm, grunts, shouts, and the low thunder of hooves tearing through grass. Arrows whistled. Steel rang. Bael watched from the ridge, motionless beneath his hood, the wind tugging gently at his poncho.

They fought better than he expected. The tank held firm, blades cut true, and the archers coordinated their volleys. They bled, staggered, recovered. For a brief moment, Bael almost admired their effort. Almost.

When the last boar fell, the plains fell silent again. The group's cheers filled the emptiness, pure, breathless relief.

Bael's hand found the haft of his greataxe.

"You did well," he said softly. His tone was calm, but his words fell like the first chill of dusk.

Then, almost kindly, he added, "Now for your next lesson."

* * *

Spoiler

Level 1:
HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 6

WC: 492

[Arsine 0]

Quest Objective: Roleplay interacting with Zackariah.
POST ACTION: Eat the Fondue +3 LD

 

She had never bothered with these 'quests' before...

Why should she? Arsine wasn't planning on fighting, on leveling up, on rallying the troops to get out of this place. That wasn't her problem, that was the problem of the doctors and scientists out there, in the real world. Here, she was trapped and so she may as well enjoy it. But lately, all those late nights, decadent foods...it just seemed...boring.

So after asking around she found out about the starter quests, something bout first few lessons? She'd try it, if not just to tick it off a list. After all, she had nothing better to do right now. She had already spoken to some no name NPC - (It was Dorian, Arsine simply did not care to learn it) He mentioned something about giving out money, and forgetting who it was. The woman thought it a tad silly. But it seemed about right, fetch quests and all that.

So she now stood in Zackariahs store, arms crossed, a bored look on her face.

 "Are you here to order something? I’m sorry, but I am currently swamped with orders, and I’m running out of supplies.”Zackariah said from over the counter, he then brightened up, begging the woman to gather materials. Flowers..Herbs.... At this, Arsines ears perked up. This she could do.

"I can do this for you, yes."

In his thanks Zackariah hands her a pot of fondue, and without thinking much of it, the woman consumes it. "Bland." She muttered, dropping the empty bowl to the counter. 

WIth that, Arsine walked out of the store.

 

Now in the fields the woman was crouched down, she could hear the sounds of battle in the distance, players fighting boars. A glance up at the rowdy group of people, and a small nod to anyone who would see her. Arsine wasn't trying to hide after all. She held tight to her basket, checking the base of the tree for any mushrooms.

"Death Cap would be fun, no?" She asked herself.

WC:337

Arsine | HP: 320/320 | EN: 50/50 | DMG: 4 | True Tier 2                                                             

Edited 42 minutes ago by Arsine

[Bael 1]

Their cheers echoed faintly across the plains, carried by the wind like a song already forgotten. Axon's voice rose above the rest, triumphant, "That's how you do it! We're getting the hang of this!"

FinnLin laughed, bending over his blade to wipe away the last traces of pixelated boar's blood. "Man, I actually thought we were dead back there."

"Not with Bael leading us," Meryan said, smiling up the ridge. "You called that one perfectly. Thanks for watching our backs."

Bael didn't answer immediately. The breeze pulled at his hood, rustling the hem of his poncho. His hand rested on the haft of the greataxe strapped across his back, not gripping, merely touching. The way one might touch a familiar companion before a conversation begins.

He descended the ridge, slow and measured. The others turned, still catching their breath, sweat glistening along their brows from the effort of the fight.

"Good work," Bael said, his tone even. "You adapted quickly."

Aliwyvern grinned, sheathing his rapier. "Guess we're not so hopeless after all."

"No," Bael replied, stopping a few paces short of them. "Not hopeless. Just.. untested."

Axon frowned, tilting his head. "Untested? What's that supposed to mean?"

Bael reached back, fingers curling around the greataxe. The weapon came free with a low, metallic whisper. Its edge caught the afternoon light, a cold shimmer against the golden grass.

"Lesson one," he said quietly, "Never turn your back to what you don't understand."

Meryan's bow lowered, confusion flickering into unease. "Bael.. what are yo-"

The greataxe moved.

It wasn't a wild swing, it was clean practiced. The ground split where the blade struck, sending a shock through the earth. Grass and dirt erupted in a burst as the players stumbled back.

"Whoa, woah! Are you serious!?" Erickk shouted, sword flying to his hand.

"Get ready!" Axon barked, shield snapping up instinctively.

Bbunnie's voice cracked, "He's gone mad! He's attacking us!"

Bael's hood shifted slightly as he tilted his head, studying them. There was no fury in his eyes, only curiosity, and something colder. "No," he said softly. "You're just finally seeing what you should've known all along."

He lifted the greataxe again, it's massive blade humming through the air. "This world doesn't need heroes. Only survivors."

The archers took aim. The tank braced. FinnLin stepped forward, teeth clenched. "Then we'll survive you."

Bael smiled faintly, lowering his stance. "Good."

He moved.

The clash of steel shattered the quiet once more.

* * *

WC: 408

[Mari 1]

The groups cheers continued, and Although the woman wasn't involved, she was close enough for her to hear them. The taller hooded figure, Bael had lead them to fight a group of boars, they cheered. Is that something worth celebrating? She didn't quite think so, but - to each their own. Much like the woman would not celebrate the slaying of a few mangy boars - they would not celebrate nor find joy in the simplicity of foraging. Creating something from nothing. Arsine's pace was slow, languid. She was in no rush.

The woman straightened, standing tall amidst the grass, barely obscured by a nearby tree. Green eyes watched as a fight broke out - their leader taking the charge in 'testing' his comrades.

"Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer...." Arsine whispered to herself. The players had turned on each other. Not her clowns, not her circus. She was smart enough to not get involved. To keep to her own task at hand. Although, to be safe - she pulled out a single teleportation crystal. The fields weren't too far from the town, so she had options

"He's gone mad! He's attacking us!"

She could run if the cloaked figure - what was his name? Bael. if Bael approached her, but if she weren't fast enough then a crystal would do just fine. If the man were attacking other players his crystal would become orange - and he'd be barred from safely entering the town.

It baffled her, why they fought. Why not just leave?

"So noisy." She turned, shifting to forage further in the forest. It would be best to not get involved in any of that. 

"WAIT! YOU!"

Arsine paused, a glance over her shoulder, one of the players had spotted her. 

"HELP! PLEASE HELP US!"

"Am not healer." She simply tossed her teleport crystal toward them. "Sorry. I am not a fighter.  I wish you best." Arsine turned away from the fight, pulling her last crystal out of her inventory and holding it in her hand, prepared to use it if need be. She didn't understand why they did not do the same. Picking fights they could not win. For what? To what end? Glory? Bragging rights?

It made no sense.

WC: 369

[Arsine 0]

The groups cheers continued, and Although the woman wasn't involved, she was close enough for her to hear them. The taller hooded figure, Bael had lead them to fight a group of boars, they cheered. Is that something worth celebrating? She didn't quite think so, but - to each their own. Much like the woman would not celebrate the slaying of a few mangy boars - they would not celebrate nor find joy in the simplicity of foraging. Creating something from nothing. Arsine's pace was slow, languid. She was in no rush.

The woman straightened, standing tall amidst the grass, barely obscured by a nearby tree. Green eyes watched as a fight broke out - their leader taking the charge in 'testing' his comrades.

"Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer...." Arsine whispered to herself. The players had turned on each other. Not her clowns, not her circus. She was smart enough to not get involved. To keep to her own task at hand. Although, to be safe - she pulled out a single teleportation crystal. The fields weren't too far from the town, so she had options

"He's gone mad! He's attacking us!"

She could run if the cloaked figure - what was his name? Bael. if Bael approached her, but if she weren't fast enough then a crystal would do just fine. If the man were attacking other players his crystal would become orange - and he'd be barred from safely entering the town.

It baffled her, why they fought. Why not just leave?

"So noisy." She turned, shifting to forage further in the forest. It would be best to not get involved in any of that. 

"WAIT! YOU!"

Arsine paused, a glance over her shoulder, one of the players had spotted her. 

"HELP! PLEASE HELP US!"

"Am not healer." She simply tossed her teleport crystal toward them. "Sorry. I am not a fighter.  I wish you best." Arsine turned away from the fight, pulling her last crystal out of her inventory and holding it in her hand, prepared to use it if need be. She didn't understand why they did not do the same. Picking fights they could not win. For what? To what end? Glory? Bragging rights?

It made no sense.

WC: 369

[Bael 1]

Bael's black eyes followed the glint of the crystal as it tumbled through the grass, catching the light like a tiny, mocking sun. The players froze for a heartbeat, uncertain whether it was a trap or a blessing. Then, almost predictably, Aliwyvern lunged forward, rapier drawn, desperation and hope flickering across his face.

"Wait, don't!" Meryan shouted, loosing a shortbow arrow, but it sailed wide, harmless. Bbunnie's hands trembled on her bowstring as she muttered a barely audible, "He's crazy.."

Aliwyvern's boots crunched against the dry grass as he snatched the crystal triumphantly. Relief painted his features in stark contrast to the terror beginning to ripple through the others. He spun slightly, intending to run back toward the party, unaware that his moment of confidence had painted a target on him.

Bael descended the ridge, each step deliberate, controlled, the edges of his poncho brushing the tall grass. The greataxe rested lightly across his shoulder, almost casual, yet the sheer size of it spoke of overwhelming force. "Careful," he said, his voice low, flat, almost conversational. "Not everything that glitters is safe to hold."

Aliwyvern froze mid-step. His crimson eyes widened as the truth of the warning hit him, too late. Bael swung the greataxe in a single, precise motion. It cut through the air and the small defenses Aliwyvern had hastily raised, striking with an almost surgical finality. The rapier clattered to the grass as Aliwyvern's body crumpled, shock and disbelief frozen across his face.

The remaining players recoiled in horror. Bbunnie staggered back, shortbow shaking in her grip. Axon's shield rattled as he tried to block the wind from the strike, but no barrier could stop it. FinnLin and Erickk's blade wavered in their hands as panic flared. The sudden realization that their companion was dead, and gone so fast, was enough to paralyze them.

Bael straightened, greataxe resting against his shoulder, hood shadowing his black eyes. His voice was calm, detached, almost teacher-like. "Lesson one: greed and haste are enemies. Always."

From a distance, Arsine watched silently, crystal in hand, green eyes narrowing in cautious observation. Her stance remained relaxed, but the subtle tightening of her grip on the crystal betrayed her awareness of Bael's danger. He could have turned his attention to her at any moment, but for now, she remained a silent witness to the carnage.

The plains, once peaceful beneath the sun, now seemed smaller, constricted, as though the earth itself had tightened around the remaining players. Bael's presence was oppressive yet eerily controlled, a shadow moving among the grass, the black eyes of a predator appraising every quiver, every breath, every hesitation. The game was no longer about monsters. It was about survival.

* * *

Spoiler

Aliwyvern etched onto the Monument of Life.

WC: 450

[Arsine 0]

Post action: Gathering Attempt LD15+ To Succeed
ID: 256915 LD: 9 + 3 =12 FAIL

Arsine's eyes locked with the hooded figure for but a mere moment. Neither moved. She couldn't tell what he was thinking, couldn't even see a face. Instead of running, and creating a bigger mess she simply rose her shoulders in a shrug and turned her back on the man, shifting away from the fight. Perhaps that would be enough to show him she was not a threat, would not get involved any further than she already had. Maybe she shouldn't have thrown the crystal their way, a single one would not save them all. It'd only cause more chaos, no? Unless they worked together, but it seemed the group was well beyond that. A glimmer of hope amidst a sea of turmoil, may just be crueler than none at all. But Arsine strongly believed that death here, did not mean death outside. How could it? The entire concept was simply absurd. Perhaps that's why she was less than moved by the screams that continued behind her, the strike of steel against steel, and the cries of anguish. It was all just so noisy.

Now well enough away from the group, she shifted her attention to the ground, near a tree she saw something. "Is death cap!" A small shout of glee as she knelt down. The woman was careful in plucking it from the ground, practiced. Delicate. To make haste was to make waste, and yet ... despite the delicate care she had the thing disintegrated between her fingers. Her smile faded as she sighed, standing. "Is why I dislike mechanics of the game..." she muttered to herself. If she weren't gathering for a quest- the precious fungi would have been hers.

WC: 281

Edited 25 minutes ago by Arsine

[Bael 1]

The screams cut through the plains, sharp and raw. Axon's voice rang above the rest, desperate, trembling. "Aliwyvern! No! Stay with me!" His shield raised instinctively, hands shaking, sword poised, but skill alone could not undo the inevitability Bael brought.

Bael's black eyes scanned the group with detached precision. Every instinct, every flinch, every hesitation was noted. He didn't speak; he didn't need to. He simply moved, greataxe swinging in a single, overwhelming arc that shattered the ground and sent Axon stumbing backward.

FinnLin adn Erickk surged together, blades raised with coordinated hope. They struck, angles calculated, but Bael was already where they thought he wasn't. The greataxe met their efforts with forceful blocks and crushing steps, pushing them apart, staggering them, showing with brutal clarity the futility of their defiance. Each swing of the massive weapon forced them back a step, then another, and their confidence cracked with every clang.

"Impossible!" Erickk shouted, stepping back, blood streaking his forearm where Bael's swing grazed him. FinnLin's knees buckled, long sword trembling in his grip as he tried to hold a line with his friend.

Meryan froze mid-draw, bowstring taut, green eyes wide with disbelief. Bbunnie, behind her, clenched her teeth and whsipered an apology, duckign behind a patch of high grass. "I'm sorry.. I can't help," she murmured, before sprinting away from the chaos, teleportation crystal ready in her hand.

Bael turned just slightly, noting the fleeing archer. His voice carried, calm and deliberate, cutting through the panic. "Run, if you wish. Some lessons are learned through survival, others through failure."

Axon cried out again, attempting to rally the group. "Stay together! Don't let hi-"

But the words never landed, Bael's greataxe swung again, narrowly missing Axon's shoulder as the tank dove backward. FinnLin and Erickk attempted another coordinated strike, blades meeting with a clang against the immense edge of the weapon. The force sent both staggering. Every step, every swing, every block, Bael was untouchable, slow, deliberate, overwhelming.

The plains echoed with the chaos of a dozen desperate movements: cries, metal against metal, the stamp of boots on grass, and the faint shuffle of Bbunnie's retreat. Bael didn't pursue her. Not yet. The lesson here was already in motion.

He paused for a heartbeat, greataxe resting across his shoulder, black eyes sweeping the group. "Fear is not your enemy," he said quietly. "Complacency is. And you.. You were all far too comfortable."

Every player still on the field felt it, the oppressive weight of inevitability pressing down, and the sense that their survival had already been measured.. and found lacking.

* * *

WC: 431

[Arsine 0]

Post action: Gathering Attempt LD15+ To Succeed
ID:

 

Arsine turned to look elsewhere but a small pink haired woman bumped into her, she was trembling, crying. "P-Please..." She begged, tugging on Arsines clothes. "H-H-He....I...my friends..." Arsine put a hand on the small womans shoulder and pushed her away. "Calm. Cannot understand when you talk like that."

BBunnie sniffed, and pointed behind her. "M-My friends! They're being attacked you gotta help them! please!"

"And why am I helping, and not you?" Arsine asked. She didn't mean to sound callous, she simply just did not feel the same urgency the other player had. Arsine then pointed at the womans bow. "You have weapon. Were you not celebrating your victory over boars earlier? I am not fighter. If you run, so be it. But do not expect others to fight in your place."

BBunnie didn't seem to like that answer, tiny pink brows furrowed at Arsine, and she shouted at her, angry, hurt and scared. "You'd just let them DIE?" she screamed. And the irony was not lost on Arsine. The woman had done just that, but she also understood the fear. So didn't point it out. Instead  Arsine waved the woman off with a gesture of her hand. "Go Malyshonok. To safety of town. Tell guards, tell those stronger than me."