[PP-F5] <<The Traveler>> Search for the Dead Sea Tupperware

[Baldur 0]

 

The light around Baldur and Tyger resolved into the Fifth Floor. He had avoided this floor because... well... sand. It gets EVERYWHERE, even in a video game. The village of Armadillo was appropriately named, since all of its buildings were made of stone and mud and shaped to look like Armadillos with no heads or tails. That is to say they were domed. Almost Tatooine like. The light must have been raised on this level, because while the floor above them still had that ominous presence, the sun seemed hotter here. It beat down heavier upon him, and the air was drying to the tongue with swirls of sand spinning about the town. He had heard there were even sandstorms, woah to any player who found themselves caught in it. It made him feel much better that he and Tyger had Teleportation Crystals.

 

---

 

((background music))

 

 

 

[Tyger 0]

ID 8357, CD 9

 

"I think the only one that enjoys this right now is Icarus."

 

The familiar rooted around in the sand, sniffing here and there. It was amazing to Tyger that a floor managed to be messier than Icarus, but here she was, flabbergasted. Sand was getting everywhere. She'd need to go home and wash everything -twice- to make sure all the sand got out of her armor and clothing. Even her fur cloak (which she quickly de-equipped, because it's hot enough as it is) was full of sand.

 

"Why are we here again?"

 

Tyger grumbled to Baldur, ruffling out her hair to shake some of the wandering sand out. 

 

"Heavy armor user no like heat. Heavy armor user hot."

[Baldur 0]

Baldur waggled his eyebrows at her and gave her a patronizing look, "Yes, yes she is."

He smile was teasing and playful at the same time, but after a moment he gave in to answering her more pertinent question as he swiped downward and opened up his quest log.

 

"I spoke with an NPC who said we needed to recover her goods. But they're at the far side of the floor. From what the info broker says, because the terrain is so difficult and seems to change, it can take people a day or two to complete the quest. So make sure you have your bread and water."
 

He pressed the button in his menu to share the quest with her.

 

"it's got a timer of 48 hours, but while it may sound annoying, the skill it grants is really good."

[Tyger 0]

ID 8359, CD 1

 

Icarus shuffled along beside Tyger, hide completely unphased by the heat and sand. 

 

"I say she goes and gets her own damn stuff, considering she's an NPC."

 

Tyger growled to herself, unequipping the things she didn't need to go through the desert. Good thing she still had some bread left over from what Icarus ate. And water, too. They could feed them the bottles, since he seemed to like to melt down the plastic before swallowing his concoction.

 

"But we're better than that... Let's find her stuff in this stupid desert..."

 

Defeated, Tyger just followed Baldur, unenthused with the entire idea of trekking the desert for two days. But, the way Icarus jumped around in the sand was cute enough to probably make it kind of worth it. 

 

"What's the skill?"

 

Tyger - 21/22

[Baldur 0]

"<<Survival>>" 

 

Baldur removed his haori, and then wrapped it around his head.

 

"It boosts our health and lets us survive inhospitable regions." He voice was muffled as he finished wrapping the coat around his head, "I said, like the one we're about to go into."

 

He headed off into the desert. It all looked the same to him, so the best bet was to keep a close eye on their map to make sure they were walking in a straight line. He didn't know where the cargo was, but he knew the region it was in. Once there, they'd have to search for it.

 

Unfortunately, once they left the town, the sand wasn't compacted as well and Baldur's feet sank in much deeper, making each step a labor. He sighed in resignation and then noticed Icarus just prancing around on top of the sand, having the time of his life.

[Tyger 0]

ID 8360, CD 1

 

With all the heavy gear Tyger was wearing, it was difficult to go through the sand without sinking. Her shield helped keep sand off of her face, but that was only if she was willing to hold it up in front of her as she sludged through the sand. After a while, she gave up and pulled her fur back out, wrapping it around her mouth and nose to keep the sand down.

 

"Not feeling the worth right now. Why couldn't it be like, a beach floor?"

 

Tyger wasn't in the mood to deal with all of this. Icarus, however, was padding along happily. The sand his paws touched turned black when he lifted his foot.

 

"Well, if the sand quits flying around, we have our trail of breadcrumbs..."

 

She joked, but her heart just wasn't in it. 

 

... Are we there yet?"

 

Her lips curled into a small smile, the devious one when she knew she was on the verge of making Baldur laugh.

 

"48 hours though...."

 

It felt like a lifetime. Honestly, it could be the end of a lifetime, if they didn't be careful.

 

Tyger- 20/22

[Baldur 0]

Baldur frowned at Icarus playing happily in the sand.

 

"Honey..." He called to her over his shoulder.

 

"It's really hard to be grumpy when your put is having the time of his life and looking way too damn cute"

 

He sighed and kept trudging on, when suddenly they seemed to cross a barrier, and the sun and the sand got even worse.

 

[iD: 8354 CD: 10] ((These need to be rolled every turn now. On a CD roll of 1, you take 1 DMG. 3 Rounds out of combat with no dmg taken regains 5 HP)

 

Baldur was alerted that something was wrong when the tiny but furious little Icarus suddenly knelt down like he was going to pounce on something, this little sharp tail going taunt. Baldur couldn't see much, but he drew Tsurugi just the same.

 

"What is it little guy?"

 

Then Baldur could see it. A row of what looked like shark fins moving through the sand. Gripping his katana tightly in both hands, he readied himself.

 

"Incoming!" He called to Tyger when suddenly a giant sand... creature lunged at him. He tried to move out of the way, but the sand was making him slow and the claws raked at his shoulder.

 

---

 

[iD: 8354 BD: 2 CD: 10 MD: 7]

 

<<Sand Lizard>> Hits Baldur for 1 DMG

<<Baldur>> Misses but regens 1 HP due to <<Battle Healing>>

<<Tyger>>

 

 

 

<<Sand Lizard>> 13/13 HP

<<Baldur>> 22/22 HP

<<Tyger>> 20/22 HP

[Tyger 0]

"Yeah, he's enjoying it."

 

Tyger liked watching the little fella romp around, until of course, the sand lizard attacked. Gosh darn lizards.

 

"Icarus, to me!"

 

The familiar ran to her side in an instant, and Tyger drug her finger across one of his ridges, getting the dust onto her hands. She then smeared her cheeks with it. The reflection from her glasses and pale skin, mixed with the hot sun... the dust would help with her accuracy. It was like the paint or stickers used when football players were under all the lights... With glasses as thick as Tyger's, this would work well. Icarus was a godsend, as always.

 

The lizard didn't seem to be too terribly strong. She fought a 25/25 mob on the 9th floor. She could take this easy. Her sword razed the side of the lizard when she attacked it, striking a critical on the first turn. 

 

"Not bad... Not bad at all..."

 

[iD: 8364 BD:9 CD:2 MD:4 LD:12]

 

<<Sand Lizard>> 

<<Baldur>> 

<<Tyger>> Hits for 7 damage

 

<<Sand Lizard>> 6/13 HP

<<Baldur>> 22/22 HP

<<Tyger>> 20/22 HP

[Baldur 0]

The lizard, after clawing him and being hit by Tyger, crashed back into the sand and disappeared. Baldur looked around, but with how much the sand was blowing, and the bright sun reflecting off of it, it was difficult to track the creatures movements. For a moment, Baldur was completely lost, then he saw Icarus face a new direction and start growling. This time Baldur didn't hesitate. He spun in the direction the creature was coming, towards Tyger now. Suddenly the <<Sand Lizard>> leaped out of the sand and it looked like Tyger was going to be able to deflect the blow, but its spiked tail lashed around and grazed her. The blow from her shield seemed to shock the creature as it crashed sideways into the sand, giving Baldur the opportunity to attack it.

 

Baldur's katana bit into the neck of the lizards, and while there should have been sparks, they blended in with the sand and he could only tell it disappeared when its body shattered into nothingness.

 

"Well that was fun." Baldur said as he looked back at Tyger. He wanted to put the blade away, but sand was blowing everywhere and he didn't want to damage the blade, so instead he rested it on his shoulder and pressed forward.

 

---

 

[iD: 8369 BD: 7 CD: 8 LD: 1 MD: 8]

 

<<Sand Lizard>> Hits Tyger for 1 DMG

<<Sand Lizard>> Takes 2 DMG from Tyger's Thorns

<<Baldur>> Hits for  7 DMG

 

 

<<Sand Lizard>> 0/13 HP - drops 1 mat

<<Baldur>> 22/22 HP

<<Tyger>> 19/22 HP

[Tyger 0]

Baldur finished off the lizard, and the sweat was already messing with the coal dust she had under her eyes. With a quick swipe of her sleeve, Tyger removed it and reapplied. 

 

"This sand... it's seriously starting to hurt."

 

Tyger would whine, but there were some times she'd whine and that's when you knew she really meant it. The desert was taking a huge physical toll on her, and it was showing. After the fight with the lizard, even though it was quick, she was exhausted and still losing HP. The sand bit at her, horribly.

 

"Can... Can we just rest for a moment..."

 

Tyger put her hands on her knees and held herself up that way. Icarus sat beside her, worried.

 

ID 8374, CD 1

 

Tyger - 18/22

[Baldur 0]

Baldur looked around from where they were at, and then nodded. It seemed like her HP bar wasn't going up, and that was odd. Were ginger's weak to the desert? He guessed so. Moving around behind her, he stood between her and the sun, letting his shadow give her what ease it could.

 

He wanted to ask her if she was okay, but he could see that. He wanted to ask her if he could do anything, but he knew there wasn't. He knew she struggled to have to ask for help, and always worked hard to never be in that position, so he kept quiet about it.

 

"I don't know what I'd do without this map. We'd be totally lost. It looks the same in all directions."

 

 

[iD: CD3]

[Tyger 0]

ID 8383, CD 9

 

The shadow from Baldur seemed to help a little bit, and Icarus leaned against her leg to keep her up, even though he wasn't large enough to really make any difference.

 

"This is why... I don't go... swimming often... or to the beach... The heat, man."

 

Gingers must really hate that heat. 

 

"And all this armor, and shield..."

 

With the sun beaming down on her, she wanted to just crawl into a hole and let the lady find her own damn cargo. But, it couldn't be helped. The quest would help with this in the future, too.

 

"That skill better be worth all this... I hate this right now."

 

She managed a dry laugh.

[Baldur 0]

Baldur smiled down at Tyger from where he stood behind her.

 

"Yea, this quest is kinda sucky, but it looked like the sun won't be up for much longer. I don't know if that means its about to get really cold or not."

 

He smiled down at Icarus as the little guy leaned against her leg. "Do you see any Ents walking around we could turn into firewood?"

 

He laughed softly, hoping the memory of their fire on the snowy fourth floor would help her.

 

---

 

[iD: 8385 CD: 3]

[Tyger 0]

ID 8386, CD 5

 

"I can deal with cold. I have Mr. Soot over there and you to help keep me warm. Fires won't be an issue to start anymore, at least. I'll just cuddle up to you guys."

 

Her idea helped her trek through the sand a bit faster. When she had something to work towards, it felt easier to pull her legs from the death trap below her.

 

"We need to find somewhere to camp soon, though. Out of the way of all of this sand blowing. I'm not sure which way to go though."

 

The wind didn't blow as hard, so she fell back to walk alongside Baldur for the time being, so that she wasn't leading where they go. She just figured it'd be beneficial to camp out soon. And, hopefully, somewhere safe. Icarus could help warn them of any danger, but being out of the sand blasts would make this go a bit quicker.

[Baldur 0]

Baldur held a hand up to shade his eyes as he looked around. It was difficult to see anything, and the heat haze in the distance made anything beyond a few hundred yards almost impossible to discern.

 

"There's gotta be better place around here to rest. I'd be worried about us getting buried in the sand if we camped here. Let's keep walking a waze and see if we can find somewhere better."

 

The two of them walked for what seemed like an eternity, but that was just due to the sucking of the sand they were walking on.

 

[iD: 8387 CD 8]

 

When the night slowly began to change colors, Baldur was relieved to see a bastion ahead of them. It was a small oasis, no wider than Baldur was tall, and the water there was probably only a foot deep, but the greenery growing there and the water would make the ground more solid, and for a much better camping place.

 

"Oh thank god." Baldur sighed as they trudged the last few steps to the water. Baldur took a handful and splashed it on his face and then took out one of his bottles of water and drank, quenching his thirst.

 

---

 

-1 Water

[Tyger 0]

ID 8506, CD 10 (Damn, shoulda done my crafts first, bah)

 

The hours seemed to grow into eachother, and the scenery started to look familiar as Tyger used one of her water bottles to splash across her face. Her skin tingled, but after a moment or two, her skin was dry again as if nothing had ever happened. As the temperature fell with the Sun, it became a bit more bearable. The task at hand was merely to follow Baldur. He'd get them through this quest, and to wherever they needed to go. She'd be the meat shield, if she could survive the heat. To do that, she just needed to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Stupid quest...

 

Baldur's pace picked up as they reached something. An oasis of sorts? Nothing large, but something to definitely help with the heat and sand. Baldur drank water, so Tyger figured that'd probably be a good idea too. Icarus got a bottle as well, although he took just as fine to eating some of the greenery. Either way, he got water too. AFter drinking it, Tyger felt a bit better, but she wasn't about to get up from this spot. Leaning on Baldur, she closed her eyes.

 

"Too tired to move, Icarus can help with fire or something. Or not one at all, but sleep time now."

 

Her sleepy yawn was probably contagious. Icarus gave a yawn and licked his teeth, picking a plastic piece from it. Tyger started to look better almost immediately from the water and time off her feet. After a night's sleep, she'd be perfect.

 

Tyger gains +5 Hp (3rd turn out of combat)

Tyger - 22/22

[Baldur 0]

Baldur smiled and wrapped one arm around Tyger before pulling the haori off of his head and wrapping it over the two of them instead. He eyed Icarus, since if the creature got anywhere near them his black soot would be all over Baldur's blue and white jacket. Oh well, there was nothing he could do about it. Since there was no wood for them to burn, it would just be the three of them to keep each other warm tonight. Baldur leaned his head against Tyger and started to drift off, just as Icarus climbed on top of them and curled up in the largest spot of white he could find on Baldur's haori.

 

[iD: 8528 CD: 5]

 

The sun came early the next morning, creeping up over the edge of the floor and cresting the dunes. It was really quite striking. Baldur found that the two of them had still been covered in a sheen of sand which the wind had carried in. He gently grabbed Tyger by the shoulder and rubbed it until she woke up.

 

"Hey... it's a good morning beautiful day."

[Tyger 0]

ID 8543, CD 12 (Dammit.)

 

When Baldur started to wake her up, she groaned and opened her eyes slowly. She had to rub them, due to the little bit of sand that had blown in on them the night previous, following buy standing up and shaking everything off of her the best she could. What she really wanted was a nice, cool shower and to take off this armor, but waking up in the middle of the desert with your boyfriend and your dragon was just another typical day in SAO, right?

 

"Good morning, handsome."

 

She didn't sound as weak as she had the day before, but the fatigue was there. She seemed more focused today, instead of aimlessly plodding behind Baldur like a living meat shield. 

 

"How close are we to that stuff youw ere talking about? What did they even leave in the desert?"

 

She rubbed Icarus on his cheeks, and then reapplied the coal dust to her face. It was another nice, bright, hot, smoldering day.

 

Tyger 22/22

[Baldur 0]

[iD: 8548 CD: 3]

 

Baldur yawned and stretched as Tyger got up. He looked down at where Icarus had curled up on his coat, but the little guy looked so cute Baldur couldn't be mad at him, he could barely bring himself to wake Icarus up. As Tyger rose, however, Icarus' head immediately came up and became alert, jumping down to trail her around the small oasis. Baldur pulled out some of his bread and began to eat as well. It wasn't the greatest food, but it wasn't bad either. The worst thing was not sating the hunger, because that sensation could get annoying and sometimes downright painful, but it was so precise you could almost tell the time by it.

 

"We should be in the area right now, she mentioned finding an Oasis. So keep your eyes peeled for some crates full of..." Baldur swiped his hand down and pulled up his quest tracker, "The Famous Dead Sea Tupperware." He tried to hold back a smile and failed. "I must be reading that wrong." His blue eyes danced with mirth as he got up and stretched once again. It wasn't as satisfying as in the real world, it was mostly done out of habbit.

[Tyger 0]

... 

 

Tupperware?

 

...

 

They were scouring this desert, drowning in sand and heat, wind and ridiculous conditions for tupperware?!

 

Snarling, Tyger scurried around the Oasis, keeping an eye out for anything in the sand. Behind the oasis, there was a little notification. When she crouched down, it asked if she wanted to dig. Icarus walked to her side, and as Tyger used her hands to dig around, Icarus did as well. Oddly enough, it was cute, but sped up the process two-fold. She got the item, and sent a dead glare to Baldur. 

 

"Bitch better hope she dies from that sickness, or i'mma kill her myself."

 

She wouldn't really, and she hoped the NPC wasn't dead, but still. Tupperware. Her stomach growled, but she decided to wait until she'd gotten out of this desert to eat. 

 

"We're going back now."

 

Fuming, Tyger walked, only sporting a small smirk. Tupperware... Jesus Christ.