[SP-F1] »Earning A Living« (Complete)

[Aquila 0]

Aquila's sword glows a bright crimson as he rolls into a 5-hit combo of mixed slashes and stabs. He thought it had a fitting name, Bloodletter. He'd been on the road for a while. The quest was listed as easy, but it made no mention of just how far away this tribe of kobolds was. He'd been walking for almost half an hour before he'd started spotting the mobs walking around.

 

He had accepted a task from an old little blacksmith NPC in the trade district, he needed to salvage six kobold-made weapons. The NPC had elaborated that while the work of kobolds was nothing to write home about, they had recently come to start using a unique type of iron, and he wanted some to test out its qualities. If Aquila brought him 6 of their weapons he would have enough metal to teach Aquila the smithing process.

 

Oh right, he was in the middle of swinging at a kobold.

 

14198 1 2 7 10 Aquila 2015-04-05 11:46:03

 

Scratch that, he was in the middle of tripping in the middle of his combo and falling face first into the dirt, giving the kobold an opening to plunge a sword repeatedly into his spine.

 

»Kobold dealt 3 damage. ~Crit!~«

»Aquila: 2/5 HP«

[Aquila 0]

Aquila quickly pushes up to his feet, body checking the kobold off of him. He carefully weighed his options, he had just spent half an hour walking out here only to drop his sword the very first time he uses it and get stabbed repeatedly in the spine. Perhaps this game wasn't as balanced as he thought...

 

He quickly moves out of aggro range of the kobold, which goes back to walking randomly around the field. He drops his sword on the ground and roughly plops down in the grass next to it, crossing his legs. It didn't seem like there were any other real options besides charge directly at the enemy and swing away until one of you dies. He couldn't seek help from higher level players, as that would just cause the kobolds to scale up to match them, spelling certain death for himself. Maybe he just needed to get lucky, the exact opposite of what he just experienced. He groans as he waits impatiently for his out-of-combat HP regeneration to kick in.

 

»Aquila: 3/5 HP«

[Aquila 0]

It was mid afternoon, a nice day out. Aquila sat on a hill eating a loaf of bread and washing it down with some water. It was no king's meal, but it did the job of filling him up.

 

»Bread Consumed«

»Water Consumed«

 

»Aquila: 5/5 HP«

 

His hunger sated, he gets back to his feet, grabbing his sword in the process. You'd think a man of his size would be able to take a hit a little better, but sadly his size has no impact on the game mechanics. He gives his sword a couple of test swings, as well as shifting his weight around a bit. He wasn't going to let some stupid little kobold kick his ass a second time. With heavy steps and a look of grim determination on his face he holds his sword out, ready to swing as he approaches the kobold very purposefully.

[Aquila 0]

Bloodletter would live up to its name, this kobold's blood would be shed. It was personal now. He made sure to target the very same one that had stabbed him earlier. With a fierce, bestial roar he raises his sword up and charges headlong into the kobold, Bloodletter guiding his blade.

 

14203 9 3 18 3 Aquila 2015-04-05 12:44:00

 

That poor kobold didn't stand a chance. He had a fire in his belly now. Each strike spewed a splattering of red pixels which quickly dissolved in the air, but still provided the same effect as blood. By the time he ceased his attack there was nothing left of it, the only sign it was ever there being the loot window that popped up.

 

»Aquila dealt 3 damage.~Crit!~«

»Kobold: 0/3 HP«

»Monster Defeated«

 

»Loot Obtained«

»x1« Kobold Weaponry

»x1« Basic Heavy Armour

 

He raised an eyebrow at the armour. At least he won't have to buy any when he levels up. He had planned on putting his next skill points into armour anyway. He files it away in his inventory and closes the interface. He had five more to go, and if things kept on like this without any more blunders he should back in time for dinner. It was weird when you thought about it, eating inside a virtual game. If the time in the game is 1 to 1 with time in the real world then he must've been found and taken to a hospital by now, right? He's probably lost all his muscle mass by now...

 

He tightens his grip on his sword. Right, kobolds that need killing. Setting his sights on the next nearest kobold he quickly sizes it up. It was no bigger than the one he just killed, and it looked to be using much the same type of weapon. He shouldn't have any problem.

[Aquila 0]

He pushes off with his feet, kicking up some dirt as he shifts his mass forward to charge the second kobold. He flips his sword around to a reverse grip and charges his other sword skill, Dizzying Slash. It consisted of a horizontal slash with a reverse grip as you run past the target, flipping the sword around into a normal grip to stab three times into the enemy's rear.

 

14204 2 10 8 2 Aquila 2015-04-05 13:04:35

 

So far though, it's not as effective as Bloodletter. He misjudged the height of the kobold and swung over its head. At least the kobold seemed startled, shrieking as it fumbled with its sword to face the enemy that had gone blasting past it with all the grace of a freight train.

[Aquila 0]

Aquila smiled as the little reptilian creature seemed to shrink even more under his towering presence. He wasn't going to miss again. Bloodletter flowed into his blade as it flew towards the kobold's tiny little head.

 

14205 10 9 14 7 Aquila 2015-04-05 13:09:10

 

Like before, the creature hardly stood a chance, crumbling before his assault before it even had a chance to raise its sword. Two down, four to go.

 

»Aquila dealt 4 damage.~Crit!~«

»Kobold: -1/3 HP«

»Monster Defeated«

 

»Loot Obtained«

»x1« Kobold Weaponry

»x15« Col

 

Some part of him wished that these things left remains, so he had something to step on when he was finished with them. So far Bloodletter was 2/3, compared to Dizzying Slash's 0/1. Those are some pretty bad results. He figures he needs to even out the data. Setting his sights on kobold three, he flips his sword around into a reverse grip.

[Aquila 0]

His blade glows as it flies towards kobold #3. He hopes that he's compensated for their height enough. This one surely won't see what hit it.

 

14213 1 8 6 1 Aquila 2015-04-05 13:21:49

 

What happened next is something Aquila will surely tell for weeks to come. This particular kobold had been swinging its sword lackadaisically as Aquila bore down on it, and it just so happens that it caught his sword right as he came in for the kill. He wasn't expecting metal to clash as it had, and apparently neither did the kobold. They both lost their grips on their weapons, what followed was a lot of comedic fumbling as they both scrambled to rearm themselves. In the end they each ended up with the other's weapon.

[Aquila 0]

Aquila didn't think it would impact him much, a sword was a sword and apparently this Kobold Arming Sword was perfectly able to activate his sword skills, so he wasted no time in redoubling his assault on the Kobold, who took his new, shinier weapon in stride.

 

14214 6 11 3 10 Aquila 2015-04-05 13:26:27

 

He got a few good strikes in on the Kobold, having to adjust to the new weight distribution on the fly.

 

»Aquila dealt 2 damage.«

»Kobold: 1/3 HP«

 

The kobold, however, seemed to enjoy its new sword as it utilized its small size to worm its way between his legs and crawl up his back, plunging Aquila's own sword into his back and dragging it all the way down.

 

»Kobold dealt 3 damage. ~Crit!~«

»Aquila: 2/5 HP«

[Aquila 0]

Aquila grimaced as not only had the kobold gotten the best of him, but it had also taken his own weapon! He yells out in rage as he quickly turns on his heels to swipe at the kobold now behind him, enraged that such a simple creature could so thoroughly trash on him.

 

14215 2 9 6 8 Aquila 2015-04-05 13:32:31

 

In his anger his swing goes high again. The kobold almost seems to laugh as it ducks under the swing to slash across Aquila's legs.

 

»Kobold dealt 1 damage.«

»Aquila: 1/5 HP«

 

Aquila quickly reigns in his anger as his health bar drops critically low. He was on the brink of death, from his own sword no less! He quickly breaks off, fleeing from the now madly laughing kobold.

 

»Loot Obtained«

»x1« Kobold Arming Sword

 

»Loot Lost«

»x1« Basic Straight Sword

 

He returns to his previous overlook, angrily stabbing the kobold's sword into the dirt. Maybe he won't tell people about this. Ever. For as long as he lives.

 

 

~»Level Up!«~

+2 HP Max

[Aquila 0]

Aquila fumes as he savagely tears in to even more of his food supplies, he wasn't even tasting it any more. Just thinking about it made him angry! Why couldn't he keep a good grip on his sword!? That was fighting 101! And now that kobold has his sword! I mean sure it was just the starting sword, but compared to the piece of scrap he ended up with? That kobold is probably the wealthiest one in his tribe now!

 

»Bread Consumed«

»Water Consumed«

 

»Aquila: 6/7 HP«

 

At this rate he was going to spend more time stuffing his face than he was fighting! At least he knew what to kill first. Even now he could still see that kobold in the distance, sunlight catching his blade brilliantly as it paced back and forth along its programmed route. After a solid 10 minutes of him just sitting on a hill glaring at that smug little...

 

Alright, this wasn't working. He shouldn't be this mad at what was equivalent to a cockroach. He would simply take this kobold's sword and shove it so far up its...

 

This really wasn't working. He needed to kill this thing.

 

Now.

 

He yanks the arming sword out of the ground and launches into a full sprint at that kobold. Technically he already had the quest item from it, but he needed to actually turn in this quest item. Which is why needed his sword back.

[Aquila 0]

He let loose his most fierce battle cry to date. He wasn't going to let a vermin steal his only weapon, no matter how bad it was! Raising the kobold sword high above his head he drops it down in a haphazard array of slashes, aiming to turn the kobold into mincemeat.

 

14216 1 11 8 3 Aquila 2015-04-05 13:52:52

 

Swoosh.

 

That was the sound of not only him missing his attack, but the kobold's sword going flying out of what he's steadily starting to doubt is his vice-like grip.

 

At least the kobold was too busy rolling in the dirt laughing to attack him.

[Aquila 0]

He groans in annoyance as he goes to retrieve the blade, conceding initiative to the kobold in the process. After a hearty laugh the kobold sobers up, getting to its feet and wiping a tear out of its eye. Spotting a prime opportunity, it charges at Aquila while his back is turned to retrieve the dropped sword.

 

14218 1 10 15 5 Aquila 2015-04-05 13:57:28

 

Aquila is so bad in fact that he inadvertently walks into the kobold's swing, which was supposed to miss. He hisses in perceived pain as his blade once again sinks into his flesh.

 

»Kobold dealt 1 damage.«

»Aquila: 5/7 HP«

[Aquila 0]

He readies his blade as he turns around just in time to face the kobold's next strike, preparing to return the favour. He needed to find a way to regain the initiative. His back still stung from imagined pain as the kobold jumps forward wildly to swing his sword.

 

14219 8 3 1 5 Aquila 2015-04-05 14:01:59

 

He just barely manages to push the kobold's sword off its path with his own sword. He takes a step forward and bashes the kobold in the skull with the pommel. It wasn't quite enough to kill the little beast, but it definitely looked worse for wear, and a lot more angry.

 

»Aquila dealt 2 damage.«

»Kobold: 1/3 HP«

[Aquila 0]

The kobold whined a bit as it rubbed its head with its free claw. That pommel strike definitely rattled it. But it still retained the initiative, lowering its sword to point the tip at Aquila. It looked like it wanted to jab it right into his ribs. He reversed the grip on the kobold sword to do it the favour of meeting it halfway. He kicks up some dirt as he rushes in to meet it.

 

14220 10 11 6 10 Aquila 2015-04-05 14:04:58

 

What happened next was a blur. He could've sworn that he was struck down by that cocky kobold... but wait, that's right! He leveled up in the middle of all of this! He grunts as his own sword is impaled in his shoulder, thankfully the kobold was currently lying in the dirt, its body a few feet away from its head.

 

»Kobold dealt 3 damage.~Crit!~«

»Aquila: 2/7 HP«

 

»Aquila dealt 4 damage.~Crit!~«

»Kobold: -3/3 HP«

»Monster Defeated«

 

»Loot Obtained«

»x1« Kobold Weaponry

»x1« Basic Straight Sword

 

»Loot Lost«

»x1« Kobold Arming Sword

 

With a grunt, he quickly yanks his sword out of his shoulder to prevent any more damage. Oddly enough the borrowed kobold sword had automatically changed itself from a usable weapon to a quest item as soon as he had dealt the killing blow.

[Aquila 0]

Aquila holds the sword up in front of his face as he sits on the same grassy knoll he'd been returning to. He takes a bite of bread as he stares into the reflective metal. This blade had actually done a better job shedding his own blood so far. He thinks back to that fight -actually two fights- with that kobold. Not only did he drop his sword like an idiot, that kobold had beat him within an inch of his life not once, but twice with it! He didn't think the NPCs were capable of mocking laughter. Guess he proved that wrong.

 

»Bread Consumed«

»Water Consumed«

 

»Aquila: 4/7 HP«

 

Say what you will, but getting virtually stabbed sure works up an appetite. He breaks open another loaf of bread, only interrupting his messy bites long enough to wash it all down with some water. Today was a good day for a picnic, oddly enough. The sun was high in the sky, the birds were singing, there was a gentle breeze. It was a shame he still had three more kobolds to go.

 

»Bread Consumed«

»Water Consumed«

 

»Aquila: 7/7 HP«

 

With a grunt he gets to his feet, grabbing his sword along the way. He cups his hand over his eyes, squinting as he spots his next target.

[Aquila 0]

He huffs as he jogs down the hill, this next kobold was quite a fair distance away, for some reason. He was glad he couldn't work up a sweat, or even really get fatigued. It was strange, he only felt fatigue because his mind was telling him that running like this in the midday sun should make him tired, but if he really focuses on it, he realizes that he actually feels fine. I guess that's just one of the oddities of virtual reality.

 

~»Level Up!«~

+2 HP Max

 

Huh, he leveled up? I guess jogging contributes to his xp. He brings up his menu, noticing his slightly larger health bar. Well, this should make things easier at least.

[Aquila 0]

He holds his sword in a reverse grip, charging up Dizzying Strike as he slashes at the unaware kobold.

 

14269 4 1 2 9 Aquila 2015-04-06 08:05:29

 

Damn, that kobold was a good actor. He had thought he had the upper hand, oh how wrong he was. As soon as he slashes the kobold jumped over his blade. It landed to his side and stabbed at his exposed ribs, quickly backing up to prepare for the counterattack. These kobolds are crafty little vermin, maybe he should've gone after boars instead.

 

»Kobold dealt 2 damage.~Crit!~«

»Aquila: 7/9 HP«

[Aquila 0]

He frowns as he flips the sword around. He'd gotten a new skill at level 3, it was time to see if it was anything to write home about. The skill menu had called it "Pommel Strike". It was apparently a bash with the pommel followed up by three quick slashes while the enemy was dazed.

 

14270 10 8 17 6 Aquila 2015-04-06 08:11:28

 

He closes the distance much faster than the kobold had anticipated. The little thing shrieks in surprise as its savagely struck across the head and then mercilessly cut. It gets knocked back, but not without getting in an annoying little cut to his leg. The kobold rubs its broken snout and snarls.

 

»Aquila dealt 4 damage.~Crit!~«

»Kobold: 1/5 HP«

 

»Kobold dealt 1 damage.«

»Aquila: 6/9 HP«

[Aquila 0]

Aquila wastes no time in following up, he knew the kobold was on its last leg. His blade glows as Bloodletter yearns for more.

 

14272 4 2 10 8 Aquila 2015-04-06 08:16:43

 

Perhaps he was a bit too eager, or perhaps he was fooled by this sneaky little Kobold's acting again. As soon as he had gotten close the kobold dropped it's injured facade to avoid the strike and deliver another taunting cut to his leg. These vermin were really started to get on his nerves. Deep breaths. They were just kobolds, don't let them get a rise out of you.

 

»Kobold dealt 1 damage.«

»Aquila: 5/9 HP«

[Aquila 0]

He takes a calming breath as he continues his assault on the kobold. He only needed to hit it once. Forgoing any particular sword skill he swings his sword overhead, feinting at the last second to turn it into a stab.

 

14273 1 9 8 3 Aquila 2015-04-06 08:25:48

 

He really needs to invest in a locked gauntlet or like, a wrist strap or something for his sword because this was getting ridiculous. When he had gone to feint, his sword had slipped right out of his hand. Luckily he had caught it again in the ensuing spaghetti match and managed to bunce the kobold away. Seriously. He only needed to his this thing once. These game algorithms sure are a pain.