[PP-F6] Earning A Living - Vent Mine's

[Shard 0]

"Be careful player! There are Fell Spiders in the mines!"

A lone NPC dressed as a haggard miner runs up to Shard, standing in his way as the tall man moved to enter the dark cavern before him. With a dismissive grunt, Shard steps out of the way of the NPC, walking into the shadow of the mine entrance. "Don't be a fool, player!" The NPC yells in horror, Shard only response a dismissive wave as his vision is slowly enveloped by darkness. Activating his menu, Shard equips his sword, Fortis Gleam, flashing into existence on his back as he moved forward through the ill lit, damp mine.

"Once more unto the breach," Shard mutters quietly, as he steps down a rickety staircase down into the main floor of the mine. Just like the last time he had come here, the condition of the mine seemed pretty dire. Carts strew everywhere, debris clogging passages, and the occasional dried out husk of a fake human. Oh and giant killer spiders.

Looking around the large, multi-level shaft, Shard's dark eyes could not see any of the the fell beasts, but obviously as the name "spawn point" implies, they would be here like always. Carefully, Shard descends a ladder, gripping the wood handle with a single hand, his right holding Fortis. Reaching the bottom, Shard takes another look around. His nose twitches, smelling the artificially induced sent of rotting flesh. mixed with metal dust.

Looking down, Shard lifts his foot, seeing he is standing in thick webbing. A low groan floating from his throat, Shard takes a step forward, his boot carrying the webbing with him. "Why spiders?" Shard voice is a low rumble as he activates a torch from his equipment, having to put away his blade to hold it. Running his free hand through coarse, dark hair, Shard takes another step forward, but stops. His dark eyes quickly move to the shaft above him, hearing noises coming from above.

Throwing the torch to the side, Shard quickly flips open his menu, never removing his eyes from the levels above. Ever vigilant for Falling Spider attacks, Shard takes out his Two-handed sword, it's long silver blade, gleaming in the darkness of the shaft. Eyes narrowed, legs set, Shard was ready for whatever came down...

[Darius Verand 0]

Darius slid down the ladder in the cliche manner that everyone slides down a ladder. He dusted his gloves off before turning to see a player holding a gleaming two-handed weapon at the ready, facing Darius. Darius instinctively, dropped into his stance, buckler in front of his chest, his arm creating a 90 degree angel to hold it there while his right hand shot to rest on the hilt of his sword. "You going to use that? Or are you friendly?" Darius said, malice slowly filling into his eyes.

[Shard 0]

Shard stares at the player for a few moments, his eyes dusky as they move across the young man's face, down to the sword and buckler in his hands. Suddenly, Shard lowers his own sword to the ground, eyebrow raising slightly as he took in the sight of the player before him. He seemed near the same level as Shard, if slightly less well equipped. Shard's eyes narrow in the dark light of the mine. Blonde hair, now that's not something he saw very often out here, in a game where the population was majority Japanese.

"Do I look yellow to you?" Shard ask's the man, his voice low in deadpan, eyes softer then before.

[Darius Verand 0]

Darius lowered the buckler, but slowly and cautiously. "No, but you could always be looking for a chance to be," Darius thought. He almost said it, but refrained from doing so. Making enemies wasn't the way to go. He held his right hand out to the other man, stepping forward. "Darius Verand," Darius simply said, a neutral expression on his face. Even though Darius was under-equipped, he had the posture and air about him that he knew how to fight and that he did it well.

[Shard 0]

Shard's eyebrow goes up, looking at the extended hand impassively. It's not like this was the first time he's had to do an introduction in this world, but something about the fact it's happening here, in a spider infested cave, and this random guy comes along offering to shake his hand after accusing him of being a PK'er? A funny look crosses Shard's face before blinking a few times, as if he was trying to get an image out of his eyes. Stabbing his sword into the ground, Shard takes Darius's hand, his dark eyes gazing down at the slightly short man's blue.

"Shard," His reply was curt, just as his handshake which Shard quickly released from, picking up his sword, throwing it onto his shoulder. Inspecting his web covered boot, Shard speaks in a calm tone. "Here for Spiders or Ventsteel?"

[Darius Verand 0]

"Both. I need ore for weapons and armor and spiders for silk for a lightweight cape," Darius said, looking up at the ceiling, seeing cobwebs. If he collected enough of the stuff he would be able to get someone to weave it into a cape. He nodded to himself before reaching up to grab it, having full trust in Shard now that they had shook hands. On some occasions he had to jump to collect it, putting it in his inventory. Not noticing, Darius was going farther down the tunnel as he collected more silk.

[Shard 0]

Shard nods in repose, watching quizzically as Darius moves about, collecting wisps of spider web. Slowly, Shard watched the man move further and further away with each step, apparently not watching where he was going. Shard reaches out, mouth open to speak, but instead he ends up simple standing in place, unsure what he should say. Groaning slightly, Shard's face goes slack. He brings a gloved hand to his face, rubbing it gently, before looking back to the player moving further and further into a shaft.

Pulling his sword from the cobweb infested ground, Shard starts after Darius, grumbling quietly as he kept his eyes on the walls. Sword held ready, Shard catches up to Darius, silently tapping on his shoulder, then pointing forward down the tunnel. Looking down through thick cobwebs, skeletal remains and the occasional gleaming stalagmite, Shard could see something moving. More accurately, he knew what was moving.

Moving slightly ahead of Darius, Shard draws Fortis Gleam forward, pointing it down the shaft. Looking over his shoulder, Shard puts a finger to his lips, gesturing to Darius to follow, before speaking, his voice a faint rumble.

"Spiders."

[Darius Verand 0]

As Darius was brought back to attention and told that spiders were ahead, a wolfish grin came across his face. Darius tilted his head upwards, telling Shard to lead the way. His veins rushed with the liquid fire of hate-infused adrenaline before a coolness washed over him. He had separated from himself to let his killer instincts take control, because he would need them for the fight.

[Shard 0]

Giving Darius another small nod, Shard presses forward, creeping through the rubble and debris that litter the shaft. Sword held forward to push the copious amount of webs out of their way, Shard spots the first spider. His eyes narrow as he stops momentarily to size the creature up. It's not one of the bigger ones, that much Shard can tell, just by looking at the twitchy way it moved about, it's dog sized, hairy body skittering about the area beyond. Turning to look to Darius, Shard gestures him to come closer.

"I'm going through. Spider's will fall behind me. Get ready to kill them." Shard's tone is harsh and direct, as if a Sargent ordering a private. Without waiting for a reply, Shard turns, standing to his full height, bringing his bland in-front of his body in a slashing stance. Coiling, Shard suddenly explodes forward, blade slicing the webbing like paper. The webs that blocked the open chamber beyond suddenly fell apart, revealing a large open room, filled with massive egg looking... things? Maybe cocoon is the best word. Shard was never huge on bugs anyway.

The spider turns and hisses at the intruder, it's massive fangs- mandible- things twitching as it's many eyes turned to Shard. His own face contorts into a scowl, eyes narrowed and mouth locked in a frown, looking at the relatively horrifying sight before him. Without waiting for it to make a first move, Shard strides forward, his sword held above his head, glowing a vibrant crimson.

---

OOC: Will Edit After Dice Rolling - Rolled 5

1-2 Miss, Tripping on Spider Webbing

3-5 Miss The Attack

6-8 Hit's Giant Spider (Deal 1 Damage + 2 Damage from sword)

9-10 Hit's Giant Spider, Dealing Critical Damage (Deal 2 Damage + 2 Damage from sword)

---

With great speed and power, Shard's two-hander moved down unto the Giant Spider, in a strike though would have ended it in a single hit, unfortunately for Shard, the spider seemed to anticipate the attack, shooting a web from it's behind, pulling itself back and out of the way of the attack just in time to dodge the crimson blur of Shard's blade. Face betraying no emotion, Shard stands ready for another attack, already knowing what would happen next.

From behind, just near the entrance Shard had jumped through, two more Giant Spiders came crawling down, there own mandibles twitching in anticipation to assault Shard. What the monster AI didn't know, as they made their way to the ground, was that Shard wasn't alone this time...

Combat situation:

Shard: 17/17 HP

Darius: 15/15 HP

Giant Spider 1: 4/4 HP

Giant Spider 2: 4/4 HP

Giant Spider 3: 4/4 HP

[Shard 0]

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[Darius Verand 0]

Darius waited for the two other spiders to drop down behind Shard. They were creeping closer and closer, when finally Darius stepped out from the entrance way. "Let's ring the slaughter bell!," Darius shouted, turning his buckler horizontal and slamming on it repeatedly with the hilt of his sword, while using the ability 'howl' in the form of a hate infused roar.

The spiders turned, being drawn to the impressive racket Darius was making. As soon as they were attracted to Darius, he got into a defensive stance. One of the Spider2 bunched up its legs and leaped at Darius, going to enclose around him and pull him to the floor. Darius lashes out with his shield, hoping to hit it out of mid air.

[1,4,7]- The spider overpowers Darius' shield arm, pulling it down and leaving him open for an attack by the second spider.

[2,3,5,6,8]- Darius blocks the spider's pounce by smashing his shield into it. It drops to the ground, taking one damage.

[9,10]- Darius blocks the spider's pounce by smashing it with his shield, following up with a perfectly executed counter attack with his sword, dealing two damage.

[Darius Verand 0]

The spider that launched at Darius' shield wrapped its legs around the sides of it, gripping it as it fell, pulling Darius' arm down with it. Darius roared at the spider, smashing it into the ground to try to get it off, dealing one damage to it, before remembering about the other spider and looking up to see it bunch its legs, getting ready to pounce him. His face twisted into a sneer. He was wide open.

[Shard 0]

Eyes going tight, Shard sidesteps as the spider he faced pounced, sailing through the air towards him. Having spent more then a month honing his skill in combat, Shard is able to expertly move his large frame out of the way, turning on a hell to watch the spider land on a wall. Shard's face remained stony as the spider once more came around for a second attack, it's massive fangs twitching in anticipation.

Carefully, Shard brings Fortis Gleam over his head, it's ventsteel blade glimmering light silver in the shadows of the mine. Gripping the handle tightly, Shard takes a deep inhale through his nose, preparing to lash out at the spider. Before Shard could attack, a humans yell catches his attention, his eyes turning to see as that Darius guy's shield is latched onto by a spider. The corner of Shard's mouth twitches downward, realizing that his- companion? No, more like random person who just so happened to be fighting near him. Well, Darius seemed to be in some deep [censored].

Suddenly a deep hissing regains Shard's attention, his eyes moving back towards the spider before him. Coiling, the spider launches itself towards him, it's position fangs outstretched. Lowering his blade, Shard spins and crouches, narrowly avoiding the Fell Spider flying past him, the creature landing on a wall somewhere behind his back. Obsidian eyes narrowing, Shard now faced the spider baring down on Darius. Pointing his sword forward, Shard aims down the length of the massive blade, stopping over the spider. Blade glowing deep crimson, his muscular legs coiling, Shard explodes forward, throwing Fortis over his head as he moves.

---

OOC: Will Edit After Dice Rolling - Rolled 9

1-2 Miss, Fumbling over Spider 3, falling on top of Darius.

3-5 Miss The Attack

6-8 Hit's Giant Spider 3 (Deal 1 Damage + 2 Damage from sword)

9-10 Hit's Giant Spider 3, Dealing Critical Damage (Deal 2 Damage + 2 Damage from sword)

---

The red glow of Shard's sword skill lights the dim shaft a deep crimson, suddenly turning a fiery orange as the tip of his blade begins to scrap the shaft ceiling, creating a shower of sparks. In less then a moment, Shard's blade comes down on the ill prepared Spider, it's attention still focused on the open Darius. With a sickening crunch, Shard's blade cleaves the eight-legged beast in half, sending deep green goo flying everywhere. Shard himself simply stands in place, exhaling explosively, blade still held down the middle of the creature's body before it vanishes in a shower of data.

---

Combat situation:

Shard: 17/17 HP (Chilling. Killing.)

Darius: 15/15 HP (Being attacked by Spider 2)

Giant Spider 1: 4/4 HP (On wall behind Shard, moving to attack)

Giant Spider 2: 3/4 HP (Took Damage from Darius)

Giant Spider 3: 0/4 HP (Dead as dead)

---

[Shard 0]

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[Darius Verand 0]

Darius had been prepared to hold his sword up so the spider that was launching at him would impale itself on it, but Shard had other ideas. Darius saw him come charging in, preparing an attack. Darius had confidence that the man could handle himself and kill the spider, unlike the confidence that Shard seemed to lack in Darius since Shard came to help Darius rather than kill his own spider first.

Regardless, it allowed Darius to concentrate on the spider that was still latched to his shield. He turned to the nearest wall and smashed it against it with his shield arm while charging 'Vertical Arc' with the other. As he smashed the spider on the wall, dealing another damage, it detached. Darius, seizing his chance activated 'Vertical Arc' as the spider fell.

[3,6,8]- Darius only delivers the first blow, dealing one damage before the spider lands and scurries up the nearest wall.

[1,2,4,5,7]- Darius delivers both blows to the spider, killing it.

[9,10]- Darius delivers both blows to the spider, dealing critical damage and over-killing it.