>>37757457

> [[ Offensive Mastery 1 offers a choice from: ]]
* Concussive Strike // Active // Spend PP to make an attack that deals increased damage and can knock targets back a significant distance. Required for: "Overpower", "Charge", "Whirlwind Attack".
* Critical Threat // Passive // Slightly increases critical strike range. Required for: "Fleshrend", "Unarmed Fighter".
* Weapon Mastery // Passive // Increases the effectiveness of wielded weapons. Required for: "Two-handed Mastery", "Dual Wield Mastery", "Whirlwind Attack".

> [[ Defensive Mastery 1 offers a choice from: ]]
* Iron Body // Passive // Reduces incoming damage. Required for: "Panacea", "Combat Regeneration".
* Lightning Reflexes // Passive // Increases dodge chance. Required for: "Evasion", "Retaliate", "Intercept".
* Shield Mastery // Passive // Increases the effectiveness of shields. Required for: "Shield Slam", "Shield Wall", "Intercept", "Deflect Projectiles".

> [[ Movement Mastery 1 ]]
* Sprint // Active // Spend PP to temporarily increase running speed, allowing incredible feats of movement. Required for: "Combat Respiration", "Instantaneous Movement".
* Expedited Maneuvers // Passive // Increases effectiveness of recovering while prone, as well as such feats as grappling and disarming. Required for: "Recovering Strike", "Fading Strike".
* Haste // Passive // Chance to gain bonus attack speed when striking. Required for "Flurry of Fists", "Phantasm Strike".

> Spend a point on HP.
> Spend a point on PP.
> Spend a point in Sabers.
> Spend a point in Unarmed.
> Spend a point in Offensive Mastery.
> Spend a point in Defensive Mastery
> Spend a point in Movement Mastery.

> [[ If Mastery wins, a sub-vote will begin with options for Ability choices. Please do not pair your vote with a vote for a specific Ability, or it will be ignored. ]]

>>37757464
> Spend a point in Sabers.

>>37757464
> Spend a point in Offensive Mastery.
> Spend a point in Defensive Mastery
I'm thinking maybe we should get an active ability just so we can start making use of our PP pool

>>37757464
This vote is for the first experience point, by the way. There'll be one more after so it should ideally be quick and painless.

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>>37757464
Let's not focus too hard on just sabers be a good idea to not die in the near future to unexpected attacks

>Spend a point on HP

Also question, do Sabers refer to any single bladed sword or just one type? Because may I suggest we go big and try to get ahold of a Scimitar

>>37757464
>Expedited Maneuvers // Passive // Increases effectiveness of recovering while prone, as well as such feats as grappling and disarming. Required for: "Recovering Strike", "Fading Strike".
>Lightning Reflexes // Passive // Increases dodge chance. Required for: "Evasion", "Retaliate", "Intercept".

>>37757464
>Spend a point in Defensive Mastery
> Spend a point in Movement Mastery.
>>37757641
My vote.

>>37757641
>Didn't these two already win?
QM said he'd be redoing the vote this thread after clearing up a few issues

6 votes 6 posters

>>37757684
>>37757641
This is going poorly so I'm just going to go with this unless people are vehemently opposed.

>>37757464
> Spend a point in Defensive Mastery
> Spend a point in Movement Mastery.

>>37757464
>> Spend a point in Offensive Mastery.
>> Spend a point in Defensive Mastery

>>37757612
yeah, no. This will be long and painful, and depend entirely on how many people can catch this quest starting. You'll also have a problem with votes since some people voting against each other might be voting for the same thing, just in a different order.

>>37757464
2 in defensive, 1 for Shield mastery, and if we can get level 2 of that, 1 in reflect projectiles
if we cant get both in shield, get shield and iron body

if we cant get 2 in defensive, get shield and expedited manuvers

>>37757740
Works for me

>>37757740
Um in class so I can't delete it, but just consider it, a vote for defense and movement.

>>37757740

>>37757564 here, I'm good with that

>>37757464

You allocate a point to Defensive Mastery, raising its level to 1.

> Choose Iron Body.
> Choose Lightning Reflexes.
> Choose Shield Mastery.

>>37757457
> Offensive Mastery

>>37757822
> Choose Lightning Reflexes.

>>37757822
>Choose Lightning Reflexes.

>>37757822
>Choose Lightning Reflexes.

>>37757822
>Choose Iron Body.

>>37757822
> Choose Lightning Reflexes.

>>37757822
> Lightning Reflexes

>>37757822
Iron Body.

>>37757822
> Choose Lightning Reflexes.

>>37757822
> Choose Iron Body.

>>37757822
shield mastery

>>37757822
>> Choose Shield Mastery.

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>37757822
>> Choose Iron Body.

>>37757822

You have 1 EXP remaining.

> [[ Defensive Mastery 2 offers a choice from: ]]
* Iron Body // Passive // Reduces incoming damage. Required for: "Panacea", "Combat Regeneration".
* Shield Mastery // Passive // Increases the effectiveness of shields. Required for: "Shield Slam", "Shield Wall", "Intercept", "Deflect Projectiles".
* Evasion // Passive // Reduces damage from area of effect attacks. Required for "Transcend Danger".
* Retaliate // Active // After dodging, spend PP to strike back with an attack of increased speed and effectiveness. Required for "Combat Expertise".
* Intercept // Active // Spend PP to intervene, blocking an attack for an ally. [[ Unavailable: Requires "Shield Mastery" ]]

> Spend a point on HP.
> Spend a point on PP.
> Spend a point in Sabers.
> Spend a point in Unarmed.
> Spend a point in Offensive Mastery.
> Spend a point in Defensive Mastery
> Spend a point in Movement Mastery.

> [[ If Mastery wins, a sub-vote will begin with options for Ability choices. Please do not pair your vote with a vote for a specific Ability, or it will be ignored. ]]

>>37758078
> Spend a point in Offensive Mastery.
Or
> Spend a point in Movement Mastery.

>>37758078
> Spend a point in Movement Mastery.

>>37758078
>Spend a point in Movement Mastery.

>>37758078
> Offensive Mastery

>>37758111
What kind of vote is that? Choose one.

>>37758078
>> Spend a point in Defensive Mastery

>>37758078
>Spend a point in Movement Mastery.
Honestly i could vote for another defensive since evasion sounds pretty good.

>>37758078
>> Spend a point in Defensive Mastery
Defense is key, can't be dying and becoming Nameless

>>37758078
>Spend a point on HP

also nobody answered >>37757663
is Sabre mastery for all single edged swords or just one kind?

>>37758078
> Spend a point in Defensive Mastery

>>37758137
A vote against defensive mastery essentially. I'm not choosing one because either of those are good.

>>37758173
I assume it's all.

>>37758078
> Spend a point on HP.

>>37758078
> Movement Mastery

>>37758078
Defensive mastery

>>37758205
>>37758173
>samefagging

>>37758251
yeah? prove it you fucking faggot, holy shit

>>37758251
Nope i'm my own person anon. 13 ip 12 votes. shove it.

>>37758078

You allocate a point to Movement Mastery, raising its level to 1.

> Choose Sprint.
> Choose Haste.
> Choose Expedited Maneuvers.

>>37758173
>>37758188
Basically. Shorter, curved swords would fall under the skill, so scimitars, cutlasses, cavalry sabers. Sabers.

>>37758251
>Samefagging just to still lose a vote

You are an idiot

>>37758289
> Haste

>>37758289
> Choose Haste.

>>37758289
>Haste

I wanna work towards phantasmal strike

>>37758289
> Choose Haste.

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>37758289
all are pretty good, but i''l leave my vote up to dice.
1.Sprint // Active // Spend PP to temporarily increase running speed, allowing incredible feats of movement. Required for: "Combat Respiration", "Instantaneous Movement".
2.Expedited Maneuvers // Passive // Increases effectiveness of recovering while prone, as well as such feats as grappling and disarming. Required for: "Recovering Strike", "Fading Strike".
3. Haste // Passive // Chance to gain bonus attack speed when striking. Required for "Flurry of Fists", "Phantasm Strike".

>>37758289
>Choose Sprint.

>spoiler
Then maybe you should call it One-handed Curved Swords. Unless shotels are classified as something different.

>>37758289
>Choose Expedited Maneuvers.
Gotta get good at grappling and disarming our PvPers

>>37758289
>Choose Expedited Maneuvers.
Also since we have these two abilities, does next time we vote will you show what their next level will be?
Also what is the max Lvl?

>>37758289
> Choose Sprint.

>>37758289

> [[ You've learned Haste and Lightning Reflexes. You feel faster... ]]
> [[ Character sheet updated. ]]

"Ashe," Nel asks, still crouched near Rhett's corpse. He dejectedly picks up the broken UI, storing it within his own. "You want to keep going down?"

"Like I said," Vision comments, almost done bandaging his wounds, "I'm alright with anything."

Your UI pings.

> [[ UI Messenger - Ayla ]]
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Yo. ))
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Still online? Everything going well? ))

[[ 1 ]]
> Respond. (Write-in.)
> Don't respond now.

[[ 2 ]]
> Head back to Averron. Break for now.
> Head back to Averron. Regroup, find a new fifth, and see who wants to continue.
> Continue down into the ruins.

>>37758707
> Respond. (Not really was exploring with some acquaintances and got jumped by a mini boss. One of them died.

> Continue down into the ruins.

>>37758707
>Continue down into the ruins.
> Respond. got attacked by giant crawler, also mention how we acted around the gems, and see if she has any theories.)

>>37758707
>> Respond. (Write-in.)
>Why do I want Celestial Gems SO. FUCKING. BADLY?

>Continue down into the ruins.

>>37758736
This.
Probably wise to check everyone has enough healing potions left etc and consume our last remaining one (I think they healed for 8?)

>>37758707
> Head back to Averron. Break for now.
I want to join the writ keepers

>>37758707
>Respond: (Nah this is just the bot he uses to farm mobs, what do you need?)

>Continue Down
Discretion may be the better part of valour but now we only have to split the loot 4 ways

Btw QM, you forgot to update the numerical values for the masteries on the charsheet

>>37758768
More than 8 is my guess, we never used it when low on hp.
>>37758767
>>37758758
>>37758736
seconded
Also look
* Lightning Reflexes [[ Passive - Level 1/3 ]]: Minor increase in the chance to dodge attacks. Further levels offer higher dodge bonuses.
* Haste [[ Passive - MAX ]]: Chance to gain bonus attack speed when striking.

>>37758858
It JUST happened. He can update it after the thread if he wants.

>>37758871
Oh, nevermind, I went and checked and it was 10hp recovered. So using one now wastes 1hp

PSA that Celestial gems are drugs, players are gem junkies, and nameless are cold turkeys gone bad.

Is Broken Sky Online a testing stage for VR heroin? The answer may surprise you.

>>37758707

> [[ Ascheritte ]]: I'm fine. Down below with a party, just lost a member to a surprise mini-boss.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Oh, uh.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Why do I want Celestial Gems so fucking badly?

As you think about the sensation again, there's a pulse in the back of your mind. You instinctively check your UI's menu. Good, it's still there... You don't know what you would have done if...

> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Oh, hell. You found one? ))

"Talking to someone?" Vision asks. "See if they want to come down with us. We're in the market for a fifth.

> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Cause I was wondering that myself... ))
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( It's kind of why I'm still playing. ))

"Uhm, one moment." You start leading the group cautiously further down, rounding a corner toward another bridge. In the fog, you can see more crawlers. They're getting further and further away.

> [[ Ayla ]]: (( It's, uh, a good feeling, isn't it? ))

[[ 1 ]]
> Respond to Ayla. ( Write-in. )

[[ 2 ]]
> Let the group know you're inviting someone else along.
> No sense wasting time. Keep moving down.

>>37759213
What if, what if the REAL reason porn pioneers industries is that it's still better than anything ELSE pioneering industries, like drugs?

>>37759361
1.
>"Kinda. Having one feels good but the want for more? That makes me feel like I'm gollum for gods sake."
>"By the by, we're not too far from town and could use a fifth party member. If you known someone interested then send 'em our way"

2.
>Based on Ayla's reply respond accordingly

>>37759361
> Respond to Ayla. ( Yeah, too good. Is this like a drug or something? The nameless who jumped me at start and the guy who helped me fight them were acting weird. Almost like this game is changing the players.

>>37759361
>> Respond to Ayla. ( Write-in. )
>"It's awful. It feels like an addiction."
>"...Is it called Broken Sky because of the focus on A People Divided? Divided by greed, short-sighted selfishness, and mistrust, AKA fucking magic drugs?

>No sense wasting time. Keep moving down.

>>37759361
Invite Ayla to join us

Something like this doesn't strike me as her scene, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

That aside, Celestial Gems are clearly bad shit. If we get through our first dungeon dive without someone trying to PK for them, I will be surprised.

>>37759422
>fight them were acting weird. Almost like this game is changing the players.
>making shit up
They already explained why they acted like that.

>>37759459
Nel was acting like he was weird too and cryiing when he didn't know why. all of flipped out over the gem.

>>37759482
Nel has been the MOST normal out of everyone. He was crying over I COULDN"T SAVE HIM.

>>37759482
>Nel was acting like he was weird too and cryiing when he didn't know why
He wasn't after the gem, he was crying for losing a friend, honestly i think he is mental if he gets so attached to strangers.
> all of flipped out over the gem.
No one flipped out, and the only one that got pissy was vision.

>>37759555
>>37759528
For the Circe Ui thing guys.

>>37759555
He lost someone he had the hots for out of nowhere, and he failed to save ANOTHER person, RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.

It kind of hurts the self-esteem.

>>37759622
Sure i get getting a bit upset, but bawling your eyes out doesn't bode well to me.
>>37759603
Care to explain?

>>37759682
The Circe dying he got all sad and didn't know why i'm looking it up in thread now. He was acting like she had really died.

>>37759361
> No sense wasting time. Keep moving down.

>>37759706
Well there's an element of that. When people become nameless there's a good chance they'll never see their original companions again apparently, due to the scattered respawn and forced new chaarcter.

>You frown—he looks pretty damn sad. “You gonna be okay?”

>“Yeah, I'm fine. She was the first person I met in-game... I didn't expect.” He growls, then yells, eliciting a few stares. “Fuck this game! Top guilds acting like they control us, nameless assholes killing our fucking friends! Who EVEN can you trust? Why am I even this upset?”

>>37759706
>didn't know why i'm looking it up in thread now.
because you need to explain things properly. We didn't even know what you were talking about.

>He was acting like she had really died.
I have a feeling that he'll never see her again, and from that perspective, it IS like she's dead.

>>37759682
He could be really young, caring way too much over a game, or really old, being reminded of past losses that he may or may not have been escaping from.

Heck, some people are just that soft.

Oh right, completely baseless theory:

When a broken UI gets offered, the body gets resurrected as an NPC who may or may not have a UI.

That would resolve all the clutter of having 2 player bodies in the event of revival.

>>37759980
But surely you can select which char you play as on log in? The bodies probably don't hang around whilst you're logged out afterall

>>37760036
What if the NPC body does?

I just think it feels more organic, so like I said: baseless.

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>>37759361

> [[ Ascheritte ]]: In an awful way. It's like an addiction, a drug or something.
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( When I got to the Materialization Altar in Averron, it was like... ))
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Reuniting with a lost loved one, if that doesn't sound stupid? ))
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Someone you never thought you'd see again. ))
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: I think this game is doing something to people.
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( I was thinking the same. There's something weird going on. ))
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Or maybe it's how they plan on keeping people subscribed, which is only questionably ethical. ))

"I'm asking someone if they want to come with us." You suggest. "Anyone know of a safe place to camp nearby?"

"There's a cave up ahead that was quiet on my first way through." Nel says. "I'll take the lead, if that's alright."

> [[ Ayla ]]: (( You know that schtick about bypassing hardware limitations? How far do you think that goes? ))
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Look, I don't want to think about it right this second.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: My friends and I are heading down to the ruins. I got a consultation about a boss that sounds interesting.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Do you know anyone that wants to come with us?
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Uh, I actually wanted to hit it with my guild, but I've been itching for a chance to go down myself, if that's alright? ))
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Sounds fine to me. You can handle playing out of character for a little bit, right?
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Oh, shut up. ))
> [[ Ayla ]]: (( Where are you guys? ))
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: There's a platform a little ways below Averron where we fought that boss. We're waiting in a cave a little further than that.

"Sounds fine. She's on her way down now, I think."

> [[ Ayla ]]: (( I'll let you know if I get lost. ))

> [[ 1/2 ]]

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>>37760709

It's a little while before she arrives, rushing into the cave in a bit of a hurry. The four of you are seated at various points on a rock formation, overlooking another of the small waterfalls from above, and you turn to spectate her approach.

"You alright?" You ask.

"Crawlers." Ayla responds. "They seem a little worked up."

There's an awkward pause, before she continues. "Well, it's your party. Want to introduce me?"

"It's Nel's party." You correct her, hoping you might cheer the kid up a bit. "Nel?"

"Along with Ascheritte, Tatsumaki's our heavy hitter," Nel says, gesturing to the cat-eared girl who smiles and waves in response. "She doesn't speak English well."

"Ah! I haven't seen many unarmed fighters. What level?" Ayla asks, leaning down to Tatsumaki's height. There's no response; the brawler just tilts her head, giving an inquisitive look before she rephrases the question. "Uhm. Levels. How many levels?"

"Ah... five." Tatsumaki responds, quiet as ever.

"I'm Nel," The roguish kid continues. "And our gunner is Vision. You're?"

"Ayla." Ayla smiles. "Just a Tech from the city."

"With her name on an Altar." Vision says, mouth curling into a frown. "You're one of the Alliance leaders, aren't you?"

"Guilty as charged. Something wrong with that?"

He scoffs. "Of course not."

"Right..." Ayla folds her arms. "So, we're bound for the ruins, then. Anyone been before?"

> Listen to the party's opinions.
> Discuss characters' capabilities.
> Discuss strategy. (Write-in)
> Head down for some cursory exploration.

>>37760732
>> Listen to the party's opinions.
>> Discuss characters' capabilities.
find out what the shit we got actually does.

>>37760732
> Listen to the party's opinions.
> Discuss characters' capabilities.

>>37760732

> Listen to the party's opinions.

>>37760806
>>37760732
Ask about our hidden skill as well.

>>37760732
> Listen to the party's opinions.
> Discuss characters' capabilities.
> Ask everyone their levels
> Find out what class Ayla is

>>37760732
> Listen to the party's opinions.
> Discuss characters' capabilities.

>>37760732
Ask her if she can identify the pick and other sword we have, and also ask if she can fix our sword, for a price?
also do this.
>>37760877
pay attention anon, she already said it.

>>37760853
Seconding this

>>37760732
>Discuss strategy. (Write-in)
Tastumaki can take on one alone, but that's not very useful in a party. She needs to either distribute threat, or more likely take down the targets that we aggro.

Vision's job should be to keep the aggro off Tatsumaki to let her do her job.

Any thoughts on Nel and Ayla?

>>37760732
>> Discuss characters' capabilities.

>>37760910
*also mention what was said to us.

>>37760910
Oh, you're right. I read that as just someone more interested in technical things...

>>37760732
> Listen to the party's opinions.

>>37760943
Was talking about consultation, maybe the lore freak can help us out.

Could we ask Ayla to identify our pickaxe and other scimitar whilst we're here? We got the dosh to pay her as necessary too.

I vaguely recall something implying the scimitar we equipped may have been damaged by the plunge attack

>>37761108
Do you really want to waste her time and our money on identifying weapons we looted from the scrubbiest of scrubs? We're better off replacing them with the first things we find.

>>37761172
They sell for more when they're identified, the pick might be surprisingly good or we may need it's capacity for brutal piercing damage when fighting a heavily armoured monster, the cost isn't high and there's no reason Ayla would rip us off, whilst they were pretty scrubby one was at least level three since he was dual wielding.

'Sides, the scimitar is apparently 'masterwork' which doesn't sound base tier at any rate

>>37761108
If she can do it quickly sure?
"Hey you mind checking this out, real quick?"
Shouldn't take much time.
It's likely crap but you never know. Have her identify it. and It may be in better shape than the weapon we have on now.
We change em if that's the case.

>>37761172
>>37761237
They were surprisingly high quality, which might make them good bases for upgrading.

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>>37760732

"I've been down once, and it went well. But I'm not sure what to expect from it now." Nel straightens up a bit. "Things are more dynamic than I expected. I got caught off guard."

"There's a few different types of monsters down there, I'm aware." Ayla asks. "What do you know about them?"

"There's Guardian Constructs, which are like, sandstone and obsidian statues. Some of them are like soldiers, but there are some pretty large ones too." Nel says. "My party didn't even bother fighting them. They're too big, too slow, and too hard to kill. There's also these big lizards in the lower parts that have some camouflage ability."

"Any spellcasters?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Alright, we'll probably want to have a contingency plan, for if something's changed." Ayla folds her arms. "Try to stay adaptable, everyone got that?"

"What can we all do?" You ask. "I think I'm pretty fast. A bit defensively-oriented, but I can dish out some pretty serious damage. I'm level 3."

"Same here." Vision says. He's still glaring at Ayla out of the corner of his eye. "I can barely take a hit, but this caster does hella damage."

"Tatsumaki is level 5, and I'm level 4." Nel says. "I'm an Explorer. Been playing as sort of an ambush attacker, and hoping to use my secondary to get some offensive abilities. I can move pretty quick, climb, and use items faster than normal."

"We can work with that." Ayla says. "Levels only give you a big advantage compared to eachother if you've got a lot of them, depending on what abilities you pick. It's a trade-off between skills, Masteries, and HP."

"What can you do?" Nel asks.

"I'm a Technician, like I said." She responds. "Level 9. I'm specializing in larger builds as opposed to drone fighting, but I've got a couple of casters and a decent melee weapon to switch between."

"Do you think you can take a look at my weapon?" You ask, showing your scimitar. "I think it's damaged."

> [[ 1/2 ]]

>>37761684

"Looks like it's lost a bit of durability," she says, "But it's alright. Weapons are hard to break, and they let you know when they're broken. I can repair it for you later, if you can't find anyone else to."

"Do you guys know what your hidden skills do?" You ask.

"Hidden...?" Tatsumaki checks her UI.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Vision says.

"Yeah, I've got an unknown ability in my menu..." You assumed someone would know; now, you hesitate to tell them about your experience with the NPC, how it glitched when you tried to show it off. "Maybe some sort of glitch?"

"Uhm, could be." Ayla gives you a strange look. The conversation stalls.

> Continue into the ruins; see if you can't scope the place out.
> Discuss strategy.
> Other. (Write-in.)

>>37761707
>Continue into the ruins; see if you can't scope the place out.

>>37761707
>>37760924
Anybody in the mood to actually use tactics?

>>37761707
>Ask Ayla to identify your pickaxe and scimitar
If we get caught up with one of those contrsucts our scimitar won't do anything whereas the pickaxe will be super handy.

>>37761707
The hidden skill isn't passive right? Can we try activating it now to get an idea of what it is?

>>37761707
Continue into the ruins. Planning too much will just wreck our shit.

>>37761707
>Continue into the ruins; see if you can't scope the place out.
no strategy comes out perfect once meeting an enemy/ nat 1.

>>37761774
Seconding this

>>37761845
Well, it might be passive, it might not, we don't know. Worth as try activating it now we have a breather though, so seconding that suggestion

>>37761707
> Continue into the ruins; see if you can't scope the place out.

>>37761845
thirded

>>37761774
this

>>37761845
Seconded

>>37761845
about time we try. lets do this.
We can ask one of the people in the game thats all about focusing ON THE game. she should be able to help us out. at least in how to activate a random skill.
and possible tell us if she has seen a ?? skill before.

We should ask Ayla more about this later in private. For now, dungeon stuff.

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>>37761707

You're not sure how you'd go about activating this ability anyway. You focus, attempting to meditate on some purpose, but produce nothing. You think you feel something, a warmth, echo from inside you. You recall the feeling inherent in discovering a Celestial Gem, of breathlessness and utter need. Nothing happens.

"You've never seen a skill like that before?" You ask.

"I can't say that I have, Ascheritte. No one's mentioned it to me before."

"Right, uhm. Never mind, I think I might have been misreading." You say, coming to your senses. "Ayla, can you identify some items for me?"

"That's an Artificer ability, I'm afraid." She frowns. "I would if I could, though."

"Alright." Nel says. "We've got a full team. Is everyone ready?"

Another open bridge through thick fog, then the tunnels close up into a dark column, a stone ramp that spirals downward about a thick pillar. You can't see well, and descend deeper. Nel's voice echoes from in front of you. "There's a big building down here with a branch we didn't check out last time."

He leads you to a way out, directly ahead. Water pours from cracks in the ceiling, and massive glowing bricks of quartz piercing the stone above allow light to bleed through, illuminating disheveled grass platforms that form a walking surface. Ahead, a sandstone cathedral is embedded into the cave surface, as if an entire building sunk undamaged from many layers above.

"It's beautiful." Ayla says, moving to your side. Tatsumaki and Vision follow closely behind.

"Don't let your guard down, darling." comes Vision's reply.

There's a pair of staircases leading up to the building. In front of them, a pair of statues stands: pike-wielding obsidian humans in armor and helmets, with faintly glowing eyes visible even from here. A campfire burns a little ways ahead, off to the side in the nook of a rock spire. It looks like there's another adventuring party down here.

What will you do?
> Other

>>37762484
avoid the party, pking is pretty damn common.

>>37762484
>Try to see if you can observe UIs on the other party's members
Also that cathedral sure smacks of that consultation

>>37762484
Say hi get acquainted. see if they have Uis

>>37762551
what?

>>37762562
Here's a copy of that consultation we got from an NPC:
"Many believe that those old ruins were once a part of a higher civilization. Whether that's true: the answer lies below. Whoever lived down there worshipped the Celestials as well, though perhaps in different ways. With a close eye, you might find the artifacts of gods, the Celestial Gems. You could even encounter a Materialization Altar."
"Their technology was more advanced than you may think; you might find blueprints in unlikely places. Within the old cathedral lurks a powerful entity called Kjorikos. To reach this place, you must first find and defeat the Obsidian Pegasus."

>>37762551
This

Maybe keep an eye out on those statues? I wouldn't be surprised if they attacked passers by.

>>37762591
So the Obsidian humans are here, keep an eye out for a horse.

>>37762591
Tell the party about this

>>37762484
Call out to the other party. Don't want any surprises later on.

>>37762591
Important things to take away from that:
- we've found a catherdral guarded by obsidian dudes
- the consultation mentions "Obsidian Pegasus." that needs defeating

On that note, our scimitar ain't useful here versus obsidian dudes. If we make friendly with the other party and none of them can identify our pickaxe we might want to just head back for now

>>37762641
I vote we don't do that until we know we're ready to be involved with the raid since they may well try to beat us to it otherwise

Unrelated tangent: reckon we can use that celestial gem to unlock our mystery ability? The whole 'feels the same' thing and all

>>37762484
what ever we do, make sure to avoid these guys.

>>37762700
>If we make friendly with the other party and none of them can identify our pickaxe we might want to just head back for now
There's nothing keeping us from using an unidentified weapon/tool, seeing as our starting equipment was unidentified too.

Depending on how the game handles identification, this could either mean that we don't gain the benefits of whatever enchantments/quality the weapon has until identified, or it gives us those benefits/detriments silently and we just can't see what they are at a glance without IDing it.

>>37762793
What kind of shit game does the former?

Makes you wonder how many other people ask for consultations. Do they get equally super useful info or are they randomised and we got lucky? Do they just not pay attention to it like we do?

>>37762793
I agree but it might be that the pick just is a crap weapon and trying to use it will fail hialriously

>>37762484
Man, Vision really doesn't have a good opinion of Ayla, does he

>>37762834
probably only the lore fags pay attention, since its said in such a cryptic way.

>>37762818
Potentially this shit game? I dunno. I only mentioned it because that's the only other possible way I can think of for the game to handle it while still letting you equip unidentified items. (Though thinking about it further, it could also give you a small flat penalty for using unidentified items but still let you use them for the sake of versatility.)

Either way, the main point is that it isn't as though the game prohibits us from using something just because it hasn't yet been identified, so if our scimitar doesn't seem to be helpful we shouldn't just call a full retreat.

>>37762923
Well my main point is that we're one of the core damage dealers and if we're unable to do decent damage we're stuck playing distraction.

On top of that if we want to claim our fare share or better of the prize we need to make sure we're pulling our weight as much as possible.

>>37762962
We could always switch to unarmed for blunt damage.

>>37762484

"Those statues probably attack the passers-by." You nod.

"Guardian Constructs." Nel says. "Definitely. They're slow as all hell, but they hit like trucks."

"There's other players there too." Vision says. "What do we want to do about that?"

"We could hail them," Ayla nods. "But they'll probably just ignore us unless we approach."

You take a couple of steps forward, checking out the other party. It's a group of four, who seem to be chatting around a fire and resting. You can see from here that three definitely have Identifiers, but there's a man in the back without one.

> Hail the party from afar.
> Greet the party, and ask if you can get some items identified.
> Move in for a closer look.
> Go to work on the Guardian Constructs; it doesn't look like a hard fight, and you can keep an eye on the bystanders as you move in.

>>37763085
> Hail the party from afar.
There's no way they won't notice us eventually.

>>37763085
>Equip pickaxe
>Go to work on the Guardian Constructs; it doesn't look like a hard fight, and you can keep an eye on the bystanders as you move in.
Let's test out that pickaxe if that fight doesn't seem difficult then. We can greet them after

>>37763085
> Go to work on the Guardian Constructs; it doesn't look like a hard fight, and you can keep an eye on the bystanders as you move in.

>>37763141
This

>>37763085
>Go to work on the Guardian Constructs; it doesn't look like a hard fight, and you can keep an eye on the bystanders as you move in.

>>37763085
>> Go to work on the Guardian Constructs; it doesn't look like a hard fight, and you can keep an eye on the bystanders as you move in.

>>37763085
>>37763141
This

>>37763085
>> Hail the party from afar.
If they're regrouping before heading further in, it's bound to be easier to handle one Guardian per group than it is to try and manage both of them with just the five of us, and I'd rather not have any surprises during/after our Guardian fight.

If they NEEDED to regroup because they took a beating from the Guardians, it'd be nice to know a little more about their attack patterns before taking them on.

Hold on a second
What the fuck did we do with Rhett's body

>>37763329
Devoured it for exp gains of course

>>37763141
thirded.
>>37763329
leave it to rot.

>>37763141
I'll go with it

>>37763085

"Let's take out those Constructs by the entrance." You suggest, stashing your scimitar and wielding the pickaxe. It's quite heavy, but you think you can manage; you'll just need a different approach to combat. "Keep an eye on those four by the fire."

"Vision, can you land a shot from here to pull them over?" Ayla asks. He's already got his longcaster out, and looses a bolt at the one on the left. It hits, blowing the stone helmet clean off the thing, and the pair is slow to react.

They turn towards you, and begin lumbering down the stairs. Alerted by the sound of gunfire, the adventurers off to the side are watching, moving a bit closer to the adjacent cave wall even though they're already clear of the battlefield.

Nel is sneaking off to the side, and Tatsumaki is ducked low to the ground; it looks like she's about to charge. The Guardians reach the bottom of the stairs, and Ayla produces a pair of handcasters. They've got a faster rate of fire than you're familiar with, and she unleashes a wide spray of bolts at the approaching soldiers.

They seem pretty damn durable, though. They splash into the falling water with heavy footsteps and level their pikes for a charge, albeit slow.

> Take a running swing at the closest Guardian.
> Move ahead, and get ready to intercept.
> Wait, and let the ranged attackers do their damage.

>>37763474
> Move ahead, and get ready to intercept.

>>37763474
>> Take a running swing at the closest Guardian.

>>37763474
>Move in position to boost Tatsumaki into the air, then run under one of them to get behind.

>>37763474
> Take a running swing at the closest Guardian.

>>37763474
>Move ahead, and get ready to intercept.

>>37763474
>>37763532
Or, if they aren't giants like I assumed:

>Move ahead, and get ready to intercept.

>>37763474
>Take a running swing at the closest Guardian.
We gotta go fast

>>37763474
>Take a running swing at the closest Guardian.
Hopefully we don't just impale ourself on a pike

>>37763474
>Take a running swing at the closest Guardian.

>>37763555
>giants like I assumed
Yeah, I first figured that as well but I've since gotten the impression they're normal sized, only made of rock

>>37763474

If you're attempting a charge, you'll have to maneuver quickly or risk being impaled. You heft your pickaxe, going for a running overhead swing, and leap ahead to charge the obsidian phalanx.

Tatsumaki moves for the one on the left, and you break to the right, bolts of energy sailing past you. The ones that miss throw up splashes of water and huge divots of dirt. Then, your enhanced reflexes kick in, and time seems to slow down as you prepare to dodge aside the pointed spear.

> [[ 2d100 ]]

Rolled 15, 1 = 16 (2d100)

>>37763775

Rolled 41, 21 = 62 (2d100)

>>37763775

Rolled 48, 92 = 140 (2d100)

>>37763775
Let's not kebab ourselves, shall we?

Rolled 70, 61 = 131 (2d100)

>>37763775
rollin
>>37763787
dammit anon.

Rolled 37, 52 = 89 (2d100)

>>37763775
No problem!

Rolled 62, 8 = 70 (2d100)

>>37763775

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22 KB PNG

>>37763787

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98 KB JPG

>>37763787

>>37763775
if enhanced reflexes made it 2d100 instead of 1, you should know that you doubled the crit chances...

>>37763817
>dammit anon.
Yeah... sorry...
I *believe* critfails don't actually override rolls though?

>>37763850
They do actually.

>>37763850


> [[ Conflict resolution is decided by the best of three 1d100 rolls. Higher is better. ]]
> [[ Rolls between 1 and 3 or 97 and 100 will have critical effect if there is something at stake. ]]
> [[ A critical miss will negate a critical hit, and vice versa. ]]
> [[ Ascheritte's skills will also affect the outcome. As he gains experience or earns rare equipment, he will also gain the capacity to perform new feats and abilities. ]]
> [[ For example, in this case, Ascheritte is a Brawler. He's got the element of surprise, and his player seems naturally skilled... ]]

>>37763880
Oh, nevermind, must be thinking of a different quest then.
I wonder which one I was thinking of...

>>37763787
What the fuck man never roll again

>>37763787
Fuck looks like we're gonna devour another party member again

>>37764071
I hope it's Vision

>>37764085
Lets try and not lose another one guys.
I hope it's Ayla she must have some good gear we could use. And plenty of money

>>37764142
>I hope it's Ayla
Damn that's cold...
How could you ever wish a Rikku lookalike death?!

>>37764071
I think we're just gonna get fucked up since we're the one who ran ahead

>>37763775

> [[ 48 ]]

It's like you're acting on a different timescale than those around you. You feel it might have hit you under normal circumstances, but the closer the spear-point draws to your abdomen, the the slower it seems to travel. You step to the side, and continue moving unfazed, raising the weapon overhead for a strike.

> [[ 1 ]]

Oh god, this thing is fucking heavy.

The pick slips from your hands completely, tumbling forward and smashing into the guardian's face hard enough to knock off his helmet. It bounces skyward in apparent defiance of the laws of physics, and splashes down into the water nearby.

"Get your shit together, kid!" You hear Vision shout as you scramble backwards to duck away from another stab.

Then, a pulse of red light briefly encircles your form. Haste.

A quick step back, as Nel approaches from behind, shoving the thing to the ground. At a loss for options without your scimitar in hand, you stomp it--again, and again, before it feels like you should be able to react, until it remains motionless in the cold, ankle-deep water.

> Tatsumaki defeated Guardian Construct. [[ Party: Vision, Nel, Ascheritte, Ayla ]]
> Ascheritte defeated Guardian Construct. [[ Party: Vision, Tatsumaki, Nel, Ayla ]]

Alright, that didn't go quite as well as expected. The other party is giving you strange looks.

"Sorry," You shake your head. "I wanted to try that pickaxe, but it really sucks."

"It'll probably do more damage than slashing against these things," Ayla shrugs, moving to recover it for you. "But I'd understand if you didn't want to use it."

What will you do?
> Approach the other party. (Write-in.)
> Investigate the cathedral.
> Other.

>>37764230
> Investigate the cathedral.

>>37764230
Let's get our fuckin' pick back first of all

>>37764230
>Grab pick
>Observe the other party to see if they're watching/following etc us
It might still be worth exchanging a few words with them so we can make a call about how friendly they are if nothing else. Whether they're evasive about what they're up to, whether they're waiting for allies, etc
>Cathedral time

>>37764230
>> Investigate the cathedral.
After we find our pickaxe.

>>37764230
>Collect gear and loot
>Check out cathedral.

>>37764230
>Pick up one of the pikes. Test it for weight.
It's either the pickaxe or this when we take on the pegasus.

>>37764339
This

>>37764142
>only character thusfar who has shown any sort of knowledge of something resembling a plot
>want them dead for their shinies
Murderhobos: not even once.

>"It'll probably do more damage than slashing against these things," Ayla shrugs, moving to recover it for you. "But I'd understand if you didn't want to use it."
We should probably just stick with the scimitar for now and make a point of aiming for joints instead.

>>37764230
>Investigate the cathedral.

>>37764230
Loot the golems, and pick up the pick.
than
> Investigate the cathedral.

>>37764339
>horse unit
Definitely this, we must grab a bitching pike to slay the beast. Maybe suggest Tastu does too if it turns out to be usable

>>37764349
not saying I actively want to kill her.
Just that if she dies, that should leave us all with some nice items to split up.
>>37764230
Guessing they didn't drop anything?

>>37764392
But CatTats is a brawler
Like the fists kinda brawler

>>37764339
This

I want to see if we can get the horse in critical condition and than tame the beast.

>>37764431
True but having someone else holding a pike to defend against swooping winged horses will be super useful.

Plus she's at least AS effective as us with it, not like we've got any upgrades that would assist pike wielding.

>>37764475
I'll second this notion, of trying to tame it.

Can we take a moment to ask Nel how he got a secondary class? I still want to be a technoknight

>>37764475
>>37764515
I think this is overtly risky and liable to get people killed. I think it might be a good idea to look out for an opportunity to do so but not actively try to find or make one

>>37764517
reread the thread.

>>37764487
Natural-born Fighter probably helps, since a spear is definitely a more "standard" melee weapon than a pickaxe is.

>>37764550
I kinda assumed that ability was default for brawler classes and thus that Tatsu would have it too

>>37764550
>>37764581
It is, but Tatsu is probably specced for unarmed.

This is why I wanted weapon mastery

>>37764720
>Tatsu is probably specced for unarmed
This only means that staying unarmed may be more effective for her, not that she is less good at piking than we are.

And pikes are far more useful against flying horses than fists are. Firstly, they have the range to actually hit them, secondly they do wonders to dissuade the flying horse from dive bombing your team if you're holding a bit pointy stick up at it

>>37764550
I think we need another skill to use two handed weapons but I might be wrong

>>37764764
you do

>>37764762
But it is a horse made out of rock, so blunt may be better than piercing

>>37764762
I'm thinking if Tatsu manages to get on the thing, range won't matter. Then we use the pike to dissuade random flailing.

>>37764864
That raises a point: obsidian pike vrs obisidian pony...

>>37764864
Point aside, a spear is basically just a long staff. Swinging it in wide arcs works just as well, if not better, than trying to thrust it at moving targets.

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>>37764230

Tatsumaki's beaten you to one of the stone pair. She's standing at attention with an obsidian spear, wearing a cracked, oversized stone helmet that looks like it's weighing her down a bit, and looking at you with a toothy smile.

You heft one of the pikes. It's heavy and a bit unbalanced, but the point looks savage. Doesn't seem terribly useful, but could probably do a lot of damage if thrown or prepared against a charging attack.

"Stone." Nel says. "They don't drop much of anything worthwhile."

"These might come in handy, though." You suggest. "I'm gonna hold onto it. Tatsumaki, you should do the same, alright?"

She gives you a thumbs-up with her free hand. Ayla hands you your pickaxe with a grin; you groan as you accept it, then finish looting the defeated stone guardian.

> [[ Inventory - guardian construct ]]
cracked stone helm

"Anyone want this?" You ask.

"Nah," Vision says. "Looks like junk."

You add it to your inventory and move on, drawing closer to the ancient stone edifice.

From here, you take a look at the party nearby, sizing up the members, in particular, keeping a close eye on the one in the back, without a UI. He's wearing heavy-looking armor, armed with a spear, and has a pair of guardian stone pikes tossed over his back. He doesn't look out of place, and mustn't be, if he's traveling with a party. But you've learned to distrust the Nameless, for better or worse; anyone among them could be a member of Freakshow, or a PKer waiting to strike.

> [[ 1/2 ]]

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>>37764941

There's another one, wearing a large, white hooded cloak, who's been watching the five of you since you first made yourselves known. She's lithe-looking, with long, braided hair. Some sort of creature is sitting on her shoulder, with a strange, shimmering band wrapped about its neck. A familiar of some sort? You didn't think players could have pets.

You can see into the cathedral through windows and gaps in the stone as you ascend the staircase. Additional sets of stairs to your left and right lead to high entrances; there's an upper walkway, a second floor that leads around the cathedral's perimeter, with guardian constructs in the corners. You think you see outer doorways as well. There could be an external balcony, looking out over an abyss, or the place could just be completely entrenched in stone.

How deep do these caves go, anyway?

"This place is a lot bigger than I thought." Ayla says, peering through windows with her casters at the ready. "Anyone else getting a bad feeling?"

Immediately in front of you, a set of stairs heading down leads to a dim floor, the auditorium where the congregation would sit in a modern church. You hear the distant sound of hooves on a stone floor, drawing occasionally closer and further.

What will you do?
> Other

>>37764967
prepare to ambush the horse.
Also mention to your party that there should be some blueprints hidden somewhere.

How about we have our Explorer scout out the horse? I'm sure he'll be fine.

>>37764941
They're farming Guardian Constructs. For throwing spears. Because it doesn't matter how enchanted throwing weapons are if you can't mass produce them, so just farm some good ones.

Bad. Ass.

>>37764967
>Sneakysneaky.
Priority for getting the ranged units in position to shoot. Vision on the wings, Ayla on the legs.

Getting the melee units in range is much harder and less important than the first shot.

>>37764967
Ask the other party if they want to team up to take out a boss

>>37765026
Sounds good. We may as well get more information before we charge in there.
>>37765039
like the plan.

But we should talk to the other party see what they're up to. And what their intentions might be.

>>37764941
>But you've learned to distrust the Nameless, for better or worse; anyone among them could be a member of Freakshow, or a PKer waiting to strike.
Fuck we're racists

>>37764967
That nameless can carry a shittonne of pikes by the sounds of it so he must be pretty tough and what with that chick with the familiar? I'm getting the impression these guys are pretty high level.

Or perhaps her familiar is from a secret ability like our ???

First things first though, I think we should mosey around this level and take out more constructs. Get used to our new pike and clear a safe zone around the entrance before taking on the pegasus.

Still not sure what we should do about the other party.

>Farm some constructs

>>37764941
>She's standing at attention with an obsidian spear, wearing a cracked, oversized stone helmet that looks like it's weighing her down a bit, and looking at you with a toothy smile.
I can't help but imagine this is like a little kid who's really proud that they dressed up in mom's clothes.

>>37764967
>You hear the distant sound of hooves on a stone floor, drawing occasionally closer and further.

>What will you do?
Make sure we let the party know what we know about what we think the hoofbeats belong to so that it doesn't take people off-guard.

Make a point of clearing out some Constructs first so that we don't end up getting boxed in by them when we eventually head into the atrium or wherever to confront the Pegasus.

>>37765088
for good reason anon, there is entire guild of pkers, and nameless are notorious for doing that.

>>37765088
It's the gem's wild ride.

>>37764967

"Sounds like a horse. I'm pretty sure the boss is up ahead." You suggest. "By the by, I got a tip from the fortune-teller that there could be machine blueprints down here; also, this place is guarded by some kind of stone pegasus."

"Blueprints? That sounds my speed." Ayla says. "Leave no stone unturned."

"Ah, damn. You got a useful consultation?" Nel groans. "Mine gave me a stupid tip like you'd see in a loading screen. Did you learn anything else, Ashe?"

"That's about it." You respond. "Nel, do you want to try scouting ahead? See if there's any danger on the upper floors, and if you can see the boss?"

"I can give it a shot... might even be able to map the place out, if I'm quick enough." He responds. "Be careful."

What will you do?
> Talk to the other party about identifying your weapon, and the girl's familiar.
> Talk to the other party about teaming up.
> Split up by twos and take down the Guardian Constructs on the upper floors.
> Stick together and go after the Guardian Constructs.

>>37765488
>Talk to the other party about identifying your weapon, and the girl's familiar.
> Talk to the other party about teaming up.
> Split up by twos and take down the Guardian Constructs on the upper floors.

>>37765488
>Stick together and go after the Guardian Constructs.

Though asking about the familiar would be a good way to start a conversation with them without offering to join forces. "Hey, sorry, just passing by, but I couldn't help but notice your bird..."

>>37765488
>Stick together and go after the Guardian Constructs.
focus on getting teamwork down and getting used to piking.

>>37765488
>> Talk to the other party about identifying your weapon, and the girl's familiar.
> Stick together and go after the Guardian Constructs.

>>37765488
> Stick together and go after the Guardian Constructs.

We already have a fair sized party. If the plan is still to fight the boss here, we should kill the trash mobs first.

I think I saw earlier that PvP is disabled in dungeons. Did I imagine that or is it the case?

>>37765488
>> Stick together and go after the Guardian Constructs.

Do the pikes need identifying out of curiosity?

>>37765596
If this was a dungeon or just a different area with different PvP rules then we'd get one of the UI notification thingies wouldn't we?

>>37765596
I think you're right

>>37765596
pvp was enabled every where, we have yet to see a spot where it isn't.

>>37765488
>> Stick together and go after the Guardian Constructs.
Make sure we're all still grouped up in case investigating the top floor and/or attacking Constructs pulls the Pegasus.

Also has the side-benefit of making sure the other party can't mess with a group of 2 while they're occupied with a Guardian on the off-chance they're actually hostile. Seems unlikely at this point, but better safe than sorry.

Maybe consider coming back and breaking the ice with the other group once we've got some initial recon done and know whether or not we'd be more comfortable facing down the area boss with a larger group. Or at least so we're not just silently walking past and eying each other suspiciously like a bunch of super-serious jerks.

>>37765596
“Guild Halls are near the housing district. Everything over there is a safe haven of sorts. You can't bust into houses uninvited, and PVP is disabled inside; it's only like that in houses and dungeons, that we've seen so far.” He says. “If one of the guilds took this territory, they'd reap all the rent from housing and decide how high the tax is; as it is now, they've set up an agreement to split it between themselves and put it towards the effort to reach the surface.”

>>37765745
Right, but are we in a dungeon? I figure >>37765618 has the right idea

>>37765488

"Let's clear out the Guardian Constructs on the upper floors so we don't have to deal with them later." Someone suggests. You move toward the first as a group, electing to wield your scimitar this time. It's dark on the upper cathedral floor, and there's an echo, a pronounced hollowness as you make your way inside.

> [[ Ancient Cathedral // PVP Disabled ]]

A ping; you recall you gain experience for discovering locations, but have yet to level again.

You can see down into the atrium through archways that line the long walkway. Nel is moving cautiously below, and it looks like he's got some kind of menu open on his UI. There's rows of stone benches, and the stomping hooves seem a bit louder, as you can hear them echoing around you.

You approach a Guardian Construct in the corner. Vision takes initiative, opening fire, and Tatsumaki makes her way forward. They've got its attention, and this time, you try to focus on the joints. It does appreciable damage; you don't carve right through the stone, but don't expect to.

> Ascheritte defeated Guardian Construct. [[ Party: Vision, Tatsumaki, Nel, Ayla ]]

There's one at each corner, and you probably have enough time to take all four out before Nel finishes.

> Try using the pickaxe again.
> Practice with the pike.
> Stick with the scimitar.

>>37765860
>Practice with the pike.

The spear is the only true weapon for heroes.

>>37765860
> Practice with the pike.

>>37765860
>Practice with the pike.

>>37765860
>> Practice with the pike.

>>37765860
>Practice with the pike.
Let's see how it goes.
Also, just checking, but we got experience for new location but didn't level from it, right?

>>37765860
> Practice with the pike.

>>37765860
>Pracitice with the pike

>>37765910

What does "A ping; you recall you gain experience for discovering locations, but have yet to level again." signify to you if not that?

>>37765954
What does 'just checking' signify to you if not that?

>>37765966
What does reading comprehension signify to you if not that?

>>37765860

"Really keen on using that thing, huh?" Vision asks.

"I'm gonna make it work." You respond, hefting your pike.

"Go for a charge," Ayla reccomends. "You can pin the next one before he's able to react."

> [[ 1d100 ]]

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>37766001

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>37766001
Charge!

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>37766001

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>37766001
NO FEAR!

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>37766001

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>37766001

>>37766010
>>37766013
>>37766014

Holy shit the dice in this thread hate us.

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>37766001

>>37766033
The dice gods want us to stop trying new weapons apparently

>>37766001

You rush forward, pike ready. The next soldier is one of sandstone, but seems brittle on the inside, as your weapon breaks through.

There's a pleasant sound of stone chips clattering to the ground. It's not dead yet, but you force him to the wall, trying to prevent another attack.

Tatsumaki leaps to your side, shattering the soldier's stone head with a haymaker and a high-pitched kiai.

> Tatsumaki defeated Guardian Construct. [[ Party: Vision, Ascheritte, Nel, Ayla ]]

From where you just left, you hear gunfire, as Ayla and Vision have formed a makeshift gun platform, firing at the third guardian in the adjacent corner. They manage to cut it down before it arrives.

> Ayla defeated Guardian Construct. [[ Party: Vision, Tatsumaki, Nel, Ascheritte ]]

"Not bad. Anything on 'em?" You ask, as you return.

"Just more of these goddamn spears and helmets." Vision sighs.

"It's alright," Ayla says. "There's bound to be something down here."

The four of you team up on the last Construct. There's a wooden double-door at the far end of the walkway that seems unlocked; it looks like it's been pushed slightly open.

> Go inside.
> Rendezvous with Nel.
> Wait until Nel's done, and have him investigate.
> Wait outside, and talk to the other party.

>>37766236
> Wait until Nel's done, and have him investigate.

>>37766236
> Wait until Nel's done, and have him investigate.

>>37766236
> Rendezvous with Nel.

>>37766236
>Loot all the spears and helmets if noone else wants them
We can potentially sell the helmets and the spears are worthy stockpiling to throw if that nameless outside is any indicator.
>Kill more constructs whilst waiting for Nel. If there's none around, practise swinging the pike around to get used to the feel of its weight

Exploring without the Explorer might not be the best idea.

>>37766236
>Wait until Nel's done, and have him investigate.
Do we have a non-broken stone helmet to try?

>>37766236
>> Wait until Nel's done, and have him investigate.
>> Wait outside, and talk to the other party.

>>37766367
>Do we have a non-broken stone helmet to try?
Try what?

>>37766236
> Wait until Nel's done, and have him investigate.
> Wait outside, and talk to the other party.
>message nel and get an update.

>>37766469
to equip it

>>37766236
>> Wait outside, and talk to the other party.

>>37766236

You stash a second pike, and give another to Tatsumaki, who's stored hers in her UI already. You swing the weapon around a bit, to get a feel for it; you wonder how effective a phalanx would be in this game, and are briefly amused by the thought.

> [[ UI Messenger - Nel ]]
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Are you done yet?
> [[ Nel ]]: 1sec
> [[ Nel ]]: ok
> [[ Nel ]]: i know where he is
> [[ Nel ]]: there's like an underground walkway down here
> [[ Nel ]]: and i think the atrium wall could open somehow
> [[ Nel ]]: if we lure the boss out here we'll probably have an easier time
> [[ Nel ]]: i think it would kill us in close quarters
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Point taken. Come up, there's a room we need you to check out.
> [[ Nel ]]: k omw :)

A little bit of time passes before he rounds the corner to the upper walkway and sees you through the arches from across the atrium. He begins to yell, but quiets himself and jogs over.

"There you guys are." He nods. "The area map isn't super useful, but I'll put it up in our party stuff."

"What did the boss look like?" You ask. "Get a good look?"

"It's an obsidian pegasus, alright. Looks like it's got hella wingspan." He responds. "No vital points, by the looks of it. It'll be a tough fight."

"Sounds like we'll have to chip away at the thing. I wasn't expecting anything else." Ayla says. "I've got an explosive, if we can stun or corner it."

"You didn't tell us about this?" Vision growls.

"I didn't think it'd be super important, sorry." She rolls her eyes. "It's not even that big."

"What did you guys need?" Nel asks.

"This room," You say, gesturing to the door. "Mind having a look inside?"

"On it. Watch my back, okay?" He says, and slips through the entrance.

> [[ 1/2 ]]

>>37766874

No noise from inside, and it's about two minutes before he returns, walking cautiously.

"Find anything, kid?" Vision asks.

"Nah..." He pauses, his voice breathy, and face a bit flush. A deep breath, hand pressed against his chest. "Just an empty chest. The door was open, right? I think the guys outside beat us to it. It's like, a library, maybe? There's some books and stuff, but they're all washed out..."

"You sure about that?" The gunner frowns.

> Suggest you get ready to take on the boss.
> Suggest investigating this room.
> Suggest meeting the others outside.
> Other.

>>37766893
>Suggest investigating this room.
Sound a little exasperated for "just an empty chest." I don't want any surprises during the pegasus fight.

>>37766893
>Suggest investigating this room.
Reckon he got some rare loot and is being quiet about it? His reaction is WAAAAY suspect

>>37766893
>Suggest investigating this room.
these guys are hiding something.

>>37766893
> Suggest investigating this room.
Maybe Ayla can take a look, might have invisible ink or something for the books. Besides we need to make sure nothing will spawn here and get us in the back.

>>37766893
> Suggest investigating.

Trade Nel the Explorer's Gear?

>>37766893
>Why are you so out of breath?

Yep. Totally an empty chest alright! No Celestial Gems or anything.

Time to fight our first boss.

>>37766893
>Suggest investigating this room.
Ask nel what else is there besides the gem?
Also mention that the gem does that to people.

>>37766936
>>37766930
>>37766921
>>37766919
I dunno, to me it sounds like he encountered another miniboss or something and had to high-tail it out of there. As we go in, I suggest keeping our eyes above and below us.
>>37766893

>>37766954
Hahah yeah, add a "It's alright Nel, that's how I felt when I was picking up a gem too." and watch his face for maximum giggles.

>>37766964
And he'd avoid mentioning this... why?

>>37766893
>He pauses, his voice breathy, and face a bit flush. A deep breath, hand pressed against his chest.
Sounds a bit like our boy found one of his own The Preciouses.

Or one of the library books was open to a particularly lascivious page and he's easily flustered. But I'd wager the former.

> Suggest investigating this room.
Even if it's just a library, there's bound to be something noteworthy about the cathedral lying around that Ayla might be able to make heads or tails of. Like what the hell Kjorikos might be.

>>37766986
Also something like this. C'mon, kid. We gotta at least be on the same page. We claimed a gem as loot earlier, and people were a bit disgruntled but ultimately okay with it. The only thing that's gonna get people on the warpath is trying to bogart that shit.

>>37766893


>>37766936
>>37766964
>>37766954
Is it bad that my first thought was the books were all porn?

I'll second >>37766954 and >>37766986

>>37767000
Probably because we know where a boss is, and are currently prepared to face it, and doesn't want to waste our resources by fighting an otherwise avoidable fight?

>>37767044
No, that's stupid and you're stupid for suggesting he'd say that. If that was the case he'd be upfront about it and probably wouldn't have dealt with it himself, favouring instead to call for help.

Assuming he DID we'd surely have heard noise indicative of such.

>>37766893
> Suggest you get ready to take on the boss.

>>37766893

"S'alright." You nod. You can't help but feel a bit jealous. "That's what picking up a Gem feels like."

He looks at you like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Another one?" Ayla and Vision speak in unison, the former with curiosity, the second with anger.

"Yes, okay." Nel responds.

"Two Celestial Gems between you already..." Ayla sighs. "Liza didn't use many more than that to create her Artifact, though she and her guild have worked on it a lot since. You could definitely have something minor conjured up, or boost something you already have..."

"Let me see it." Vision nods, extending a hand toward Nel.

"I don't think that would be for the best." Ayla intervenes, standing in his way. He groans. It seems to upset him again.

"But I promise," Nel says. "The chest was empty when I got there. No weapons, not even a cred-chip. This thing was wedged in the damn ceiling. I couldn't help it, I had to..."

"We know, don't worry." Ayla says. "We'll talk about it later, alright?"

"Yeah, okay."

> [[ 1/2 ]]

>>37767328

You push open the door and make your way into the room. The stone floor is cracked and damaged, and rows of broken and overturned bookshelves render the large area in aisles, some sort of derelict library. Books lie face-down in the floor, or stuck to shelves, caked in mold, and much of what's left looks like it's been burned or deliberately destroyed.

"I might take a few of these back. I don't think the developers would go as far as to make their own language..." Ayla kneels to inspect a moldy tome. If they could really affect your minds, they wouldn't have to. "But maybe some people at the hall would be interested."

You wander forward, noting a wide-open wooden lockbox at one end of the room. Above it, a very water-damaged painting on the wall depicts a lush landscape with light bursting forth from the ground; from the sky above, enormous creatures, dragons, dive down from the sky, besieging this underworld influence. There's spaces in the dust along the wall where you can see other paintings of similar size have been taken.

What will you do?
> Suggest you get ready to take on the boss.
> Suggest meeting the others outside.
> Other.

>>37767328
>Liza didn't use many more than that to create her Artifact
HUNDREDS, no, THOUASANDS of gems will be needed to make that stuff!
Said that Anon yesterday

>>37767342
> Suggest you take on the boss.

"Next gem goes to Vision, alright?" Pat the guy on the back.

>>37767342
>wander around room to see if we can feel the sensation of another gem anywhere
Just incase Nel wasn't thorough and there's more hidden around
>Check painting for a black pegasus
Might show people defeating it or failing to defeat it. We might infer its weaknesses or strengths from that
>Check that the other party are still waiting outside
Let's see if they've moved or not

>>37767342
Turn the place upside down, if nothing is found, go fight the mini boss.