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larren IS
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Post by icarus on Nov 24, 2016 16:35:31 GMT -6
| | He cradled his beer and wished, for the thousandth time, that he could get drunk in this stupid game.
The sun had set a couple of hours ago and most players had gone to find their beds, a few groups here and there still lingering over conversation. Icarus was one of the few entirely on his own, shamelessly occupying a table that could sit four, preferring to watch the flames lick at the huge open fireplace than try to force a conversation with one of the premade groups.
It was strange to be in such a tiny village after spending weeks in the Town of Beginnings. His excitement of being somewhere new had quickly worn off when he’d realised he could see all the sights in about ten minutes, walking slowly, and he’d spend the rest of the afternoon and early evening cloistered in the tavern with a collection of drinks and food. His col situation had improved enough that he no longer had to worry too much about what he was ordering, though he’d likely blow through his accumulated savings in a couple of days if he kept it up at this pace. No rest for the wicked; he’d need to be back out hunting mobs and seeking out quests in the morning if he wanted any hope of catching up with the players still irritatingly out of reach.
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Last Edit: Nov 24, 2016 16:45:37 GMT -6 by icarus
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LV 3
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HP: 375
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STR: 0 (+44)
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DEX: 5 (+12)
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CON: 0 (+55)
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n/a IS
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Post by Ruler on Nov 27, 2016 17:11:29 GMT -6
|  | HP: 375/375 | STR: 0 (+39) | DEX: 4 (+12) | DMG: +33 |
Ruler'd spotted the man early in the afternoon, when he'd arrived at Horunka earlier that day.
Eight hours and twenty minutes later, the man was still sitting there, with an impressive collection of emptied bottles and cleaned out plates.
The boy took the seat opposite Icarus. He shoved aside some of Icarus's bottles and set his plate down with an expression as sour as umeboshi. "The entire place's full. Don't you think it's rude to take such a large table by yourself?"
He gestured to the two people who squatted by the wall, plates on their laps and tired looks on their faces.
The space Ruler'd vacated between them still lingered.
"Seriously."
The rank smell of alcohol hung all around the table. The man didn't look drunk, but maybe drinking enough built up a tolerance, or it was one of those things Aincrad just didn't allow.
The boy took a bite of his dinner, and was promptly reminded he hated potatoes. made by: n/a from link-start |
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LV 3
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HP: 155
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STR: 3 (+23)
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DEX: 2 (+67)
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CON: 0 (+11)
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larren IS
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Post by icarus on Nov 27, 2016 17:33:53 GMT -6
| | “Oh, I’m sorry.” He wasn’t, but he’d found apologies – sincere or not – tended to smooth things over far faster than trying to defend an action that had been greedy. “I didn’t see them there. They should have asked me to move, I’d have been more than happy to.”
He did notice that the other player hadn’t done anything to help the other two players either, and had simply taken the space for himself. Perhaps not as much of a white knight as he tried to come across. Icarus eyed him, noting that he was far better geared than most players around here. Maybe it was worth his time to try buttering him up, though they hadn’t got off to the best start.
“I’m Icarus,” he offered, with a smile. “Nice to have some company. Seems like most people are starting to find permanent groups already.” Or already knew people from real life or other games.
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LV 3
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HP: 375
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STR: 0 (+44)
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DEX: 5 (+12)
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CON: 0 (+55)
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n/a IS
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Post by Ruler on Nov 27, 2016 18:25:51 GMT -6
| | HP: 375/375 | STR: 0 (+39) | DEX: 4 (+12) | DMG: +33 |
Ruler doubted Icarus would've obliged, but he said nothing of it. Wasn't up to him to judge anyway, and he'd always quietly scorned the rule that one person sitting at a table for two should never be joined.
"Mmm. I guess. Like-minded people cling together, etcetera." Like him and Farmsalot, though Ruler'd object heavily to being 'grouped' with anyone.
Most of his party members were allies of the moment, quick alliances to overcome common obstacles.
He struggled to imagine just how they might feel about him. Was he a pain? Did they value his presence? Questions he had asked countless times, but no amount of rumination yielded answers.
He slammed his fork onto the table, regretting the force of it, and stared at Icarus.
"Anyway... I'm Ruler. Have you tried any of the groups running around, looking for allies?"
Permanent parties with the aspiration of creating 'guilds', whatever those were. Something like gilded gold, maybe? Was it a crafting thing?
Ruler didn't understand the game lingo at all. made by: n/a from link-start |
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LV 3
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HP: 155
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STR: 3 (+23)
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DEX: 2 (+67)
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CON: 0 (+11)
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larren IS
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Post by icarus on Nov 28, 2016 1:38:02 GMT -6
| | “Nice to meet you then.”
If Ruler was looking for someone who might be more knowledgeable about the game’s terms, he was looking in the wrong place. This was Icarus’s first MMO, and he hadn’t even read up on it that much before trying it out for the first time. All he knew came from the beginner’s manual, but it mostly focused on the game’s individual quirks, assuming whoever was reading it had a basic understanding of games in general. He didn’t.
“I’ve grouped with a few people.” Most he’d stayed in a party with only long enough to finish the quest, though he had ended up with a few of them on his friends list. Gran, in particular, was one player he intended to spend more time with, as she seemed to be his ticket to the big leagues. Others…maybe not, unless they somehow managed to level and gear faster than him. Possible, but he liked to think it was unlikely. “Nobody I’ve spent more than a day with. How about you? Not been tempted to stick to playing with a couple of people you like?”
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HP: 375
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STR: 0 (+44)
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DEX: 5 (+12)
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Post by Ruler on Nov 28, 2016 9:03:16 GMT -6
icarus ; Ruler habitually sometimes mumbles his thoughts. | | HP: 375/375 | STR: 0 (+39) | DEX: 4 (+12) | DMG: +33 |
Ruler indifferently rolled one of his potatoes around the plate. He was a Japanese person, so why was he having potatoes? He wanted rice.
His brows creased and Ruler stared at the ceiling.
"I've... grouped a few times with a few guys, and I suppose we're friends, but..." On the whole, Ruler felt like he spent most of his time by himself.
Unless you counted his good friend the forge. Then he was never alone. He doubted anyone'd count the forge.
Ruler had always felt the rules to friendships were needlessly complex. The moment you became someone's friend, you had to support them in everything they did. Even if you disagreed.
He'd found a lot of his classmates disagreeable at some point, so the idea of maintaining one-sided friendships was absurd to him.
"The way people think period is weird," he mumbled unintentionally. He stuck the last potato in his mouth.
Disgusting.
"I wish Kayaba'd at least had the decency to introduce more Japanese food to the game." made by: n/a from link-start
Last Edit: Nov 28, 2016 9:05:12 GMT -6 by Ruler
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LV 3
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HP: 155
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STR: 3 (+23)
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DEX: 2 (+67)
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CON: 0 (+11)
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larren IS
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Post by icarus on Nov 28, 2016 12:28:50 GMT -6
| | Well, he’d certainly stumbled on the game’s most social, and mentally balanced, player. Still, if he had nobody he would particularly call friend, maybe it left an easy gap for Icarus to insert himself. “You seem like a decent guy, I’m sure you’ll find people you like.”
“I don’t mind the food, though I wish there was more variety.” He’d been bored of Japenese food after the first few months, and missed the more European cooking he’d enjoyed at home. Finding a good steak and chips had been almost impossible, and Yorkshire puddings...he’d not even met anyone who knew what they were. He’d not even really noticed that it was strange that a Japanese game didn’t have traditional food. “Why not pick up cooking? You might be able to make something more Japanese.”
Maybe the kid had tried already, though it seemed odd that he’d be eating the bland inn meal if he was capable of making something better.
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HP: 375
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STR: 0 (+44)
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DEX: 5 (+12)
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CON: 0 (+55)
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n/a IS
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Post by Ruler on Nov 28, 2016 13:05:04 GMT -6
| | HP: 375/375 | STR: 0 (+39) | DEX: 5 (+12) | DMG: +33 |
Ruler grimaced involtunarily, and not because of the potato he chewed. He swallowed the disgusting tuber, and stared at Icarus momentarily.
"... I'm already full up on skills. No slots." It'd be too embarrassing to admit he hadn't even realised there was a cooking skill until it was already too late.
Giving up on either Searching or Crafting was simply not an option. Not one he wanted to entertain right now, anyway.
The next skill slot would have to be occupied by something more combat-worthy, but Ruler was seriously considering cooking for the ease.
"Usually the food's tolerable, I just hate potatoes." He pushed his emptied plate away, then changed his mind and piled it onto the others.
"So where're you from? Your Japanese sounds weird." And that flashy blonde hair was probably not dyed, or he was a yankee gangster. made by: n/a from link-start |
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LV 3
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HP: 155
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STR: 3 (+23)
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DEX: 2 (+67)
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CON: 0 (+11)
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larren IS
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Post by icarus on Nov 28, 2016 13:46:43 GMT -6
| | “There’s a limit?” Showed how many skills he’d purchased so far; he’d only picked up the basic crafting license because it was free, and free stuff was always appreciated. “Huh. Maybe I’ll need to plan out what I take a little differently then.”
Though if he was full on slots, that probably meant he’d taken useful things. Right? Combat skills, preferably, so that he’d be even better at carrying Icarus through in the fantasy questing that was currently playing in his head. He had it all mapped out. He’d been on the lookout for someone who’d be able to take on the dire wolves without putting Icarus in danger. “What did you decide to go for?”
Not surprising when the guy commented on his Japenese. Most people did, though he’d found himself becoming far more fluid with the language with each day he spent in the game. Came from having to speak it all the time, he supposed. “I’m from England. Was in Japan on my gap year, before I got stuck here.” Ruler, clearly, was Japanese.
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HP: 375
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DEX: 5 (+12)
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Post by Ruler on Nov 28, 2016 14:23:55 GMT -6
| | HP: 375/375 | STR: 0 (+39) | DEX: 5 (+12) | DMG: +33 |
Ruler hadn't ever met someone from England before. Not to his knowledge, at least. He supposed it was possible, considering how many people played the game of different nationalities.
The world was rife with people who loved Japan, and when those combined with the first VRMMO released ever, it wasn't too surprising foreigners would want to play it.
From his words, though, it sounded like he was an exchange student. At his school? Ruler wasn't sure. He hadn't paid any attention to exchange students, let alone foreign ones.
"I'm a crafter, so I have weapon crafting maxed out. Or, well... as far as it goes, I guess." Progress was stunted for now. Almost like progression was locked.
"I also have Searching, since I figure it's useful to know where the monsters are... So cooking'd be out of the question."
His next choice was going to be Sprint if he met the requirements by the time a new skill slot opened up. It was that or Hiding, though Ruler doubted the latter'd fit him and would be useful.
"So what about you, huh? You look like the sort for... I wouldn't know." Probably something gaudy and flashy. made by: n/a from link-start |
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LV 3
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HP: 155
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STR: 3 (+23)
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DEX: 2 (+67)
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CON: 0 (+11)
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larren IS
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Post by icarus on Nov 28, 2016 14:48:12 GMT -6
| | “Oh. Crafting sounds cool.” Not quite as useful as combat skills were to him, but maybe if the guy was a max level crafter he could still be useful to Icarus. He’d just commissioned armour, but maybe next time…or maybe he was a weapons crafter. That would be convenient. “Did you make that armour yourself then?”
What skills did he want to take? He still hadn’t entirely decided, or even researched it that much. “I’m thinking about taking music,” he answered, with a grin. “Seems like it could come in useful to lower mob aggro.” Totally wasn’t about it letting him stick to the back lines and not have to risk his life in combat. He’d found hardly any players investing in it, and he reckoned he could spin the usefulness of it enough to get him invited to higher level parties. A share of the loot without taking any of the risk? Sounded like a good time to him.
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HP: 375
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STR: 0 (+44)
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DEX: 5 (+12)
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CON: 0 (+55)
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n/a IS
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Post by Ruler on Nov 28, 2016 14:58:26 GMT -6
| | HP: 375/375 | STR: 0 (+39) | DEX: 5 (+12) | DMG: +33 |
Ruler shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
"No, a friend made my armour." A friend who'd left him hanging for a high-five, but Ruler'd thought about it and it was entirely possible Farmsalot was simply not the sort who gave out high fives.
Older people were sometimes terrible about understanding those kind of gestures.
Music was the sort of skill Ruler'd wanted to be good at, but the only instrument he loved and that loved him back was the piano. He hadn't seen one yet in Aincrad, and playing the piano in the middle of a dungeon field felt impractical.
"Music, huh? Well, um..." He gestured a server closer, rapidly ordering a drink. "I think I'd rather have someone who can handle a bunch of hits than... whatever lowering mob aggro does."
He knew aggro was whether a monster was inclined to attack you or not, but Ruler couldn't imagine twanging the guitar, praying for music would be at all useful.
Unless it'd just cause all the boars to ignore you, but even then it meant you missed out on drops, col and experience. And he somehow doubted you could clear the floors just playing some music. Still...
"Well, I guess it could come in handy if it'd let you navigate the labyrinth without problem."
Maybe the guy could be useful, but... "You'd have to be equipped for it, though. Gotta carry your weight." made by: n/a from link-start |
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LV 3
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HP: 155
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STR: 3 (+23)
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DEX: 2 (+67)
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CON: 0 (+11)
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larren IS
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Post by icarus on Nov 28, 2016 15:57:25 GMT -6
| | “He did a good job. It looks good.” He swept an admiring gaze over the player’s stuff, hoping his own would make him stand out enough to be inspired. Goryo’s previous work made him pretty confident it would be – he just was bad at waiting.
He shrugged at Ruler’s criticism of the skill. “I haven’t taken it yet, so maybe I’ll end up choosing something else. I just want to try to be helpful.” Big fat lie, but he guessed it could be seen that way. Lowering aggro would have party-wide benefits.
“Yeah, I know. Got some gear commissioned, just waiting for it to be finished. Just need someone to craft me a sword and I’ll be set, I hope.” His quest for a new sword had yet to bear fruit. The few weapons crafters he’d approached had either been entirely useless or ridiculously overpriced, so he’d had to make do with the crappy five damage one he’d purchased from an NPC shop. He’d find what he was looking for eventually.
"Are you planning on going into the labyrinth then?" Bingo.
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HP: 375
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STR: 0 (+44)
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DEX: 5 (+12)
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CON: 0 (+55)
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n/a IS
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Post by Ruler on Nov 29, 2016 11:01:03 GMT -6
| | HP: 375/375 | STR: 0 (+39) | DEX: 5 (+12) | DMG: +33 |
Ruler swelled with substitute pride at his friend's handiwork. It was a really cool armour, and it was pretty strong, too. His dexterity left something to be desired, but Ruler'd decided to pour everything into dexterity anyway.
At some point, he'd swap to rapiers. If only he could find a sword instructor!
He nodded to Icarus's admission to maybe looking elsewhere, though he figured it was probably just politeness. Most people were set in their ways, and maybe mob aggro would be something really important later on.
At the mention of a sword, Ruler perked up.
"Forget the labyrinth, I can craft you swords." He drained the lemonade the server brought immediately. "All the swords. Great swords. You want one? I craft you one."
Make some money, too. Money was important. It'd let him be prepared for any eventuality, and also let him live like a King in France.
made by: n/a from link-start |
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LV 3
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HP: 155
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STR: 3 (+23)
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DEX: 2 (+67)
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CON: 0 (+11)
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larren IS
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Post by icarus on Nov 30, 2016 1:51:07 GMT -6
| | He crafted swords? Icarus perked up with interest, fingers curling around the cool glass of his current beverage, fingers leaving marks on the frosted glass. Although…he’d met plenty of people who claimed to be fantastic crafters, only to make sub-par weaponry. He’d have to make sure the guy was actually decent first – though he had mentioned he’d maxed out crafting as far as was currently probably.
“I’d definitely be interested in a sword,” he started, bright eyes fixed on Ruler now that he was someone of immediate value to Icarus. “I don’t really know much about crafting though. How much do they cost?” The mention of weaponry was quickly sliding this conversation into a business transaction, but he doubted the generic, half-meant compliments would be much missed. Ruler seemed far more excited to be talking about swords.
He took another swig of beer, eyes never leaving Ruler. This must be fate.
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