Floor -Multiple - Front Line is Floor 39
October 13
Bladescape led Backbreaker, Joltron, Thunderborne, Astro, and Lessa to Agil’s shop. The small shop wouldn’t hold all of them, so the others were forced to wait outside while Bladescape went in alone.
“Hey! Be with you in a minute,” Agil greeted her. He was dealing with a customer. The guy was pouring over stats and weighing the options, so Agil tried to balance both of them. “What are you looking for? Or are you looking to sell?”
“Buy,” Bladescape said. “First priority is a knife or dagger. A One-Handed Daggerskill weapon.”
“You got the dagger or stats of the previous one?”
“Knightstar gave me a list of minimum required stats.”
“She always has you guys prepared.”
“She does. She knows the equipment better than we do. We depend on her for a lot, for better or for worse. I have a list of other stuff we need too. We are pretty wiped after getting our guild headquarters, but we need to look at equipment if we are to advance in the next few levels.”
“You guys scored-” Agil had to move back to his first customer. It took a little bit more time and then he finally made his purchase and departed.
“You guys have a guild headquarters now?” Agil asked, getting back to where he had left off.
“It’s right by the teleport gate in Mishe. It cost all we had, but it is a beautiful 5 story, 12 bedroom building with everything we need for crafting and relaxing. We can’t even furnish it at this point, but when that comes, it will be amazing. And Knightstar will have a place to do her consultations in private. That will be very nice.”
“Sounds like it. I might have to do a consultation just to check the place out. The KOB has their headquarters on Floor 25 right now. Floor 35 is a great location. It will last you guys quiet a while.”
“I hope so. I really don’t want to upgrade. They are expensive.”
“Out towards Floor 60 you may need to, just to keep up your presence. I’m already planning to upgrade out around Floor 50. It is expensive, but let’s talk business. I have a few knives in stock. I don’t buy a lot of them because few players carry them, but I do buy the good ones.”
Agil pulled up his shop menu and selected the knives. Bladescape had the list out and began comparing them. All three were right about the same, they only varied in a few balancing factors like Critical Damage and Attack Damage. Critical Damage was important to Bladescape, but she preferred the weapons with more Attack Damage. If you didn’t get a critical attack in, you at least got a higher attack, and the one she was looking at had an Attack Damage rating that was enticing to Bladescape.
Agil pulled the dagger out for Bladescape to look at. She knew it was right immediately. It was on the longer side with a slight curve to the single edged blade. While the knife was single edged, the tip was double edged for better stabbing. What really stood out was the colors. It was a soft yellow with pink accents that was just crying Fluttershy.
“Oh yeah,” Bladescape grinned. “Now that is perfect. We still need more though.”
Agil chuckled. “I can see the list. What is the rest you need?”
“Two-handed spear, two-handed axe, two-handed sword, one-handed curved blade, still looking for a better war hammer, a mace, two swords, and a one-handed axe, and several shields. I’ve got half the guild here. We are going to the boss labyrinth after this, but the others I will have to rely on feel. We are further behind than we want, so we are not going to worry about style and such right now.”
“I got a sword you will like,” Agil said playing with the menu. A blue accented steel blade popped onto the counter. It was a solid 2 handed sword and significantly better than her maxed out Iron Splitter, which Bladescape was still carrying. “It’s the best I got in shop and it just came in yesterday. I’ve not gotten anything better through my shop yet in that category.”
Bladescape felt the weight of it and smiled. She pulled up her menu and made a private purchase and sold Iron Splitter for a small pittance.
They found a better war hammer for Backbreaker. Astro got a new spear. There were no good maces for Diemond. Joltron was able to find a new axe but not a shield. Lessa upgraded her sword by quite a bit and with help from the guild got a new shield too. They did find a new axe for AFCK, a sword for Knightstar, and both Knightstar and Diemond got new shields. Diemond’s shield was significantly bigger than what she currently had, but it was in the direction she need to go as a tank.
With the shopping done, they headed to the Labyrinth. They were stopped on the way by an NPC who was being chased by a pack of wolves. They automatically jumped into action.
There were ten wolves and six of them. Plus they had to protect the NPC. Backbreaker was tasked with personally defending the NPC and the others began to pick them off. The wolves were savage and foaming at the mouth. Lessa got bit and she was soon taking poison damage. She killed the wolf and stumbled over to Backbreaker who had an anti poison crystal ready. It was too close for comfort. Lessa stayed back with Backbreaker as she worked to recover the health she had lost between the bite and the damage over time effect of the poison.
The wolves did not like Astro’s spear. Between her reach and Thunderborne protecting her inside her reach, they killed two in quick succession. Bladescape’s range gave her space, but it was not as much as she wanted.
Joltron killed one with his axe. “I love this new axe!” He declared before charging another wolf.
A wolf tried to outflank him but it stepped in between Bladescape and Joltron. She leaped at the wolf, impaling it and causing it to burst into the colorful polygons that made up everything in this world. A wolf leaped at Bladescape's back, so she activated Back Rush, a two handed sword Sword Skill that countered an attack from behind with a special spin. It hit right at the wolf’s neck, dealing critical damage and knocking off the last of it’s HP.
The reward for the wolves was pathetic. They gave only a handful of Col and next to nothing when it came to XP. The NPC was the real prize.
“Th-th-th-ank y-you,” she stammered. “I th-thought I-I was de-dead.”
“No problem,” Thunderborne said with a cocky grin and her rapier blade on her shoulder.
“We are always happy to help,” Bladescape added.
“I don’t have anything to give you,” she said without stammering. “I only have a little bit of information I can give you.”
“That’s fine,” Bladescape said. “What do you know?”
“The boss who guards the gate to the next Floor, there is a plant here that can be used to create a toxin. He is weak to any poison made from it. It is why he sends out his rabid wolves to hunt any who know about it, or who can make the poison.”
“Can you make this poison?” Bladescape asked.
“No,” she said, shaking her head vigorously.
“Is he weak to any other poisons?” Bladescape asked.
“May...maybe?” She said, shaking her head. She was still scared. "I really don't know anything other than he fears a plant on this floor that can be used to make poison."
“Thank you,” Bladescape smiled. “That is very important information. We will make good use of it in the upcoming battle.”
“Can you escort me home?”
“Of course,” Bladescape said. “We will get you home safe and sound. Let’s go.”
It was early afternoon by the time they got her back to her home in the city. They gave up on the labyrinth for the day and headed to kill Hill Giants with the others. Farming Col was important. It had taken up a decent chunk today, even though most of the equipment purchases were made through personal funds.
Everyone met up in the fields to get their new equipment.
“We need to have a meeting back at headquarters tonight,” Bladescape said. “We got some important intel to discuss, safely. But more importantly right now, new weapons!”
“Wow,” Doombunny said as she looked over her knife. “This is beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Bladescape replied.
“It is so me,” Doombunny squealed, with a bit of a squeak to the squeal.
“This is a good sword,” Knightstar said. “I like it too.”
“This shield is big,” Diemond said, with a tad bit of a whine. “But I guess I need it as a tank.”
“You got this Die,” Backbreaker assured her. “And these Hill Giants are the perfect creatures to get ourselves familiar with our new weapons.”
“We all have plenty to get used to,” Bladescape said. “So let’s get to it. Tomorrow we can all hit the Labyrinth!”
They all yelled “Go Wondercolts” and charged off to attack the Hill Giants. Their new equipment made an obvious difference as they cut down the giants quicker than before. AFCK stopped trying to help Doombunny and Colorra tackle the giants. Together they were the fastest team.
They switched up parties and Bladescape left Doombunny by herself in a party. She wanted her to reap the full XP benefits, as well as the Col. Doombunny had paid the guild back 80% of the cost of the dagger. It was helpful after the cost of their Headquarters.
They got back to their headquarters well after dark. They had reaped a good amount from the day's work. They immediately began the important meeting. The others sat in the few chairs they had, while Bladescape, Knightstar, and Backbreaker took their seats at the head of the room. Thunderborne and Astro were straddling their chairs so they were resting their arms and chins on the backrest.
“We got some important intel on the boss,” Bladescape stated. “We ran into an NPC being attacked by wolves in the woods. She could only give us information in return for our assistance. She said the boss is weak to a poison found in a plant here on Floor 39.”
“That is helpful,” Knightstar said. “If we can poison our weapons, then we can do some serious damage to the Boss.”
“But none of us have poison skills,” Diemond said. “Why would any of us have such an ugly skill like that?”
“Excuse me,” Doombunny quietly said. No one heard her.
“Besides,” Diemond continued. “Shouldn’t we give everyone this information for the next boss fight?”
“Or we could keep it and give ourselves an edge,” Astro said.
“Excuse me,” Doombunny said again.
“Argo probably has dug that info up,” Knightstar said. “I haven’t gotten a guide yet. I’ve been doing some calculations for her in exchange for the guide.”
“Girls?” Doombunny tried.
“I don’t have an answer,” Bladescape said. “But a good part of me wants to hold onto it and wait. Just wait and see how the Labyrinth plays out.”
“Hello? Can anyone hear me?” Doombunny asked.
“We do need to secure a poison maker,” Bladescape said. “Knightstar, can you get a hold of one through Argo?”
“Oh shoot,” Doombunny sighed, giving up.
“She probably has a few names that could help us,” Knightstar said. “But I am not sure how many players are focusing on poison. That is a concerning skill to have.”
“EEEYAAAAA!” Knightstar screamed as Colorra jumped onto the table in front of her, mouth open but not hissing. Knightstar’s jump sent her tumbling backwards her chair. Bladescape was immediately helping her up from the tumble.
“Doom, is there something you wanted to say?” Bladescape asked. “Colorra doesn’t just leave your side to randomly scare players. Especially us.”
“No,” Doombunny softly said. “Oh, I mean yes. There is. I just hit Level 50 today, and my new skill I chose was Drug Mixing. Colorra and I have been planning it ever since she became my familiar. It only makes sense with her natural poison for me to be ready to use it. I should be able to distill enough to coat our blades for the boss battle.”
“Wow,” Thunderborne said.
“That’s wonderful!” Diemond praised. “That is a great, non nasty reason to train poison skills. It only makes sense.”
“It does,” Bladescape affirmed.
“Can I go cook now?” AFCK asked, whining. “I’m hungry.”
“Go,” Bladescape chuckled. “But for now, the boss info stays sealed behind our lips. And Doombunny having a poison skill needs to stay very private.”
They all agreed and the others left. Backbreaker and Knightstar stayed at the table with Bladescape. It was obvious she had something on her mind.
“You have something on your mind,” Backbreaker said to Bladescape.
“I do,” Bladescape solemnly nodded. “Doombunny needs to be with me and you BB, tomorrow in the Labyrinth. We need to see exactly what she can do. I think she needs to be in this Floor's Boss Battle. If Colorra can bite the Floor Boss with poison, it should be able to do major damage. The only problem is that I am pretty sure the rabid wolves we fought to save the NPC are going to be there.”
“Then it will be you three in a party alone,” Knightstar said. “I think the three of you can handle it. Kiefer can handle leading Astro, Joltron, and Thunderborne. The rest of us can be a third. Evaluate Doombunny and get her confident and ready to be in that battle.”
Bladescape (SS): Lvl 55 – Two-Handed Sword – Search – Weapon Defense – Leather Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Sprint – Acrobatics
Knightstar (TS): Lvl 49 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Equipment Appraisal – Parry – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor
Thunderborne (RBD): Lvl 50 – Rapier – Sprint – Acrobatics – Armor Pierce – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Leather Armor – Weapon Defense
Backbreaker (AJ): Lvl 53 – Heavy Shield – One-Handed War Hammer – Extended Weight Carry – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Fishing – Search
AFCK (PP): Lvl 49 – Two-Handed Axe – Parry – Cooking – Weapon Defense – Martial Arts – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor
Diemond (R): Lvl 50 – Shield – Mace – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Heavy Metal Armor – Tailoring – Light Metal Armor Forging – Heavy Metal Armor Forging
Doombunny (FS): Lvl 50 – One-Handed Dagger – First Aid – Hide – Search – Listening – Battle Regeneration – Fighting Spirit – Familiar Communication (Colorra) – Drug Mixing
Astro (PS): Lvl 50 – Two-Handed Spear - Purchase Negotiation – Armor Pierce – Acrobatics – First Aid – Light Metal Armor – Battle Regeneration – Weapon Defense
Kiefer: Lvl 46 – One-Handed Curved Blade – Parry – Weapon Defense – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Slash Weapon Forging
Lessa: Lvl 46 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Light Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Equipment Repair – Metal Equipment Repairing
Joltron: Lvl 47 – One handed Axe – Shield – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Metal Refining – Blunt Weapon Forging