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// Commercial Break One 
// Story: EQG: Sword Art Online - Ruby Palace 
// by Mindrop 
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Twenty-six episodes, ignoring the pilot episodes (and vignettes). I was able to keep time skips low, never skipping a floor, before this point, but after this there will be some bigger ones. There is only so much that can be written before you have to move on. Floor 4 is cool with the waterway, but ultimately is boring and an entirely Kirito centric floor.
 
The reason for the “commercial breaks” is to drop some info on the readers, if you desire, that I can’t pack into the end of the chapters, or in the chapters themselves. For instance, there are new skills unlocked and some new equipment from the boss fight. I’ll start with the timeline, then run some guild info and then more detailed character stats, info, and such.
 



December 4 — Illfang the Kobold Lord is beaten. Diavel, the organizer, is the only casualty. The Last Attack Bonus (LAB) goes to Kirito. Kirito becomes a “Beater” or Beta Tester + Cheater. Natora also gets the name applied to her.
December 8 — Konpeito completes the Martial Arts Quest.
December 9 — The 2nd Floor Field Boss, the Bullbous Bow, is defeated. Lind scores the LAB.
December 14 — 10 days after opening the 2nd Floor, Asterius the Taurus King is defeated. Kirito scores the LAB.
December 15 — The Wondercolts become the first guild in Aincrad.
December 16 — The 3rd Floor Field Boss, The Indolent Treant, is defeated by all 11 Wondercolts. Bladescape scores the LAB.
December 20 — Nerious the Evil Treant is beaten, unlocking the 4th floor. Konpeito scores the LAB.
December 24 — The 4th Floor’s Field Boss, Biceps Archelon, is defeated.
December 25 — Almost everyone continues with clearing the 4th Floor. Few players feel like celebrating. The Wondercolts have no owned property to throw a celebration at, if they even would. Like many players, many didn’t care.
December 27 — The 4th Floor Boss, Wythege The Hippocampus, is beaten.
 



Guilds: Each Guild registers their name and a 2-4 shorthand to display. They have a customized emblem that appears next to their name and HP bar for others to see. The emblem also appears next to their Name/HP Bar in a party and on their menu’s main screen.
Contract Scroll: The leader of the guild has the “Contract Scroll”, with which they can run administrative access to the guild. Permission can be given to other members of the scroll. Most importantly, the vault/taxes can be accessed through the scroll.
Guild Features:



Common storage for members to easily share items. Cannot be opened inside a dungeon. Guilds without a Guild HQ with a proper store room have limited space, as without a store room, all items are “held” by the guild master separately from their normal inventory. With a store room, items deposited through menus are automatically placed within, and items manually placed within are automatically added to the inventory. Assigning items and item-types to containers and shelves placed within a store room can automatically organize them. 

Members can track fellow members, unless the member is in a dungeon.

Guild members can send more frequent short messages between each other with slightly longer message lengths. Does not work inside dungeons.

When guild members are in the same party, they receive a slight boost to their stats.

Guilds can purchase their own guild headquarters, which is different from player-owned houses or businesses, and can only be accessed by guild members unless an outsider is let in.

Guild members are automatically taxed whenever they earn income which goes into the guild’s vault.


 
Known Guilds:
Wondercolts: WCS — Led by Bladescape, Natora, and Knightstar, they are a strong but small guild of close-knit friends. A big player in clearing. Their colors are Navy Blue and Gold.
Dragon Knights Brigade: DKB —  led by Lind who is carrying on the spirit of Diavel, the deceased leader of the first boss battle. One of the main clearing guilds. 24+ members at least level 10. Their colors are silver and blue.
Aincrad Liberation Squad: ALS — led by Kibaou. The ALS has no (official) dealings with any beta testers, hates the beta testers, particularly those players labeled “Beaters” such as Kirito, Natora, and Argo. They are the other main clearing guild. 24+ members at least level 9. Colors are forest green and steel gray.
 



Important Players:
Agil: (Solo) Shop owner. Motto – Buy Low Sell Low. Age 27. Often runs with the “Bro Squad”; four men in their late twenties and early thirties, who, like Agil, are all veteran gamers and run a business inside the game while helping clear on the side.
Kirito: (Solo) Beater (Beta tester & Cheater) who wears all black. Age 14. One of the top players. Claims many of the Last Attack Bonuses. Although he is technically solo, he often is seen with Asuna.
Asuna: (Solo) Age 15. Extremely quick with a rapier. She usually wears a red cloak over her armor, earning her the nickname from the Wondercolts of “Red Riding Hood”. She is known for her most stunning feature, her long, orange-brown chestnut hair which has a braid above her ears that joins in the back and keeps her long hair under it.
Argo: (Solo) Information broker with painted whiskers on her face, earning her the nickname: The Rat. Former Beta Tester/Beater, she works to tackle the quests that will yield information about the field and floor bosses so she can pass it onto the clearers. Rumored to sell her own stats or grandmother for the right Col, however, she will not sell the names of the Beta Testers.
 
WONDERCOLTS:
Except for Doombunny, everyone wears a Wondercolts Cape made by Diemond. Many of the armor pieces have been enhanced when possible, but a uniformed look has not been established yet because Diemond can’t make useful armor. Some items are store bought or generic from drops.
 
Bladescape (Sunset Shimmer): Level 20 — 4460 HP
Two-Handed Sword — 120/1000
Search — 220/1000
Weapon Defense — 90/1000
Leather Armor — 63/1000
First Aid — Acquired
Weapon: Treant Broadsword
Armor: Ancient Leather Chest Plating +7
Gloves: Gloves of Quickness +4  (2% delay reduction)
Boots: Polished Hunting Boots +2 (black)
Belt: Blue Leather Belt (Made by Diemond)
Helmet: Silver Sagacity Circlet (Boosts Search)
Ring #1: Treant’s Heart (Defense +5)
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
The Treant Broadsword: Is a two-handed sword with a wooden crossguard, handle, and pommel that are all one piece. The crossguard is two branches and the handle is the twisted wood trunk that ends in a bulb that was the start of the roots, but sanded down smooth. The twist in the wood gives the handle a good grip.
 
Ancient Leather Chest Plating: Is weathered and worn, with faded impressions of very elaborate decorations that had once been stamped into the hardened leather pieces. It almost looks like bronze armor, but the color isn’t uniform due to the wear and tear of the ages.
 
Silver Sagacity Circlet: is a silver circlet with a blue gemstone that matches Sunset’s eyes in the center. The silver is expertly woven into a beautiful pattern that is both delicate and strong.
 
Natora (Ota Natsuki): Level 20 — 4168 HP
Two-Handed Spear — 117/1000
Purchase Negotiations — 320/1000
Sales Negotiations — 268/1000
Weapon Defense — 63/1000
Light Metal Armor — 0/1000
Weapon: Branching Yari
Armor: Combat Chainmail Set
Gloves: Ancient Lancer’s Bracers +4 (prevents arms from being severed)
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
Branching Yari: A two-handed spear with a long, straight yari spear tip on a straight shaft which looks like a branch.
 
The combat Chainmail set is a custom ordered armor. It includes a chainmail shirt, chausses, a chainmail coif, steel reinforced with leather gauntlets, steel pauldrons, and an open faced helmet with a full visor that can be raised or lowered. A navy blue surcoat is worn over it with a gold leather belt.
 
Knightstar (Twilight Sparkle): Level 20 — 4080 HP
One-Handed Sword — 213/1000
Shield — 216/1000
Light Metal Armor — 106/1000
Appraisal — 239/1000
First Aid — Acquired
Weapon: Treant Longsword
Shield: Iron-edged Targe
Armor: Ancient Chainmail shirt +4
Helmet: Ancient Barbuta Helmet +4
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
The Treant Longsword: Is a one-handed sword with a wooden crossguard, handle, and pommel that are all one piece. The crossguard is two branches and the handle is the twisted wood trunk that ends in a bulb that was the start of the roots, but sanded down smooth. The twist in the wood gives the handle a good grip.
 
Malus (Applejack): Level 20 — 4390 HP
One-Handed War Hammer — 240/1000
Shield — 260/1000
Heavy Metal Armor — 26/1000
First Aid — Acquired
Extended Weight Carry — 0/1000
Weapon: Ancient Telmarine War Hammer (2T2H2D1A - Finished Product)
Shield: Ironwood Hoplon
Armor: Steel Plates - store bought
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
The Telmarine War Axe has a griffon embossed on the side of the head and orange leather grip.
 
Ironwood Hoplon is a large wooden shield that looks like the cross section of a tree, with the rings clearly showing. It currently is the largest shield in Aincrad, but it still is only 36 inches in diameter.
 
Thunderborne (Rainbow Dash): Level 20 — 4055 HP
Rapier — 115/1000
Sprint — 316/1000
Acrobatics — 297/1000
Weapon Defense — 68/1000
Weapon: Ancient Wind Fleuret rapier +7 (2S1A2D2S), several iron rapiers as backup.
Armor: Ancient Chainmail Shirt +4Boots: Ironwalker’s Boots +4 (speed and agility boost)
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
Konpeito (Pinkie Pie): Level 20 — 4210 HP
Two-Handed Axe — 122/1000
Cooking — 324/1000
Weapon Defense — 140/1000
Light Metal Armor — 86/1000
Martial Arts — 96/1000
First Aid — Acquired 
Weapon: Thicket's Bane
Armor: Ancient Chainmail of Durin (+7)
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
Thicket's Bane: An axe with a full circle blade like it was a metal tree, with rings, and had been sliced out and sharpened. The handle is twisted wood to give it a good grip.
 
Diemond (Rarity): Level 20 — 4320 HP
One-Handed Mace — 196/1000
Shield — 242/1000
Sewing — 324/1000
Heavy Metal Armor — 6/1000
First Aid — Acquired
Weapon: Engraved Mace
Shield: Tolbana Round Shield
Armor: Steel Plates - store bought
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
Doombunny (Fluttershy): Level 20 — 4060 HP
One-Handed Dagger — 153/1000
Hide — 371/1000
Fighting Spirit 139/1000
Blade Throwing — 165/1000
First Aid — Acquired
Weapon: Ancient Kissaki-moroha Tanto (6Q1A1D), Shepherd Seax (2D2S2A2Q)
Throwing Knives: Player made
Armor: Duster's Cloak (Boost Hide and Search)
 
The Duster's Cloak boosts both the Hide and Search Skills, while also providing great defensive stats for a classless armor piece. Doombunny can easily wrap herself in its folds and the center slit becomes indistinguishable when she secures it with the hidden buttons and loops. It is almost as if she is wrapped in a dusty tan curtain. With the hood up, it puts a shadow over her face, making it hard for anyone to see it. It also is light enough that she can sweep it behind her shoulders like a cape if it is in the way. It even has a button and loop hidden under the cloak that can secure it open behind her for battle.
 
Kiefer: Level 15 — 3087 HP
Katana — 86/1000
Slash-Weapon Forging — 0/1000
Light Metal Armor — 68/1000
Weapon Defense — 45/1000
Weapon: Boreal Katana
Armor: Ancient Cuirass of Verity +4
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
Soryuto: Level 14 — 2910 HP
One-Handed Sword — 111/1000
Shield — 106/1000
Heavy Metal Armor — 10/1000
Music — 17/1000
Weapon: Trent Longsword
Shield: Iron-edged Targe
Armor: Ancient Chainmail Shirt
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.
 
Reisenki: Level 15 — 3200 HP
One-Handed Axe — 192/1000
Shield — 168/1000
Light Metal Armor — 76/1000
Equipment Repair — 34/1000
Weapon: Woodsman's Hatchet
Shield: Steel Square shield
Armor: Heavy Steel Plates - store bought
Wondercolts Cape: a navy blue cape trimmed in gold.