//------------------------------// // Violence, Experience, and Bits // Story: Fancy Meeting YOU here... // by Unbound Bass //------------------------------// Octavia walked behind her two friends as they chatted about strategies to fight some boss monster or something. She honestly wasn't listening to a word they said even the ones directed towards her. She was lost in thought. She was snapped out of it when Brass waved a hoof in front of her. "Hey Octavia! We're here!" Brass' previous enthusiasm returning after he had gotten over the choking fiasco. Octavia silently looked around and saw an open field crawling with woodland animals. She noticed wolves were prowling around dominately. She looked at her two companions. "This is the training ground of sorts...for new players like you," Tuning Fork said simply. "So I just mull around here and K-kill things?" Octavia asked. The thought of her having to slay something even if it was virtual was not a thought she liked. "Yes ma'am!" Screeched the golden pegasus Who had turned to leave. "Where are you going?" Octavia asked. She didn't want to be left alone with these filthy wolves. "Sorry Octavia, these guys are too weak for us. We are going here..." Tuning Fork said as he marked it on her map. "Okay then...." Was the only thing Octavia could muster. "Bye Octavia." The two said in unison as they trotted off to their own hunting grounds. Octavia stood completely still. The thought of fighting those enemies, even if they are meant for beginners, was daunting. "Might as well give it a go..." She said as she approached the closest wolf. She read it's health bar and it read... Mangy Wolf Lvl:1 HP:10/10 As Octavia looked at the wolf it did look unkempt, more so than the others and also seemed to be the weakest looking. Octavia looked on and was only startled when the wolf suddenly pounced on her. Octavia was quicker than she thought she could ever be, dodging the attack by mere inches. She figured out how to retaliate and attacked the wolf before it fully recovered from the pounce. A bright red streak appeared at the wolf's neck and shoulder area. As this happened a bright red number appeared. The number was a three. Octavia noticed that the wolf's health was now at "HP:7/10". She quickly put the pieces together and figured out that the number was how much damage she had done. The wolf now had a limp causing its attacks to be even more sluggish than before. It charged Tavi at the fastest speed it could muster. This time she was ready. She brought her sword straight on the wolf's skull. There was a deafening "CRACK!". The wolf's head caved in where Tavi's sword had impacted it at full force. Instead of just a number the pop-up read: CRITICAL HIT 9!. As it caved in a pool of blood started to form as the wolf lied there. It didn't move and Tavi noticed its health bar read... Mangy Wolf(DEAD) Lvl:0 HP:0/10 She went up to it and there was a loud "DING!" and a few pop-up messages told her what she had acquired from the kill. Wolf Pelt(Common) 7 Bits 5 Exp. Tavi noticed a counter under her own health bar had changed it now read... 5/30 Exp. 25 more Exp. Needed for Lvl. Up She congratulated herself and went on to do what she heard many other players call "Farming". 2 hours later.... After a few fights Tavi began to get the hang of it. She had been farming for a while now and was now level 5. She had killed everything in the area except for the Area Boss. Tavi now had a full set of Wolf Fur Armor that was slightly better than her starter leather set and was using the sword Tuning Fork had given her. As she leveled up she had put all her SP(Skill Points) into speed and precision. She also had 4 buffs that buffed both of them. She approached the Area Boss' Lair. On her approach a almost mutant-sized wolf came out of the dark den. Many other newbies had stopped to watch her try to solo (and most likely fail) the Area Boss Fight. Its health bar appeared and read... Wolf Pack Alpha-Male Lvl:5 HP:50/50 Tavi's status read... Octavia Lvl:5 HP:75/75 Tavi had learned that the Knight class was a high health and defense class or what experienced player called a "Tank". She knew that she had more health than the boss, but on the contrary the boss would most likely be based to deal massive damage if it managed to land a hit on its target. Tavi stood assessing it. She noticed it was the same as most other wolves around just bigger. There was also foam at its mouth. Possibly a status effect. The wolf suddenly charged with unprecedented speed. Jaws open. Teeth ready to clamp down. Tavi used all four of her buffs simultaneously and dodged without a care. She decided that it most likely had the same critical hit point...The Head. The wolf did something unexpected after it missed the charge. It howled. As it did five or six of the normal wolf enemies of different calibers came crawling out of the den. Tavi facehoofed herself for not seeing it coming. It WAS the Alpha-Male after all. Tavi was then surprised to find her friends had returned. They were also level five. That meant Tavi had caught up to them. Along with some other players, the group fought off the grunts. "Octavia you can do this!" shouted Tuning Fork who had engaged a "Wolf Den Mother" "You got this!" yelled Brass as he hovered providing cover fire with his bow. Octavia nodded and went on the offensive. With blinding speed she charged the Area Boss and aimed for its left foreleg after seeing as it had pushed off from its charge using it. "SHWING! CRACK!" Octavia had successfully cut into the leg and cracked the bone slowing down the large wolf and dealing considerable damage. The Health Bar now read... Wolf Pack Alpha-Male Lvl:5 HP:36/50 But Octavia paid a hefty price as well.... Her health bar read... Octavia Lvl:5 HP:50/75 RIGHT LEG CRIPPLED!!! Octavia inhaled quickly at the sight of the blinking red message. She relied on her legs. Her build was SPD based. The wolf did something that almost seemed like a snicker and closed in slowly...