Open Western Brisshal The roads not taken

Avius · May 5, 2023

30 / 100

-10hp Exceed
-Venerable-
-20hp Retaliation damage

"If you value those ears, cover them!"

_____Avius warned his teamates, hands tossing the weapon into the air as it would spin and seemed to transform into a guitar, several massive speakers forming from thin air behind the faerin as he tried to make some help to deafen himself by altering his own perception of sound to some degree as large bars began to rise on the speakers, illusionary massive hands cranking the volume beyond the limit as a single wide strum would send waves of musical notes at the key guardian and cause Avius to cough up blood.

❰ Evoke MELODY! ❱

_____Avius watched, even when he tried to just recklessly end the fight the boss still chose to stand up and took a swing as the Faerin staggered right into the attack while trying to dodge, his own senses scrambled from the illusions he cast on himself to not take recoil, but much like the boss he was not going down so easy, gritting his teeth as the hands would crank the volume and break the dials as Avius grinned with blood soaked teeth.

❰ EVOKE CRASHENDO! ❱

_____Unlike the last loud burst, this one rained down from the sky onto the Key guardian pinning him down as his frame began to break apart and the Faerin fell backwards, his evoke form dropping and all illusions faded away to reveal the rookie gear below it. Slowly lifting a thumb to the air to show he was alive before pointing towards the throne where a cat rested, key around it's neck. Yes, the whole time they simply could have just took it from the cat, that was how the Faerin won last time.

Rolls

(BA) Exceed
+20 damage, -10 HP
---
Burst Attack
11d20 (5 + 9 + 16 + 10 + 20 + 19 + 13 + 18 + 11 + 7 + 20 + 8 + 16 + 6) + 20 = 198
198 damage to Thirty eight (3 explosions)
You are Vulnerable.
Evoke | Avius | 1853c10 | -10hp Exceed, +20 damage added to roll
---
(Medium Armor Ability) Twice
You may perform 2 actions and 1 BA or 1 action and 2 BAs this cycle.
Druid | 1853c10
---
Burst Attack
11d20 (8 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 12 + 13 + 19 + 17 + 16 + 11 + 11 + 9) = 122
122 damage to Thirty eight (1 explosions)
You are Vulnerable.
Evoke | Avius | 1853c10 | POWER CORD!

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax

Battle map

Unusable squares:C-3, B-2, B-4, D-2, D-4
Boss location: Movement: C-3
Player start: E-3
Limit per square: 4 players

Key Guardian Thirty Eight 'The enduring one'

❰ -36 / 1000 ❱

❰ 80 / 100 ❱

Taunted: 243 total (Dynamax)

Each attack against the boss 10hp Retaliation damage, +10SP towards special action.
Each damage cycle Boss rolls to pick a target, dealing 1d10+10 damage, if SP bar is full ALL party will be attacked with this. (-15SP per target struck -does not go below 10SP)
Taunt action will auto target highest taunt, If done at MAX SP, all attacks will be made against taunt user or divided among them.
Full SP drain leaves target vulnerable, but will trigger all party attack next cycle and reset to 50SP.
Due to NON-official thread Death is disabled, At 1hp or if driven lower individuals will be teleported out of the pocket dimension unable to enter until timer concludes or boss is slain.

Battle timer: 6 cycles remaining.

_____The had bested him, he had surely given them both a run for their attempt but in the end he was the one who lost. Surely his creator was proud of the effort not solely the results? Who was the guardian kidding, they likely frowned knowing someone was a step closer to reaching the final room of this region, a step closer to figuring out what it all was for. Hand lifted Bident one final time to signal the cat to come down. A victory was earned, there was no reason to deny them the key, surely the next guardian would prevail and keep the secrets protected...

Rolls

Final moments

Dynamax · May 5, 2023

"Huh?" Jade turned to look at Avius, uncertain of what his words were supposed to mean.

Max didn't give it much thought, grabbing the fairy and tucking her into his cape. "Idiot, just do as he says!" He hissed, covering Jade and shielding his ears from the sonic explosion.

The monkey boy wasn't just a knuckle head, he knew that if an ally warned him to watch out for something, he should do it without questioning. Unless he didn't trust them, but still, this was the mindset that stopped his ear drums from being destroyed, along with his tiny ally that was protected.

"A-Ah... Thanks, Max..." Jade pursed her lips, fluttering and slipping out of his cape, opening her eyes widely when seeing the state of the faerin. "Little Summer!" She called, quickly approaching him.

"Wow... Fuck man, you really did it now..." Max hurried to approach him, seeing the thumb up at least being a signal that he was still alive. "How are you, are you good?" He asked, crouching next to him, ignoring the dead boss and the rest of the room for now.

@Avius

Avius · May 5, 2023

65 / 100

Fake a smile -venerable-

"I'm perfectly fine... how about you..."

_____Avius grinned with blood on his teeth as his Illusion magic started to spark back to life and hide his gear once more. Was his insides very much not ok, most assured but he was not going to worry over the little things. Fighting to stand up as he would use his weapon as a makeshift cane and started to head over to the cat with the key. His hand going though the image as it would any other time he had already collected a key and tried to get a spare.

"This is the first time I took others into one of these rooms... Are you able to get the key?"

_____Avius was unsure by had a feeling they would not be able to obtain it based on everything he had started to consider. These places seemed like a secret for only Faerin to find, and he could only assume it had something to do with this 'goddess' the fairy mentioned, and what the boy was unsure of as he covered one of his eyes and kept his excited expression hidden. It was a true mind puzzle and god he loved to break those down.~ Humming as he would step aside to allow Dynamax to try and see if his guess was correct. Looking over to the fairy with a smile on his face as he spoke.

"If I might be allowed to ask you a question Miss Jade, Is there anything else you can tell me about Rhiannon, the Eternal Summer? I have a faint feeling these doorways have a tie to her maybe as only Faerin seem able to find them... Maybe she is the one IT had been referring to..."

Rolls

Power Heal
4d20 EX (11 + 8 + 6 + 10) + 0 + 0 = 35 (0 explosions)
+35 HP to 1 target
You are Vulnerable.
Harmonic Magic | Avius | 1853c11 | Self

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax

Dynamax · May 7, 2023

"You should worry a bit about yourself!" Jade exclaimed.

Max looked at himself, with his wounds existing but far from being anything as serious as the faerin's. "Well, I'm fine thanks to you." He said, then frowning when the boy simply started moving and struggling. "Hey, don't push yourself, come on..." To add to the weapon-cane makeshift, Max offered his own shoulder, trying to give some support for the faerin that had helped him to stay alive.

"The key..?" Max looked at it, frowning at the cat that had it, approaching to see if he could take it...

"Rhiannon? She is the goddess of the youth and wild magic... A merciful and sweet lady, that unfortunately had to commit a grand sin to protect her children, the faerin, feeding them with her own flesh..." Jade summarized what she knew. "Well, at least that's how some stories go... I used to know a bit more, but... I'm uncertain if I can remember."

Meanwhile, Max yelped, having his hand scratched by the cat that had the key.

"Fucking asshole!" He hissed at the cat, that hissed back at him.

Avius · May 7, 2023

65 / 100

Null

_____Judging from the sound made by Dynamax it seemed Avius was right about one thing, left Index tapping his chin as he also took in the new information from Jade and felt he might actually be onto something but would not exactly know unless he gathered more keys and reached 'the last chamber of the region' meaning he would have a lot more work ahead of him as he looked back over to Dynamax.

"Not much else to really do in the fight key rooms, less you like reading or writing really weird scripts..."

_____Avius would wave his hand towards the spot the boss had fallen at, the writing foreign but from what the boy had knowledge of could likely be very ancient text from this world but had not seen anything akin to a transcript to it yet. Moving to sit near it himself to start writing it in the air with his Illusion magic to ensure he fully could recall not just how it looked but one and or many ways to write this section out. Just for the sake of his own sanity taking time to add in the other fourteen fragments of the language he had and trying to arrange them in several patterns.

"I really need to discover a way to read what this stull is... Not to mention It only gives me puzzle pieces but without the corner or edges I'm solving this without the picture visible it seems..."

_____Avius clicked his tongue and stopped tapping his chin so he could wave across the Illusion to dismiss it Looking back to see the cat had vanished and the lights in the key room began to dim, they would not get booted out now that he had the key for this one but it was just going into sleep mode as it seemed to detect he had all he would need from this room. Looking back at the monkey boy and fairy with a soft smile.

"Now about maybe hiring some help to get back to a town? Seems I will be needing a lot more supplies and gear before I can try and defeat all of these key rooms to sate my need to prove my guess is right or wrong..."

Rolls

Null

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax

Dynamax · May 14, 2023

Max crossed his arms. "Even if there isn't much to do, you seem like very interested on getting into those rooms to fight, man." Max said, glancing at the faerin boy. "What I know is that generally behind these puzzles, some good treasure is always hidden." He shrugged, though certainly more interested in the potential reward.

"Well... This, or forbidden or unknown knowledge. No one hides unimportant things behind puzzles, unless they are crazy... Like some wizards I've met before." Jade admitted this much.

At the mention of hiring help to get back to town, and for other things, Max grinned. "I guess you have your hire for it." He said, side glancing at Jade and tilting his head. "We had to get back to town, after all. Maybe we can find some answer in there... Or someone that will give us some better hints about these unknown languages and puzzles"

"I doubt someone would just have an answer... And even if they do, they probably wouldn't tell us, and would try to get to the puzzle to solve it themselves in our place, considering we got rid of the key guardian." Jade suggested.

@Avius

Avius · May 15, 2023

65 / 100

Null

"Much to the contrary Mister Dynamax, the combat rooms normally are far more taxing on me. Also miss Jade I do not believe that will be a worry. Atop needing to be a faerin to see the doors in the first place, each time you return to the rooms everything resets foes included. Some of the doors can even be in locations rather hard to reach normally."

_____Avius would hold his keys up again, it did not do much justice to the persistence he has had to explore these rooms to sate his curious nature, nor the now increased amount with some of the world's lore given to the overthinking child. At times he understood why his mother always joked he was a old soul in a young body. A small smile that had formed going sour at recalling his mother before he looked towards the door and changed the topic in his mind for the time being.

"As for the matter of employment and payment... I do not currently have this world's currency though I assume with the state of things I have seen one could convert monster parts or things found for some value... Least that is how it worked in times of old if the books of the world I come from are accurate. If you would be willing to accept that as payment I can show some of the things I have gathered to get an estimate how the cost of things or at the least what you place value in.

As for the terms of Employment, outside a guide back to a town I may also ask more questions about the lore or stories you all have of this region. I've found little about things and have been going mostly off logical deduction, and pure guesswork thus far..."

_____Avius would move to open his UI and started pulling out items from it he felt might hold some value. Ranging from herbs, monster parts, small gems and rocks, to old looking relics from a dungeon he mistook as one of the key rooms. There was a lot about this world he wanted to know afterall, and if these two had the information he had no issue handing everything he had over for it. To him, material items would always be valued less then that of knowledge and information.

Rolls

Null

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax

Dynamax · May 15, 2023

Max's lips pursed. "Mister..?" He echoed, handwaving. "I don't need this fancy talking, just Dynamax or Max is good." He corrected, feeling like something was wrong by him being called so formally like that... It was almost as if he was being called names or something.

On another hand, the fairy didn't seem to mind it.

"In this case, we can at least try to help you to reach these hard locations." Jade suggested.

The boy crossed his arms when the offer for some payment came forth. "I wasn't really expecting for payment, but that would be cool. We could just share the loot? That's how it usually goes when you party in a game. You ain't an NPC, are you?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Half split loot, it is only fair, right? It will be more profitable on long term if we can get stuff over time instead of risking you getting bankrupt." He shrugged.

"You can actually use your brain when it comes to looting, don't you?" Jade asked.

"Priorities."

@Avius

Avius · May 17, 2023

65 / 100

Null

_____Avius would blink a few times, he was not going to openly call out Dynamax on a few things. As far as Avius was aware he had given a few flags of being a player not a NPC, but at the same token it was also more subtle then anything so he could understand them being missed. But the more confusing aspect was 'loot divide' to the faerin. Yes it could work if some doors had been kept behind monster or dungeon locations but there was no guarantee of such, nor was that what Avius was looking to do at the moment.

"All due respect then Dynamax, I currently have no real interest in fighting more creatures less needed so any loot from said fights I do not partake or help much in while traveling to town can be yours. As for if I am a 'NPC' or not who is to say even we are not a NPC in someone else's point of view? does that help respond to the question?~"

_____Avius was not trying to be hostile, but it was clear the comment had struck a nerve on the other child as he moved towards the door opening it so the others could exit before him as he had the key to lock up as they left. There was a lot to learn about this world, and clearly a lot of different types of people to interact with so Avius was going to have a lot of adapting to do. Currently he needed to think of a way to be more direct as Dynamax seemed to be much like his chosen character and not as sharp a child as Avius.~

"I will likely be asking more questions then anything. I'm sadly the type who can't always act right away without knowing all the facts. Something my parents and tutors instilled in me from a young age. 'To win a war, one only needs more information then your enemy.' as one might say.~"

_____Avius would chuckle a but as he hopped out the door and it closed by itself and locked up. It would remain until the Faerin with the key moved about ten feet away and vanish from view at that point for the others. It was a rather interesting thing, those doors. One day Avius would reveal the secrets behind them but for now he needed supplies, information, and better gear.~ His nose twitching some as Avius got the feeling his bad luck was about to come to bite him less they started moving.

Rolls

Null

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax

Dynamax · May 19, 2023

"Are you one of those weirdos that thinks real life is the Matrix?" He asked, curling his tail and tilting his head as he considered the boy's words. "I mean, I won't complain if you want to let me have all the loot, bro. So if you want me just to help you to travel while I get to keep everything." He shrugged.

The fairy sighed, facepalming.

"Max, you are pretty brave, I give you that. But your lack of sense of romantic, journey and discovery is so weak... Gold and loot isn't the only reward you can have in adventures, there are..." Jade tried to explain, before being interrupted.

"Bonds, friendship, self-achievement, eteceteras, bla bla bla. You sound like my aunt. The aunt that I don't like, at that." He waved his hand.

The fairy remained still for a moment, watching the boy's outburst before pursing her lips and flying to @Avius' shoulder, sitting on it and crossing her arms while looking away.

Max frowned, but he brushed it off and spoke-

"And what questions do you want, Avius?" He wondered.

Avius · May 19, 2023

65 / 100

Null

_____Avius had seriously started to think Dynamax and Jade had some sort of sibling bond, but at the same token with how they denied it caused a string to be pulled that Avius did not enjoy. So far all Jade had tried to do for Dynamax was offer advise, help, and help widen his narrow views, yet he kept seemingly treating her words and opinion as worthless. It might not be the exact case but to the Faerin, the current events did not leave room to think otherwise.

"Dynamax, I request you stop being so rude to Miss Jade first and foremost. While I do not know the exact story or possible reasons behind your current mood towards her... I am aware that she has so far been trying to be helpful, and help you see beyond a narrow field of view yet you feel the need to insult and talk down on her..."

_____Avius' tone was not as kind as it had been up until this point, his gaze far less friendly as he shot daggers at Dynamax. The boy had been raised to treat people nicely while around them, sure sometimes it was an act to use them later but the simply fact at present was how the other boy was clearly upsetting someone who was trying to look out for him. 'People that did that are a dime a dozen' as his dad and mom say, and those are the ones you try to keep close until they give reason not to.

"I do not fully mean to step in on your dynamic, but seeing as I am caught in the middle of it I'll add my two cents into the matter. People who look out for you can be split into two groups, Those that care for you truly, and those that might only be using you for their own gain. Far as I can read, Miss Jade here does care for you, ... and if I had to wager and risk a hit for saying such I think it might me more then 'like' sort of care.~"

_____Avius spoke once more in that cold tone, his final words more of a whisper to only Jade as he looked over to her to see if his deduction so far was correct. Most what she had done so far was similar to a Coodere, acts indifferent, but switches from nice to mean rather often. Sure he might have been reading it wrong so he was keeping it only to her to see if he had been on the money with his guess before switching back to his more lively and nice side.

"As for my questions, they can be boiled down to four overarching questions or types. If you feel you can reply to one of them the others follow the same branch of thought. I want to know more about this world, how it all came to be, where and what things are. I want to know what risk can be found in these regions on a normal day or night, as to be more prepared for staying out in these parts for long stretches of time.

I wish to know a bit more Magic and how they work, Lastly I wish to know about surviving in this world. From those there are a lot more questions, and some responses can and likely would give me more questions to ask. Curiosity may kill the cat, but a blind knight can kill a nation."

Rolls

Null

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax

Dynamax · May 23, 2023

Jade looked at Avius with fluttering wings, averting her eyes a bit sheepish when he mentioned more than 'like' sort of care.

This sheepishness was ultimately ignored as Max frowned at the way Avius was suddenly giving him a scold. "If you don't mean to step into anything, then your two cents in the matter doesn't matter at all." He retorted, a bit annoyed.

Jade winced at the words and the behavior, with her gaze falling as she sighed.

"He is an idiot. But he has saved me, and he needs my help, so I do care a lot about him..."

Her lips pursed.

"It seems it isn't reciprocate though."

Max crossed his arms, clicking his tongue. "I do care about you, butterfly wannabe. But sometimes you speak as much non-sense as this guy does." He gestured at Avius, turning to look at the boy and tilting his head. "So basically you are an explorer type? I guess there is a bunch of lore laying around in this world. It isn't too obvious though, since we don't have quest logs of the sorts, with any complex dialogue going on." Max rolled his eyes.

Well, the game couldn't be perfect.

"I can help you to not get Curiosity to kill you. As long as I have a party to fight on bigger stuff, it is all I need." He pointed at his own chest.

@Avius

Avius · May 24, 2023

82 / 100

+17HP Healing -self-

_____Avius had a small pang to help 'explain' what the conversation was between himself and Jade but also felt it was not his place to push the topic. That said as he hummed a little to tend his wounds and his 'Deja vu' sense started to go off the Faerin looked a little jumpy and started to move away from the monkey as he started to walk. Why did he always get the feeling monsters just KNEW he was around and a easy mark. Waving for Dynamax to follow as it seemed he was ready to start going.

"Like I had said, I was just adding my two cents having been caught in the middle of things... As for the offer of help it is good to know. I do believe less you want to prove that we should... get moving... I have a feeling the monsters around here have noticed I'm here..."

_____It seemed odd to say such, but maybe they knew more about Faerin then Avius to know some had been natural monster magnets. He himself was more a super magnet as the howling of some creatures made him start a slightly increased pace in the opposite direction. He was a rookie, while he had some combat knowledge from his real life and having a few fights already in the game also it was not the kid's preferred activity in the game at current.

_____This was mostly because he never got to enjoy fair fights, and more often then not if ONE creature caught up to him, others would show before he finished the first fight. That said as he did not know where to go he was hoping Dynamax would lead and not go looking for trouble and force the humanity side of Avius to go rushing to help the reckless monkey. But surely even Dynamax knew not to poke the bear that was unknown threats... right?

Rolls

Heal
2d20 EX (6 + 11) + 0 + 0 = 17 (0 explosions)
+17 HP to self
Harmonic Magic | Avius | 1853

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax

Dynamax · May 24, 2023

Max frowned at Avius statement, but followed him regardless. It wasn't like he knew jack shit about this kind of thing, so it was much easier for him to go along with whatever others had to say. "This place is getting a bit stale anyway. These rooms are cool at first, but the more you stay, the more bland it gets." Max shrugged, following the faerin boy to a way out.

When the faerin spoke about the monsters noticing him, the fairy could only let out a faint sigh.

"You have a wonderful smell, Avius. That's why. For all sorts of bizarre monsters that feed on faes, you are fairly attractive."

Her eyes turned serious.

"But that's just one of the many Little Summers strange features."

"He smells funky, yeah. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that some weird ass monster is coming, right? Let's move. We just got into a fight, if we have another, it will be even harder than this one. We can't afford to die and lose exp and loot so easily." He said, urging for them to continue.

@Avius

Avius · May 25, 2023

100 / 100

+28HP Healing -self-

"It is not limited to bizarre monsters I have come to notice... but yes not to keen to stick around in one place for long so if you could possibly lead towards town without taking us to close to a monster or creature den that would be great."

_____Avius tried to remind Dynamax and Jade he had no idea where 'town' or a 'safe spot' was. Sure he had found a few little camps that had less monsters but him being there tended to change that on a few accounts so he moved around a lot. His mind clicking a few times as he recalled the last comment from Jade and got the feeling he picked the wrong race.

"So, is there anything else I should know about the 'Little summers' Faerin race? I have a feeling this world does not like them all that much with everything that has happen so far."

_____Avius tried to slow down to have Dynamax take lead, or hopefully Jade started to point where to go if the monkey was not keen to be leading. He had a few things going on his mind also, namely what he could ask about next, what could be hidden in the writing of the doors, or what sort of monster was going to show up to ruin his day if they picked the wrong route. All said though Avius was going to try his best to NOT fight again before he even ate.

"Guess the topic I can start with questions is if you all know more about the Faerin race? The character creation did not exactly tell me anything about them. I also am curious what you two had been doing out in the woods before you came across me...?"

Rolls

Heal
2d20 EX (18 + 12) + 0 + 0 = 30 (0 explosions)
+30 HP to self
Harmonic Magic | Avius | 1853

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax

Dynamax · May 25, 2023

"I got you, fam." He nodded, taking a firm path to a particular direction, where he was sure that they could find at least a calm town. "We shouldn't be that far from a good spot. As long as we stay out of combat for thirty minutes or something." Max said.

"Character... Creation?"

Jade frowned, puzzled for a moment but then she shook hear head.

"Not the world in particular. But the Little Summers have a couple curses in them... For one, they have an insatiable hunger for magical raw meat."

She explained.

"Some even tell that they can barely see the Eternal Summer by the edge of their sight in dreams, while others, like you, have a wonderful smell that catch the attention of predators."

"Sounds like this race sucks ass then. Why would someone implement so many drawbacks in a race? This is very unbalanced." He huffed, disappointed at how much of a wreck this game could be.

"You, Starcalled, speak in such a strange way sometimes..."

@Avius

Avius · May 28, 2023

100 / 100

Null

_____Avius took in each bit of information given to him by Jade and Dynamax. Sure to them it might not seem like alot with how lightly they seemed to detail it, but to Avius and more so Angel it was vital. He needed a baseline, something to least get his foot into the knowledge of the race to better know them until he met more of his 'kind' to ask directly. There was likely far more to learn from people that took more interest in things.

"If something has so many 'drawbacks' as you like to call it, maybe down the line they are the strongest? Never judge books from the cover and what you can read on the back of it Dynamanx.~"

_____Avius chimed in a lighter tone, keeping focus on where they had been going to make sure when he planned to return to that door to double check things later he knew how to get back. It also helped to keep an eye to see if there was another along the estimated thirty minutes of travel. So much they said made him want to ask more questions on those topics but both seemed limited knowledge and not as keen to describe things.

"I'll relent from my curious nature of that for a moment, how about I ask how the two of you met if that is a topic you wish to share? If not what would make you Dynamax, wish to enter this world? Or is some of the knowledge I have only really on the darker side of our world?~"

_____That darker, more morbid tone seemed to shine. Avius clearly did not much care for making it clear he was living one life here and another in the real world. What the boy more cared about is building several topics to follow while he played the game. He had the doors, the Faerin, and what drove people to come to this place was his third. Maybe he would add more homework later, he never minded it anyhow.~

Rolls

Null

Play sheet | Appearance

@Dynamax