In the aftermath of the announcement, QJ was embraced by a half-dozen classmates in succession. The system message played thrice; each echoed by the roar of 30 jubilant raiders.
The tanks were mobbing Leeta, the tiny medic who had picked up the slack and dragged OP across the finish line. She screamed like a banshee when she was hoisted on their shoulders.
[Raid: QJ] Don't drop my medic, guys. Great job, everyone.
QJ felt himself squeezed from behind and turned to see Ringo's smiling face. "Feeling good?"
Ringo nodded; she was still wearing her vampire armor. "You leveled up during the raid."
QJ checked his stats, grinning in reply. "I felt like I might be stuck at 32 forev..."
His train of thought was derailed when Lotte jumped on his back. After spinning her around a few times, he set her down safely. The ordinarily shy slinger kissed the side of his face several times while taking up the chant of "OP...OP...OP..."
The corpse of Dangerous Ivan glowed brightly; colorful lights danced on the faces of the OP members.
[Raid: Sato] I see purple and orange! That's epic and legendary!
[Raid: Ringo] Do the honors, QJ!
[Raid: QJ] Linking everything, a minimal GCP price precedes all drops. Bid increases must be a minimum of 50 GCP.
(1000 GCP each) [Gold Dice] x2
Description: Roll them at any GnG Casino!
(1500 GCP) [Mount: Legendary]
Description: Saddle up on one of the all-time greats!
(750 GCP) [Saddle: Epic]
+25 Mount Speed.
+50 Maneuverability
Damage Shield (Mount only)
(1,000 GCP) [Street Cleaner]
Shotgun: Epic
+100 ATK
Chance to apply Bleed.
BR: 10
(1,500 GCP) [Blazing Glory]
Six-Gun: Unique
+10 Perception
Description: Whenever Six-Gun-Fan is used when Blazing Glory is equipped, the skill activates a second time.
BR: 10
(1,500 GCP) [Royal Flush]
Card Deck: Legendary (Gambler Only)
Description: Grants user temporary immunity against incoming damage while fleeing.
Additional Description: Chance to steal credits from nearby enemies.
Use: One-hour reset, nighttime only.
(1,200 GCP) [Shield Brother]
Ring: Epic
Class: Medic Only
Description: Applies a damage shield equal to half of the wearer's base health. When shield expires, the amount of damage taken is converted to energy.
Cool Down: 180 minutes.
(1,200 GCP) [Stealthy Ray's Dagger]
(Scout Only)
Dagger: Epic
Applies Blur to the user.
+ 10 Agility
+100 ATK.
Description: Blur mitigates frontal melee and range damage by 15 percent.
BR: 10
(1,500 GCP) [Blood Thirsty Bill's Hatchet] (Complete Set)
(Heavy Calvary or Comanchero)
Hatchets: Epic
Applies Bleed.
+20 Stamina
BR: 10
(750 GCP) [Quick Kill]
(Gunslinger Only)
Holster: Epic
+10 Accuracy
Description: Decreases all class cool-down timers by half.
Additional Description: Significantly increases quick draw speed.
(Not compliant with Exodus competitions.)
(200 GCP) [Dark Stranger]
Cowboy Hat: Cosmetic
Description: A black flat-brimmed hat obscures the wearer's features and makes character details anonymous.
(100 GCP) [Design: Leather shirt]
Armor: Rare
+ 10 Agility
+ 5 Strength
BR: 8.5
(50 GCP)[Letter of Introduction]
Description: Grants users a private audience to any royalty. (Duke or lower)
(200 GCP) [Cabin in the Woods]
Deed Structure: Unique
Description: Instantly builds a small hunting cabin.
May be recovered every 72 hours.
[Raid: QJ] Only bid on items you can use. If no one bids, then we'll open restricted items up to everyone. I'll post the winner and their final bids.
QJ used the Guild Interface to post the loot to everyone's hud. Within seconds, the GCP ran like water. After each successful bid, a timer of 20 seconds started counting down in that window. Once the timer expired, bidding on that item closed. After a relatively short period of time, the loot was distributed to their new owners.
[Gold Dice] Ringo, Junzo. (2,200 GCP)
[Legendary Mount] Chainy (1,800 GCP)
[Saddle] QJ (1,200 GCP)
[Street Cleaner] Travoli (1,400 GCP)
[Blazing Glory] Lotte (1,800 GCP)
[Royal Flush] Luca (1,700 GCP)
[Shield Brother] Leeta (2,200 GCP)
[Stealthy Ray's Dagger] Sato (1,400 GCP)
[Blood Thirsty Bill's Hatchet] Breeze (1,500 GCP)
[Quick Kill] Potshot (750 GCP)
[Dark Stranger] QJ (850 GCP)
[Letter of Introduction] Junzo (50 GCP
[Leather Shirt Recipe] Dunnie (100 GCP)
[Cabin in the Woods] Nexxus (1,000 GCP)
(5.4 million credits/31)= 174,193 credits to each participant.
[Raid: QJ] These are the bid winners. During the raid, the looted credits came to 5.4 mil, which gives everyone a nice chunk.
[Raid: Ringo] Let's form up for a Raid Picture! We have a frame waiting for us at the Songbird!
[An hour later, at the Songbird]
"That was really something;" QJ sat with Ringo, Sato, Lotte, Breeze, and Chainy. "Completely exceeded my expectations on many levels."
"Don't forget to start planning my sniper rifle. I edged out Junzo in our headshot competition, 64 to 62." Chainy's big smile spread from ear to ear. "Did you check out the dps chart?"
"I did," Ringo spoke up when QJ didn't answer. "The riders were all in the top five in crits, headshots, and accuracy." Ringo brought up the data on her hud. "They even made the top ten in overall dps, impressive considering you had to switch targets continually."
Chainy studied the list. "There are all sorts of analytics available during raids. This is our top ten by ranking by dps. What are the numbers after them?"
Ringo pointed to her name. "I ranked first on total damage on the raid targets. The 60 is my accuracy in hitting the target, and 50 is a percentage of that number as pertaining to crits or headshots."
1: Ringo 60/50
2: Lotte 58/44
3: Chainy 84/80
4: Junzo 80/80
5: Potshot 58/58
6: Dunnie 82/80
7: Maric 81/81
8: QJ 100
9: Drax 49/59
10: Sato 65/70
Lotte frowned at the numbers next to her name. "So... I hit the target 58 percent of the time, and of those hits, 44 percent are crits or headshots?"
"Don't look so depressed." QJ, who had been listening without comment, finally chimed in. "Slingers spray a lot of bullets downrange! If your accuracy were badass, then every raid would be filled with slingers."
Chainy nodded in agreement. "As a retired Slinger, I know this to be true. If you can bring both numbers into the high-60s, then you're as good as any slinger I know."
"I'll do better next time," Lotte traded smiles with Ringo.
Chainy glanced up at QJ, who seemed content to listen to everyone talk. "Why does QJ only have one number behind his name?"
Ringo closed the hud, her eyes straying to the framed picture of the Doubler Canyon Raid that hung over the booth. "Simple. Because in 60 minutes of raiding, QJ didn't miss a single time. Additionally, every one of those hits was a headshot."
"Bruh..." Sato shook his head in amazement.
Chainy laughed unexpectedly. "Damn... It's laughable that I challenged you to squares."
QJ waved them off; hitting a stationary target at close range was something he expected of himself. "It's strange that we spawned both Bloodthirsty Bill and Stealthy Ray. Either one of them has a less than two percent chance of appearing in Doubler Canyon."
"In two dozen Doubler raids, I've never seen either of them," Chainy admitted. "Stealthy Ray usually causes a wipe. How did you see him?"
"A small token from a friend," QJ linked the item.
[Spymaster's Ring]
Gifted to QJ
Night Vision.
Additional Effect: The wearer sees
through stealth.
After a few hours of celebrating, OP was dismissed for the day. Since he hadn't been able to play for a few days, QJ logged into the One Problem Keep.
[Welcome to Guns and Gore, the Phoenix Server.]
Location: One Problem Guild Keep.
Time: 1740 hours
Server Population: 47,028 Your current level is 33.
[OP: QJ] And now the brakes are off!
[OP: Ringo] We have some unfinished business. Want to meet up?
[OP: QJ] Sure, my workshop or Briar Rose?
[OP: Ringo] Your shop, since I'm near the Keep.
[System Message] Quest Updated.
[You have received 200 wooden drachma]
[Gypsy Favor: Faction Quest (Gypsy).]
(Part One )Secure the release of Dax from the Maelstrom Dungeon.
[You have arranged Dax's release from Maelstrom Prison]
(Part Two) After Dax is released, bring him the deeds to at least six independent stores throughout the Berg continent.
[Dax has decided to go into business with you and your partner.]
*Ding 34*
[System Message] Quest Updated.
[You have received 200 wooden drachma]
[Gypsy Favor: Faction Quest]
(Part One) Sign the paperwork.
(Part Two) Increasing Gypsy favor will increase your weekly profits.
QJ sat at his workbench and brought out the deeds and contract agreement. He signed both just as the door to the hallway opened up.
[System Message] Quest Updated.
[You have received 200 wooden drachma]
[Gypsy Favor: Faction Quest]
[You have entered into a binding agreement with the Gypsy Faction.]
[Your guild has a Secret Alliance with the Gypsy Faction]
[You have maxed out Gypsy's favor]
[System Message: New Guild Options are available.]
*Ding 35*
[System Message: Your close ties to the gypsy community have taught you a valuable skill (Pickpocketing)]
[System Message: Guild members may now perform daily (Romani) quests.]
[System Message: Guild members may now perform weekly (Romani) quests.]
Ringo smiled at the messages scrolling down her hud. "Did you get two levels?"
QJ nodded. "Yep! I also received the pickpocketing skill."
Ringo smiled slyly. "I received lockpicking."
"Damn... that's better," QJ muttered a curse under his breath. "Did you get the drachma?"
"Drachma?" Ringo smiled suddenly. "You mean this?"
[drachma]
Description: This currency is used to purchase special items at any Black Market vendor.
"Yes." QJ noticed Ringo's normally tanned face was noticeably pale. "A bit past feeding time?" He rolled up one sleeve and then opened his hud to distract himself when she bit him.
[OP: Leeta] There are new quests available under our Daily and Weekly options.
[OP: QJ] Any rewards?
[OP: Leeta] Daily quests yield 10 Romani faction points and one wooden drachma each. There are five daily quests listed. The weekly quest yields 50 Romani faction points and ten wooden drachma.
[OP: QJ] That makes 85 drachma available weekly if you're farming them.
[OP: Leeta] Is that a good idea?
[OP: QJ] Probably.
Ringo finished feeding and pulled QJ's sleeve down. "Going to help me cure my vampirism?"
QJ nodded. "If that's what you want. Let's take a walk." While exiting his shop, he took a moment to contact someone he'd been put in touch with days earlier. A moment later, the face of a Freeborn popped up on his hud.
"This is Failyn." A Freeborn woman, with elegant features, frowned at him. Her white hair was worn up in a top knot; gold studs were pierced through her nose, starting at the bridge and ending at the tip.
"I'm QJ, the Vice-Commander of One Problem. Could you meet with me?" He tried not to stare; the top gold studs on the bridge of her nose had to have been drilled through the bone.
"Vice-Commander? Yes, of course. I need to check my schedule." Failyn's tone became respectful; however, her demeanor exhibited a certain amount of insolence. "Is this about the Brood Mother OP found? Unless you plan on bringing it back to our settlement, I'm the only option."
QJ exchanged glances with Ringo. "I don't like her. Let's get someone else to run our Liraraptor Stables."
"Hey! What the fu..." QJ's hud shut off, silencing the Freeborn woman.
"Agreed," Ringo replied, chuckling after QJ cut comm without speaking further.
The stable was located on the west side of the compound; built out of stone, it was a solid, squat structure that shared its west wall with the Keep. Unexpectedly, a large booth had been built next to it, lined with shelves and chests. Both QJ and Ringo paused when they saw it.
"Is that?" QJ cut his sentence when he noticed a woman stocking shelves. She had long, braided dark brown hair interwoven with several bright ribbons. A peasant blouse, pleated brown skirt, and opened-toed sandals completed the picture. "Do we have a fortune teller at the Keep?"
"No, but I wouldn't mind hiring one," Ringo replied.
The woman looked up when they approached; her tanned face lit up in a welcoming smile. "Ringo and QJ! Welcome; I won't be open for business until tomorrow morning."
QJ smiled at the thick Romani accent. If the Phoenix server's Morgan were still alive, she would have been twelve, but the woman the Songbirds brought back from Vesuvius was twice that. Despite having only been two days, the starved, hunted look was gone, replaced with a completely different person's healthy vigor and smile. "Welcome to the Keep, Morgan."
Morgan approached the pair, embracing them; she greeted both with a kiss on either cheek. She inhaled as if the scent of something pleasant were near. She glanced from QJ to Ringo. "Which one of you has it?"
"Hmm? Has what?" Ringo asked.
Morgan touched Ringo's shoulder, then shook her head before doing the same to QJ. "Oh... It's you!"
[OP: QJ] An NPC who can see into Inventories?
[OP: Ringo] That could be scary.
"You have to be more specific," QJ replied.
Morgan flashed him a bright smile. "I can't see details, only that you are carrying something very rare."
QJ snapped his fingers "I transferred this from the Guild Bank before we walked down here."
[Elite Liraraptor: Mount]
Special: Brood Mother
"That's it!" The Gypsy clapped her hands excitedly "Let me take her off your hands, and we will be able to feature this type of mount in our stores."
[OP: Ringo] It's fine with me.
"Do your people know how to care for these creatures?" QJ had only seen them in the Freeborn settlement.
"Yes," she glanced at the building her shop was built against "May I have this structure It's a livestock stable, right? It'll require three of our people to stay here."
"We have a deal." QJ handed her the wooden chest "There should be quarters above the stables; your people can stay there."
[Five Thousand drachma have been deposited into your inventory.]
[OP: QJ] She paid us five thousand drachma. If the mounts cost that much, we won't sell many.
[OP: Ringo] This was the Brood Mother. I'm guessing she's like the golden goose.
Since the item was acquired in a guild raid, QJ used the guild interface to split the drachma among the members of One Problem evenly.
"That will be wonderful," Morgan exclaimed "Since we are affiliated with One Problem, we will offer your members special prices We also offer a special option if you are interested."
"What's the option?" Ringo asked.
"If approved, One Problem members may use GCP to purchase any items that are usually sold for credits."
QJ nodded immediately When GCP became too abundant within a guild, it could lead to all sorts of problems Having a viable method of keeping it trimmed down was a good thing "What about the drachma?"
Morgan's warm smile showed both dimples "Now you are speaking my language. Certain items can only be purchased with drachma; no amount of gold or GCP will be accepted. Once we get started, I expect a wide variety of goods will be available."