Tomas Wester watched the OP vs. Night Rattler feed with most of Haven. They waited patiently in the Corridor on the Legends server; the Tar Pit they'd been feeding mineral oil to for the past day finally spawned a low-level mob. The event raised the morale of his guild, only to have it dashed when Night Rattler died.
Torn Sky, one of Haven's Vice Leaders, shook her head at the spectacle. "That fire-damage ammo changed everything."
Tomas nodded in agreement. "The shields were a simple but effective idea, but I'm more interested in the finish."
"When Night Rattler tried to summon the LAI?" Torn considered the last few seconds before the World Boss was put down. "Looks like it caused a massive backlash when he failed."
"Agreed," Tomas replied. "She has some spatial talent. You've talked to Chainy recently. What's her opinion?"
Torn laughed. "She's fucking loving OP. Remember when GnG was fun and not just a well-paying job?"
"I'm still having fun," Tomas denied. "Well... most days."
"She loves that group." Torn visited with her old slinger friend while they lunched at one of the Exodus restaurants. "And she loves that kid."
Tomas snorted. "Told me to fuck off when I asked her to start a Haven branch guild on the Phoenix server. Then she convinced our board to stay away altogether."
"Sounds like Chainy," Torn agreed. "Make nice with the kid; we need to purchase some of that ammo."
***********
Ringo was all smiles, a successful raid with all of Exodus watching. She hugged QJ, pulling off [Dark Stranger] to scruff his hair. "Decided to go head to head with Night Rattler?"
QJ smiled in response, happy that [Roll Credits] hadn't shattered. "Ready to check out the gains?"
Ringo stopped him when he went to add Night Rattler's Shotgun and Pistol to the pile. "Loot drops after the boss's death; everything before that is your personal gain."
"Fine," QJ agreed. "Let's have a look."
Ringo read down the list of items. "Ten legendary drops, six epics, and a bunch of interesting items."
"I'll do the descriptions," QJ volunteered. "You should address our newest 60 levels."
[OP: Ringo] The following is a list of everyone who reached level 60 tonight.
Dessi, Ringo, Sato, Nexxus, Lil Jack, Nightrain, Tempest, Jigsaw, Chainy, Marric, Dunnie, Junzo, Shonie and Plush.
[OP: Ringo] I'm not going to tell any of you not to bid on the WB items, but I'll say this. As good as some of this stuff is, our Guild Vault has better. You'll be wasting your GCP here when everything will be free when you walk through the vault tonight.
[OP: QJ] Great job everyone! Here are the items. Crafting items are free for those with the skill to use them.
[Whisper: QJ/Breeze] Bid on all four [Mad Savage] pieces. I'll make up the difference in GCP.
[Whisper: Breeze/QJ] For real? Thanks, roomie!
[Whisper: QJ/Lotte] Bid on the Tar-Heel. I have the other pistol in the set.
[Whisper: Lotte/QJ] So we can match?
[Whisper: QJ/Lotte] Don't be a dork. I'll give you mine.
[Medical Bag] (Medic only) Legendary x3 (2000 GCP)
Description: Decorated Field Surgeon Murphy Stent left this behind when he retired.
+200 to all Healing effects.
Increases Energy Bank twofold.
[Luxury Stage line] Legendary (Guild Award)
Stage Coach: 30 Passenger Limit
Description: Connect any four cities within the Berg continent by coach.
[Mad Savage] Legendary Set 1/4 (1,000 GCP)
Description: This armor was stolen from Turin Smoke, the vicious Comanchero outlaw.
+50 to Agility
+100 to Dodge
Angry Bull
Note: Angry Bull continually generates a small amount of threat.
[Mad Savage] Legendary Set 2/4 (1,000 GCP)
Description: This necklace was stolen from Turin Smoke, the vicious Comanchero outlaw.
+50 to Perception
Angry Bull
Smoke Screen
Note: Smoke Screen obscures the area around the caster, making it impossible to be hit with a critical attack.
[Mad Savage] Legendary Set 3/4 (1,000 GCP)
Description: These bracers were stolen from Turin Smoke, the vicious Comanchero outlaw.
+50 Endurance
+100 Defense
Angry Bull
Spiked Shield
Note: Spike Shield mitigates all incoming damage by 12 percent. Regenerates 15 percent of total health every minute.
[Mad Savage] Legendary Set 4/4 (1,000 GCP)
Description: This Ring was stolen from Turin Smoke, the vicious Comanchero outlaw.
+50 Speed
+50 Strength
Angry Bull
Untamed
Note: Untamed allows the wearer to ignore all movement-based debuffs.
**Note: The following effects are changed if all set pieces are worn.
Statistical effects are increased by 30 percent.
Angry Bull generates moderate threat.
Spiked Shield mitigates 20 percent of incoming damage and reflects five percent back at the attacker.
[Mount] Legendary x2 (1500 GCP)
Halter
Description: One of the all-time greats.
[Gold Dice] x 3 (1,000 GCP)
Description: Roll them and win fabulous prizes... or not.
[Ring] Epic (750 GCP)
Eagle Eye
Description: Allows the wearer to see through stealth.
[Ring] Epic (750 GCP)
Hawkeye: The wearer's visual acuity is increased by 200 percent.
[Ring] Epic (750 GCP)
Predator: Attack rating increases by 50 percent.
[Boots] Epic (750 GCP)
Cricket: Jump further and higher.
[Pistol] Epic 1 of 2 (1,000 GCP)
Tar-Heel
+200 Accuracy
+50 Damage
Bonus: Tar-Heel is applied whenever this weapon scores a critical hit.
Note: Tar-Heel applies a 60 percent movement penalty to the target.
**Note: If both set pistols are owned, then all damage results in Tar-Heel being applied.
[Proclaimation] Epic Guild Award
Knight of the Blackridge
Description: All the Kingdoms of Berg recognize the Blackridge Knight as a minor noble. Enjoy a ten percent reduction of cost on all marketplace purchases (Excludes Blackmarket deals).
Special Consideration: If a Knight of Blackridge is charged with a crime, they may request a Trial by Combat.
[Formal Wear] Unique (150 GCP)
Description: Choose either a Tuxedo or Gown and look your best at the next formal.
[Dillo] Common (100 GCP)
Description: This gives you an armadillo pet.
Note: This pet will probably curl up in a ball in the presence of danger.
[Highlander] Unique (150 GCP)
Description: This gives you a Highlander Wildcat pet.
Note: They scratch, bite, and are known for their dislike of people.
[Crafting Blueprints]
[Hat] Common x3
[Boots] Common x 2
[Recipe] Alchemy x2
[Misc Crafting Ingedients]
Legendary x 4
Epic x 6
Common x 18
[OP: Ringo] Here are the awards. One or two surprise bids. Keep in mind this is an auction. You submitted a minimum and maximum price you are willing to pay. The final price is ten credits higher than the second-highest maximum bid.
[Legendary Med Bag]
2,000 GCP Dessi, Enju, Travoli
[Mad Savage Armor] 4/4
Breeze 14,250 GCP
[Legendary Mount]
1500 GCP Sato, Shoni
[Gold Dice]
1,000 GCP Kanto, Dervin, Yuyu
[Eagle Eye Ring]
4,500 GCP Chainy
[Hawkeye Ring]
1,000 GCP Potshot
[Predator Ring]
1,000 GCP Drax
[Tar-Heel Pistol]
1,700 GCP Lotte
[Jump Boots]
18,510 GCP QJ
[Formal Wear]
150 GCP Enju
[Dillo Pet]
1,910 GCP Ulla
[Highlander Wildcat]
2,910 GCP Sarah Jol
[OP: Sato] Holy crap! What's with the bid on the boots?
[OP: Ringo] Boots aren't part of regular equipment; they are cosmetic. Finding some with any bonus is huge.
[OP: Chainy] I don't feel bad now; mine was the second-highest bid. What was your max bid, QJ?
[OP: QJ] 25k.
[OP: Chainy] I don't have that much GCP.
[OP: QJ] I know, everyone's GCP balance is listed. I figured you'd bid against me.
[OP: Chainy] Sly...
[OP: Ringo] Quite a few guild rewards to check out. We've all been Knighted. There's a stagecoach line, and we received a build-order.
[Blackridge Keep] (Instant Build Order)
Bound: One Problem
Description: Place this on Guild Lands and start a new settlement. Blackridge Keep comes with two dozen guards and a compliant portal.
[OP: Chainy] That's a first-kill award; otherwise, it would have dropped with the loot.
[OP: Ringo] Thanks for the hard work. Those who qualify to enter the Guild Vault meet QJ and me there in half an hour.
[Whisper: QJ/Mai Tai] Robin says I'm making you a weapon. Any preferences?
[Whisper: Mai Tai/QJ] Hell yeah! Something badass; don't worry about it being Exodus-compliant. I want to wait until I'm level 40 before you make it.
[Whisper: QJ/Mai Tai] You got it.
The visit to the guild vault took nearly two hours. QJ spent the time drawing an upgrade for [Roll Credits]. Since he was forced to scrap the two-barrel ideal, he shifted the barrel to the back edge of the blade to improve the symmetry. He'd have to adjust the modified breach slightly, but it only took an hour or so. He was finishing up when Robin entered the shop through their private door.
"Still hard at work." Robin had taken off the black leather raven armor she usually wore; her sleeveless white underarmor clung to her sleek body. "You did well today."
"It was fun," QJ admitted. He started cleaning up the shop while Robin waited patiently.
"This is taking a long time," Robin pointed out.
"I know," QJ replied. "I hate leaving a mess here."
Robin sighed heavily. "You got some nice loot today, but Ra and I will reward you appropriately."
"For beating Night Rattler? QJ asked.
Robin shook her head and claimed his hand when he finally stepped away from the bench. "General manliness."
QJ laughed at her expression and let himself get pulled into the hall. "Was there any specific thing I did?"
Robin tapped her chin with a slender finger while she tried to narrow it down. "Standing unarmed in front of a World Boss without backing up is pretty manly."
*********
"Welcome, QJ." Sam had set up her massage business in the spacious walk-in closet that separated the two entrances to the spa. Dozens of different oils lined the once-empty walls, along with square compartments, each containing a basket filled with two fresh towels, soap, washcloth, bathrobe, and shower shoes.
"Hey Sam," QJ smiled politely. When they arrived at Briar Rose, Robin sent him ahead while she went to get Ra. "I'm meeting Robin and Ra."
Sam nodded. "I know." She patted the table since QJ was already wearing a bathrobe. "Light massage for your first time, QJ. This one's on the house; the next one won't be."
The massage took twenty minutes; Ra and Robin arrived just as it was over. QJ thanked Sam and traded her some fire ammo even though she said it was free.
"I feel great, so I want to pay." QJ flashed a bright smile before putting on his robe.
Sam stopped him before he could leave. "Could I ask you a question?"
QJ exchanged glances with Robin; she shrugged slightly. "Sure. What do you need?"
"Have you heard of someone called Lazun?" Sam asked.
QJ shook his head. "Should I have?"
"No, but it was worth a try," Sam replied. "You seem pretty well-traveled."
"Where are you from?" QJ asked.
"A small town south of Junebug," Sam replied. "Lazun left an item with my parents for safekeeping when I was two."
"What sort of item?" QJ tied his bathrobe and slid on the shower shoes before grabbing his basket.
"Me," Sam admitted. "Mom and Dad told me a few months ago. They said I should at least meet the woman who... Well, she gave me away."
"I don't recognize the name, but I have the resources to check," QJ volunteered.
"Is that okay? I don't want to bother you."
[System Message:] Companion Quest Offered: Missing Person.
[Do you accept?]
"Yes," QJ replied. "It's no bother."
[Quest Updated] Missing Person (Group Quest).