Resuming expansion. Bother, got carried away again...
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Revision as of 20:34, February 11, 2017
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After five minutes of walking, Kirito, sensing a change in the air, warned Asuna of the design and denizens of their current location: the [[Forest of Wavering Mists]]. The monsters, though no more difficult than those on the previous floor and lacking sword skills, would attempt to draw them away from the path. At the same time, the areas of the forest explored by players would be obscured on their maps, and they would occasionally encounter mist too thick to see through. Asuna in turn alerted Kirito of a Treant Sapling approaching them from behind, which had successfully managed to hide its presence while the two had passed. Berating himself for his lapse in vigilance, Kirito readied for combat.
After five minutes of walking, Kirito, sensing a change in the air, warned Asuna of the design and denizens of their current location: the [[Forest of Wavering Mists]]. The monsters, though no more difficult than those on the previous floor and lacking sword skills, would attempt to draw them away from the path. At the same time, the areas of the forest explored by players would be obscured on their maps, and they would occasionally encounter mist too thick to see through. Asuna in turn alerted Kirito of a Treant Sapling approaching them from behind, which had successfully managed to hide its presence while the two had passed. Berating himself for his lapse in vigilance, Kirito readied for combat.
−
After dispatching the monster, which brought them some distance into the forest, Asuna expressed guilt over having to defeat a plant monster, though Kirito assured her she would change her mind if she saw the advanced form it would grow into. When they returned to the path, Kirito revealed the task he had wanted to do was a quest initiation and inquired Asuna on her hearing. She jokingly interpreted his request as a fascination for ears, but seriously wondered what they were supposed to be listening for, to which Kirito elucidated as the clashing of blades. After standing with their backs to each other and tuning out all background noise, they heard such a sound coming southwest of their position, upon which Kirito moved towards it, reassuring his partner he had a camping set if they failed to return to the path.
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After dispatching the monster, which brought them some distance into the forest, Asuna expressed guilt over having to defeat a plant monster, though Kirito assured her she would change her mind if she saw the advanced form it would grow into. When they returned to the path, Kirito revealed the task he had wanted to do was a
[[
quest
]]
initiation and inquired Asuna on her hearing. She jokingly interpreted his request as a fascination for ears, but seriously wondered what they were supposed to be listening for, to which Kirito elucidated as the clashing of blades. After standing with their backs to each other and tuning out all background noise, they heard such a sound coming southwest of their position, upon which Kirito moved towards it, reassuring his partner he had a camping set if they failed to return to the path.
After following the clanging of metal for less than five minutes while avoiding any monsters, Kirito and Asuna came upon a clearing wherein two NPCs, a light-colored man and a dark-colored woman, were locked in combat with each other. While Asuna watched in awe the lifelikeness of their expressions and movements, Kirito drew attention to the NPCs' pointed ears and the quest markers above their heads. He explained that both elves, a Forest Elf and a Dark Elf respectively, were questgivers for a [[Elf War|campaign quest]] lasting until the 9<sup>th</sup> Floor, adding that they were only allowed to choose one questline; starting over or switching sides were not permitted. In light of their circumstances, Asuna decided to follow the same route Kirito took in the beta test, and correctly deduced he chose the Dark Elf woman, though he claimed the decision was based on her color rather than her sex. Before she could move to assist the Dark Elf against the Forest Elf, Kirito grabbed her and warned that as both NPCs were elite mobs, it would be impossible for both players to prevail against either of them. When Asuna expressed unease at the new information, Kirito reassured her that once half of their [[hit points]] (HP) were depleted, the other elf would unleash a special attack to win the fight, so all they needed to do until then was to remain calm and prioritize defense. However, he omitted how the Dark Elf, whose name was [[Kizmel]], would sacrifice herself with the secret move in the process.
After following the clanging of metal for less than five minutes while avoiding any monsters, Kirito and Asuna came upon a clearing wherein two NPCs, a light-colored man and a dark-colored woman, were locked in combat with each other. While Asuna watched in awe the lifelikeness of their expressions and movements, Kirito drew attention to the NPCs' pointed ears and the quest markers above their heads. He explained that both elves, a Forest Elf and a Dark Elf respectively, were questgivers for a [[Elf War|campaign quest]] lasting until the 9<sup>th</sup> Floor, adding that they were only allowed to choose one questline; starting over or switching sides were not permitted. In light of their circumstances, Asuna decided to follow the same route Kirito took in the beta test, and correctly deduced he chose the Dark Elf woman, though he claimed the decision was based on her color rather than her sex. Before she could move to assist the Dark Elf against the Forest Elf, Kirito grabbed her and warned that as both NPCs were elite mobs, it would be impossible for both players to prevail against either of them. When Asuna expressed unease at the new information, Kirito reassured her that once half of their [[hit points]] (HP) were depleted, the other elf would unleash a special attack to win the fight, so all they needed to do until then was to remain calm and prioritize defense. However, he omitted how the Dark Elf, whose name was [[Kizmel]], would sacrifice herself with the secret move in the process.
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====Part 2====
====Part 2====
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As Kirito recollected how the questline would have proceeded had both elves died as scheduled, the Forest Elf's body disappeared, leaving behind a bag of leaves containing the Jade Key quest item. Kirito gently prodded Asuna and Kizmel's attention to the item, the latter of whom retrieved the bag in relief. Thanking the players for their help, she invited them to accompany her to the Dark Elf Base to the south, where the Dark Elf Commander would reward them for their assistance and allow them to initiate the next
[[
quest
]]
. While Kirito debated whether or not to risk collapsing from exhaustion from their constant struggles since the 2<sup>nd</sup> Floor Boss fight by continuing straight into the campaign, Asuna accepted the invitation with a nuanced response. Accepting the affirmative reply, Kizmel joined the party and began leading the humans to their destination. Wondering how an NPC could possess such a natural conversation ability, Kirito checked Kizmel's name and color cursor to confirm she was not actually a player.
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As Kirito recollected how the questline would have proceeded had both elves died as scheduled, the Forest Elf's body disappeared, leaving behind a bag of leaves containing the Jade Key quest item. Kirito gently prodded Asuna and Kizmel's attention to the item, the latter of whom retrieved the bag in relief. Thanking the players for their help, she invited them to accompany her to the Dark Elf Base to the south, where the Dark Elf Commander would reward them for their assistance and allow them to initiate the next quest. While Kirito debated whether or not to risk collapsing from exhaustion from their constant struggles since the 2<sup>nd</sup> Floor Boss fight by continuing straight into the campaign, Asuna accepted the invitation with a nuanced response. Accepting the affirmative reply, Kizmel joined the party and began leading the humans to their destination. Wondering how an NPC could possess such a natural conversation ability, Kirito checked Kizmel's name and color cursor to confirm she was not actually a player.
−
The Dark Elf Royal Guard directed Kirito and Asuna through the misty forest with efficiency, dispatching any enemies they encountered and bringing them within sight of the base's black flags. When Asuna commented on the quickness of their journey, Kizmel proudly stated they would not have found it so easily without her aid, as a Forest Sinking charm had been cast on the camp. Asuna wondered at the presence of charms in a world without magic, Kizmel
clarified
that their charms were but a shadow of the magic possessed by her people, the Dark Elves of Lysula, before they were separated from the earth. Kirito remembered that unlike other RPGs, SAO had a conspicuous absence of a backstory, and speculated Akihiko had deliberately made it that way so that the players could write the story themselves. Kirito felt compelled to ask Kizmel for more details on the history of Aincrad and her people, but stifled his curiosity and reminded himself their first priority was to beat the game and return to the real world.
+
The Dark Elf Royal Guard directed Kirito and Asuna through the misty forest with efficiency, dispatching any enemies they encountered and bringing them within sight of the base's black flags. When Asuna commented on the quickness of their journey, Kizmel proudly stated they would not have found it so easily without her aid, as a Forest Sinking charm had been cast on the camp. Asuna wondered at the presence of charms in a world without magic,
prompting KIrito to begin to explain that magic was deliberately excluded from SAO to enforce mandatory melee combat for the players, but was interrupted by
Kizmel
's
clarification
that their charms were but a shadow of the magic possessed by her people, the Dark Elves of Lysula, before they were separated from the earth. Kirito remembered that unlike other RPGs, SAO had a conspicuous absence of a backstory, and speculated Akihiko had deliberately made it that way so that the players could write the story themselves. Kirito felt compelled to ask Kizmel for more details on the history of Aincrad and her people, but stifled his curiosity and reminded himself their first priority was to beat the game and return to the real world.
As the group approached the base, they saw two Dark Elf soldiers guarding the entrance. Asuna worried about having to fight them, but Kirito assured her they would be fine as long as long as they did not assault them. Passing by the guards without incident, the players found themselves in a broad space filled with tents and other Dark Elves, which Kirito remarked was bigger than in the beta. As they walked toward the largest tent, Kirito explained to Asuna that their current location was an instance, a temporary area created for each party participating in the quest so as to reduce complications and interruptions between them. Confirming that they had temporarily vanished from the 3<sup>rd</sup> Floor map to move to the camp, Asuna questioned if they could leave at anytime.
As the group approached the base, they saw two Dark Elf soldiers guarding the entrance. Asuna worried about having to fight them, but Kirito assured her they would be fine as long as long as they did not assault them. Passing by the guards without incident, the players found themselves in a broad space filled with tents and other Dark Elves, which Kirito remarked was bigger than in the beta. As they walked toward the largest tent, Kirito explained to Asuna that their current location was an instance, a temporary area created for each party participating in the quest so as to reduce complications and interruptions between them. Confirming that they had temporarily vanished from the 3<sup>rd</sup> Floor map to move to the camp, Asuna questioned if they could leave at anytime.
+
+
At the Dark Elf commander's tent, Kirito and Asuna were given rewards and new equipment for the safe return of Kizmel and the Jade Key. After they each chose a ring boosting their stats, the commander initiated the second quest of the campaign, and the group left the tent. Thanking the humans again for their help, Kizmel asked for their names, much to Kirito's shock. After the players clarified the pronunciation of their names, the Dark Elf knight offered to either teleport them close to the main town with a charm or to lend them the use of a tent for the night. Sensing Kirito's desire to take advantage of free food and lodgings while the questline was still active, Asuna accepted the offer. When Kizmel offered the use of her tent as they had no spares, Kirito suddenly realized that since Kizmel had survived, they would be sharing living quarters with her, which Asuna quickly comprehended. As Kizmel left for the dining tent, Asuna asked Kirito if it was possible for them to change their answer and have the Dark Elf send them to the town, which the [[beater]] sadly replied negatively.
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Within Kizmel's tent, Asuna set the boundary between her and Kirito's living spaces before they both removed their armor and weapons. While resting on the furs meant for beds, Kirito explained to Asuna the basic story of the Elf War quest series, of the Dark Elves and Forest Elves fighting over six keys to a location on the higher floors called the Sanctuary, wherein a powerful item was sealed. Asuna grew concerned that the choice of sides offered at the beginning of the campaign meant they would have to fight or compete with other players working with the Forest Elves, but Kirito assured her that the questline had been designed so that different parties could have their own independent storyline, so that they could be at different points in the story and have different endings. Though Asuna was reassured that the victory of one side in the quest would not mean the defeat of the other, she was still uneasy with the concept of instances, which would mean multiple duplicates of the same NPC would be generated for each party in the campaign. Kirito remembered how the sickly little NPC girl Agatha from the [[Secret Medicine of the Forest]] quest on the 1<sup>st</sup> Floor would be caught in a cycle of disease and recovery each time a player accepted and finished the quest, and understood how the Elf War was an expanded version of the concept, but informed Asuna such an outcome was unavoidable without the game sacrificing fairness for story consistency.
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+
At 6:00 P.M., a horn blew to signify the hour as Kizmel entered the tent. She apologized for the simplicity of the camp, but offered the services of the dining and bathing tents, as well her own assistance. When Asuna immediately left the tent to take advantage of the latter service, Kirito pondered on whether to focus on sleep or food when Kizmel disrobed for resting. Distracted by her appearance, he was pulled out of the tent by Asuna. As he followed the fencer, he suddenly remembered about the high level of the Dark Elf blacksmith and reminded her to upgrade her Wind Fleuret to the maximum while they could, allowing it to last until the middle of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Floor. Recalling how she had nearly lost her weapon through a blacksmithing scam on the 2<sup>nd</sup> Floor, Asuna recollected how Kirito told her she could melt down an old sword as material for a new one and decided to have her Wind Fleuret reborn as a new blade rather than risk a failure upgrade if she would be outlasting it. Accepting her decision, Kirito began heading for the blacksmith's tent, but Asuna prioritized having a bath first.
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While Kirito contemplated on the possible effects of elven bathwater on players and how such an activity seemed pointless in the beta, he and Asuna arrived at the bathing tent, wherein only a single bath was contained. Apprehensive at the possibility of male Dark Elves coming inside while she was bathing in a place outside the [[Area]] without her equipment on, Asuna suggested having one of them standing guard outside while the other took their bath. Remembering how he had accidentally allowed Argo to enter the bathroom while Asuna was still bathing back on the 1<sup>st</sup> Floor, Kirito volunteered to take guard first and have his bath after hers, before sitting next to a support pillar, while doing his best to ignore Asuna's sounds of contentment from within the tent.
====Part 3====
====Part 3====