Name: Vindictus
Race: Human
Class: Ranger
Sub-class: Archer
Level: 10 EXP: 4500/4500
EXP Pot: 6000
Health: 279/279
Mana: 210/210
Strength 35 [Earring +10]
Vitality 34 [Earring +10]
Agility 36 [Earring +10, Bracers +1]
Dexterity 18 [Bracers +1]
Intelligence 32 [Headband +5]
Speed 29 [Boots +5]
Luck 30 [Ring +5]
Charisma 20 [Headband +5]
Points available: 0
Skill Points: 1
[Lifestyle Skills - Harvester Skill – 6; Alchemy – 10; Smithing – 3; Leatherworking – 6]
[Class Skills - Eagle Eye – 1; Power Shot – Level 3; Boost Summon – 2; Ambidextrous – Max; Two weapon fighting – Max; Cross Cut – Level 5; Off Hand Block – Level 4; Off Hand Parry – Level 4]
[New Skills]
Vindictus looked at the group that he had assembled for this run. It was not a normal group but it should be enough that he can test them out a little. "Good morning. I am Vindictus. I am working on opening a workshop as well as starting a guild as soon as the update is over. You have all been scouted by me or recommended by your friends. If you have no interest in joining a new guild or if you can't take orders from me then go ahead and leave. I will not hold it against you."
The young archer spoke up first. "I am interested in a dungeon run with you to see if you are worth following. So I am in for now. But at the first sign of you leading us into a stupid trap I will bail without hesitation." Three of the others nodded but Take What I Want just smiled. The archer looked at him. "What this is not a test of him as a leader?"
"Not for me. This is a test to see if I am good enough to join his guild and maybe become a core member. I have seen him fight and I know a few of his accomplishments. He led the team for the first hell mode clear of the crypt. So, I know how good his is."
It was then that the other three recognized his name as one of the five of the first clear. He saw the looks on their faces change and sent them all party invites. They all quickly accepted and he led them towards the crypt. Head Shot moved a little closer so that he could take to Vindictus.
"How is it that you got access to the crypt when the Wolf Guild is guarding it?"
"I traded information and lives for it. I did not kill a few of them that attacked me and I gave them the secret to defeating the hell mode of the dungeon."
"But you killed twenty of us last night?"
"You guys attacked my party and I retaliated. I have no desire to PK but I will not let people that I work with be attacked for working with me. You notice that he led you to attack them and not me and brought a lot of archers. He wanted to lure me out with their deaths and then use you guys to try and kill me from far away. But it did not work out that way."
"They were not mad at you for it?"
"The guild leader sent orders to leave them alone and the individual that was leading that group will soon be facing repercussions from the guild. But it was not personal for me. I have no desire to hunt other players but I have no issue killing them when they attack me."
Take What I Want spoke up. "Boss which level will we be attacking?"
"With the collective level of the group we will start with hard mode. I think normal would be no challenge for this group but hell mode would take too long and I have a few groups to run through so that we can test each other out. I might invite you to join another group to change a few things or if I am missing a key from another team. Also before we go in. I will be keeping the lifestyle materials but you guys will be getting the equipment. Anything that no one can use I will store separately and sell when the auction opens and send you the coin for it."
The healer quickly closed the distance. "You mean it? We are really going to get equipment? But I heard that hard mode will drop green equipment."
"It usually drops a few pieces of green and if you are lucky it might even drop a light blue piece. We will just have to see how my luck goes." It was about that time that the party made it to the area where the guards were waiting.
"Vindictus, you and your party are cleared to enter." The big man was more than happy to let him in after what he saw him do yesterday.
"Thanks. Listen would it be okay if I had a few of the others that are going to do a run wait for me right out here out of the way?"
"I have no issue with that. As long as they don't cause trouble they will be fine."
"Thanks again." He messaged Brick and the others. 'Bring anyone that you want tested to the area right outside of the guarded area. As long as they leave the guards alone they will be fine.'
He immediately got four responses saying almost the exact same thing. That they would escort them over. As he got closer he saw that Crimson was about to go into the dungeon as well and gave him a wave.
"Good morning, Vindictus. I am sorry that he did not listen to the orders of the guild leader. But his punishment is being determined by the council as we speak."
"Thanks Crimson. I hope that you have a bountiful harvest."
"And the same to you." Crimson hit the button to determine the level and headed down the stairs.
As soon as the disappeared from the stairs he looked over the group and saw that they were ready and hit the hard mode button and headed for the stairs. It was time to test them out and see how they worked and took orders. It only took them about two hours to clear the dungeon and everyone come out with new equipment and huge smiles. He went to the gate and disbanded the first party and then formed another one. This was all new people but the other four stayed close in case he needed them. This group's level was a little lower so he quickly went through the normal mode to test them out. This was a lot quicker and worked almost as well but given the level it was enough to push them all one level higher.
Finally he was all through with his normal and hard mode runs and the group standing around looked completely different. They were all higher level with better equipment. And even after takes over two hours with the last run they were all waiting to see if he would take them through again.
"Okay everyone. You all did great. A few of you were way above the others and some of you while young have a huge amount of potential. I am out of normal and hard runs so I will taking my original group through on hell mode one time. Given that I took a lot longer with all of you than planned I will only be able to do the one run before the update that starts tonight. So after I start my guild I will send you an official invite to the guild and all of you are welcome. Once that is done I have a few things to do right away but then we will talk about contracts and the workshop. But go and enjoy the last few hours before the update and I hope to see you all on the other side."
Without anything being said the four originals quickly fell into step behind him and headed for a run of the hell mode dungeon. The four of them knew his style and what to do with Ursi and they walked nice and steady through the dungeon. It just over the speed time they finished the dungeon and came back out.
"Okay guys. You sent me a good group of people and I have an idea of who I would like in what position. But that will be for after the update. I am going to try and level my alchemy up to the next level before I am forced to log out. But I am available as always."
The smiling group walked away with some new skills and equipment and the promise of some gold the following day and it felt really good. This was a great way to start a game and they were going to make the best of it.
Given the situation outside of the Dean Family Crypt Vindictus opened up the AI reporting channel and sent a recommendation to Alice. [Alice Ivy, I think that it would be better for the game and the more rounded development and the mental healthy of young or new players by creating a safe area around the opening of each dungeon. This does not need to be a small area and it can be a monster area if you so chose but making it a no PK area. This will prevent the individuals that are a threat to the system from relying on a guild blocked dungeon. Thank you for your consideration.] Vindictus sent the message and was not sure that he would get a response but he did not really care, at least he tried.
[Player Vindictus, the AI has taken your recommendation into consideration and will run multiple algorithms to determine the feasibility of the option. Please enjoy the game.]
Once he received the response, he knew that was all that he could do and went back to the alchemy table. Vindictus pushed himself and burned through four sets of ingredients before he managed to crack the level cap and become an intermediate alchemist. He only had an a little bit of time left but it should be enough to get most of the potions that he would need for the first dungeon in the expansion. These potions would also be available in the upgraded city. Before he realized it the log out countdown popped up in front of him. He worked to the last second and finished one last potion before he was logged out.