[center][color=a36209][h2]Dirk Davidson[/h2][/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/zZ9bEVw.jpg?2[/img]
[color=ed1c24][b][u]Health:[/u][/b] 3000/3000[/color]
[color=0072bc][b][u]Mana:[/u][/b] 1300/1300[/color]

[hider=Stats]
[b][u]Strength:[/u][/b] 18 
[b][u]Agility:[/u][/b] 13
[b][u]Intelligence:[/u][/b] 5
[/hider]
[hider=Skills]
[b]Sword Wielding:[/b] Lv.20

[b]Passive Abilities:[/b] 
Inspiring Presence: Whenever user takes damage, they have a small chance to either recover 100HP or have target nearby friendly gain 50HP.
Vengeful Smite: User has a low chance to deal magic damage to target that has managed to deal melee damage against user.
Fortress of Wood: User gains a small, permanent, irremovable damage reduction. Works for all kinds of damages.
[/hider]
[hider=Equipment]
Solace Medallion (Equipped)
Shield [Round] (Equipped)
Full Plate Armor (Equipped)
Solace Blade (Equipped)
Rosary of Courage (Equipped)
[/hider]
[/center]
[right]Interactions: None
Location: Harbor (District C)[/right]
[hr]
Theo was having arguably the most fun he ever had since he had first come into the game - The guild never really "hung out" as a group, and this was the first real time that Theo had the chance to simply relax and act like a normal kid his age. A large number of the stores in the city were closed for the day, just as the Inn wasn't offering food during the festival. It didn't make much of a difference, considering that there were countless stalls littering the city, mostly offering free goods like food and drink or small toys. Some stalls were selling weapons, from what Theo was able to see - he even saw one of his guild mates, Shiba, selling daggers to a few NPC women. Choosing to not distract his friend, Theo moved to a further location, closer to the harbor, buying the Solace Blade on the way.

The next few hours were spent with very little in the way of conflict - Hans seemed almost ready to get into a fight with one of the stall vendors who gave him a partly rotten caramel apple, but was calmed down when he was reminded that the food was free and there was no real harm done. The trio were sitting on a bench, which faced towards one of the fountains that were scattered throughout the city. They were eating kebabs with various roasted meats on them, which Theo had "Offered to pay for" - that joke had been a lot funnier in his head, and barely elicited a smirk from the pair. Still, Theo was happy to try something besides the Shepard Pie he was used to - he didn't get sick of the same food, but this was a special occasion, and it didn't hurt to change things up every now and then.

Or, at the very least, he'd have something to bring up whenever Julia complained about him only eating one thing.

The sun shown with a calm intensity, radiating the same heat and comfort of the sun beams that cats are so fond of sleeping in. It was  almost easy for Theo to distract himself from his situation, and the hundreds of players who had already lost their lives in the game. The area they were sitting in was nearly devoid of players, mostly composed of NPCs - lines of code, that Theo could hardly believe weren't real. They were intelligent, or at least intelligent enough to hold opinions and articulate responses to specific questions. How did the programmers of Talrae get the processing power to create so many NPCs, all of whom possess this sentience?

Theo quickly shook his head. He needed to stop focusing on that - he simply needed to ignore his situation for once, and relax. This was what he had initially wanted when he started playing. A truly immersive experience, where he could be anyone except himself.

This thought was immediately eradicated as Theo read the guild message that Reylan had sent out.

[color=violet]"Legion of the Wolf. It pains me to say this but...Karma was murdered. I am not sure when, but this bastard named Valentine is responsible. His name tag is red, possibly black now, and if you see it anywhere...bring him in. We will find him and he WILL answer for his crime."[/color]

Theo felt cold - the same overwhelming pressure that had come over him when he realized the deaths of his other friends... Was friends to powerful of a word? Even though most of his guild mates were relative strangers, Theo couldn't help but feel an oppressive darkness surround the corners of his vision, and his stomach immediately begin to clench up.

The kebab, once emitting a delicious and succulent aroma, now was making Theo close to throwing up.

[color=fff200]"H-hey, Theo, are you okay?"[/color]

Theo quickly snapped back to his senses, turning to see both Julia and Hans staring at him in a mix of concern and curiosity. It took Theo several seconds to respond.

[color=a36209]"Of course I'm fine! This damn kebab is way too spicy - makes me feel like a damn dragon!"[/color]

Theo comically stuck out his tongue, fanning it in an over dramatic way, eliciting a laugh from Julia and a roll of the eyes from Hans.

[color=f7941d]"Told you to get mild, boy - It's better to have too few spices than to make your food inedible."[/color]

Theo laughed, scratching his head in an apologetic fashion as he did so.

Internally, it was a crushing blow. Karma was very close to Theo - they were the tank and the healer, the backbone of a successful raiding party. More than that, Karma was an acquaintance - a confidant in the incredible burden and responsibility that weighed on Theo's consciousness. He understood the weight of a human life - he had been responsible for saving at least one. And... other than Theo, he was the only one who came to Kajin's funeral.

Theo didn't let Hans or Julia know. Theo wouldn't be able to enjoy the festival in the slightest, but he would not ruin it for them, especially after dragging them out to celebrate. This was why he had done it, after all - he poured so many points into acting in order to act a certain way believably. The words of the GM quickly echoed in Theo's mind, and he was now unable to ignore them as well as he once could.

[i][color=lime]A double mask... very funny. Remove the masks and will you finally show your true face? Make your decision quickly, for in Talrae, you may find yourself being melded into your mask... permanently.[/color][/i]

Theo would have grimaced, but he was unable to - his acting skill stopped him from revealing the discomfort he found in his companion's death. It served it's purpose - it was a mask, one that was far more appealing than the liar that hid behind it.

[hr]
Summary:
Buys Solace Blade (150 Renn Spent)
Extensional crisis/Philosophical BS (Yay!)