Summary: In which the forgetful hunter levels up his skills and tries to get his priorities in mind.
A/N: My deepest gratitude to everyone who has favourited, followed and/or reviewed the story. Griffith's grinding sessions will be glossed over for the most part. Note that I have decided to remove the Rapid/Slow poison mechanics to combine them into 'POISON RESIST'. They're pretty much the same thing after all.
Disclaimer: Bloodborne and The Gamer belongs to its respective creators. All information belongs to their various sources and I lay no claim to them. I do not own anything, apart from my OMC.
Location: Hunter's Dream
Waking in the Hunter's Dream this time at least didn't end up with Griffith face down on the ground. The first time was embarrassing enough, thank you very much.
The Hunter stood from his kneeling position, heaving a sigh of relief as he inspected his cleaned body. Excellent, all the blood and filth is gone. Now to get back to one of my main goals- creating an ID dungeon to farm stuff and grind my skill masteries. He makes his way to the back garden- an empty area perfect for his experiments. (-where no eyes watched him. But deep down he knew that the Gods saw all.)
From what I recall, 'Willpower' and 'Thought' power allows one to create an artificial space where one can use their powers without limitations. Different types of Illusion Barriers can be created depending on the skill's level too. The time flow in an Instant Dungeon tends to differ from the outside world, so a week can pass in an instance while only a day has passed in the outside world. Due to this, users do not 'age' in the ID since time is distorted. Focusing your thoughts into 'creating' and 'exiting' a dungeon has the same concept, so this should be pretty easy…
Just imagine yourself gathering energy in your hand and think of creating one. Raising his right palm skywards, Griffith closed his eyes. He cleared his mind of all worries, focusing on his objective. Appear, Illusion Barrier. I have the sudden urge to bend reality…so… please? A faint silvery glow formed around his hand for a moment before the Dream went silent.
This feeling, like the world has changed… It probably means I succeeded in creating an illusion barrier right? Opening his eyes, the Hunter looked around the area-which was an exact replica of the Hunter's Dream, though neither the abandoned doll nor Gehrman was there when he searched.
Ping!
A skill has been created through a special action.
A skill to make Illusion Barriers, [ID Create], has been created.
[ID Create(Active) LVL: 1 EXP:0.0%]
Used to create instant dungeons. Stronger instant dungeons may be created at higher levels.
Griffith was pleased. There was no one in sight, which meant that he could do whatever he wanted without anyone judging him. Reality bends to my will now… but then again, what is reality in a dream? He shook his head at the thought. Don't think too hard on that. Let's just try getting out of this now. Setting his mind back on track, the Hunter concentrated on escaping, hand miming a 'crushing' motion.
I want to get out. A light glow surrounded his palm and in an instant- the barrier shattered. The remains of the illusion turned into wisps of silver that faded into thin air; non-existent yet again. A gentle breeze caressed the Hunter's face and the soothing instrumental that played throughout the Dream could be heard once more.
Ping!
A skill has been created through a special action.
A skill to get out of the instant dungeon Illusion Barrier, [ID Escape], has been created.
[ID Escape(Active) LVL 1 EXP: 0.0%]
Used to escape instant dungeons.
Levelling it up should give me my first dungeons so- [ID Create].His ability activated with a soft hum; forming an illusion barrier that prevented anyone else from intruding.
Ping!
ID Create's skill level goes up by 1.
You're now able to create more diverse instant dungeons.
Perfect. Skill List. What kind of instant dungeon can I create in this world anyways? I suspect something along the lines of were creatures or vampire-like beasts to go with Bloodborne's theme…
[ID Create(Active) LVL 2 EXP: 0.0%]
Used to create instant dungeons. All instances have warped time compared to the outside world. Stronger instant dungeons may be created at higher levels.
Currently available ID list:
Empty ID- Monsters: None
Beast ID- Monsters: Beasts
Neutral ID- Monsters: Neither Beast nor Kin
Combined ID- Monsters: Beasts and Neutrals
Hm, so it's different from the usual 'Zombie' and 'Ghost' IDs, but this is a whole 'nother world-dimension-reality whatchamacallit after all. [ID Escape]. Also, repeatedly 'creating' and 'escaping' barriers allow me to gain more EXP for the ID skills, so levelling them up will be a breeze. I don't really want to risk my first death at the hands of some mooks, so I'll be using only the Beast and Neutral IDs. The combined dungeons can wait till I'm of a sufficient level… Inventory.
[ID Create- Beast ID].
As the illusion barrier formed, Griffith withdrew his Saw Cleaver and Hunter's Pistol from his inventory, noting the bullet in the gun's barrel. Hm. First shot's always loaded, but future shots require me to reload 'em I suppose. Troublesome, but what can you do about it? The world around him warped into the landscape of Central Yharnam- and Griffith finds himself admiring the city despite the smog-filled atmosphere. (It seemed oddly familiar, like a fragment from an old haunt of his-) -but this time Rabid Dogs roamed the streets in place of the typical Huntsmen mobs. To his pleasant surprise, the stench of smoke, ash and oil was not present within the dungeon.
Ah. Illusions don't have actual scent to them, no matter how realistic they are. Understanding flooded the Hunter's eyes. Since illusion barriers are under my control, the area chosen will probably be ones that I remember or have visited previously. Judging from the fact that only one type of enemy appeared, it means that I'll need to exit and create new instances for another chance to farm other mobs. It's not too much trouble, though people may start asking questions if they see me disappearing…
Ping!
With continuous practice, 'Sharp Weapon Mastery' has reached LVL 10.
Sharp Weapon Mastery(Passive): LVL 10 EXP: 3.02%
Allows user to freely handle sharp weapons.
15% increase in attack damage with sharp weapons.
10% increase in attack speed with sharp weapons.
Griffith sighed in relief upon hearing that announcement. Final-fucking-ly. Skill grinding gets so monotonous after a while, even if the fighting experience is useful. The only good thing about grinding in an Instance apart from the odourless environment is that the gore disappears once enemies die since they're essentially spirits that have taken form within this barrier. Otherwise levelling up my visceral attacks would be a pain with my… inclinations towards cleanliness.
The silver-haired male removed his Saw Cleaver from the body of the Carrion Crow he just killed, spilling infected blood anew onto the ground. Crimson daubed his face like war paint, but it soon dematerialised along with the corpses and gore. Dammit, I wish there was some sort of auto-collect system that gathered my items immediately, Griffith grumbled as he began looking for the tell-tale sign of an item drop.
Obtained Pebble(x10)
Obtained Antidote(x2)
Inventory. My luck paid out then. Rarer drops. Hoarding them away, Griffith dodged a beak jab from another Carrion Crow that tried to sneak up on him. He hurriedly scaled one of the many buildings to get out of its reach. I'm already sick of fighting all these mooks. I may not have died to them yet, but getting pecked, bitten and hacked at tends to scar anyone for life. At least I managed to level up my [Parkour] skill… quite a bit. One has to admit that Yharnam is the perfect place to parkour, rampant madmen or not. Up on his spot on the window ledge, Griffith shuddered at the flashbacks of his week-long grinding session.
The Gamer had spent what seemed like forever in various illusion barriers to grind for skill masteries and items, but in reality- only a day had passed in the dream. Now that he was well stocked up on items, he had a better chance of survival before his impending death. Griffith held no illusions that he would be able to get through the game without dying once.
It's pure luck that I haven't died to any of the common mobs yet. Not mentioning that I haven't encountered any Bosses in my dungeons, which is a little odd- but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth… He had also confirmed another game mechanic that had changed a tad with his transition into the world of Bloodborne- the 'gun reloads', as he called them. Unlike the Player Character, Griffith had to reload his firearms after every shot, though it would always be reloaded whenever it was placed back into his inventory. Both hunter and enemy were at risk of running out of bullets- though Griffith had the advantage of his handy inventory. Imagine if the snipers never needed to reload. The sheer horror.
[ID Escape].With a snap of his fingers, the illusion barrier scattered into nothingness and Griffith reappeared back in the Hunter's Dream- with Gehrman hopefully none the wiser. The inhuman cries of the crows faded away in light of the Dream's soothing atmosphere like a bad dream that soon elapsed.
Judging from the fact that Gehrman isn't suspicious nor present and the state of the Hunter's Dream, not much time has passed… a day at most perhaps? I can't tell for sure, but it's a good thing that time is warped in the Instances. (-and in reality.) This time Griffith found himself on the rooftop of the Hunter's Workshop, but the silver-haired male was long used to appearing in strange places whenever the barrier shattered. It was part and parcel of his [ID Create] ability, and he didn't mind too much either.
(Don't fight what you cannot change.) Let's check out my skills' progress and items first. Skill List.
-[ACTIVE SKILLS]—
[Blood Bullet(Active) LVL MAX]
Allows a hunter to extract quicksilver from their blood to be formed into bullets. This move sacrifices 30% of the user's health to create 5 Quicksilver Bullets.
If your health is below 30%, this move cannot be used.
[Craft(Active) LVL 1 EXP: 0.0%]
A skill to make something. Humanity has advanced their civilisation through inventing things. Crafted objects become better as mastery level rises.
Registered Blueprint: 0
[ID Create(Active) LVL: 11 EXP: 0.19%]
Used to create instant dungeons. All instances have warped time compared to the outside world. Stronger instant dungeons may be created at higher levels. Only one random type of beast/neutral/kin will spawn per instance.
Currently available ID list:
Empty ID- Monsters Inside: None
Beast ID- Monsters Inside: Beasts
Neutral ID- Monsters Inside: Neither Beast nor Kin
Combined ID- Monsters Inside: Beasts and Neutrals
Kin ID- Monsters Inside: Kin
Assorted Mix Instance- Monsters Inside: Any combination of Beasts, Neutral or Kin
Training Instance- Monsters Inside: None
[ID Escape(Active) LVL 10 EXP: 8.51%]
Used to escape instant dungeons.
[Interruption(Active) LVL 10 EXP: 5.02%]
This skill can only be used whenever an enemy is staggered or unaware of the user's presence. Performs a visceral attack with bare hands to deal massive damage to the enemy. Higher levels increase accuracy, among other things. Experience is gained only when a successful attack is performed.
[Observe(Active) LVL 10 EXP: 0.06%]
Allows the user to obtain information on the selected target. The higher the level, the more information is learned.
[Repair(Active) LVL: 5 EXP: 32.01%]
A skill used to fix damaged equipment. Higher mastery makes repairs become more efficient.
-PASSIVE SKILLS—
A Gamer's Mind(Passive): LVL MAX
Allows the user to think things through in a calm and logical manner- thus ensuring a peaceful mind-set.
Effects: Your mind is peaceful at all times.
Effects: You are resistant against mind-altering effects
A Gamer's Body(Passive): LVL MAX
Grants a body that allows one to live through the real world like a game.
Enhanced Body(Passive): LVL MAX
The blood transfusion gives the user superhuman traits- a necessary trait for all Hunters, amongst other things.
Firearms Mastery(Passive): LVL 7 EXP: 8.58%
Allows user to freely handle firearms.
12.5% increase in attack damage with firearms.
7.5% increase in accuracy when using firearms.
Sharp Weapon Mastery(Passive): LVL 12 EXP: 3.02%
Allows user to freely handle sharp weapons.
15% increase in attack damage with sharp weapons.
10% increase in attack speed with sharp weapons.
Parkour(Passive) LVL 10 EXP: 80.20%
The user is able to navigate fluidly through various environments, making use of their surroundings to get to hard to reach places. Higher levels allow for more dangerous stunts.
+20% SPD
Rally(Passive) LVL 13 EXP: 2.01%
When an enemy's attack hits, you have a chance to regain that health back. Attack the enemy within the time limit to restore a given amount of HP.
Stealth(Passive) LVL 7 EXP: 9.27%
The art of moving unseen and unheard. Being able to move silently is an invaluable skill in hunting. You're 13.5% harder to detect when sneaking around.
Trick Weapon Mastery(Passive) LVL 10 EXP: 30.12%
Allows user to freely handle trick weapons.
15% increase in attack damage with trick weapons.
10% increase in attack speed with trick weapons.
It's starting to get a little difficult to level up my skills after the 10th level, but this should be able to tide me through the first bit of Bloodborne. Now, for my Inventory. Closing the skill screen, he watched as another appeared, showing his current items. Another thing that Griffith had found out was that the typical item limits only applied to his 'physical body', which meant that he could carry twenty Blood Vials on hand while stacking up to ninety-nine in his inventory should he so please. Realistically, a hunter can only hold onto twenty vials, but my Gamer's Body gives me an inventory that renders that fact moot… It's just too bad that I now have to visit the Storage Box to dump my loot in, but you can't have everything after all.
INVENTORY
CONSUMABLES
Blood Vial(x99)
Special blood used in ministration that restores HP. Heals 40% of max HP.
Once a patient has had their blood ministrated, a unique but common treatment in Yharnam, successive infusions recall the first, and are all the more invigorating for it.
No surprise that most Yharnamites are heavy users of blood.
Bold Hunter's Mark(x8)
Dangling, upside-down rune etched in the mind of a hunter. This reminder allows one to envision the rune with clarity.
Allows a hunter to awaken again without losing Blood Echoes, a trick that seems nearly too good to be true.
Cigarette Lighter(Full)
Used as a Firestarter. Many Yharnamites are said to carry these around.
Iosefka's Blood Vial(Bound)
Blood vial acquired from Iosefka's clinic. Heals 70% of max HP.
This refined blood is highly invigorating and restores a larger amount of HP. The product of a slow and careful refinement process, this rare blood vial appears to be a clinic original.
Molotov Cocktail(x80)
Explodes in raging flames when thrown against an object. One of the oldest hunter tools available in the workshop.
Since the tragedy that struck Old Yharnam, fire has become a staple in beast hunts, and is thought to cleanse impurity. Certain types of beasts have an abnormal fear of flame.
Pebble(x99)
Small pebbles found throughout Yharnam. Can be thrown at foes.
Quite thrilling.
Pungent Blood Cocktail(x3)
Mature blood cocktail that releases a pungent odour when thrown that attracts blood-thirsty beasts.
A precious tool in sadly short supply. In Yharnam, they produce more blood than alcohol as the former is the more intoxicating.
Quicksilver Bullets(x99)
Special bullets used with hunter firearms. Ordinary bullets have no effect on beasts, and so Quicksilver Bullets, fused with the wielder's own blood, must be employed.
Throwing Knife(x80)
Throwing knives with a finely serrated blade.
One of the old hunter Henryk's favourite weapons. Does not cause a great deal of damage to beasts, but with deft use, can distract attackers and keep them at bay.
Writing Quill(Bound)
An old quill, made from the flight feather of some obscure bird. Despite its frayed appearance, the tip is still sharp as ever and seems to leak some form of ink when used.
Clambering down from the rooftops, the Hunter dusted himself off once he touched the ground and moved off to store his unneeded items into the Storage Box in the Hunter's Workshop. The Hunter's Workshop was devoid of Gehrman's presence, leaving only the crackling fire to keep Griffith company. Thick dust coated the many picture frames above the fireplace, but the hunter had no interest in useless mementos. His focus was on his Storage Box.
Since extra items won't be transported straight into the box, there's no point holding onto a full stack of consumables. I highly doubt I'll need ninety-nine blood vials and- I'm not going to be using Blood Vials willy-nilly anyways. Apparently, there was some strange needle mechanism in each vial that injected him with the healing blood without need for an actual 'syringe'- a fact that Griffith would have preferred to not know at all. I think I'll either develop a fear or kink of sharp things once I leave this place. My bet's on the latter. Heh. Lifting open the heavy oak lid of his Storage Box, the Hunter began placing his items in. After some planning and rearranging, he was left with what he needed.
INVENTORY
CONSUMABLES
Blood Vial(x30)
Bold Hunter's Mark(x3)
Bottled Oil(x2)
Cigarette Lighter(Full)
Iosefka's Blood Vial(Bound)
Molotov Cocktail(x15)
Pebble(x30)
Quicksilver Bullets(x30)
Throwing Knife(x20)
Writing Quill(Bound)
As he scrutinized the contents of his bottomless Storage Box, the Pungent Blood Cocktails caught his eye. The Hunter felt a sudden longing to taste the concoction- something he easily wrote off as his typical inquisitiveness. A tiny sip would not hurt, right?After all, was blood not the livelihood of those in Yharnam? It had to have something going for it to gain such popularity amongst its denizens so-
No! Bad Griffith. The male pinched himself. Save that for later instead. I may need them for the Love-Starved Beast. Closing the storage box's lid reluctantly, Griffith sulked off to the Bath Messenger to spend some of his Blood Echoes. There's a high chance that I may lose the Blood Echoes especially once I face the Cleric Beast, so there's no point in hoarding such a large amount…
Purchase items?
YES NO
YES. He finds himself instinctively channelling the Blood Echoes from his soul, causing a thick, red mist to seep from his being, coalescing in his palm to swirl in unsettling motions -like a roiling, scarlet ball of memories- which he offered to the Bath Messenger. Are these echoes sustenance for these beings? That would make a lot of sense. Said Messenger grasped at the red vapour eagerly with skeletal hands, moaning happily as it inhaled the echoes.
Received Molotov Cocktail(x5)
Blood Echoes remaining: 9845
When the required amount was paid, the Hunter cut the flow without a thought, reabsorbing the Blood Echoes into his being. Ah… for a moment I felt lighter, like some burden has been removed. A peculiar feeling, but this may be a sign that echoes have some psychological weight on them. It's rather troubling, if you add in my plans for going max level, which would easily need a couple million echoes. Leaving that aside, this'll bring up my Molotov stock to twenty, not including the ones I have in my Storage Box. Nodding his thanks to the Messenger, Griffith walked back to the Yharnam Headstone when he realised something.
Wait a fucking moment. I can just go crunch some Madman's Knowledge. Why the hell didn't I think of that earlier. Oh right, I forgot. At least now I have two choices, depending on whether I want to Bold Hunter's Mark out at the Cleric Beast or find the elusive Madman's Knowledge… Shaking his head, Griffith chose his destination- Central Yharnam. Molotov cocktails were useful in any situation, so buying more of them wasn't the end of the world.
Yharnam Headstone
-Awaken Above Ground-
1st Floor Sickroom
▸Central Yharnam
RETURN
Off get myself bloody again- and not in a fun way either. Kneeling, the Hunter shut his eyes as he was transported back to Yharnam once more.
Location: Central Yharnam
Hearing the announcement in his mind, the male stood, brushing himself off prior to retying his hair. Pulling his hood back up, Griffith combed his fringe aside neatly before equipping his Saw Cleaver from his inventory. One should always look their best after all -no matter their situation. Now, where was the Madman's Knowledge kept again? The Gamer took the same path as before- down the stairs by Gilbert's house and across the bridge, taking down the cleaver Huntsman that laid there in ambush as he did so.
The Hunter cut down any who got in his way as he travelled to the burning pyre in the main street by following the scent of burning fur. At least fighting the same old enemies repeatedly for a darned week makes me well-versed with all their movements. (But don't get cocky. Never-) Picking bits of flesh off his Saw Cleaver, Griffith slowed his steps, using the various abandoned carriages around him as cover.
Ignoring the Huntsmen standing around a dead Scourge Beast burning on the bonfire further down, Griffith crept around the carriage, setting his eyes on a lounging sniper nearby the stairs.
(Rifle)Huntsman HP: 90/90
Well, I'm definitely not going to give you a chance to shoot me. Lunging forward, Griffith charged up his Saw Cleaver -imbuing it temporarily with the arcane as he sliced deep into the Huntsman- killing it instantly. Blood splattered against his pant leg and the Huntsman slumped into a heap.
-107HP
(Rifle)Huntsman HP: 0/90
+48 Blood Echoes
Heh, grinding my Sharp Weapon mastery is really working out now. Oh how I love the extra damage, Griffith thought as he looted the corpse for more consumables.
Obtained Quicksilver Bullet(x3)
More ammo for me! Placing the bullets into his inventory, Griffith made his way up the stairs, where he could pick out a corpse that was glowing faintly as it laid atop another flight of stairs. There's a dude lying in wait at that corner, so let's take him down first. Gripping his Saw Cleaver tightly, Griffith dashed up the stairs, forgoing the item to take down the villager attempting to ambush him.
(Sickle)Huntsman HP: 70/70
Charging forward, the Hunter ducked the first blow from the sickle and staggered the Huntsman with a sharp slash from his weapon.
-68HP
Another hit then? Seeing as the infected male was still struggling, Griffith dealt the final blow, silencing its wet gurgles- painting the drab walls a dark red. (How beauteous.)
-80HP
(Sickle)Huntsman HP: 0/70
+48 Blood Echoes
…Mmm, maybe that was a little too much? Meh. Shrugging to himself, Griffith began searching the corpses.
Obtained Blood Stone Shard(x1)
Inventory. The shard was then placed into the MATERIALS section of his inventory. Well, now I just need to farm some more shards to start upgrading my Saw Spear once I find it. Walking back down the stairs, Griffith continued onwards when another Huntsman charged out from its hiding spot, swinging its cleaver wildly as it yelled in an effort to intimidate him. Whoops, nearly forgot about you. The Hunter back-stepped away from the flailing arms of the Huntsman, extending his Saw Cleaver and countered its blow in the next moment.
-70HP
(Cleaver)Huntsman HP: 0/70
+48 Blood Echoes
Luckily, the short fight did not attract the attention of anyone else, so Griffith was safe to proceed on. As he approached the stairs leading to the large pyre, a bell tolled. At that signal, the large mob began splitting into smaller groups to patrol the streets, which made it easier for Griffith to pick them off. Some chose to remain by the bonfire, their mutterings going unheard over the crackling flames.
The Hunter backed away from the steps just as an axe wielding Huntsman came into sight. The deformed male snarled profanities upon spotting the Hunter, pointing the torch it held at Griffith as it charged, dragging a rusted axe behind it. Do you all always repeat the same old drivel? Dismissing the uncreative insults, the Hunter darted away from the other's reach deal a vicious combo on the Huntsman with his extended Saw Cleaver.
-67HP
-89HP
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 0/150
+48 Blood Echoes
There was no time to rest, as the dying Huntsman's cries had brought a friend, who immediately went at him with its cutlass. Neatly avoiding the blade, Griffith then made use of the multiple openings in the other's stance and began hacking into plague-ridden body, ripping out chunks of flesh and fabric with each successive blow.
-64HP
-75HP
-82HP
(Cutlass)Huntsman HP: 0/150
+48 Blood Echoes
What a mess. Sighing, Griffith wiped the gore off from his Saw Cleaver on the fabric of the crumpled forms. He then took what little items the Huntsmen owned, brushing his long fringe out of his face as he left.
Obtained Blood Vial(x3)
Have hairclips been invented in this universe yet? My fringe keeps on getting into my eyes… Retracing his steps, the Hunter jogged back to the area where he slaughtered the first sniper. An axe and torch holding Huntsman was walking up the stairs, unaware of Griffith's presence. How do plunging attacks work anyways? Well, here's my chance to find out... In one smooth move, Griffith transformed his trick weapon and vaulted over the metal fencing for a plunging attack.
-174HP
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 0/150
+48 Blood Echoes
He killed it, literally. Landing on the unsuspecting Huntsman's back, the Hunter plunged his Saw Cleaver down into the other's skull with both hands. With the momentum and his enhanced strength, the Huntsman's head was spilt into half for the most part. Bits of bone and flesh splattered onto his Saw Cleaver and clothes as he pinned the body down onto the slippery steps. Dark red blood spilled from the horrid mess and greyish brain matter was visible for all to see. If they could even distinguish it from the mess, that was. The torch clattered to the ground alongside the axe, the noise muffled by the slick blood staining the stone.
My newfound strength never ceases to amaze me. The Hunter marvelled as he absentmindedly nudged his untidy fringe back atop the dead Huntsman's back. Griffith then tugged his Saw Cleaver out of the still-twitching body with a soft squelch, eyeing the caved-in skull of the other. I might want to reconsider using that move on weaker enemies though. The clean-up is going to be a mess with all that gore sticking to me. No wonder the Carrion Crows are drawn to my character. They weren't that drawn towards me in my instances as gore didn't- wait. Instant dungeons… There are Healing instances in the original comic's right? So it wouldn't be too far-fetched to say that I might be able to create Farming Instances in the future. Or even one to bathe in with my empty ID.
Oh, it would be amazing to use my Empty ID to create a bath house! I really do want to have a good soak or at least take a nice shower sometime…... The soft scuffle of shoes behind him alerts Griffith to potential enemies. His head turns to eye the fools who thought they could sneak up on him. Drenched in sanguine fluid, the Hunter fitted the beast they labelled him to be. In truth, his indifference was due to being distracted by his thoughts -not that anyone else knew.
(Cutlass)Huntsman HP: 150/150
(Cleaver)Huntsman HP: 70/70
…Take down the Cutlass then the Cleaver. Noting that his stamina had regenerated fully, Griffith instantly went on the aggressive with the cutlass Huntsman, not wanting to give it any chance to attack. Those bastards were dangerous, along with the pitchfork types.
-69HP
(Cutlass)Huntsman HP: 81/150
A sharp blade sliced into his left arm, forcing him away from his current target.
-80HP
The Gamer
Griffith
HP: 472/552 STA: 62/98
Fucking ow. Moving out of the cleaver's reach, the Hunter was closely followed by the cutlass-wielding Huntsman, while the other hung back a little. The pain was rather mild, possibly due to shock or his Gamer's ability. He did not care either way. Best to act quickly to regain back my health, was what that came to Griffith's mind as he fended off an incoming slash from the sword and retaliated with his own weapon. There was no point in wasting his blood vials when he could easy regain it after all.
-65HP
-71HP
(Cutlass)Huntsman HP: 0/150
Ping!
Regained back full HP!
+48 Blood Echoes
Heh. The Huntsman fell, blood trailing from its form as Griffith darted away from the cleaver holding madman, who had closed in sometime during the short fight. He stopped a safe distance away, allowing his stamina to regenerate to an acceptable level before attacking the remaining Huntsman. The Hunter could feel the echoes fuelling his adrenaline, chanting for him to spill more blood- but he ignored the urge, never being one for excessive bloodshed. Unless-
-60HP
-63HP
(Cleaver)Huntsman HP: 0/70
+48 Blood Echoes
While absorbing the blood echoes, Griffith quickly wiped his Saw Cleaver off on the corpse's clothes before going back up the stairs. His sleeve was torn, though the skin under it was fully healed and unscarred. The Hunter wondered at the possibilities, but dismissed them afterwards. He had more important things to do. Looking up at the buildings around him, he could discern the glow of an item atop a roof that was currently out of his reach, but the crumpled body on the ground nearby was easy pickings.
Obtained Quicksilver Bullets(x5)
Continuing on the end, he noted a Huntsman standing guard by the metal gates, back turned to him as it peered out into the distance behind the bar. A light glow beyond said gates showed another item that Griffith was unable to access yet.
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 150/150
The Hunter crept up behind his unsuspecting prey, charging up his Saw Cleaver as he did so. That bastard will never know what hit him. Griffith slashed across the unprotected back twice in quick succession, scoring another easy kill.
-130HP
-78HP
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 0/150
Griffith shudders at the feel of the townsfolks' lifeblood on his skin. It gives him the impulse to itch at the fluid, scrape off his flesh and- stop that. Griffith shakes his head furiously to get rid of those burgeoning thoughts. Not here. Not now. Inventory. The silver-haired male lets his thoughts drift, focusing on his [ID Create] skill as he began storing all his collected items into his inventory alongside the bullets he just scavenged.
Obtained Quicksilver Bullets(x2)
Hmm…From what I have gathered from my Instance creation skills, it appears that the layout of the dungeon depends on my thoughts at the time- which also causes different enemy variants to spawn. This means that if I 'think' about it hard enough, I might even be able to create a source of clean water in an ID to use, or maybe even an instance to do some gardening. All I need is an empty space to turn into a permanent instance once my ID level is high enough and voila- I'm pretty sure that some places can be turned into permanent dungeons too, with the right settings… Snapping out of his thoughts, Griffith decided to clear out all the enemies in the area before testing out his idea. Well, that is if he could even remember what it was once this was over.
There was a gap in the metal fencing by his side, allowing the Hunter to access the street below. His landing was muffled by the loud pounding from the opposite of the barricaded wooden doors. Still, he kept an eye on the remaining Huntsmen that surrounded the pyre while he crept over to a nearby corpse by the barred wooden doors.
Obtained Blood Vial(x2)
I'll be going over later to fight that ogre on the other side, but first, let's get rid of that damned dog behind that carriage. Inventory. Removing a single pebble from his hoard, Griffith snuck closer to the pyre, where he caught sight of said Rabid Dog standing by the abandoned carriage. You little shit. Don't think I've forgiven your brethren in any world for trying to take bites out of me at first sight. The Hunter's aim was true, if a little more vicious then necessary, and a short yelp of pain was heard.
-2HP
Rabid Dog HP: 78/80
Fortunately, none of the other Huntsmen noticed, all too engrossed with the burning Scourge Beast in the fire. Griffith eyed them, attention momentarily diverted. What are they thinking about when they watch- Ah. The Hunter dove to the side just as the mangy dog leapt for his throat, instantly countering with his weapon to gut the canine's exposed belly like a fish. Its innards spilled out like candy from a broken piñata -but not in the least bit edible, unless one had no standards.
-81HP
Rabid Dog HP: 0/80
+53 Blood Echoes
The short, pitiful whine emitted from the Rabid Dog was cut short when Griffith sunk the teeth of his blade into the dying creature's neck and slit its throat with a jerky movement of the blade. Much better. Also, what was I thinking about again? …Who cares. Cleaning the gummy blood off his hands onto the fencing, he noticed a pair of Huntsmen making their way over to him. Crap, I wasn't quiet enough. Well, best take 'em all out quickly lest I get ganked.
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 150/150
(Pitchfork)Huntsman HP: 150/150
Both are dangerous, but I have no intention to get set on fire, so the torch guy is going down first. Plan formed, the Hunter dashed forward- taking advantage of the long windup for the axe to get in the killing blow.
-222HP
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 0/150
+48 Blood Echoes
He side-stepped away from the sharpened prongs that threatened to skewer him, feeling his heart pound in his ears at the close shave. Twisting his body, the Hunter evaded another jab from the pitchfork and slashed away at the Huntsman's flesh with his weapon. Stunned by the blow, the Huntsman was unable to avoid Griffith's next attacks.
-70HP
-81HP
-97HP
(Pitchfork)Huntsman HP: 0/150
+48 Blood Echoes
Griffith then took down the rest of the Huntsmen with his Saw Cleaver, a dark sense of satisfaction forming in him when he finally killed the annoying snipers. God damned bastards got what they deserved. The large pyre was now surrounded only by the corpses of the Yharnamites, while Griffith stood a atop of a wagon, staring contemplatively at the blazing beast bound to the cross. One of the cross's 'arm' had broken from the weight of the Scourge Beast's front limb, but it was still a sight to see. Flakes of ash drift down from the sky like rain, staining the greyed pavements further. The heat from the fire was a stifling thing, even from his position. Only the sound of crackling flames and eerie wind remained.
I guess the hunt was somewhat useful, considering that those nobs somehow managed to kill a Scourge Beast. Wonder 'ow many of those fools got killed during the process though. Griffith snorted at that, only to choke and cough when he tasted bitter ash on his tongue.
Urgh, the stray ashes and the stench of burnt fur is one thing I still can't get used to. I really need to find that Hunter's set for its mask... Oh yeah, there's also a torch item that I need to get too that's nearby and another couple shortcuts to unlock- Eyes watering slightly, the Hunter turned away from the scene, eyes zeroing in on another item wisp not too far away. Ooh, shiny. Storing his Saw Cleaver away into his inventory, Griffith neared the body and was greeted by an intriguing sight. Thin wisps of red were emanating from the corpse, congealing together into a dark red sphere in mid-air as he watched. Hesitantly, the Hunter reached out -catching the orb just as it dropped.
Obtained Coldblood Dew(1)[x1]
Its presence alone brings strange notions to mind (-crush it go on youneedit-), ones that caused the Hunter to sigh in exasperation. Knock it off. There's no point using it now, seeing that I already have a ton of echoes. Emergencies only.Inventory. Pushing his hand into the screen, Griffith released the Coldblood Dew, causing it to fill up an empty slot when he withdrew his hand. He then reached back in for his pistol from its place before closing the screen.
Those troll-like enemies are rather easy to stagger and get visceral attacks on, so this shouldn't be a problem. The gate on the side Griffith was on was drawn up unlike the one the Huntsman was peering through previously, allowing the male access to the Fountain Plaza. Making his way into the new area, Griffith began searching the place for more loot.
Obtained Blood Stone Shard(x1)
Obtained Blood Vial(x2)
Inventory. These items were too stored into their respective slots. There shouldn't be any more drops here right? Griffith glanced around half-heartedly when he heard laughter coming from the large house at the end of his route. Empty wooden coffins and crates were piled up near said house, some leaning heavily against the bent fencing. Ah, someone's having a party. Or an orgy. I don't judge. Do they have anything new to say? Ignoring the coffins and drab scenery, Griffith trotted to the doors of the building, where the bitter smell of incense from the lantern by the doorsteps was readily apparent.
Sticky blood smudged the doors when he rapped on them. …Oh dear, the Hunter thinks, but he makes no move to clean off the smears. They deserve it anyways, if- High-pitched giggles met his knocking when a feminine voice spoke.
"I don't reckon you're from 'round here! Well, pffft, stuck outside on a night of the hunt! Ahh, you poor, poor thing..."
The woman laughed derisively at that. Light tittering could be heard as the others indoor followed after her, their mocking laughter deafeningly loud in the still evening. Yeah. I'd much rather be stuck with the beasts than with people like you. Griffith winced, faintly recalling of the times of being ridiculed (and laughter, always with that disgusting sound-) that he would gladly forget.
Fortunately, the memories were muddied; forgettable- and the Hunter was more than happy to keep it that way. His old life was nothing he ever wanted to return to. That, he was certain of. Being here is much better than then. Why would I ever want to return? While I do dislike the poor hygiene of this place, things are far simpler here…
Stop getting off track, idiot. Massaging his temples, the hooded male left. Walking down the steps to the fountain below, the male reloaded his gun, storing a couple of bullets into his pockets along the way. Griffith ignored the laughter emitted from the house behind him, choosing to follow the pounding sound he heard earlier to find his next foe- a huge, burly villager wielding a brick. [Observe].
Huntsman's Minion HP: 279/279
Weakness: Blunt Weaponry, Arcane
Strong: Poison
Huge, intimidating beasts, they easily tower over an average hunter. Don't let their slow, lumbering walk fool you as they can deal fast, devastating blows when agitated.
Mmhm. Nothing new there. It's interesting to note that despite being nicknamed as 'ogres' and 'trolls' by many, these creatures are also infected by the beastly plague, judging by its furred features and that half-grown tail sticking out from the gap in its clothes. Picking up a piece of rubble from the ground, Griffith flung it at the other, hitting it squarely on its bandaged head.
-2HP
Huntsman's Minion HP: 277/279
The Huntsman's Minion stopped its pounding on the barred doors and turned to eye Griffith, beady eyes glinting in the lamplight. Grunting in annoyance, it lumbered over to the Hunter, a brick held in a large, meaty hand. Its bulky form, clothed with rags -loomed imposingly over the smaller male, but Griffith was unintimidated. He shot it just as the Huntsman's Minion lifted its brick to bash the smaller male's head in, causing the former human to stagger.
-17HP
Huntsman's Minion HP: 260/279
Griffith then followed up with a visceral attack, goring his hand deep into the minion's torso. Muscle and bone briefly resisted before the Hunter simply shattered them with brute force. Slender fingers brushed by the pulsating muscles when his hand curved upwards, just missing the heart- or so the Good Hunter assume. No matter, he could always test out his theory in a more controlled environment afterwards. My instances are a much better place to go around ripping out other people's hearts with its disappearing gore factor if I really want to. Imagine the awesomeness since I'm not bound by the game mechanics… but the stains tho- There were plenty of chances to improve his aim, and time was not a problem. He smirked, though it turned into a scowl when the rank smell of the minion's unwashed body hit him.
-240HP
Huntsman's Minion HP: 20/279
My poor nose. I'm totally screwed for the sewers later on if I can't handle some unwashed sod. Scrunching his nose at the odour, the Hunter yanked his arm out from the infected minion, sending blood spraying from the gaping wound. The Huntsman's Minion collapsed onto the ground, moaning in pain as it struggled to stand.
Scooting a short distance away, the Hunter wiped the blood off his face onto his lower pant leg, spitting out the infected blood that got into his mouth. What foul blood. All bitter and rotten. Is this how all the unsuccessful ones taste like? The pained sounds the wounded minion made was starting to get on the Hunter's nerves, so a remedy was in order. Reloading his gun, the male gave the Huntsman's Minion a head shot, ending its life. (-wasteful.)
-22HP
Huntsman's Minion HP: 0/279
+158 Blood Echoes
Spongy brain matter was visible from the cracks in its skull when Griffith stepped closer in expectation for an item drop. He was not disappointed, as the Huntsman's Minion's body glowed a soft white. Shiny coins? Griffith searched the corpse eagerly, only to be disappointed with his find.
Obtained Blood Vial(x2)
Aww. I wanted some shinies. Well, blood vials are always useful since things gets pricier after a while in the Dream, so I'll just suck it up. Inventory.The Hunter was intent on ignoring the gore streaking his form by not paying too much attention to it. Storing his vials and flintlock pistol away, he then slinked over to the bodies by the door the Huntsman's Minion was at beforehand.
Obtained Molotov Cocktail(x4)
Very nice. If you're holding them cocktails then the other dude should have the 'Torch' right?
Obtained Torch(x1)
Indeed. Placing the cocktails into his inventory, the male examined his newest item after a quick survey of his surroundings. You could never be too careful in a place like this after all. [Observe].
Torch
Fire ATK: 25 Durability: 100
A common torch formed by wrapping a pine resin-drenched cloth around the end of a long stick.
Hunters choose torches not only because the hunt leads them to the darkest nooks, but also because certain creatures they encounter are possessed of a deathly fear of flame.
Deathly fear? Yeah, like the beasts of Old Yharnam. Most of 'em at least. Storing the unlit torch into his inventory, the Hunter found his attention diverted to the ornate fountain in the centre of the public square. It had stopped working some time ago- its structure dry and devoid of water- a shell of its former grandeur. The Fountain Plaza, eh? What an uncreative name. I bet it would have been a sight to behold back in the day, Griffith mused as he left for the other end of the Plaza.
On the grim-streaked pavement there laid a trio of Carrion Crows that were surrounding some empty coffins. Just like all the other denizens of Yharnam, the crows had mutated, as gorging on the dead flesh had turned them into aggressive beasts with a taste for blood. Their black feathers, greasy and dulled from the filth they had been dragging themselves through due to their large, overweight forms was a sickening sight. Considering the amount of gore on his form, Griffith was unsurprised when they noticed his presence coming from a mile away.
Carrion Crow HP: 70/70
Carrion Crow HP: 70/70
Carrion Crow HP: 70/70
Animals have better senses than humans, mutated or not. Forgoing stealth, the Hunter sprinted forward, transforming his Saw Cleaver for further reach. Dancing back from the jabbing beak of a crow, Griffith used his extended cleaver to carve into the overgrown birds, scattering black feathers into the cool night air with each hit.
-70HP
Carrion Crow HP: 0/70
-70HP
Carrion Crow HP: 0/70
+29 Blood Echoes
+29 Blood Echoes
The remaining crow gave an ungodly screech- sounding more like a tortured human than any bird had rights to as it took off into the air. Of course, it barely managed a respectable height with its atrophied wings. Its sharp beak missed the Hunter by a wide margin and it landed with a 'fwomping' sound.
When the Carrion Crow's beak gaped open in an angry shriek, Griffith was given a clear view of the fresh remains of its last meal stuck on the insides of its beak. The sight was repulsive. To him, it was more proof of Yharnam's degradation- with the abundance of fresh corpses for the scavengers to feast on. Reverting his Saw Cleaver to its normal state, the Hunter used the jagged blade to rip into the remaining crow.
-70HP
Carrion Crow HP: 0/70
+29 Blood Echoes
With the crows dead, Griffith could relax somewhat. Annoying bastards, the silver-haired male groused inwardly as he began picking the feathers off his trick weapon to calm himself. Low health, low Echoes and their irritating tendency to ambush you from every dark corner. Peering down at the dead crows, the male began prodding them with his foot, unwilling to lay his hands on them. He grimaced at the feel of sticky blood on his fingers, his tolerance of the uncleanliness decreasing as time went on.
A couple of pebbles rolled out from beneath the crows' wings- which the Hunter took with glee.
Obtained Pebble(x3)
…At least they drop one of my favourite items -pebbles. Fingering the round stones, the Hunter tucked them into his pockets for quick use later on. It turned out that the crows were trying to get to a corpse behind the stack of coffins. So, with a few quick blows, a space was cleared out to get to the glowing body which he then liberated of its goods.
Obtained Oil Urn(x2)
Ah, useful for dealing double fire damage against some enemies. Holding the urns in a hand, he opened his inventory and stuffed them in, wiping his grimy palms off afterwards. There was another item opposite the gate that Huntsman was watching earlier, so I'd better get it before I forget… With that thought in mind, the Hunter made his way over and was then rewarded with some coldblood when he searched.
Obtained Coldblood Dew(x1)[x1]
It was also placed into his storage. There was a locked gate at the other end of the area before a flight of stairs that Griffith had no intention on exploring yet. First, unlock the shortcut. Up that flight of stairs is a bunch of dogs, some snipers and a… brick troll? Mmh, I can't really remember, but it's an ambush area, so no thanks. Returning to the house where the party was still going strong, Griffith began destroying the various empty coffins beside it that blocked the way to his next shortcut.
The torn metal fencing allowed the Hunter to drop into the next area, which also substituted as a dog kennel, considering all the dog cages piled haphazardly in the place. The scabrous dogs began barking upon glimpsing the Hunter's slight form, their milky eyes reflecting the dim lighting. Some were still coated in the remains of their prey, giving off the foul odour of rot. A rather horrific sight for most, considering that the mutts were probably disease-ridden and infected with God-knows-what-else(other than the beastly plague).
I may despise dogs, but seeing them in such poor conditions irritate me. Honestly, can't anyone provide proper care for these guys other than metal bars and tiny spaces? Well done humanity. Leaping down, the Hunter transformed his Saw Cleaver in a swift move. Now, let me put you all out of your misery. Gimme those Blood Echoes too. Unlike the game, one could not simply slice through environmental objects(no matter how hilarious that was), so Griffith had to jab his Saw Cleaver through the bars of each cage in order to get to the dogs inside. To him, it was like stabbing fish in a barrel.
+228 Blood Echoes
A short while later, all the caged canines were dead and the Hunter was a tiny bit richer. In blood. Too bad that I get lesser echoes when they're killed in the cages, but I have no intention of getting mauled when I have already collected well over ten thousand Blood Echoes, Griffith thought as he wandered off to the next unlockable shortcut.
The route was full of twists and turns- the typical of Yharnam layout which the Hunter was unused to. How annoying. Since there are no 'barriers' that prevent me from straying, getting lost is getting more likely. Following his route up a flight of stairs, Griffith soon arrived at a dead end where the steps had crumbled away, though he got another item as compensation for his trouble from the crumpled form of a villager in the corner.
Obtained Coldblood Dew(1)[x1]
Inventory. In you go. There should be a house somewhere over there… Coldblood stored away, the Hunter backtracked down where he found a branching path that led under the great archway of the main bridge to the doorsteps of a darkened house. Found it. Inventory. Strolling up the steps, Griffith approached the door to the dark house and armed himself with his weapons, nudging the door open warily.
The door groaned as it opened, scattering dust motes into the air. Dim lighting from the murky windows cast shadows on the battered furniture in the room as the Hunter proceeded into the residence cautiously. Keen eyes noted the glint of light reflecting off the steel blade of a cutlass which belonged to a Huntsman. Dimwit. It twitched under the silver-haired male's gaze, but did not move otherwise.
(Cutlass)Huntsman HP: 150/150
'If you do not move means that I can't see you'- really. Do you think I'm that stupid? Griffith snipped silently as he lunged towards the unsuspecting Huntsman, slashing his Saw Cleaver across its torso. Lifeblood spurted out of the villager's wounds onto Griffith's already bloodied form, and it did not help his patience.
-56HP
-62HP
-68HP
(Cutlass)Huntsman HP: 0/150
+48 Blood Echoes
I want my shower... Or I can just return back to the Dream. Keeping an eye on the other enemy in the room, a Wheelchair Mob(as the community had affectionately named them), Griffith snuck behind his target, Saw Cleaver prepared for a takedown.
(Pistol)Wheelchair Huntsman HP: 80/80
Just you wait- Light snoring could be heard from the wheelchair-bound male before it turned into a pained yell when the Hunter gored into its flesh viciously with a charged attack.
-130HP
(Pistol)Wheelchair Huntsman HP: 0/80
+70 Blood Echoes
Blood splattered across the dusty floor as the Huntsman slumped lifelessly, pistol falling from limp hands. Guilt was the last thing on Griffith's mind, and was not something he felt, especially not for these fuckwits. No mercy for despicable wheelchair. Now that both enemies on the ground floor were taken out, Griffith could loot the place without worry. Best hurry though, one never knows when others may come down to investigate… Inventory. Storing his weapons back in, the Hunter then took out his torch and lit it for better visibility of the area. He ignored the staircase leading upwards, resolving to explore it later.
Obtained Blood Vial(x2)
Obtained Quicksilver Bullets(x4)
How the Hell do those Yharnamites even fight in the dark anyways? It's like as though they're all adapting to the darkness, though I'm pretty sure this is a side-effect of the beastly plague and- Ah-ha!
Obtained Pungent Blood Cocktail(x2)
Griffith smirked at his latest find- a duo of Pungent Blood Cocktails. Drunken idiots everywhere. Why else would he be carrying around Yharnam's version of alcohol on his body? Inventory.Placing them all into their respective slots, the Hunter continued his exploration of the first floor, where he soon found another note resting on an apothecary table.
These notes should remain unchanged, no? Bringing the piece of paper closer to the torchlight, the Hunter read it, absorbing the given information.
When the hunt began, the Healing Church left us, blocking the great bridge to Cathedral Ward, as Old Yharnam burned to the ground that moonlit night.
Yeah. That. Fat lot of good that your church's doing you now aye? Returning the note back to the table, the Hunter opened the closed door on the other side, leaving the dark house. Stepping out into the open, Griffith could hear the toll of the church bell once more, solemn and resounding.
Do the bells ring at certain intervals or is it just random sound effects? I've got to ask some-eh. That's highly improbable, bearing in mind a typical Yharnamite's disposition… As he placed his torch back into his inventory and withdrew his Saw Cleaver, the Hunter noted the lit torch of another Huntsman further up a flight of stairs along with a corpse that had a small wisp glowing above it. Item ahead! Griffith cheered, paying no mind to the other.
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 150/150
"You plague-ridden rat!" The villager snarled as it caught sight of the Hunter.
It advanced onto him with a fevered glint in its eyes, axe scraping over stone as it swung its torch at him.
Aren't you the plague-ridden one? Ya know, with all that fur and fucked up eyes I'd say that you look like a rat- an elongated, humanoid rat in particular. Quick-stepping away from the wild swings of the torch, Griffith lunged forward the next opening, slaughtering the other with a few blows.
-64HP
-70HP
-76HP
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 0/150
+48 Blood Echoes
A good thing that these Huntsman are easily staggered and take quite some time to recover compared to later enemies, Griffith mused as he began searching the bodies.
Obtained Blood Stone Shard(x1)
Placing the shard into his inventory for safekeeping, the Hunter turned to see another set of stairs- this time leading upwards to a locked gate. Aah, the shortcut gate. Finally. Huffing, Griffith plodded up the steps, putting the Saw Cleaver into his inventory prior to opening the gates.
Unlocking the rusted latch, he yanked the lever down, shuddering at the grinding noise the gates produced as it opened. The Hunter tiptoed by Gilbert's house, lighting the lamp nearby with a quick snap of his fingers. (Keep this in mind-) As Griffith took the route past Gilbert's residence back to the Fountain Plaza, he could hear Gilbert coughing heavily indoors- but there was nothing he could do to alleviate the pain, so the silver-haired male continued onwards. (-don't get close to anyone, for they'll only give you heartbreak.)
Soon, the Hunter reached the Fountain Plaza, though he was still a little lost in regards to his little 'quest'. Not to mention the drying blood that he should stop thinking about lest he- too late. Argh. Fuck you reality. Why doth the blood not disappear or something?! I have yet to find a Madman's Knowledge too...God damn it. Where the hell are those things kept at anyways?! Memory! Why do you always fail meeee- Griffith sulked as he took out his pistol and Saw Cleaver. Haah… there's always more things to do anyways. Sprinting to the opposite end, the male ascended the stairs to the unexplored part of the Fountain Plaza.
Luckily, there were no trolls of any sort there- only a couple of Huntsmen and their dogs patrolling the area. This is probably one of the few times I'm glad that my memory has failed me. Anyways, I'll lure the dogs down, preferably one by one and then deal with the sniper and the melee Huntsmen. Plan formulated, the Hunter moved.
His first kill is a Rabid Dog (the jagged blade rips through matted fur and flesh and the deed is done).
+53 Blood Echoes
Ping!
'Sharp Weapon Mastery' has levelled up by 1.
Ignoring the notification, Griffith turned to face the Huntsman that came charging at him, axe swinging as it held a torch up high. A pair of dogs followed at the madman's heels, thick drool dripping from their maw as they snarled and snapped at him. (He had never liked dogs. Much less so now.) Dashing down the stairs, the Hunter ducked the first blow before loosing a shot on the dog that threatened to bring him down- sending the first tumbling with a yelp. The second was also crippled after a shot from his reloaded pistol. This allowed him to focus on the bigger threat.
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 150/150
Fuck- Ducking under a wide swing of the passing axe, Griffith retaliated by slashing and hacking away at the Huntsman, keeping an eye on the Rabid Dogs that were still alive. At least those dogs are still stunned by the bullets… He just managed to score a death blow in when he heard a gunshot.
-92HP
(Axe and Torch)Huntsman HP: 0/150
+48 Blood Echoes
Fortunately, the bullet missed, whizzing by the Hunter who watched its trajectory with calculating eyes. Amusing. I didn't really pay too much attention to this mechanic since I never let them snipers get a shot off, but it seems that I can still see the bullet's path- like I'm still behind the game's controller… A bonus of my enhanced senses I presume. The dogs faltered in their attempts to upright themselves, whimpering at the loss of their master. Don't worry, you'll be joining 'im too. Watching the mutts try to harm him as they bled out was a sorry sight, so Griffith put them out of their misery without prolonging it.
+106 Blood Echoes
Ping!
[Observe] has levelled up by 1!
Better than nothing. Ignoring the gunshots from the sniper above, the Hunter was about to loot the dead Huntsman when another maniac came barrelling at him, cleaver brandished with vigour. Rolling out of the way, the Hunter waited for the Huntsman to exhaust itself before retaliating.
-76HP
(Cleaver)Huntsman HP: 0/70
+48 Blood Echoes
Knowing that the sniper would not risk approaching him on his own, Griffith began searching the bodies for more consumables, stuffing whatever he could find into his inventory per usual.
Obtained Quicksilver Bullets(x2)
Continuing back up the steps, the Hunter dodged the next gunshot, taking down the Huntsman by the well without pause while it tried to reload. The Huntsman fell like the rest, bemoaning the fate of Yharnam with its last words.
+48 Blood Echoes
Obtained Quicksilver Bullets(x3)
Passing the well, the hooded male went to the benches further in, searching the dead body there for more loot. He was rewarded with more blood vials, which he set aside in his cache.
Obtained Blood Vial(x6)
Climbing up yet another flight of stairs, the Hunter heard the toll of a church bell once more before it was drowned out by eerie howling. I'm at the Great Bridge where the optional Cleric Beast is aren't I? Arriving at the top of the bridge, he peeked out from his position behind a wall, eyeing the two Scourge Beats further down warily. Knowing that he only had a small window of time before they caught his scent, Griffith scurried by them to the abandoned carriages on the other end without further ado.
Fortunately, the beasts did not notice him, so the Hunter was free to search the area for more consumables. Veiled statues huddled in groups by the sides of the bridge, much like the ones he had seen around the clinic's courtyard earlier. Though they were somewhat unnerving, their sculpted forms did help to obscure him from view. Stepping around them, Griffith examined the area for the consumable he was sure he would find.
Amongst a batch of weed(not the fun kind), laid a corpse which Griffith liberated another Bloodstone shard from. Inventory. The ruby-red shard was placed with care with the rest before the silver-haired male exchanged his weapons for a trio of Molotov cocktails and lighter. He had no intention of going up against a pair of Scourge Beasts- if ever, with base level weapons. The fact that fire was very effective against these creatures was a bonus. Bless the foreknowledge of a gamer. Griffith tampered down the urge to burst out in maniacal laughter at that thought. (There would be a time and place for such things, and here wasn't it.)
Here goes nothing. Lighting up his Molotov, the male swerved around the statues to close in to the nearest Scourge Beast, flinging his cocktail with a vengeance. It exploded on contact, showering the beast in shards and flames. Predictably, it howled in anger and attracted the attention of its other pal.
-238HP
Scourge Beast: 126/364
Scourge Beast: 364/364
Perfect. The unpleasant smell of singed fur hit his olfactory senses instantly, giving the Hunter an unwanted flashback of the burning Scourge Beast on the pyre, which he banished with much disgust. Or not. Fucking reminders everywhere. Without further ado, Griffith lit another cocktail and flung it at the duo, managing to catch them both in the explosive radius. Coughing at the foul stench of burning fur, the Hunter hastened a good distance further, Molotov on hand.
-237HP
Scourge Beast: 0/364
-210HP
Scourge Beast: 154/364
+336 Blood Echoes
Snarling in pain, the remaining Scourge Beast leapt towards the Hunter, claws extended. Its large claws reflected the sunset as embers flitted off its scorched fur like a hound from hell. My, how cinematic, Griffith thought absently, sidestepping away from the lengthened limbs. Sadly, death is not on my agenda. Another time perhaps. Just as the Hunter was about to light up his Molotov, a large paw clipped his left arm, sending him tumbling to the ground. The explosive slipped out of his weakened hand to shatter against the ground, spilling the flammable liquid everywhere.
-189HP
The Gamer
Griffith
HP: 363/552 STA: 37/98
Never take your attention off an enemy, you fool! Griffith righted himself, scowling as fresh blood dripped from the laceration across his arm. He hissed at the sting from his open wound when he gave his arm a tentative flex. Fucking hell. While he was thankful that he had not suffered worse, the thought of wasting precious resources still grated on the Hunter. Not to mention that my clothes are totally ruined. Hell am I glad that no one's actually watching me. Dammed beasts and my weak body. Inventory. Retrieving a new Molotov with his right hand, the male made sure to keep a safe distance away from the Scourge Beast when he lit it shakily with his left.
Take that you furry bastard! His aim was true with his good, if somewhat blood streaked right arm- and the explosive promptly set the beast ablaze. Gloriously bright it was, against the overcast sky.
-236HP
Scourge Beast: 0/364
+336 Blood Echoes
Turning his head away from the scene (for he had no interest in breathing in more fumes), the Hunter withdrew Iosefka's Blood Vial from his still-opened inventory and injected it into his thigh, barely flinching at the momentary pain. Now I have an excuse to get more vials from the Lady Doctor, Griffith thought, relaxing at the heady sensation of the potent healing blood that mended his wounds with ease.
Ping!
Regained full HP!
Well, Griffith pondered, eyes fixated on the grand cathedral in the distance. Since I'm already here, why not visit the Cleric Beast to gain an Insight in order for me to level up? The Hunter tapped a bloodied finger against the emptied bottle in contemplation. I may be wasting a Bold Hunter's Mark, but it's better than running around with all this icky shit on my body… right? Inventory. Griffith placed his lighter back in, tossing the emptied blood vial aside. The fact that the blood -a mix of his and his foes- were drying in an utterly disgusting manner over his body helped cement that decision.
In Bloodborne you see people drenched in blood and it seems so cool. In reality, the shit reeks and it gets so uncomfortable once it starts drying. Searching the now smouldering corpses of the beasts with deft hands, Griffith came away a couple blood vials richer. Keeping them in his inventory, he then took out a Bold Hunter's Mark and bolted across the bridge, bypassing the potentially unlockable shortcut -past all the obstacles in his way- when a sharp noise rang out.
Ping!
[Parkour] has levelled up by 1!
Heh. Smirking lightly, the Hunter turned, fully expecting the Huntsman's Minion and Carrion Crows he passed by to chase after him, seeing as there was no actual fog gate denying them further entry onto the narrow bridge. Interestingly, they all hung back at the archway, unwilling to follow the Hunter deeper- as though they were… afraid? Fascinating, so even they can sense that something is wrong… or perhaps they fear the Cleric Beast's presence.
(They know better.) Strutting forward with the Bold Hunter's Mark at the ready, the Hunter was unmoved when the Cleric Beast appeared with a loud shriek of challenge- or so Griffith assumed.
Ping!
An optional BOSS has appeared.
Either way, it was blocking his access to the Cathedral Ward's entrance. The ground cracked under its impact, and Griffith could feel the aftershocks of its landing on the bridge. Ash and dirt stirred in its wake, leaving neat indentations if one paid attention to the grimy ground. Despite its half-starved form, there was a sense of power that radiated off the Cleric Beast- which the Hunter attributed to its design. The menacing horns that twisted and curled grotesquely made Griffith recall its similarities to a certain Boss in Dark Souls.
How fascinating, my Gamer's ability even states whether a Boss is optional or not... Griffith noted, observing the beast out of sheer curiosity. (-and habit.)
Cleric Beast HP: 3015/3015
Weaknesses: Fire
Strong: Arcane, Blunt, Bolt, Poison
The Cleric Beast is an enormous creature with disfigured horns. It bears that name due to a rumour according to which members of the clergy in Yharnam transform into such monsters. Also known as the Beast of the Clergy, it is undoubtedly one of the largest malformed beasts that hunters are bound to encounter. This creature's emaciated form belies its immense power, and its piercing cry will make even a hardened hunter think twice. With high agility and superhuman strength, this boss should not be taken lightly. There are nails embedded into its legs, possibly from a failed crucifixion.
How… majestic. He admires the grotesque beauty that few would appreciate nor see. The innate fear in seeing something so unnatural and far stronger than Griffith's current state was muted with his [Gamer's Mind] that filled him with a cool sense of intrigue at the malformed beast instead. Still, there was a remnant of dread, or dare he even say… anticipation in the Hunter, pushing at the male to try his luck out. (Where's your sense of adventure?) Death was only the beginning after all.
Ping!
Gained 1 Insight.
(The Hunter was now enlightened, wiser than those fools. Only a little, but-) Griffith felt his lips curl upwards in anticipation. Hmm… It seems that this Cleric Beast doesn't hold any titles despite being a BOSS-class… therefore I should stop admiring it and concentrate on escaping with my Insight, damn it. He still wants to run his hands through that thick fur to see whether it was coarse, soft or - Fortunately, the Cleric Beast did not take advantage of the Hunter's inattentiveness, choosing to take its time in approaching the silver-haired male, intent on toying with its prey.
A poor choice on the beast's part, since this gave Griffith enough time to escape. I'll be seeing you later, good sir. Holding up the Bold Hunter's Mark skyward, the Hunter gazed at the rune, which was just like the one etched into his mind, or so the description had claimed.
Do you wish to reawaken?
[YES] NO
To the last lamp, near Gilbert's house. His eyelids fall shut, never seeing the way the ethereal moonlight seemed to envelop him for a second. (Take him back, into its hold-) The Hunter fades away into nonexistence, leaving only the angered scream of the Cleric Beast that drowned out the resounding peal of the bell.
(It sends exhilaration shooting down his spine.)
The Hunter awakens a short distance from the lamp he had previously lit when he reopens his eyes. He stills the smile that threatens to overtake his impassive mask. Success! Gilbert's residence is quiet, apart from the light wheezing as the ill man rested -the sound audible in the quiet atmosphere. No point disturbing him then. I was never a good conversationalist anyways. Approaching the lamp, he gave a curt nod to the four Messengers at its base before transporting himself back to the Hunter's Dream.
Back in Yharnam, the sun never seems to set, casting a crimson glow upon the dreary land.
End Notes: Here is my explanation to any who may be wondering why Griffith did not gain many new skills. His main goal(s) were to level up his current abilities, get some basic fighting skills and most importantly- stockpile his consumables. Remember that he is still unsure of the limits of his abilities and his mind is hassled by numerous theories and being distracted by everything he sees in general. Yharnam is a fascinating place, y'know. The Hunter has a tendency to want to be clean, which involves getting rid of as much blood(filth) as possible. Even if it isn't actually doing much- or anything, really- the action and 'routine' of doing so calms down that part of his mind.
While all the events of the game in Bloodborne happens within one night, it is not that way in my story. I am deviating from canon and changing it to mimic how it would be like as a game after all. Simply put- the sky/moon phase will not change until certain Bosses are defeated like a game-style progression. Until then, time passes per usual, NPCs need rest, food etc.- it's just that the sun never rises and life goes on. This is why the hunts are endlessly long… (with the seemingly unchanging sky and all.) Does that make sense?
The Hunter can take down Huntsmen and other enemies easily since he already has prior experience when playing the game and the skill grinding in the various instances for a week makes him very familiar to the mook enemies of Central Yharnam. Mooks are mooks after all… and Griffith is unstable, not stupid.
Fun Fact: If you look closely at the Bloodborne character models, you'll realise that it's actually just a bunch of geriatric old wankers catfighting with Eldritch horrors in the background.
Storage Box items are not shown, but I do keep track of 'em.
Do tell me what you think of this chapter! Flames will be used to ward off the beasts.
::REVIEWS AND REPLIES::
Guest#1: In a different way perhaps. Not everyone has the same views after all.
Guest#3: Thank you, I aim to be realistic. I've always imagined the First Hunter as a broken but functioning man- and he won't fold just 'cause the Hunter looks like an old flame.
Mhm, Griffith's looks, plus height(remember that in-game Hunter is shorter than most NPCs) and long hair makes it easy for one to mistake him as a female at first glance. Considering that many hunters tend to wear armour that make them seem larger-mistaken identities are pretty common.
OSR fanatic: No promises, but we'll see.
The Weeping Prophet: I'll try not to disappoint. ;)
xion930: Abilities need to be used multiple times before 'turning' into a SKILL, which is why Griffith had no gun masteries at first.
CHARACTER
Name: Griffith
Gender: Male
Level: 10
Blood Echoes: 12154
Insight: 1
Vitality: 9 HP: 552/552
Endurance: 14 Stamina: 98/98
Strength: 9
Skill: 13
Bloodtinge: 6
Arcane: 9 Discovery: 103
Physical DEF: 10
Poison RES: 107
Frenzy RES: 57
Beasthood: 0
:Origin:
Troubled Childhood
Suffered misfortune in youth. Highly resilient as a result.
:Speciality:
Gamer
Affiliations: Gilbert(Acquaintance), Gehrman(Mentor), Iosefka(Acquaintance)
Badges: None
Titles: None
-[ACTIVE SKILLS]—
[Blood Bullet(Active) LVL MAX]
Allows a hunter to extract quicksilver from their blood to be formed into bullets. This move sacrifices 30% of the user's health to create 5 Quicksilver Bullets.
If your health is below 30%, this move cannot be used.
[Craft(Active) LVL 1 EXP: 0.0%]
A skill to make something. Humanity has advanced their civilisation through inventing things. Crafted objects become better as mastery level rises.
Registered Blueprint: 0
[ID Create(Active) LVL 11 EXP: 0.19%]
Used to create instant dungeons. All instances have warped time compared to the outside world. Stronger instant dungeons may be created at higher levels. Only one random type of beast/neutral/kin will spawn per instance.
Currently available ID list:
Empty ID- Monsters Inside: None
Beast ID- Monsters Inside: Beasts
Neutral ID- Monsters Inside: Neither Beast nor Kin
Combined ID- Monsters Inside: Beasts and Neutrals
Kin ID- Monsters Inside: Kin
Assorted Mix Instance- Monsters Inside: Any combination of Beasts, Neutral or Kin
Training Instance- Monsters Inside: None
[ID Escape(Active) LVL 10 EXP: 8.51%]
Used to escape instant dungeons.
[Interruption(Active) LVL 10 EXP: 11.07%]
This skill can only be used whenever an enemy is staggered or unaware of the user's presence. Performs a visceral attack with bare hands to deal massive damage to the enemy. Higher levels increase accuracy, among other things. Experience is gained only when a successful attack is performed.
[Observe(Active) LVL 11 EXP: 10.93%]
Allows the user to obtain information on the selected target. The higher the level, the more information is learned.
[Repair(Active) LVL 5 EXP: 32.01%]
A skill used to fix damaged objects. Higher mastery makes repairs more efficient.
-PASSIVE SKILLS—
A Gamer's Mind(Passive): LVL MAX
Allows the user to think things through in a calm and logical manner- thus ensuring a peaceful mind-set.
Effects: Your mind is peaceful at all times.
Effects: You are resistant against mind-altering effects
A Gamer's Body(Passive): LVL MAX
Grants a body that allows one to live through the real world like a game.
Enhanced Body(Passive): LVL MAX
The blood transfusion gives the user superhuman traits- a necessary trait for all Hunters, amongst other things.
Firearms Mastery(Passive): LVL 7 EXP: 29.58%
Allows user to freely handle firearms.
12.5% increase in attack damage with firearms.
7.5% increase in accuracy when using firearms.
Sharp Weapon Mastery(Passive): LVL 13 EXP: 25.11%
Allows user to freely handle sharp weapons.
16.5% increase in attack damage with sharp weapons.
11.5% increase in attack speed with sharp weapons.
Parkour(Passive): LVL 11 EXP: 1.04%
The user is able to navigate fluidly through various environments, making use of their surroundings to get to hard to reach places. Higher levels allow for more dangerous stunts.
+20% SPD
Rally(Passive): LVL 13 EXP: 5.91%
When an enemy's attack hits, you have a chance to regain that health back. Attack the enemy within the time limit to restore a given amount of HP.
Stealth(Passive): LVL 7 EXP: 71.52%
The art of moving unseen and unheard. Being able to move silently is an invaluable skill in hunting. You're 13.5% harder to detect when sneaking around.
Trick Weapon Mastery(Passive) LVL 10 EXP: 70.91%
Allows user to freely handle trick weapons.
15% increase in attack damage with trick weapons.
10% increase in attack speed with trick weapons.
INVENTORY
CLOTHING
*Foreign Set (x1)
Worn upon awakening to the nightmare of blood and beasts. Perhaps its wearer had to stay out of sight, and travel by cover of darkness.
Without memory, who will ever know?
CONSUMABLES
Hunter's Mark(Bound)
Dangling, upside-down rune etched in one's mind. The symbol of a hunter.
By focusing one's thoughts on this rune, a hunter loses all Blood Echoes, but awakens afresh, as if it were all just a bad dream.
Blood Vial(x55)
Special blood used in ministration that restores HP. Heals 40% of max HP.
Once a patient has had their blood ministrated, a unique but common treatment in Yharnam, successive infusions recall the first, and are all the more invigorating for it.
No surprise that most Yharnamites are heavy users of blood.
Bold Hunter's Mark(x2)
Dangling, upside-down rune etched in the mind of a hunter. This reminder allows one to envision the rune with clarity.
Allows a hunter to awaken again without losing Blood Echoes, a trick that seems nearly too good to be true.
Cigarette Lighter(Full)
Used as a Firestarter. Many Yharnamites are said to carry these around.
Coldblood Dew(1)[x3]
Droplet of coldblood containing Blood Echoes. Use to gain Blood Echoes.
Hunters sustained by the dream gain strength from Blood Echoes. They imbibe the blood with thoughts of reverence and gratitude for their victims.
Molotov Cocktail(x20)
Explodes in raging flames when thrown against an object. One of the oldest hunter tools available in the workshop.
Since the tragedy that struck Old Yharnam, fire has become a staple in beast hunts, and is thought to cleanse impurity. Certain types of beasts have an abnormal fear of flame.
Pebble(x36)
Small pebbles found throughout Yharnam. Can be thrown at foes.
Quite thrilling.
Pungent Blood Cocktail(x2)
Mature blood cocktail that releases a pungent odour when thrown that attracts blood-thirsty beasts.
A precious tool in sadly short supply. In Yharnam, they produce more blood than alcohol as the former is the more intoxicating.
Quicksilver Bullets(x54)
Special bullets used with hunter firearms. Ordinary bullets have no effect on beasts, and so Quicksilver Bullets, fused with the wielder's own blood, must be employed.
Throwing Knife(x20)
Throwing knives with a finely serrated blade.
One of the old hunter Henryk's favourite weapons. Does not cause a great deal of damage to beasts, but with deft use, can distract attackers and keep them at bay.
Writing Quill(Bound)
An old quill, made from the flight feather of some obscure bird. Despite its frayed appearance, the tip is still sharp as ever and seems to leak some form of ink when used.
WEAPONS
Saw Cleaver
Physical ATK: 90 Durability: 200
One of the trick weapons of the workshop, commonly used in the hunting business. This saw, effective at drawing the blood of beasts, transforms into a long cleaver that makes use of centrifugal force. The saw, with its set of blood-letting teeth, has become a symbol of the hunt, and only grows in effectiveness the more grotesquely transformed the beast.
A well rounded weapon that features average attack and speed, and is able to inflict just enough damage to your enemies to keep them on their toes. This particular weapon transforms between a saw and an extended cleaver.
It is considered a Serrated weapon while wielded in the saw form.
Torch
Fire ATK: 25 Durability: 100
A common torch formed by wrapping a pine resin-drenched cloth around the end of a long stick.
Hunters choose torches not only because the hunt leads them to the darkest nooks, but also because certain creatures they encounter are possessed of a deathly fear of flame.
FIREARMS
Hunter Pistol
Blood ATK: 70 Durability: 100
The more powerful of the two starter firearms. The pistol is a quicker draw than the blunderbuss, allowing for speedier responses to attacks. It's also the most precise, requiring users to take aim and wait for the perfect shot to hit their target.
KEY ITEMS
BLOOD GEMS
MATERIALS
Blood Stone Shard(x4)
A solid shard that forms in coldblood. After death, a substance in the blood hardens, and that which does not crystalize is called a blood stone. At the workshop, these bloodstones are embedded in weapons to fortify them.
CARYLL RUNES
SOCIAL
Name: Gilbert
Nicknames: Poor English Dear, Critically Ill Man
Gender: Male
Type: Human
Relationship Level: 5/100
Notes: An ill man that is an outsider of Yharnam. He seems rather friendly and helpful despite his situation.
Name: Gehrman
Nicknames: Dirty Old Man
Gender: Male
Type: Human
Relationship Level: 10/100
Notes: Gehrman is a kindly old man whom you'll first meet upon awakening in the Hunter's Dream. He is the workshop's founder and the very first hunter though due to his advanced age he now serves only as an advisor. As such, he has a wealth of experience and will provide you with his wisdom and guidance throughout your exploration of Yharnam.
Name: Iosefka
Nicknames: Lady Doctor
Gender: Female
Type: Human
Relationship Level: 3/100
Notes: Iosefka is an earnest, kind-hearted doctor of the Healing Church who oversees the clinic in Central Yharnam. Gives Isoefka's Blood Vial.