Deep Breaths

"Doesn't look like this place has been bothered much," Kauchemar mused as she strolled casually along the Academy grounds, keeping a passing eye out to see if their operator was about. She had just been over to check on the peko ranch grounds, although Rylen likely wasn't ready to move their operations back just yet. Then decided to see if Goldenblade was up to anything with her establishment. Which at least shows some signs of activity. For a moment she considers actually calling out, but that might startle the poor lady into thinking she is under attack or something.

Goldenblade can be found in her Academy, on the grounds outdoors, on the training area, working out pounding a dummy quite hard with a rattan stick. *punf* *punf* It doesn't make the most impressive sound, alas. But if she beat the stuffing out of the target with each hit, she'd need to spend more time repairing the target than training.

As far as returning or restarting operations, there were never -really- any operations here to stop. It was more of an ad hoc service, and more to do with whether Goldenblade was around. So, she's around now. She can't log out, so she's got to be somewhere, and here's as good as anyplace else. Plus, she can do her own training.

Ah, there she is. Hard at it. Kauchemar pauses to watch for a moment, reminded she needs to keep practicing with her staffwork. But that's not what she's here for, this time at least. But this is one of those times she doesn't want to be a mischevious troll, because that would likely get her a rattan upside the muzzle from a surprised and very strong old warrior. So she waits for a break in the sequence before clearing her throat. "Well that's one way to stick it to the dummy." There is no off for dumb puns though, sorry.

Goldenblade is, interestingly, almost impossible to surprise lately, and pauses almost immediately when Kauchemar approaches. And in any event, would never smack a friend, unless it were in practice or training. She smirks at the pun, and replies, "He loves it, just keeps begging for more." The training dummy is silent on this matter. Goldenblade asks Kauchemar, "So, what can I do for you?"

"Looks like the place hasn't been bothered too much. Nor is the Ranch, but that's because I chased that crooked sheriff out of it during the invasion attempt." Kauchemar lets one hand rest down at her hip, the other giving her chin a thoughtful tap for a moment. "But seeing as I've actually found you here, I do have a query." She gestures with the hand as if holding something. "You wouldn't be able to teach someone about those air flasks you use for breathing underwater and stuff, would you?"

Goldenblade ahhhhs, "The oxygen bottles? I can teach that, sure. The trick is in the combination of elemental air and water in them. And who understands why that is, in this game? But it works. It's a bit like in American football, where the guys, after a series of downs, will head off to the sidelines to get refreshed with oxygen, and then they're ready to go."

She explains, "The whole HP thing here seemed strange to me, at first, because you're not cutting off bits of me equal to 1/HP with each hit, or else I'd be useless almost immediately. So, it turns out your HP is how much moxie you have before you slow down and /then/ you can get smacked down easily." She nods gravely. "So, the oxygen bottle restores your energy so you never get into that worn-down state. And the game treats that as restored HP."

"I couldn't tell you how this world decides things work the way they do, even with the powers of divination." Kauchemar holds her hands palms up to the sides. "But air is necessary for life, and water is considered an element of purity and cleansing. So combining them creates a restorative effect... You certainly feel better after huffing a bit of the real world inspiration, after all. Probably better to just accept it as is and that it works rather than ponder too deeply upon the matter, ne?"

Goldenblade shrugs at Kauchemar's alternate explanation, and says, "I'm no scientist, to explain how it works. I do know, if I can get the mix right, it can restore HP. That's two clicks," she will show you one of her bottles, where the cap has 3 positions. Off, 1, and 2. "Two is richer in oxygen, which restores HP quickly. One is a slower release, but will let you breathe for a fair bit underwater. Several minutes, before it runs out, anyhow. Or in contaminated atmospheres."

An equine ear perks at the mention of contaminated atmospheres. "Well quite a few monster species have nausiating or poisonous breath attacks, so that's definitely a good use too." Anything that can help with dealing with monsters is good for a Summoner too. "You really came up with a useful trick, I'm surprised more people aren't looking into it."

Goldenblade nods gravely. "It's quite useful, indeed," she says. "But I think rather it's so basic and useful that others have developed their own version independently. Or else have been relying on lesser partial solutions." She shrugs. "Then again, I suppose none of them had to sit through two hours of gas-free engineering lecture every year. Same lecture, too." Heavysigh. "I mean, it's good to know. But every year? Do people forget so quickly?" But they do, it seems.

Kauchemar briefly puts a hand to her temples. "You'd be surprised how quickly people can just not care." Then waves it off with the hand. "Doesn't matter, their loss. This is exactly what I'm looking for, working off capabilities I already have rather than having to try and learn new ones. To deal with things like bad air and poisons."

Goldenblade nods to Kauchemar. "What you say is true. When we were looking for some slimes for Uta, we almost lost several people due to toxic gas. I almost went in, because of this card, but if it wasn't enough, I would have needed rescuing, too, and we got everyone out safely, so it wasn't needed. I've worked out a sort of suit for toxic atmospheres, but one oxygen bottle's not enough. I'd need someone with enchanting, I think, to make a more useable solution."

"I've heard her babbling about the explosive sulfur slimes. Sounds like it cratered to her tastes, but turned out to be a real gas." The equine were fang emits a nickering chuckle. "Dumb word plays aside, I can think of plenty of less... harrowing ways to make use of this little novelty. Like I said, saves me the trouble of having to try and learn an entire new skill set," or Light element, which makes Kauchemar shudder a little just to think about.

Goldenblade nods gravely. "It's surprisingly effective, and I imagine it'd be quite a surprise if you did that mid-fight. I don't, but I try to maintain maximum battle pressure, but a lot of people can do that more easily than I can, and have effort to spare. I'm not quite that good."

"Eeeeexactly," Kauchemar replies, wagging a finger at her conversation partner. "Might be awkward for you in middle of a fight, but I fight with more debuffs and misdirection. If I can pop it off between my tricks, they might not even notice I got a bit of my pep back there. The one weakness to any defense oriented combat is damage-over-time aspects like poisoning or certain burns and this will make a good step in off-setting that. Maybe not as much help against a big De-Pe-Es sort but I'm working on that."

Goldenblade is, alas, only a little DPS. She wishes she were big DPS, but is just not up to it yet. But Blade Dancer is a balance of offense and defense, and her defense is solid. And judging by what she was doing when Kauchemar arrived, she hasn't given up on working out new attacks. "If I could work out a way to tie it in with an attack, that's be very cool."

"The best way to find something is to keep trying... and even if you don't find that, you'll eventually find something else useful." Having settled that Kauchemar glances over her shoulder. "I've got a few other errands to run for Wake. But then I'll be back and we can go over the finer points of making bottled air boosts."

Goldenblade nods gravely. It's surprisingly simple," she explains, "Though there is a bit if trick to it." She nods about the errands for Wake, and eyes her forge. Looks like it's time for more bottles. She makes them by the lot, and reuses them when they're done, so it'll be a one-time build.

"I'll catch you again in a few then. Take care, Goldenblade." Kauchemar waves briefly, then turns and strolls back out of the Academy grounds.