The Distorted Pledge

The Distorted Pledge is a Raid Event scheduled to start on January 31, 2016 at 8:00 PM (PST) and end on February 7, 2016 at 7:59 PM (PST).

Half-time Reward Calculation Period is from February 2nd 7:00 PM to 7:59 PM (PST).

Feature Changes
Top 50 players in the Individual Rankings will receive a 10 to 100% Animated UR Ticket

Raid Bosses Skill Cards

 * Atepen, Clever Alchemist (UR) Anti-Raid Boss Skill Card, obtained from the Oath of Survival Card Pack
 * (UR) Anti-Hidden Raid Boss Skill Card, obtained from the ? Card Pack
 * (UR) Anti-Secret Raid Boss Skill Card, obtained from the ? Card Pack
 * Shelby the Revealer (UR) Special Evolution Card blocks Bosses attacks, obtained from the Master of Fate Card Pack

Story
"Look, Hero! There's a village over in that direction!"

Her usual liveliness returning, Elimval pointed at the torches placed beside the archway to a humble settlement. You had been wandering for days after following what you believed to be a shortcut, first along a winding mountain trail and then through a deep forest. Even your companion's optimism was on the wane, but it seemed you had at last returned to civilization once more.

"We'll finally be able to sleep in comfortable beds... although I'd be grateful for a simple roof over my head, to be honest."

With a jaunty gait, she approached the nearest house. However, as you followed behind, you noticed how no smoke was billowing from the chimneys despite the setting of the sun. That peculiarity in mind, you tempered your expectations and heightened your senses as Elimval knocked on the door.

"Good evening! I beg your pardon, but we are a pair of wandering travelers. May we have a moment to speak with the master of the house?"

No reply came. In fact, it did not seem there was anyone inside at all.

"Excuse me, is anyone home? ...Oh!"

Elimval repeated her request after a moment's wait, but as she knocked on the door again, it slowly creaked open. When she peered through the entryway, she saw the wooden floor was covered with dried blood and gasped in horror. It gave the appearance that the occupants had been murdered, but there was no sign of the corpses. You examined the scene and were able to discern scuffs that indicated something had been dragged through the rear door. Hoping your premonition was false, you circled around to the back of the house.

"Eeep...!"

Elimval was barely able to stifle her scream. There you saw a pile of gruesomely eviscerated bodies, but that was not what elicited her reaction. Rather, it was the clearly suspicious man holding down a child as he held a dagger to the throat. In a flash, you had drawn your sword and dove at the miscreant, but it was too late. He had slit the youth's windpipe and leapt away, wildly gesturing that he did not wish to fight.

"Whoa, hold on a tick! You've got the wrong idea!"

"H-how could we misinterpret that vile act we just witnessed?!"

Elimval raised her voice in anger, but rather than address her concern, the man clasped his hands together in supplication.

"Shhh! I'm begging you, keep it down! If they hear you..."

"Whatever do you mean? We haven't seen a soul."

You heard brush rustling in the wind, but realized the air was still. Someone -- or something -- else was nearing. The man slapped a hand to his forehead.

"Ah, snakespit, here they come..."

Suddenly, a tepid fog unfurled across the ground and a sensation like being wrapped in cobwebs swept through your body. Then, a strange, unfamiliar sound grew louder as several grotesque monsters appeared.

"Still alive, I see, Varron! You thieves are as obstinate as cockroaches!"

The man in the center, presumably the leader, spoke first.

"Um, do you know him?"

Perhaps intimidated by the accuser, Elimval decided to ask the accused instead. He who was called Varronreacted with more of irritation than fear.

"He's Count Orlok, head of the commune not far from here, or what's left of it anyway. Ever since becoming a blood-drinking nosferatu, he's turned it and everything within sight into one big buffet."

"A nosferatu...?!"

Elimval brought her hands to her cheeks in fright and stared at the Count.

"I say, what a delectable-looking young lady. You should serve well to break my fast. You lot! Seize the girl and kill the others!"

Orlok's underlings attacked without hesitation upon receiving the command, but every last one posed no more than an insignificant threat as you summarily repelled them.

"Hey, you're not half-bad!"

Giving a low whistle, Varron covered your rear so as to protect Elimval. When you were able to spare a moment to glance in his direction, you noted a number of bodies already sprawled at his feet as he dispatched oncoming foes with agile movements.

"What is this buffoonery?! How could you dullards lose to them?!"

The fuming Count took personal action and lunged at you. You reacted in time to block his initial charge, but his assault continued from all directions with power beyond compare to the other monsters. Seeing you squarely on the defensive, Elimval was worried for your safety and regretted her powerlessness.

"You believe a mere mortal such as you can serve a match for me? I am Orlok, the ultimate being!"

He sneered with contempt after staggering you with a forceful strike and prepared to land the finishing blow. But you had merely feigned vulnerability so he would grant you an opening. Before he could unleash his attack, you arced your blade through the air and across his stomach. In one swift motion, the advantage had changed hands.

"Wh-what is this madness?! How could you inflict harm upon me?"

Although his injury was superficial, he glared at you with unvarnished hatred as he clutched his wound. Yet instead of persisting to regain his lost honor, he appeared reluctant to continue the battle, possibly shaken by your seemingly unfathomable deed. As you stared him down, Varron stepped in with a sly taunt.

"That's the Hero's sword for you, Orlok. Not even the undead have any chance against it."

"Curse you, whelp! I shall have my comeuppance yet!"

Orlok retreated as his lackeys followed after him in panic. When the last of them had vanished, Varron clapped his hands and laughed.

"Wow, I heard that Heroes were tough, but you're really something else!"

However, Elimval was still dubious of him and apparently at odds with his devil-may-care attitude.

"You seem to know who they are, but what about you? How are you acquainted with that nosferatu?"

"Oops, almost forgot to introduce myself. You can just call me 'Varron the Sealbreaker.'"

"...And how did you get that name?"

"You know how people like to keep treasure and other valuables under lock and key, right? Some real worrywarts like to use magic binds instead, but I can undo them easier than the buttons on my shirt."

"Of course I know that much! Why would you want to break seals anyw... Oh, that Count called you a thief or something, didn't he?"

"Who's a thief? I merely try to give those poor cooped-up gemstones some fresh air."

"That sounds like the work of a thief to me!"

"All right, if that's how you want to look at it..."

You meant to keep your distance from the smirking conniver as a precaution, but he then offered you a strange proposition.

"So, Hero, what do you say we team up for a while?"

"We refuse! Why should the noble Hero be allied with one of ill repute like yourself?"

"How about if I give you this whole town?"

"Excuse me? Are you completely serious?"

Varron leaned against the nearby house and recanted the story. Count Orlok used to oversee a thriving community with the aid of a goddess's blessing. She had written a contract ensuring not only the prosperity of the people, but the creatures that lived in the surrounding mountains and forests as well. That was until the Count abducted the goddess and sealed her away.

"But what would drive him to do such a thing?"

"That forbidden fruit known as immortality."

Before committing the blasphemous deed, Orlok had been diagnosed with an incurable affliction. He feared the premature end of his life and so he hired a demon to imprison the goddess in the city's temple. With her unable to resist, he was free to bend the terms of the contract to his will. Everything within the pact's jurisdiction was then removed from the natural order of life and became immortal, including himself.

"Now, they call that den of monsters the 'Undead Capital.' But even the undead get hungry, and when they do, they go out to neighboring villages like this to get their fresh meat, and I'm not talking about sirloin steaks. I've been trying to put a stop to them and set everything back to normal, but the only ways to do that are either take back the contract and rewrite it to the way it was before, or burn it to ashes. Unfortunately, I can't do squat since the whole place is crawling with creeps and maniacs. And the worst part is everyone that Orlok kills will also turn into nosferatu overnight if they're left alone. I was just making sure that didn't happen when you two dropped in."

He gave a remorseful sigh, clearly unenthused by the abhorrent task needed to curtail the Count's influence. Then, he looked up and repeated his offer.

"So, that's about the size of it. Now will you give me a hand?"

You nodded, and he gave a roguish smile.

"Okay, here's the plan: His Eminence is really protective of the temple, but with your sword backing up my skills, we should be able to free that goddess in no time. All you got to do is clear a path for me up to those hallowed doors and then I'll use my power to release her. Piece of cake, right?"

He twirled his index finger as it glowed with a magical light, etching runes in the air.

"Once that's done, we can fix that contract and clean up Orlok's mess. All the monsters will turn back to normal and order will be restored in one fell swoop."

"Hmmm... What do you think about all of this, Hero?"

Elimval looked at you with hesitance in her eyes. You sensed she wished to spare other villages from the fate that befell this one, but at the same time did not fully trust Varron. As for yourself, you felt that though he was indeed shady, he did not appear to be malicious. You decided you would travel with him to the Undead Capital and free the goddess.

Chapters/Quests
* Energy