Danny was happy to finally get Fireball, now he just needed an Earth Elemental and he would have at least one spell related to all the elements he knew for a fact had spells associated to them. Not that he was gonna quit here, since if three if the classical elements could be controlled Air would likely be the same. That said he knew full well that he wasn't in any position to spend hours training skills, though the different parameters for Fireball were interesting and he would have to mention it to Jason later.

For now though since he had already formed an incomplete Fireball by pulling energy or whatever from the fire to his Mana Orb Danny decided to at least use it before he started cooking. Seeing the failed fireballs burst earlier gave him an idea for something that could eventually become an area of effect spell.

He "threw" the red fireball in the direction with the least amount of plants, and after it moved a few feet tried to use Lesser Force III from the inside to force the mana to the outside in as many directions as possible. If he saw any sign of it causing a fire he would use Aqua Sphere to put it out.

Done with his skill training Danny took out the Flak beetle mandible and used it in an attempt to cut the Goblin's chest open. If he succeeded he would then use the Sharp Stone to cut out his heart since he was sure it contained a lot of iron. That done he would then use the stone get as much meat from the chest as possible before impaling it all on the Curved Stick. With the help of the two Forked Sticks he placed it over the fire, occasionally rotating it around so the meat wouldn't burn. "System, show level and experience."

---

Hmm, the only results she had to show was a slight tingle in her mouth. She wanted to say it worked slightly, but aside from that slight odd tingly taste she didn't have much confirmation on that. So she tried it again. This time, exhaling completely, emptying her lungs of everything before once more, but before she could see make another attempt, the horn blared, knocking her out of her thinking and tests. Ash frowned, glancing in the direction of hill. Rags Nar was awfully early. Ugh, well, that was fine. She was used to being in meetings this early, this should be no different.

Picking up both the smooth stone and her spear, pulled them back close to her. She wouldn't hide herself this time, she wasn't particularly scared of these goblins, though she didn't really want anything to do with them. So for now she gave Digbie an inquisitive look before sitting, continuing to flex her Lesser Force muscles with the stone and spear in practice. No need to speak just yet. She'd let them do the talking unless she felt she was needed, or addressed first.

Ardur The Mighty Hipixie

just a short detour > A trip down memory lane /// Adventuring day 5 // Afternoon / Location - Forest

Ardur stayed quiet as the others talked, taking note of the questions asked of me by not just the boy but also Asura as well. At least for now, he did not sense any hostility from these two and he did not think that what they were saying was lies or had some other intent. Perhaps with the aid of this one this small rag-tag strike team could maybe do something about the undead threat that lays within that cavern.

“Huh, a desert… that sounds hostile for a pixie such as myself. Perhaps I shall venture there someday just to see.” He seemed to trail off for a moment before getting a questioning look on his face. “It was the heart of a deer that we killed, the strongest muscle given up to the spirits as their share of the kill. Now that you explained what these spirits represent a bit more I can see why I was being called to in that direction… forgive me if I’m being to blunt but tell me, how does one such as yourself pray or give sacrifice to Galatine?” His question was out of pure curiosity, he had found out by accident how to give penance to one but not the other two.

Then came the question from the knight and Asura about the dungeon core and Jason, the curiosity in his eyes faded and his facial features turned sterner in the face of the question. “Yeah I was there when he threw himself upon that crystal; it hurt him bad and changed him. Sure he was always trying his best for more power but I almost felt like he wanted to leave eventually then strike out on his own.” The high pixie trailed off for a moment remembering the fight and death of the slime as well as the betrayal of trust from attacking him. “But that core made him want to stay and protect the cave, he wanted to build it better. Make it more than what it was.” He figured he was going a little off topic but continued.

“I spent my past life as a healer of sorts and I want to continue doing that in this life, those undead… those abominations. They were a mockery of life and all that I had worked for, he was controlling them to an extent and I attacked them with the help of Asura here.” He seemed to shrug as if that explained his actions, “After he died the mana crystals that were once abundant in the cave all cracked and broke. The dust was drawn to the back of the cave in Jason’s burrow where he had first met the core. After a few more minutes of fighting zompixies and skeleblins a large greyish slime charged toward us but we were able to get away.” Again, he seemed to trail off, lost in his thoughts.

He figured that was all he had to say until Asura raised his shield once more this time at the boy and asking him to hit him, “he’s trying to increase his resistances... Well I feel that the dungeon should be our current concern, maybe after we clear it your friend won’t have to worry about undead getting into his land.” Again he just shrugged and looked on at the two deciding to study the boys attack if he did so to try and gain further insight while singing softly, applying some mana to his throat to attempt to augment the song in some way.



@Zeroth
@Kazemitsu

@Stabby @Zeroth

Femus took in every detail as best he could in those final key moments before the Shock Round stabilized and activated. The power of the strike was nothing to scoff at. He hadn't expected it to be able to do such harm to a tree when it was based on a simple Mana Orb of the first level. Then, he got the notification and description of the skill from the System.

Skill Gain: Shock Round I (0.8 > 1.0)!
The lightning-themed version of a basic magical attack. With roughly the same power, range, and MP consumption as a Mana Orb, it has the unique property of being able to home in on a target, though it moves slowly and may dissipate after a few moments. However, as an elemental spell, these same properties render it harder to use in certain circumstances. Elementally opposed targets, for example, will be much less effected.

Homing caught his eye and mind. The possibilities expanded his horizons greatly in regard to strategy. However, the description indicated that the spell was somewhat unstable and might have some range limitations due to its chance to dissipate. So, it was a good step in a good direction but he shouldn't trust his life to it just yet. Most importantly, he had now confirmed that he could use a simple chant to assist memory based visualization to create new spells.

Maybe he could use this method to finalize his Shield spell. He settled the excited beating of his tiny heart and meditated intensely, trying to deepen the draw that pulled mana to him as he did so. Once he was again over his standard limit, Femus sought to concentrate his mana, moving it from its normal paths through his body into the skin and muscles and bones. He sought to simply bolster their toughness. And, while concentrating on this task, he muttered the words that came to mind.

"Mana, toughen this flesh, Shield."

Femus also used his Magic Analysis skill through his perception of his own body to study the effects and behaviors of this spell-in-the-making. In particular, he wanted to see how the mana moved. He wanted to understand what it was and how its parts interacted as he had come to understand the bodies of the animals that he helped butcher back home. What interacted to produce a certain movement or change? The more he could understand, the more progress he could make toward his goal of creating a Magic Gathering Formation.

However, at the end of these tests, he looked and listened for Nira's return. As capable as she was to survive as a pixie in this place, there were still a lot of things that could kill her. If her return was delayed, he might have to go looking for her... and, thinking of his own limits in battle, possibly reconsider the benefits of getting closer help from a certain wild pixie. Though, these thoughts truly only showed that he was already starting to miss her presence. He didn't want to be the only 'person' around for the rest of this strange life.

---

Torrent glanced out of the cave at the horn, running her tongue gingerly around in her mouth, as she twitched her tail in irritation.

Goblins. Always Goblins getting in her way, always doing what they wanted at the cost of everyone else.

Dirty little rats.

She shook her head, tabling what she had learned as she activated Scale Shift and Muffle III and sneaked her way out of the cave and into a hiding spot. They had came over their little hole last time if she remembered correctly, and she wanted to see them. Slipping into the treeline near the others, she focused on being as silent, still, and unnoticeable as possible while she watched for the Goblins.

She'd let the others make the decisions here, she wasn't dumb enough to think she knew how to proceed here, but she'd be ready to unleash her power on them if they caused trouble.

---

@Zeroth@Duthguy

The sensation alone of this surreal spiritual experience was enough to make Jason shudder. It was as if a missing piece of himself; one he'd never even known was missing, had suddenly returned to him.

Pushing back against the overwhelming urge surface, Jason held out for a few more moments before finally beginning his ascent; just long enough to reply--

"If the earth can destroy but remains calm, and is invincible, but soothes the mind in meditation... And is a Wise Monk.... Then I will build myself as the Wise Monk!--"

Racing toward the surface, Jason called out one last time to the Monk-Spirit.



The whispers were growing fainter, just like his own voice. But still he could hear them, picking out only a few among the many...And as the other voices spoke of the Earth, other figures were emerging from the darkness...but Jason called out to only one of them.

With a sound like cracking stone, with a sensation like being buried in a landslide, all other figures save the Monk were swallowed up. Again the iron bell's tone resonated--and like the images Jason had once seen when he cut off his own sight and allowed his Tremor Sense to map the landmass around him, the Figure became more defined. A humanoid shape, yet the skin was made of dark bronze and the muscles had hardened like stone. Intricate, swirling patterns were engraved upon the flesh as if blasted by sand, and the Monk's robes were draped like the most delicate and smoothly chiseled marble. Eyelids ground like tectonic plates, and bright, molten gold light enveloped Jason. From the crown of the being's smooth head, a single horn rose like a great pillar. Eight blood red marks, like drifting flower petals, ringed its base.

The iron bell chimed once more, and the rattling of beads grew louder. As if echoing from deep within a cavern, bouncing off walls of stone until it overlapped and distorted and became gibberish, Jason heard it.

"Onogoro."

And Jason jerked "awake," painfully, the kind of jarring seizure that leaves someone wondering if they really did just die in a dream. But he was already dead, yet he had not yet risen from his place in the earth...and when he tried, despite having no physical body he suddenly found that he felt heavy, that he could not simply "float" away as he normally did without any effort. Though at the edges of his misty being, he felt a sensation of pins and needles...yet also felt that he could not breathe...

In a panicked frenzy; and before he could thoroughly comprehend what he had just witnessed, Jason clawed for the surface-- HE NEEDED AIR! Forgetting his state of undeath almost entirely, Jason burst through the soil gasping for breath!

"Onogoro..." he whispered as he struggled to get his bearings.

The results were in and they were informative… if a little confusing. Buying a new skill or ranking up an existing skill with skill points did in fact grant experience, even if it seemed illogical that would be the case. That was good to know, but the numbers involved made less sense; ten per cent for buying a new skill, another ten per cent for buying a new rank but twenty two per cent for ranking up a skill naturally? It was a strange, uneven number that didn’t seem to fit when everything else he had seen was an increment of ten at a time. What was the determining factor for the larger number, the fact he was improving the skill naturally? Or the fact he was increasing the skill from rank two to three, instead of one to two? Or was he also gaining experience for improving other skills in the background, like his new saw blade creation?

Unless he wanted to constantly check his experience after every single thing he did, or find some way to permanently display experience, it was likely he would never know for sure what factored into those numbers. For now it was enough to know buying skills granted experience.

The saw blade hovering above his palm had come together easier than he had anticipated, either because of the increased rank of his Mana Shape skill or because he had grown accustomed to manipulating the basic shape of a Mana Orb. Like his first attempts as Mana Dart it felt fragile and unfinished, although fragile wasn’t exactly the right word; malleable, like it would bend and warp rather than cut and slice. It had also drained more of his Mana so far than he had expected it to, which was strange considering it wasn’t any larger in volume than a Mana Orb; allowances had to be made for the extra time spent shaping the spell however and so far all of his spells other than Mana Slice seemed to cost more than the spell they were born from.

Oberon compressed the saw blade down, like he had done with Mana Dart and Flame Lance in the past, in an attempt to harden the circular shape and make it better able to withstand an impact with something. While doing so he paid particular attention to the serrated edges, flattening then down even further and trying to make then sharp as well as solid. Even when this was done it didn’t feel finished however and if he launched it at something as it was it would be nothing more than a particularly fancy looking Mana Slice.

He tried to set it spinning, using Mana Shape to rotate the saw in place and moving it faster and faster once he felt certain it wouldn’t fly off and harm either himself or someone else by mistake. Saws were meant to spin, to use the rotation and the teeth along its edge to wear away as much as it cut; this spell would be no different. Once it was moving fast enough that the teeth along its edge became a solid blur, a single unbroken circle, Oberon released the spell and launched it at a tree across the stream from the camp.



@Zeroth

---

Ed's heart beat a mile a minute as he stalked the tall grass. He placed himself in a such a life-risking situation just to gather some more information, and possibly a means of escape. Though the notion of escape right now would be a far fetched idea as the bandits had positioned themselves that they could sense if there was something amiss in their environment. It was hard enough to sneak out of the barrow without them detecting him, what more with two more and the items they had? It was unreasonable to think that they can sneak past without rousing suspicion. But before Ed would turn around and report his findings to Asteria, he noticed something odd in the distance. He squinted his eyes to see what it was and his eyes widened as soon as he realized that the shape was actually a large horse-drawn carriage with, what he could assume to be humans, guarding it.

Ah shit... Ed thought to himself as this was the perfect situation for the marauders to ambush and pillage the cart. It was only a matter of time before one of the bandits sensed the presence of the cart in the distance. If he didn't do anything to warn the cart, the bandits would likely be too focused on raiding the cart to notice them sneak away...but that would mean that he would allow innocent people to die. If he did, he could potentially save the lives of those in the cart, but the bandits would instantly know that he was there and that would drastically reduce his life expectancy to a matter of minutes...if the people in the carriage won't end him first.

The decision rested solely on the former human. Would he be a selfless hero and warn the carriage, but risk dying again? Or would he be an opportunistic coward that would ensure his safety and the safety of his friends at the expense of the people in the carriage?

Decisions, decisions...

Ed grimaced to himself quietly as he quietly scampered back to the barrow with the help of [Muffle II]. It felt like he was doing the wrong decision to not head straight to the cart and warn them of the ambush but, he simply couldn't risk it. You call yourself a man? Pathetic. You're nothing but a coward. He mentally berated himself as he entered the barrow and leaned into the second room to talk to Asteria. "Asteria, I got news." he whispered rather harshly into the room. "There's a cart coming, likely in a couple minutes or so, and it's going to distract the bandits..." Ed paused. Maybe he didn't have to be a coward? Maybe he didn't have to let innocent people die to ensure that they survive. A blazing resolution sparked in his eyes. "...and I have a plan. This is going to sound stupid and crazy but, while the bandits are distracted by the cart, we swoop in like black ops and attack and kill the bandits while they're distracted. And hopefully, the cart people recognize that we're helping them and won't try to kill us on sight." Ed paused to look at the short cudgel in his hand and gripped it tightly. "If we do do that, prioritize killing the one who smells like purple." Ed paused to process how stupid that statement sounded. How the hell would someone know what purple smelled like? "Next we kill the one with the staff, he is likely the one who can use magic proficiently and is the next biggest threat, we kill the one who smells like mint last. If things go as planned, the humans guarding the carriage can deal with the two humanoid bandits. If things look sour for them, we go help kill the two." Ed let out a breath and mentally prepared himself. "They could spot the cart at any moment now. Ready?" He asked Asteria with an almost genuine sense of bravery.

---

Scott glanced under the table where Miiba and the boy were still talking. “We... we don’t know… not exactly, anyway.” he lied.

Looking around the room, he took in not his surroundings, but the people around him. Lear, he knew, and he assumed that the woman he was talking to was Mirabelle. That made the other man, the one who had… picked up a log to kill him with, he had to be Geir. But the other woman, the one who was standing in front of the youngest girl and holding a baby in her arms... who was she? He assumed that she was Lear’s wife, and that made these four children theirs. Why would they be here, where every creature in a hundred-mile radius (at least, that’s what it felt like) wanted to kill them?

Scott supposed that’s what the wall was for. And they could probably handle themselves. But was it really worth the effort?

Slipping away from Miiba’s side, he moved towards the woman.

“E-excuse me.”

---

---

Something did indeed appear due to Asteria’s actions, though it was a completely different kind of being than she’d been expecting. A strange kind of earthly humanoid with gems for eyes burrowed out of the earth, and Asteria immediately used Monster Analysis II on it. “So, you aren’t an undead. Huh. I was expecting something related to necromancy, since this seems like a prime spot for doing that kind of a thing…Also, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was a town of dark magic cultist in existence which did precisely that,” she answered. Not that she actually knew anything about the dark magic of this world, but even if it was an unwise practice, well, people were always attracted to power. And if a temptation appeared directly in front of someone, it would be difficult to resist. Even knowing that, as she did, did not preclude the possibility of giving in to the so called “easy” path, and in fact, if the being in front of her had been so simplistic as to desire some blood in exchange for more killing potential, she would have promised it that. But as it turned out, that wouldn’t be necessary. And that was also fine.

“What would your contract involve? Do you only protect the dead within, then? And I suppose you wouldn’t care to resolve certain outside events that very well may cause disturbance within, would you,” she commented dryly. “No matter. If you happen to be curious enough about how a Dire Rat can converse with you, however, perhaps we could exchange some information,” she offered. Just then, Ed approached, and informed he of the current situation. “After we deal with that mess out there,” she added to the being, then moved to quickly store that gold coin with the rest of their belongings, and swiftly removed the Bloodingfly stinger from the clay jar, wrapping her tail tightly around it.

Asteria strode back to the first chamber. “I think the plan’s fine. And I’m ready,” she whispered. She made contact with mother rat briefly, relaying a feeling of quiet, caution, staying together, and attacking enemies one by one through Telepathy as best as she could through emotions alone. Then, she focused on her sense of smell, trying to get a whiff of whatever kind of scent that might feel purple to her. Following Ed’s directions, the trio quietly began sneaking outside, attempting to approach their enemies unnoticed…

---

Ash didn't respond. Okay... maybe she was waiting for him to respond first? The look in her lizard eyes gave Digbie that idea, anywho. "I-I got a quest to fashion beads of prayer. I wanna see if maybe the stone from that Rat is a good candidate to be a bead. I dunno how I'll string 'em yet, but I'll figure it out as I g-" Digbie stopped when he heard the horns of the Broken Tower Tribe really close by. Oh gosh, that wasn't a good sign. Far from it, in fact. "Oh no, I-I think that's Rags and his gaggle."

Digbie stopped his practicing and began to think. So he could let the others keep practicing for a few minutes before they show up and risk them seeing what's going on, or Digbie could try and convince the group to keep the element of surprise. Of course, this wouldn't work out well, but for all Rags knew, the lizards and sprite were effectively Digbie's pets. He could stand to reasonably convince the Goblins Digbie was far more powerful than he let on.

"G-guys, stop the stuff for just a little bit." Digbie told the group. "If we keep them in belief that you guys are somewhat normal, we can just play it off. Surprise them down the road, if the need arises. Regardless, get ready. We might need to fight if it comes to that. Until then, I'll do the talking!" He felt the ground shake around him slightly, assuming that it was Torrent who was picked up with activating Tremor Sense III. Good, she was getting into a safe position. No doubt she could do a ton of damage if she wasn't seen.

AS for Digbie, he got back to practicing. If the Broken Tower Tribe came upon him learning how to hone his Mana Orb, then he could play it off as him getting stronger far easier than he could if his wyrm was using telekinesis, or if Torrent was talking. For now, he just kept trying to condense a Mana Orb into a smaller, more compact form, and if it happened to be harder and stick around permanently, then good.

His sigiled skin gleamed against the sunlight as he activated Earth Vein, as well. Maybe it made him slightly more intimidating.

---

Thanks to her Alert skill giving her warning of the Goblin's presence, and her Muffle skill allowing her to silently move back among the trees, it seemed she was able to get away without likewise alerting the greenskin. As she moved among the branches, the creature did suddenly tilt its head...but it wasn't looking in quite the right direction. The goblin scratched its head, made a short circle around its clearing...then shrugged and went back to its training. It sounded like that feast of theirs in the distance was winding down too...

Femus meditated to restore his Mana, and as part of the usual deep breathing and calm mind he tried to follow the flow of energy within his body. At first, it seemed like he was only feeling the pump of his heartbeat and the warm blood within his veins. Then, he began to notice a sort of...tingling feeling, not quite following his blood vessels but somewhat running in parallel with them. He began to concentrate on images and sensations of "toughness." Skin, muscle, and bone.

"Mana, toughen this flesh, Shield."

You used Magic Analysis I!
---Shield??---
Your Mana is being directed throughout your body, you are attempting to alter the flow. You are attempting to bolster your natural defenses, but so far only physical properties are being affected...

But Femus asked himself, what did he have to do to produce change in his Mana? He turned his attention to his own body--as soon as he had started casting, the Meditate spell had shut off. But as he finished his chant...

Skill Gain: Shield I (0.6 > 1.0)!
The most basic of defensive support spells. An aura effect reduces incoming damage, but no physical barrier or counteractive forces are generated. Only natural resistances to damage are reinforced. Can be cast on objects.

Skill Gain: Mana Shape I (0.9 > 1.0)!
You can shape your raw Mana into the appearance of something. At this rank, your Mana does not have weight, force, or other physical qualities. Your Mana cannot produce sounds. Your Mana cannot move freely. Your mana can have its color changed. Your shapes must be relatively simple with no moving parts. The shape cannot be held for long without more MP.

Your MP is low!

It seemed chanting did indeed increase the power of a spell, but it also significantly drained his MP. He had even had Temporary Extra MP before he had started casting. Could chanting too much drain him completely, or cause some other problems?

Before long, Nira returned. But now the forest was beginning to dim--the sound of the goblins was getting quiet, and the sun's fading red rays were filtering through the trees. Night would be upon them soon...

---

Ash seemed too preoccupied with her experiments to recognize Digbie speaking to her at first, but the time for talk was passed now it seemed. Though she continued to orbit her spear and the stone around her with Lesser Force, she sat back on her haunches like a small, scaly, winged, magical dog.

Torrent activated her stealth skills, first changing the color of her body into something woody and then quietly slithering through the grass. Once she was hidden among the low lying brush in the treeline, the next task was to get a good vantage point--if the other goblins walked down the hill towards the campsite, she would be roughly behind and to the north of them. If they stayed atop the hill, however, her vision would be limited because of the underbrush and she would be within their peripheral...

Oberon felt more MP than usual leave his body as he cast this Shaped, unusual form of Mana Slice across the stream. It bit into the trunk of a nearby tree with sound honestly not too different from the saw the Sprite had envisioned. The wound it left behind definitely seemed a bit deeper and more ragged than what Mana Slice usually caused. However, so far no new skill had triggered. And afterwards--which might be considered lucky, rather than before-wards--a group of figures appeared above them in the dim, dawning light of morning.

Skill Rank Up: Mana Orb I > Mana Orb II (1.95 > 2.025!)
Magic Damage Increased. MP Cost Increased.

ERROR. Cannot activate Earth Vein at this Rank in conjunction with other Active Skills.

As Digbie held the denser, and now brighter, Mana Orb in his hand he "felt" the internal buzz as his Earth Vein failed to activate. Up above, the goblins called out to him once more.

"Oi, Demi-gob, it be us! No needs magicks!" Rags Nar, still wearing his pilfered maille and damaged clothing--which now seemed familiar to Digbie for some reason--had his wooden pot lid on one arm while the other held the reins of his mount, as if he had perhaps expected an attack for some reason. A few of the goblins with him were different this time--the one with the fur pelt was still there, as was the one with the skillet hanging over his chest, but the female wearing the potato sack and the skinny one that had been the goat's lead weren't with the group. The Four Horned Goat still didn't look very happy with having a Goblin on its back, but cordage had been looped around its back ankles so that it could only go at a trot. Trying to break into a run would just trip the creature up, and with its movement limited like that the goblins could probably catch it if it tried to get away. Of course, the creature's eyes kept darting back to the offensive shackles--there was no doubt that this creature was still trying to think of a way to take vengeance upon its oppressors.

But those two different goblins. One of them looked dangerous, even compared to Rags Nar. He didn't have any real armor, just a loincloth and cave-man style robe made from fur and a few pieces of tree-bark wrapped around his arms and legs with vines. However, in both hands he held an actual sword--not a dagger like Rags Nar, nor a broken bit of blade with a hilt like Digbie, but a true sword. It looked to be just under three feet long, making it almost as tall as the Goblin holding it, but of that length the hilt accounted for six or so inches. The goblin had to hold its large, rounded pommel in his second hand just to lever the thing enough for a swing. The only thing that detracted from the weapon's ferocity was the fact that it looked like it was about to crumble just from contact with the air--it was rusted and chipped to such an extent it was amazing that it hadn't already broken. And from the way he held it, the Goblin was clearly no swordsman--like as not, he treated the thing like a club.

And the last, it was clear she was to be Digbie's "offering" he had requested. She looked older, but not elderly. She was fully mature, if the swell of her hips and slight bust were any indication, and had shoulder length hair of a dark, greasy sheen that almost looked purple. She wore a single, slightly tarnished gold chain around her neck. A pair of wooden bowls, of about the size one would use for a side dish or a single serving, had been threaded with a vine and made into a crude top. She also wore a grass skirt much longer and a little better made than Digbie's, as well as bone ornamentation around her wrists and ankles. Her large nose had a scar on the bridge, like it had been bitten off at some point, and a single fang stuck out of one corner of her mouth. Her narrow eyes looked Digbie over from beneath eyebrows like enormous catepillars. She had fingernails that looked long enough to be used as weapons all on their own.

"Demi-gob, dis bes Mahya!" Rags Nar dismounted his goat, handing the reins to the goblin with the animal pelt around his neck, and strode down the hill. The female goblin and the one with the sword followed him, the former at his side and the latter at a slight distance. The sword goblin eyed the other creatures in the clearing suspiciously, and his grip on his weapon was tight. Rags Nar continued, "she be one 'a da prettiest gobs in da whole tribe! Already had three baby gobs, so she bes sure ta gives ya one too!" He slapped Mahya's rear end, and with a yellow smile she began to move towards Digbie in what seemed like a dance...if the object of a dance was to be as vulgar as possible. "And here's da udda stuff ya axed for!" Pulling a half-ripped sack from his vine belt, Rags Nar dumped out a ragged shirt, trousers, and cap. The material looked roughspun, probably made from natural materials rather than processed threads, but far better than what Goblins should have been able to make. The shirt was a simple sleeveless tunic, the pants had holes in the knees, and the cap wouldn't be much protection even from the elements since there were holes where the ears were supposed to go. Not to mention, these were clearly meant for someone human-sized, and would still be far too big for Digbie--the tunic alone could fit him like a night gown.

"So, has ya 'cided ta join da Broked Tower Gobs!?" Rags Nar clasped his grubby hands eagerly.

---

Skill Gain: Charisma I (0.9>1.0)!
Your personality is almost a magical charm unto itself. You’ll have greater luck convincing others to go along with your suggestions, but only within their own natural reasoning. This skill may not work on those with stronger Wills.

"A blood sacrifice like that is almost exactly like Dhulfiqar's rituals. It's no wonder his influence is at work on you." Trent said, though he breathed a sigh of relief when the Hipixie cleared things up. When Ardur asked how the Divine Spirit Galatine did things instead, the boy thought for a moment before he answered. "I don't have my prayer book with me, but I was always taught that praying to Galatine should be like a knight presenting his service to the liege lord. Instead of asking the Divine Spirit to do something for you, you seek out things to do for him. The "sacrifice" Galatine requires is that of one's physical service and personal belief--a lot of temples dedicated to him have a militant faction, and they have to follow a special code."

As the Amorphous Slime and the evolved fae discussed what had happened to the "magical slime" after making contact with the core, Zieglar once again put a hand over his mouth and chin. His eyes widened for a mere instant when Ardur mentioned that the Mana Crystals had been absorbed by the Core. Then he reached up and pulled his visor down. He was silent for the rest of the discussion--until Asura asked Trent to punch him and shapeshifted one of his false limbs into a shield. Then hearty laughter echoed from within the man's helmet.

"Training your own resistance to damage...given the kind of pain one has to go through for even a few levels in those abilities, most monsters below the third tier never even think to do such a thing! And for a slime, whose forte is already its hardiness, to do such a thing..." He shook his head and then looked at Trent. "Do you feel up to it, boy?"

Something in the knight's tone didn't feel quite...genuine.

Trent gulped, then carefully pulled the leather glove on his sword hand tighter around his fingers. He clenched a tight fist, and approached Asura.

"S-sorry if this hurts too much..."

The boy took a somewhat generic fighting stance, and a deep breath. He padded back and forth from foot to foot for a moment...then planted his feet and took a swing, torquing his hips. It didn't look like he was putting everything he had into it, but it didn't look like he was slacking too much either. Due to the height difference between him and Asura, it was more like an off-center uppercut to the body.

The impact struck Asura's shield and lifted up, bowling the slime over and rolling him along the ground. It definitely hurt, but it wasn't the absolute worst damage the slime had ever taken thus far. If he had to make a guess, he might say that such an impact might kill him outright if he took...perhaps three of them. As it was, if he still had a human cranium, there was no doubt it would have heavily dazed him. Zieglar guffawed, an honest sound this time, then turned to Ardur.

"Ahum! Ah. Well, if we're all in agreement then, let's do it. The quicker that Dungeon is cleared the better, and this way we won't have to wait for a suppression force from the Guild. But there's something to keep in mind when plunging into an Undead Dungeon." The knight snapped a twig from a nearby tree and began drawing in the dirt. First, a stick figure with pointy ears and an angry face.

"Let's say this is a Goblin, or some other creature that has been assimilated by the Dungeon Core. That means the Core now controls that monster's mind. There are a number of ways it can accomplish that, but that's besides my point for now." He crossed out the stick figure with an X. "You kill it like you do anything else...but, this Dungeon is full of the kinds of foul magics that raise the dead." He scratched another stick figure, but with x's for eyes and a missing arm. "So the creature you just killed? It will eventually rise as an Undead. The speed depends on several factors, but in the worst case, you wouldn't even get a breather before the fight started again. That Goblin, it would likely become a Zombie Goblin--Zomblin for short." He crossed out the zombie, and began drawing a cartoonish skull. "Now, let's say perhaps you use something magical, or just do a lot of cutting damage until you've flayed the creature's flesh from its bones. That's still not enough, as you've already seen. And even then..." He crossed out the skull, and next drew a small circle with a wavey trail then gave it eyes and a mouth. "You have the spirit. So, worst case scenario? Depending on how they are destroyed, and how powerful the Core has grown, you may have to actually fight the same creature four times over." He drew an arrow from the spirit back to the very beginning. "And, if those spirits are strong enough? They can possess a new body." He tossed the stick over his shoulder and put his fists on his hips as he looked at Asura and Ardur.

"That is the true danger of an Undead Dungeon. If there are only 10 monsters in it, you may still face the equivalent of 40 monsters. If monsters outside the dungeon, or even members of your own party, aren't strong enough then the spirits may be able to just steal new bodies. At higher levels, an Undead Dungeon is, perhaps, the most dangerous thing short of the Demon King's own palace. And even then. There's a reason so many Demon Kings have been Necromancers, after all." He crossed his arms.

"This one is still fresh. Even given the rapid rate of change you and the other "smart monsters" have brought about, I don't think it's at a level where we need to panic yet. But even for a party of five, it will not be easy. If you're absolutely certain you want to undertake it, I will guard the entrance until you return or I see signs of the Core's power increasing." None of them had to read the tone to pick up what the implication was there. "And Trent will lead you in, find the Core, and help you destroy it. But..."

Now the Knight turned to Trent, and the boy immediately snapped to attention.

"This will not be like other Quests you have had, boy! I expect you to take charge here!" He gestured towards the monsters. "I can think of no better test of your tactical abilities than taking monsters, at least one of whom you have never encountered the likes of! It won't be so simple as assigning magic users to the back line and shield bearers to the front--you must take into account their levels of intelligence and the changes this has caused in their bodies!"

Again Trent gulped, but after a moment his gaze hardened. He nodded his head, and put one hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Yes, sir!"

If Asura and Ardur wanted to back out or change their minds, now would be the time to do it. Otherwise, Trent would soon begin heading back to the cave, and calling for them all to follow...

---

You used Monster Analysis II!
--Gnome--
A kind of earth elemental. Roughly four spans high, they are normally reluctant to interact with other beings but can be bribed. However, unless one can figure out exactly what the creature wants, it will often remain set in its ways like a heavy stone. This makes them excellent contractors, as they will follow an agreement to the letter. They move through earth as easily as others move above ground. They often live in areas rich in ores or gemstones.

"Humans generally don't like necromancy. They're very protective of their corpses for whatever silly reason." the Gnome snorted. "My contract is to protect this barrow, yes. In fact, if it weren't for your offering last night, you coming into this chamber would be enough of a reason for me to eject you, cause you're a Non-Human. As it is, you get a slight allowance until you start messin' with somethin'. But, the only thing that could happen out of doors that would qualify on the contract is if somebody actually started digging into the place." The creature raised a chubby, toddler like hand from the dirt and pointed with one finger. "And another thing! If anything triggers an action from me, it raises an alarm with my contractors. I got no idea where they are now, but I remember there being a pretty good range on this thing. Been in place since my grand-pap's days after all, and the contract always gets renewed."

"Asteria, I got news." Ed's harsh whisper came from the entrance. He had somehow made it back without being seen or heard, but it seemed like something had happened regardless.

"See ya, rat! If ya wanna make a trade, ya gotta make it worthwhile! No gross bloody stuff!" When Asteria turned to head back, the gnome disappeared into the ground--and left no trace that he had been there. Despite Ed's sharpened senses, somehow he failed to hear the elemental's last whispers.

The three rats began to plan for their operation to defeat the bandits and rescue the cart. When Asteria relayed things to Mother Rat, the non-reincarnated creature seemed quite confused. At first she didn't want to go out, and tried to pull at Asteria and Ed's tails with her jaws as if urging them to stay inside. But, if they insisted, she would be left with no choice but to follow...

In the meantime, the cart had come closer. Close enough to see that it was drawn by two mules, and appeared to be the typical square cart one might imagine but without any kind of cover or roof. In the cart were things that seemed like essentials--a barrel of something white and glittery that might have been piles of salt, jars that smelled like oil, boxes that had the waxy, fatty smell of candles, rolls of cloth, and other things. Driving it was an older human with salt-and-pepper hair and a stony face, dressed in patched and faded clothes and a frayed coat. Sitting in the back was a young man with blonde hair, wrapped up in a cloak as he snoozed. Walking on the right side of the cart, a taller boy who seemed quite lean, but had wide shoulders that gave his arms a wide arc as they swung easily at his sides. He wore a thick blue tunic over a long sleeved shirt, and it looked like he might have an undershirt on under that as well. The morning was chilly, but was it that cold? His dark colored britches were tucked into leather boots, and a longsword was strapped to his side. He wore a large pack on his back but its weight didn't seem to hinder him much. On the left of the cart, a man with tanned skin looked like he might be a native of that village the rats had seen before. He wore a shirt made from the hide of some animal, not leather, but still a properly made garment. His pants seemed much like the other youth's, however, and he too wore a cloak. He carried a long spear with a shaft of black wood over his shoulders, and there were a few feathers tied just below its long, silvery tip.

If Asteria and Ed had chosen to continue their plan, or even if they just sat at the entrance and watched, this was the moment when all hell broke loose.

The Kobold suddenly dashed out into the road. In an instant all of the humans except the one snoozing in the cart snapped their heads up, but as their hands reached for weapons the lizard brought down its staff.

"Froshtbite!"

Icy tendrils spread across the road, forming a slippery surface that caused the mules to bray and sit down on their haunches as their legs skittered underneath them. The young man was in the process of pulling his sword and the tanned man had readied his spear, but both of them hesitated to charge forward with the terrain so affected. They had shouted by this point, so the one in the back came awake with a start. The driver, however, produced what looked like a sling from under his coat--

An arrow whistled from around the side of the barrow, and struck the driver in the shoulder. It probably would have gotten his heart if he hadn't been in the process of letting a stone fly, but the projectile was far off target as he slumped with a cry of pain. From that same side, the other hooded figure took off running. It was coming up onto the road from the side, up from the ditch and the grass, so it didn't have to contend with its ally's frost spell. Its hood fell back, revealing the creature for what it was--it was a foot taller than most goblins the rats had seen, and had a darker green tinge to its skin. Its form was more wiry and muscular, and it had more hair on its head.

It swung a sword-like weapon that had been made from some creature's jawbone tied to a stick, and in its other hand held a crude shield made from old planks of wood. The tall young man brought his sword to bear in both hands and skillfully deflected the big goblin's strike before pressing forward, slamming his weapon and his weight into its shield and pushing it back off the road...

"Minor Heal!" said the spear toting man in a deep voice, as the driver yanked the arrow out of his shoulder. It didn't have a head, it had only been a sharpened twig of wood with some ragged feathers glued to it by tree sap. The soft green glow surrounded the wound and the bleeding began to slow...

The other young man stood up in the back of the cart, holding a book in his hands.

"Dust of the earth, light of the sun, wind all around--" he was chanting, and a speck in his hand began to glow red hot like an ember being blown on to start a proper fire.

On the opposite side of the road, in the other ditch, the two human bandits were making their way through the tall grass. They weren't exactly hidden, but their victims were all paying attention to the Kobold in front of them, their own wounded, or the enemies on the other side of the road...

The rats' ears could pick up the sound of another arrow being pulled from the quiver and notched to the string...

---

Danny's attempt to use Lesser Force to force apart the pseudo Fireball in an explosion seemed to be a step in the right direction for his goal. It wasn't really an "explosion," but the red orb did expand. It was more like inflating a baloon than anything. And when it burst, it didn't produce any light, flames, or really much of a sound besides a sudden rush of wind. The temperature of the surrounding air did increase several degrees, though. Maybe if he had done it with a fully formed fireball the result would have been different. Nothing caught fire, luckily, allowing the Poltergeist to begin carving his kill.

You used Crafting I!
Goblin Heart + Goblin Meat + Curved Stick + Fire

You got Goblin Skewer!
A fresh roasted skewer of goblin parts. It smells...edible?

You are Level 7. EXP: 80%.

Just then, the earth where Jason had buried himself suddenly shifted. A lump of soil rose up, like a bubble was inflating inside the ground itself. Then it gave way, falling back with a puff of dust. The puff drifted in an unusual way, and given his previous experiences Danny would no doubt put together that the falling soil was shifting around Jason's spiritual body before it fell back to earth.

The Ecto-Slime soon found himself feeling normal again, though his MP had depleted more than he might have expected. As he whispered the name of the bronze-skinned monk, he saw no more visions or strange figures. So...where did he go from here?

At least the sun was starting to go down, and he didn't have to worry about it burning him as much...

Asura cut his gaze over to Zieglar when he laughed and explained some things about defenses. "I've always figured a good defense makes a great offense. Learn to deal with pain, and how much you can handle, before going and taking the offense. Nevermind the fact watching a tired opponent try to defend is rather amusing." He stated before bracing himself. He watched Trent's stance. "It's how I've survived so far. Big defense, counter attacks, and then sheer brute force." He continued as he shifted the 'shield' to take the full force.

Sure he could have angled it to make it so his fist would slide away, but that would defeat the purpose of taking a blow he asked for. Trent proceeded to apologize if things hurt too much for the amorphous slime. "Never apologize for a requested strike, kid." Asura said before the punch hit. It was a good hit, solid, but a little lackluster. Exactly how he wanted it. Apparently he didn't weigh a whole hell of a lot so he went tumbling. Stopping he 'sat up' and let the shield return to the fake looking hand. "Good hit, maybe if we live through the dungeon I'll get better defenses." The slime stated before melting into his puddle form, no point wasting stamina.

Now onto the nitty gritty. Zieglar began to explain about the Undead Dungeon and why they were so dangerous. Fighting the same monster numerous times seemed like a pain in the ass, but the freshly dead probably had pisspoor wills due to confusion. Then again anger tended to flood things out so who knew. "First, how does one even combat a spirit without magic? Second, there's no healing herbs within the cave anymore and Ardur is our only healer...do you know of an herb gathering spot?" Asura explained and then asked, having no way to heal except the spellcaster wasn't in the best interest.

System, inventory check. He thought, it had been a long damn time since he checked his inventory. Aside from what the system said when he played with some bones and stones.

---

Oh god. That's... uh... not what Digbie was expecting. Mahya was definitely shown to him as a way for him to join, a way to spread young and whatever, but he was honestly expecting a young and impressionable goblin, not as mature. Maybe more like he was just a few days ago. Regardless, he needed to think fast about what to say, and more importantly, how to say it. After a moment passed, he realized something, this was a scary fight, but not too hard for the group to take on if they were careful. Perhaps he could sway this situation into even more of a benefit, for his own sake and the sake of these goblins. Digbie took a small breath, then spoke to Rags Nar, eyeing down the big boy behind him and also inspecting Mahya to see if she was special.

"Ahaha..." Digbie placed a hand to his forehead, laughing, before he snapped towards Rags with a cold voice. "You come here, asking for me and my friends to help your silly tribe, and you brought with you some dusty rags and... a wench?! What sort of offering do you call this?!" Digbie angrily glared down Rags and his cohorts, appearing ready at a moments notice to strike him down with whatever demonic powers he may have had. He deactivated Tremor Sense II and toggled Earth Vein II on to add to the effect, with sigils glowing on his skin, before he gently lowered his hand and started laughing again. "Ahaha... you're funny. Hilarious, even. One might even say you've caught my interest."

He began to pace side-to-side, his eyes still trailing on Rags as he took each step. "I suppose... me and my pets could come and see if you truly need our help at your tower, but due to the... gifts... you've given me, I'm not convinced you truly need my help. Though, you can earn it right now! How lucky you must be!" he smiled devilishly as he pointed his blackened finger to the clothes Rags dumped out. "Mahya, was it? Please, put on that shirt, then bring the rest of the clothes to me, as I'd rather you stay safe from something that may hurt you. There's some nasty stuff in this forest, you know." Digbie's voice notably changed, being much more pleasant and polite towards Mahya. Though, it wasn't long until Digbie's voice returned to being cold, his eyes narrowing onto Rags yet again.

"As for you, Rags Nar... release your goat. Not to me, but to the wild. Surely, if you need my help oh-so-badly, you'd gladly release such an animal back into the wild, correct? Or do I need to bide my time elsewhere...?"

---

---

@Zeroth@Duthguy

Shuddering slightly as he finally caught his bearings, Jason summoned his skill list. From what he could tell, the suffocating, tingly sensation he'd just experienced was him beginning to possess the lump of earth he'd been in; which would explain the Mana loss-- and while possessing earth was definitely something Jason wanted to do, now was not the time. Floating over the the remains that Danny didn't eat, Jason began to dig using [Ghost Touch]; focusing on his memories of utilizing [Soil Manipulation] in Hope's that the skill would begin functioning once more. Once he had properly buried the goblin's mutilated body, the ecto-slime shaped his pseudopod into a fine digit and carefully etched the the eight-petel pattern he had seen around Onogoro's horn atop the offering. Pressing a pseudopod to the ground in the center of the pattern, Jason shaped his mana into a healthy flow within his body before directing the flow into the sigil, and into the ground as he activated [Guidance], "Oh wise and mighty Onogoro--" Jason began; picturing the resonating sound of the iron bell within his mind's eye. "I know not what you accept as sacrament, nor how to properly pay you homage.... But I hope to learn. For the time being, I can only ask that you accept what meager offering lay before me."

Pulling back, he reached out to Danny with [Telepathy], "I think we ought to get moving Danny, I'd like to reach somewhere we can figure out whatever it is the goblins are after before it gets too dark."

Once Danny was ready to move, the two companions would continue further to the East at decent clip. As the sun continued to fall lower and lower in the sky, the two reincarnators would find themselves approaching something that; from a distance, was unmistakably a man-made wall......

Danny's new skill didn't act exactly as he had expected but he was sure that with enough time and practice he could refine it, that is how it had worked so far. Just when he was about to try again it seemed the meat was done and he took it down. After extinguishing the fire with an Aqua Orb he forced himself to eat the heart since he knew it was rich in iron. He still was reluctant though since it belonged to a sentient creature, on the other hand he had eaten Goblin meat before and managed to convince to dig in a lot easier this time.
After his first bite he noticed something happening to the spot where Jason said he was going to sleep and despite being reasonably certain it was his partymember Danny used Magic Analysis I, Monster Analysis II and Mana Vision I on that spot just in case it was that spirit Jason had accidentally released from his hold earlier.

After he confirmed it was indeed the undead slimemage Jason set about burying the dead Goblin while seemingly praying to someone named Onogoro and Danny took the time to finish eating the heart and meditate. When the Goblin was buried Jason suggested they get a move on to avoid having to deal with more Goblins something Danny fully agreed with. "Yeah, good idea. I have some meat for you if you want it though." He held up the skewer with the non heart meat on it and started levitating so he didn't leave footprints for any Goblins to follow.He made sure not use his Faster skill since he didn't want to lose Jason but still kept up the pace.

Oberon’s attention was drawn towards the hill above their cave; the Goblin party had appeared and the results of his spell were pushed to the back of his mind and ignored as more important matters took precedent.

The group was a little different than it was yesterday; Rags was still there, of course, as was the goat, but the larger Goblin with the oversized sword of human make was definitely a new addition. He didn’t look comfortable holding a weapon clearly not meant for someone his size, like a child playing with his father’s weapon albeit with a lot more lethal intent, and he wore less armour than the other Goblin’s in the group. Even so Oberon could easily see this Goblin being a threat; perhaps he was Rags second in command, or at least his enforcer or his muscle. That Rags brought him along at all must mean he was strong; strong enough to make Rags feel more confident dealing with a magic wielding Demiblin and his three ‘pets’.

It didn’t escape the Sprite’s notice that all of the Goblin’s in Rags group, with the exception of Mahya, seemed to be warriors of some kind; that wasn’t a surprise nor even particularly suspicious given the potential for violence here. It did mean they needed to be cautious however, both because it meant Rags was expecting a fight and because they might be in trouble if one broke out.

Digbie wanted to lead the negotiations and Oberon was content to let him do so, if only because the Goblin leader expected it and because a talking Sprite or Pygmy Drake might freak them out. The Demiblin’s demands from the previous day had been met, in a sense, but not in the way Digbie had expected; the clothing was clearly not sized properly for someone of his stature and the female Goblin walking towards him… Oberon was fairly sure Digbie had asked for someone to become his squire and he was also fairly sure Rags had no idea what that word meant. Instead he’d brought along the kind of Goblin most male Goblin’s would want when they asked for a female to be brought to them.

The misunderstanding would almost be funny if it wasn’t quite so weird.

Frankly, the current situation wasn’t a laughing matter of any kind. Oberon felt uneasy with the way things were right now, with the potential for violence from both sides. Rags and the sword Goblin may have walked down into the camp to conduct the talk with Digbie but that still left the other two to watch over them all from above, something which concerned the Sprite. Torrent was hiding somewhere, ready to throw herself into a fight if she felt the impulse and there wasn’t a good way for any of them to signal her to hold back. Ash herself was a wildcard, the person Oberon had spent the least amount of time with, and he had no idea what she would do here.

Strangely enough the one most likely to cause a fight to break out was that damn goat Rags had ridden in on, a creature which clearly wasn’t tamed despite being leashed. If the Goblin’s released it on Digbie request then who knew what it would do.

For now all Oberon could do was wait and see what happened. His best option was to position himself as best he could to deal with it, whatever it turned out to be. He was still standing by the stream so he began to walk along its length in a way that brought him closer to their cave and the group with the goat; he was already standing separate from the main group of Rags, Digbie, Ash and the sword Goblin and he continued to keep his distance from them now, walking around them rather than towards them. As he did so he used Monster and Magic Analysis on the sword Goblin, just in case he was something more than just a normal Goblin, then used Magic Analysis again to find out his weaknesses.

As he walked he activated Gather Light, keeping his pace slow as he did so that the ability wouldn’t be disrupted. He was low on Mana after his attempts to create the Mana Saw and would need every bit of magic he could muster if this went south.



@Zeroth@Gardevoiran@Old Amsterdam@Rune_Alchemist

---

Oh - she had been so caught up in her own thoughts she didn't even register Digbie speaking to her. Not the first time it had happened, probably wouldn't be the last. Sometimes getting tunnel vision was a bad thing. She'd need to make sure to hear his request out later, if they were still together.

Ash watched the goblins with mild disinterest. Judging from the new one Rags had brought with him, he was expecting trouble. Understandable, certainly. Whenever any party engaged in peace talks they always thought they needed some sort of bodyguard. Though, in this, Rags should have simply come without them. If he was genuinely wanting Digbie to lead them, then he didn't need such a thing. He cam expecting trouble.

At least she was mildly impressed with Digbie's handling of it, even if it would likely not go anywhere.

Gripping the spear with her tail, Ash focused her attention on all the goblins present, using Magic Analysis, Monster Analysis, as well as Mana Sense on each goblin present, making special effort to try and analyze the ones that stayed behind. Wouldn't do to get ambushed by something unexpected from them. Next she turned her attention to the sword the goblin was wielding, using Material analysis on it, and any equipment Rags Nar himself might have.

She was already expecting things to go downhill. The pygmy drake didn't have any faith in the goblins intelligence or reasoning skills. Exhaling lightly, Ash made sure her mana was topped up with meditation. No sense in starting this without full mana.