@Stabby@Zeroth
Femus smiled a little as his level 2 Magic Analysis skill delivered greater information than before, valuable information at that. This tree was even more amazing than he had initially thought. It also meant that there was a strong source of natural mana in its immediate vicinity... possibly beneath... or inside it. The data on the Pixie species, by contrast, was not a surprise.

Gaining the first functional level of Suppress Presence was a boon that added to the wisp's smile. That skill could easily save his life in a tough situation. He would have to develop it further, in addition to Stealth Kill. The combination of those two had obvious value. But, contemplating his next level of growth had to wait, he was looking for Nira.

Then he found her.

There was so little time for thought or planning. It all happened in an instant. He saw the slime make a whip-like pseudopod and strike at Nira. He also saw his sister's hair being grabbed by the officer of the Cult of the Eye. He felt that helplessness from when he had to watch, on his knees, as his sister was taken away. He fired. His heart beat with a single pulse of desire. He needed, absolutely needed, to cut off that arm... that pseudopod.

Two first level Mana Orbs flew from his concealed position, driven to reach the distance and sever the pseudopod from the slime's main body. In the next breath, the past again receded from the present and he realized that he had exposed his position and had forgotten the most important thing. He concentrated, focusing his will and attention on controlling the mana inside him to further extend the reach of his spell and its power. Then, with this investment, he cast Shield 1 on Nira. Knowing that he would probably be nearly out of mana, if
completely out, Femus then concentrated on meditating, tuning out all distractions and drawing in magic from all nearby sources. Again, the image of a whirlpool of mana formed in his mind as he sought to become the low place where it would flow to. He didn't even look at the outcome of the battle until his mana was full, though that wouldn't take long.

In his meditation, the thought occurred to him that he hoped his attack hadn't killed the slime. Nira needed experience more than he did, especially since she was developing her first attack spell. He was confident that at least one of his Mana Orbs would hit the slime, whether or not they managed to sever the pseudopod. Weakened, the slime should easily fall prey to Nira's own skills.

Of course, this set of thoughts only took a moment and were not enough to disrupt his meditation in any noticeable way.

After his mana was full again, Femus opened his awareness again and checked on Nira. So long as she was still in good shape, he would concentrate on the tree. It had been shuddering before but the injury had been healing as well. Femus was thinking of two skills at the same time. Nira was a pixie, pixies had a healing spell. Femus had tried to grow an artificial plant, he had started to train the Growth skill. With both of these concepts in mind, he began to make himself into a conduit, funnel, filter and lens for the surrounding free mana. He drew it in, made it match the traits that the tree seemed to need for rapid healing, growing replacement material, and soothing discomfort, then he channeled it into the tree and focused it on the injured spot and the immediate area. This time he was prepared for the shuddering and simply remained patient.

Nira would return victorious, with food in hand or not. Her dress was ready so it didn't matter so much. The tree would heal. And, whatever other presence he and Nira had felt... would hopefully not take offense and swat the two of them. Still, nothing ventured... nothing gained.

---

---

She’d managed to create a tailstrap knife – perfect! The grass packroll was a success too, but there was no way Ed could possibly carry it by himself to the lakeside town they’d observed. Perhaps they could harness the two or three of them and drag it like that…If they’d had a small cart, that would be even better, as odd as it would be to have rats acting as draft animals. Then again, this was an odd world.

Unfortunately, mother rat resisted Asteria’s attempts to wrap the protective cloth around her. When Ed butchered the goblin, which was rather fascinating if mildly morbid to watch, mother rat stole a piece for herself, and Asteria chittered amusedly. “I’ll go check with the gnome later if that worked,” she informed Ed. “The meat we have left for ourselves may even spoil before we manage to eat it,” she considered thoughtfully. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that though.

Asteria listened patiently to Ed’s recounting of the goals he believed they should focus on, and she nodded in agreement several times. “We absolutely need to get stronger,” she confirmed. “Right now, we can’t even carry all the stuff we have easily enough to make travelling viable,” she commented. “I’d like to evolve to a bipedal form – I didn’t choose to do so the first time because I did not want to be stuck in some sort of Ratwoman line, but if I get the chance again, I’ll take it regardless. So yeah, training and evolution definitely sound good,” the dire rat affirmed.

“I’m all for getting more information about this world in general, though a map and a compass are certainly a good start,” she nodded. “I’m fine with doing our best to find the Demon King, though I’m personally not too concerned about returning to Earth. Nonetheless, I’d like to meet the person who brought us here and see what to make of him. Who knows, maybe I’ll even feel like leaving this world by then,” she concluded. She didn’t have anything to add, besides, “I’m going to that other chamber to see if the gnome is willing to offer some information for the food you gave him.”

She did exactly as she said, entering the room where she’d previously spoken to the gnome beforehand. “Hello? Mister gnome? I hope that food offering my buddy offered was enough to make me semi-welcome here…” watching if the earth being would appear or not, she added, “Hope I guessed right that food was the thing to bribe you with.”

Ardur The Mighty Hipixie

so far so good >>> More death /// Adventuring day 5 // Evening / Location - Old Goblin Camp

Ardur inspected the dead skeleton under him for a few more minutes. He didn’t entirely register that Trent was speaking at first. The pixie bowed his head and muttered out a small prayer before continuing. “May the light of the sun guide these unfortunate souls back into the cycle of the world.” A simple prayer for the dead.

Now that these were dead he looked to mother slime and smiled, “good job mother… err. Huh, you know what?” the pixie smiled, “I’m going to call you… Missy from now on, yeah I think Missy sounds better than just calling you mother slime all the time huh?” patting the big glob gently and moving back over to Asura.

“Good job Steve.” Calling over to his friendly spider, “you did exactly what we needed you too.” He praised his tamed creature for doing a good job and helping out. Reaching his friendly slime he cast Minor Healing I on him to help him recover. Looking to Trent while he wondered over to the dead hobbones, the boy’s question just now registering, “well I’d say there were about 20 of us that I remember. But I’m not sure what happened to all of them, I know some got out but I don’t know who got left behind.”

Ardur walked past the boy and began inspecting the bones of the hobgoblin. Most that weren’t broken seemed brittle but he was looking for a leg bone that wasn’t broken. Something that would work very well as a club of some sort as it would seem blunt weapons were the way to go. “I think the last time I saw the core was in Jason’s burrow.” Pointing towards the direction of the burrow, “should be that way.” He spoke as he continued to inspect a few more bones.

Whether or not he found one, the high pixie would spend some time trying to use Meditate I to recover MP while the others regrouped. Making sure that Trent and Steve were nearby before he began. As he sat there solely concentrating on pulling the mana from the world around him into himself. This way he could at least recover a little before they pressed on into the darkness.

@Zeroth
@Kazemitsu

Asura 'blinked' when Trent shushed him and wanted him to focus on fighting. "I've been fighting for a long time, multi-tasking while fighting weaklings is easy." He said as he flicked off the acid of the undead slime. It had burned quite a bit, even when he ingested it. Now wasn't the time to try building resistances since they had an actual objective that wasn't 'live until tomorrow'.

He'd taken note that Ardur's Shield spell was nullifying some of the acidic damage, but it didn't negate it fully. But then again was it meant to negate acid damage? Food for thought later on. The others finished off their enemies quick enough and now it was quiet. Trent asked if there were any other Revivers left in the cave. "Dunno, I didn't exactly keep a headcount on who left and who stayed. I'm fairly certain none of them stayed unless they were weak-willed and got taken in by the core." He said as he started to move deeper into the cave.

Ardur decided to name Mother Slime...for some reason. "She's not a pet..." He muttered, having had a cat named Missy when he was human. Rambunctious lil shit. Ardur knew where Jason's cave was, but he plonked down and began to do something. Probably a passive way to gain mana or something. "Trent, pick him up so we can keep moving. I'll let you know before-hand if enemies are coming." Asura stated before moving further ahead, clearly acting as bait while staying close to the right-hand wall.

---

Too much. Right.

Digbie had to deactivate his plan first before he spread eagle and flopped onto the ground once more. Though nothing was active, he could feel the magic surging back through his body. He was recharging, and at an incredible rate. Pretty soon he felt his magical power back in his body, and he rose from the ground very shortly after.

"That's it." Digbie's voice was cold again, but this time, even the rest of his friends could tell that it wasn't a facade. His eyes were a glowing blue color, and his sigil-covered arms were ablaze with residual magic energy.

Without missing a beat, he plucked his Chipped Shank from his back and held it towards Rags. The blade almost about to break, sure, but Digbie didn't care. For as far as he knew, it wasn't a weapon he could reliably use anyway.

All he knew is that this goblin elite, the fool that tried to kill an innocent animal while it was restrained, the coward who was holding his friend at knifepoint, and the dirtkicker that would not understand just who his friends were...

Well, he was holding his friend at knifepoint. Only one thing clouded Digbie's mind now.

"THOSE AREN'T MY D-D-DAMN FAMILIARS!" It was clear to everyone that Digbie hated saying 'damn', but he didn't care. It was about time for him to get serious. His hand tightened as hard as it could around the Chipped Shank, the blade glowing golden with the same familiar aura that Digbie had when he used one of his first abilities.

"THEY ARE MY FAMILY!" Digbie pulled back his blade over his shoulder, the glowing aura it emanated shining brighter than it ever had before.

"AND YOU WILL THINK TWICE ABOUT DARING TO HURT THEM!"

Digbie let loose his Chipped Shank, the blade flying out of his hands and almost straight towards Rag's head with Stone Shot II. If it hit and pierced, good. If it knocked the goblin clean out, good. As long as it taught Rags a lesson, Digbie didn't care.

Seeming as if a fight was about to break out, Digbie looked at himself and cast Shield II. He'd need the protection since he just threw away one of his main weapons. That, plus Earth Vein was still keeping strong magical power flowing through the Demiblin, so he could still hold his own if it came down to it.

---

@Gardevoiran@Rune_Alchemist@King Cosmos@Old Amsterdam
The leader of the Broken Tower Tribe seemed puzzled as Digbie threw himself to the ground, but when the Demigoblin began to glow and speak in a different tone the Elite Goblin slowly shifted the point of his knife and took a guarded stance. He didn't turn when the other goblin, the one holding the big rusty sword, went charging back towards the Four Horned Goat with his sword raised high. The swordsgob had been injured and looked like he was almost out of breath after his warcry--when the goat hoofed him in the chest it had probably knocked the wind out of him.

At the same time as Digbie stood up and roared, drawing his Broken Sword, the Four Horned Goat recovered from that stunning blow the greenskin wearing a pan had dealt it. It reared with a snort and kicked out, striking the goblin in the head this time. The smaller monster yelped and was knocked to the ground--he wasn't out yet, but as he tried to get up it was like his feet wouldn't get under him.

The Demigoblin's weapon began to glow. Rags Nar tightened his grip on his own weapons. The swordsgoblin jumped onto the Four Horned Goat's back, and sank his blade deep into its spine by dropping all of his weight on top of it.

The Broken Sword turned end over end, far more rapidly than Digbie's splindly arms should have been able to throw it. His Earth Vein had been stuttering and starting the whole time, as even though his feet were in contact with the ground he was also trying to put mana into the sword at the same time. And on top of that his mana seemed to be surging throughout his body just from his sheer rage, and he was putting all he had into this attack.

Rags Nar got his shield up. The Broken Sword shattered even further against it--the tang broke, the hilt came apart, the guard slid off of the cracking blade--but the wooden pot lid, too, split right down the middle like old firewood. The fastening fell out of one side of the handle, and the whole thing fell apart as Rags Nar stumbled backwards with a grunt, shaking his sore arm.

Digbie cast his protective spell upon himself, but he was trying to keep his feet planted for Earth Vein as well. Both spells crackled and fizzled, but he soon received a notice that his MP was full as the aura around his body was completed.

Some distance away, perhaps Ash had been caught off guard by the sights and sounds of Digbie's sudden heroic entry into the fray. Perhaps everything had just become so chaotic so fast that her orderly mind was thrown off track. But the mysterious companion next to her, despite having just told her to call Torrent off in her engagement with the pelted goblin, still continued to work his bow with professional precision. Another of those blunted arrows began to shine with a red light, and the robed creature loosed.

"YA BROKED MY SHIELD!" Rags Nar yelled--just before he got sniped in the temple. He went down to one knee, stunned and unable to rise much like his companion down the hill. "GAH! WHO DAT?!" The Elite Goblin still had a grip on his knife, and glared at Digbie as he struggled to get up on legs that wobbled like those of a newborn deer.

The sound of hooves beating the ground and rustling leaves heralded the appearance of the strangely clothed archer, as he and his mount burst from the treeline and charged into the camp. Mahya, the goblin with the pan, and Rags Nar were still on the ground. The pelted goblin Torrent had attacked was still engaged with her, though clearly on the losing side of things. The one with the sword was trying to pry his weapon out of the goat monster's bulk.

The unknown rider pulled what looked like a net from a saddle bag, and began to whirl it over his head...

Skill Gain: Dual Cast I (0.8 > 1.0)!
Splitting one's focus is a difficult task, but like playing the drums it can be learned. Casting different spells with different effects or requirements increases the difficulty and the MP required, but the caster's mindset can also affect this Skill. A Caster at this Rank may Dual Cast by: (1) Cast the same spell simultaneously, usually within two hands. Example using Current Skills: Stone Shot. This expends twice the MP cost, and both versions of the spell must be the same Rank, but the Casting time is only that of a single cast.(2) Prepare two spells simultaneously, to be used one at a time. Example using Known Skills: Rock Spire and Mana Orb. Rock Spire is prepared but not cast; the Earth Mana shines under the targeted area. Mana Orb is cast at a target, knocking it into Rock Spire's prepared area. Rock Spire is released. Both spells can be no higher than Rank I. Delayed Spells can be held no longer than 10 seconds at this rank. Certain spells that might require rituals, components, or other complexities might not be Dual Cast in this manner even at Rank I. This use consumes twice the MP for a Delayed Spell plus the normal MP cost for the other spell. (3) Cast a single instance of two different spells, usually within two hands. Example using Known Skills: Your Mana Orb and Ash's Mana Slice. You cast Mana Orb at a target to your right and Mana Slice at a target to your left, at the same time. This usage expends the sum of both spells' MP cost, and requires a slightly longer casting time, but both spells can be used at the same time or one after the other. Both spells must be Rank I. Certain spells with more complexities may not be Dual Cast even at Rank I. Certain spells that synergize well may increase in power or cause new effects when Dual Cast in this way.

There are several drawbacks to the Dual Cast Skill. Passive Skills can already be used together unless they contradict or otherwise interfere with one another; Dual Cast cannot be used to combine Passive and Active Skills. Example using Current Skills: Meditate and Mana Orb. Casting Mana Orb would cancel Meditation immediately. Dual Cast requires that the caster split their focus; it cannot be used with your <Unusable>Focus skill or similar abilities. Dual Cast only works on Spell Type Skills, it cannot combine Spells with your Physical Skills. It also cannot combine Pure Spell skills with Battle Spell Skills, but Battle Spell Skills can be Dual Cast. Dual Cast and Spell Chant cannot be used together at the Current Rank. Even when the caster has higher proficiency with both of these abilities, the amount of MP consumed and the increased chance of error within the Chants make such a combination risky.

---

@Kazemitsu@ReusableSword
As Ardur healed Asura, the System notified the red slime that his HP was Full again. The Hipixie answered Trent's question, and made note of their next destination, before he began to meditate.

"T-twenty!?" Trent blinked rapidly, and shook his head. "Great Galatine...I hope they made it away from this place. If not, we're likely to have to fight them. And given that you seem to have human level intelligence, that means the Dungeon Core would..." The boy sighed, and bent down to check the injury on his foot. He made a breathy noise through his nose, but he must not have been hurt too badly as he re-laced his boot and seemed ready to continue.

Asura insisted that fighting the denizens of the dungeon was an easy feat. Trent bristled.

"Even a weakling can deliver a fatal blow if your guard is down. Or hinder you from an otherwise simple victory. Remember what Master said outside." Upon hearing Asura's disdain for the other possible Revivers, the flickering torchlight showed that the young squire's face cast a shadow of irritation.

Though it was somewhat awkward, the human was able to carry the still-meditating Ardur with one arm. The Hipixie soon received a signal that his MP was Full as the group pressed on through the darkness. Soon, the reflection of Trent's flame showed them the shore of the small pond. Its waters were dark and still, but across its far side they could see a soft, flickering red light...

The closest and easiest path was to their right, going around the west side of the pond. But here the wall of the cave came almost to the bank, making the passageway narrow. Passing single file in their little formation, there was plenty of room for them to travel...but Trent seemed even more nervous than usual.

"We need to pick up the pace. Ardur, can you fly again yet?" the squire said. "If we don't get out of this chokepoint--"

As if on cue, something whistled through the air towards them. Unceremoniously dropping Ardur, Trent's shield arm whipped up. He didn't have a proper grip on it, because it had been dangling from his arm while he carried the Hipixie, and it only barely deflected the missile. It hit the stony ground, almost nicking Asura, but well within the torchlight for them to see. It was a Pointy Stick, though it had been Sharpened by something, obviously to increase its damage...and it was soaked in hissing purple fluid.

They couldn't see far enough into the darkness to pick out an enemy--but soon they heard another whistle, and Trent ducked entirely this time. The javelin flew over the group entirely and clattered loudly in the cave behind them. How far would they have to advance while these projectiles rained down on them? And how many enemies were there?

That red light in the distance continued to pulse, like a heartbeat...

---

@SilverPaw@Searat
Both Ed and Asteria heard the dirt beneath their feet rumble slightly, and again, in a corner of the room, loose earth began to shift. The large, pebble-encrusted head of the gnome emerged face first from the ground--and this time, he pulled himself out in full. Like Asteria's analysis had said, he was about four hand-spans--by human standards--tall, and his proportions were that of a fat infant. His back was covered with a hard shell that, at first glance, could probably pass for a rock if he were lying down on his belly. His feet lacked toes as well, and his joints moved stiffly as he waddled across the room.

"You got a weird way of negotiating, rat number two!" The creature chuckled, and sat down around the fire pit in the first chamber. Then he looked to Asteria. "I know I said no gross bloody stuff, but since this counts as food I'll let it slide. Red meat's hard to come by around here!" He began tearing off chunks of the large offering pile of Hob-meat, and chewed one handful before he looked around at the grass roll and other things the rats had collected.

"Lemme tell ya how this usually works, huh? A Human comes in here, no problem. He walks into the second chamber, no issue. If he wants to go in the tombs, he's got to have a key to get through. If he tries to break in, I sound the alarm. He touches a body, I gotta kick 'em out." Flecks of meat spilled across his hands and chubby chest as he talked. Then he swallowed. "A Non-Human comes in here, no problem--long as they stay out front. They come into that second chamber, I sound the alarm. If they try to break into the door, I gotta kick 'em out if I can." He pointed at the fire pit. "Anybody who makes an offering, which is normally incense or money by the way, not food, they get one extra chance. A kid who puts a coin in the bowl gets to jiggle the doorknob without me snitchin' on him, that kinda thing. Humans have all these rules about "respect for the dead" or whatever." He nodded towards Asteria again. "That gold coin of yours, that was left here as an offering. According to the contract, when the people who own this here barrow show up, I gotta turn over all that stuff like that--not including perishables--travelers have offered up. Since they're not here right now, though, I can give it to you and they won't notice. My pap figured that one out--every once in a while that loophole lets us get some cool stuff."

He stopped eating, and looked at the fire.

"Here's somethin' else humans are weird about--they cook all their food. But I'll be durned if the scraps of that I get ain't better, ya know? Either of you got anything to start a fire with?"

He held out his hand, and a spire of rock rose up and broke at its base. He used it to spear several pieces of the hobgoblin like a kebab.

"Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, you two got free reign so long as ya don't mess with the door. So, care to tell me just what the heck's goin' on with ya? You two some kinda Familiars or something?"

---

@Stabby@Haeo
As the memories of his sister overlapped with the sight of his friend under attack, Femus unleashed a rapid assault. His Mana Orbs sparkled as they flew, and the slime bubbled a cry in surprise. As Nira wheeled away in mid-air, the pseudopod barely missing her, she saw the limb severed by the first blast. The blob monster lurched, and thus the second Mana Orb only grazed it--but just like before it screeched in clear pain, and the parts of its body shaved off by Mana Orb left it smaller like half-eaten gelatin.

Again focusing her magical power, the pixie tried to shoot a blast of her own. This time, a blue-white crackle of energy spread down her arms. It collected in her palms in an instant, then shot forward! Striking the Slime dead center, the blast tore right through it--and with one last gurgling wail, the creature died.

Skill Gain: Mana Orb I (0.9 > 1.0)!
A simple blast of Energy elemental magic with a range of 30 feet. At the moment it only does as much damage as a strong punch on average, unless the enemy is weak to magic. As it gets stronger it becomes a generic, non-elemental energy blast. Due to its simple nature and lack of elemental properties the Mana Orb spell is easily malleable into other spell forms.

LEVEL UP! Your battle experiences have culminated in new power! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! You are now Level 5!

Unspent Skill Points: 20 [[OOC: Due to timing of Level Ups, Christmas/New Year Bonuses were missed for 2019. These, and a little extra to make up for my hiatus, were added to the 10 points Nira had been saving up and the 5 she got from Level Up.]]

Current Skills:
Alert I (1.4)
Lesser Flight I (1.6)
Minor Heal I (1.0)
Muffle (1.55)
Shield I (1.05)
Mana Orb I (1.0)
<UNUSABLE>
Crafting (0.1)
Keen Ear (0.2)
Mana Strike (0.1)
Meditate (0.7)
Point Strike (0.2)
Stealth Kill (0.3)
Suppress Presence (0.5)
Monster Analysis (0.3)
Smash (0.1)
Faster (0.3)
Magic Analysis (0.4)
Iron Gullet (0.2)
Charisma (0.9)
Charm (0.4)
Deception (0.2)
Pacify Animal (0.2)
Taming (0.1)
Plant Analysis (0.2)
Mana Sense (0.2)
Spell Chant (0.3)

YOUR BODY IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE! You are undergoing Transformation! Based on your life experiences, your ability to survive, and the strength of your will, new paths have appeared! Choose carefully--there is no going back! WARNING. THIS PROCESS WILL LEAVE YOU TEMPORARILY VULNERABLE.

OPTIONS (* Indicates Suitability):
**(Adult) Pixie - A tiny humanoid Fey-type Monster. While somewhat intelligent, they lack empathy towards one another even compared to beasts like Goblins. Capable of flight and healing magic, but not physically strong or skilled enough to fight or use weapons well.

• Slightly increase all base stats
• Increase HP
• Increase Potential

(Immature) Imp - The smallest and most pitiful of Demon-type monsters. Though relatively strong for their size, they are still mostly specialized in magic. However they lack the finesse and technique of other Demons, using plain and often brute-force style spells. Their cunning and absolute refusal to ever admit that they are lesser to any other being, however, can make them dastardly plotters.

• Increase base power-stats
• Increase Rank: Mana Orb
• Increase Lesser Force (reduced)
• Increase Demon Affinity (reduced)

(Immature) Sprite - A highly territorial, but otherwise relatively friendly type of creature. Quite similar to Pixies at first glance, they are much more empathetic and even altruistic than other types of Fey. Unless an enemy presents a threat to their homes and families, they often prefer to flee rather than fight, but if something enters their nesting area they are known to swarm much like wasps.

• Increase Max MP
• Increase Rank: Minor Heal
• Increase Minor Heal All (reduced)
• Increase Light Affinity (reduced)

**(Immature) Hipixie - A larger, stronger, and more sophisticated variety of Pixie, very similar to the commonly known relationship between a Goblin and a Hobgoblin. Growing almost as large as a goblin themselves, their ability to fly becomes more difficult to use but their size now allows them to use many forms of lightweight tools and weapons. Considered to be some of the first True Fey, species of Fey-type monsters capable of forming societies and cultures rather than simply flitting about on any whim or reacting to any emotion that comes into their tiny heads.

• Increase all base stats
• Increase Use Light Equipment (reduced)
• Slightly increase HP

While Nira was now free to gather the materials she had come for, Femus had returned to the safety of their new base. He recovered his Mana, then decided to try and continue restoring the damage he had done to the Great Kao Tree. Using what he had learned so far, and the result of the different skills he had noticed when trying to affect the kao buds, he began to direct his energy...

Skill Gain: Growth I (0.9 > 1.0)!
A spell skill of the Nature element, but unlike many spells its usage is less "specific." The user channels energy into a plant, and accelerates its maturation or increases its natural qualities. Fruits will grow bigger and richer, vines will grow longer and stronger, and so on. At this rank, only one quality of the plant can be enhanced, and the spell's effect can only reach the parts of the plant one is directly touching. MP Cost is increased depending on the amount of enhancement.

As Femus was "sitting" on the same branch he was trying to heal, he could feel the energy flowing out of him through the point of physical contact. He wanted to enhance the tree's "healing" factor, and as he watched the small wound he had inflicted on it began to shrink. Sap oozed out of the gash in the bark, and light colored layers of growth rapidly followed it...By the time the tree was fully restored, however, Femus felt that his just-filled Mana stores were almost exhausted again. Even considering he had increased his total mana pool after transforming, such a simple concept as "healing" had almost drained him. Perhaps it was due to the size and age of the tree, or something else?

From his perch he could see that Nira had successfully fended off the slime. But he could also see something else--wandering in from further afield, at an angle where they likely wouldn't see Nira at all and would probably only notice Femus if they looked up into the branches, were two young Goblins. They were both male, as evidenced by their nakedness, but they were shorter and scrawny even by the standards of the greenskins. One held a pointed stick in his hands, and the other had a rock tied to a piece of vine.

"Bah, Grampy Kiri dunno nuttin'!" one of them was saying, rather loudly. His gesticulations made it clear he was angry. "We could too get dose medals! Been hearin' da Boss and Mid-Bosses talk 'bout it! If da mountain hadn't blowed up dey'd prob'ly've gone up dere already!"

"Iz too far, ya dum! An' up Norf is colder!" said his companion. "If yas wanna go huntin' somewheres, I sez we go to da riva!" He pointed to the east. "Dem gobs down dere been stayin' way aways since we beated 'em up!"

"Yeh? And how we's gonna catch da fishes, huh? Ain't got no nets! YOU da dum!"

The two were getting closer to the Great Kao, walking at a nonchalant pace...

---

@Duthguy@Jollan@Guy0fV4lor
[[OOC: Jolly don't forget that last update had a bit for Miiba in it too.]]
As Geir launched himself forward, Danny floated backward. Lesser Force pressed on the back of the axe as it flashed through the air, changing its course just slightly. Geir's attack swept the ground instead--and it was quite the blow, kicking up a chunk of the sod with no resistance. The young man grunted and continued his charge, running past Danny at an angle. He seemed to realize something had happened, sliding his grip on his axe to steady it and resetting the distance between them. His eyes were calculating--until they went wide as Jason flashed into existence in front of him.

Danny watched the young man go into a wild fit as if something had wrapped around his face. But in the inner realm, Jason saw something quite different.

In that monochrome space, they were face to face. Telepathically Jason roared a warning at the young adventurer, and Geir was forced back a metaphysical step. But suddenly Jason felt an intense pressure pushing back against him--far stronger than the mind of any goblin or other creature he had invaded since he became a spirit. The anger and rage were intense, a thunderous crash of willpower.

Everything smelled like fire and steel. Timbers reduced to splinters, walls of plaster and clay cracked and broken, crumbling to dust. Blood, sticky and warm and wet, covering his forehead. Tears blurring his vision.

"GET OOOOUUUUUT!"

Jason was practically thrown away like a ragdoll, and even Danny felt immediately cowed by the shout that ripped its way out of Geir's throat. This battle cry seemed to drown out everything else around them for an instant, and they felt as if only they and Geir existed--and Geir, for a split second, looked much more intimidating. Then the effect was gone, and the young man drew his knife as well as his axe and took up a more defensive posture, circling to one side.

"Begone, spirit! All of you, you monsters! I won't let you any closer to them!" His eyes were starting to look bloodshot, and as he took a deep breath his muscles tensed--

With a distinctive "ping" sound, Danny managed to actually shoot the axe out of the young man's hand. He watched it in pure shock as it spun through the air and landed in the dirt--then he whirled back on the Poltergeist.

Like a rabid dog, the redhead leaped at the smaller foe. His knife buzzed with red energy as he began rapidly slashing in a combination too swift and flowing to be a wild, brainless attack. The first strike was a wide sweep at Danny's torso, followed immediately by a high, then low thrust, and that low thrust turned into an upward slash as Geir's body turned. He used his own momentum, rather than the action of the arm, to draw the knife back before his extended limb could be grabbed, and another turn sent out a third thrust...

Asura 'glanced' back at Trent and how he seemed to panic at the mention of so many of them there had been. "You don't have to worry about that. Unless the core gets stronger it was more of a 'come here' presence when it first broke from the 'boss' I defeated." He said, he had actually planned on going to check out what was calling. But that didn't work out so well.

The youth bristled at what Asura had said before, earning him a laugh. "They'd have to be a lot of small fries all at once...and they'd have to be smart. Just sheer dumb numbers could do it but in this place....unlikely. I don't think they have the numbers to do it." He said, he was clearly very sure of his capability to kill whatever came at them. But they moved, with Trent carrying Ardur.

Why was he using his defensive arm to carry him? Whatever, let it be a life lesson to keep your guard up and damage down. A whistling, and Trent fumbled to block but he did so just barely. A sharpened throwing spear...a poisoned javelin judging by the purple shit on the tip. He scooped it up, it was something he could use later, and made sure the purple poison didn't touch him. A pseudopod swept out, scooping up loose stones. He filled what inventory he had with the things before gathering them on the surface of his body.

He was making a disk of stone to act as a shield. Now wasn't the time to play around and try to get a higher Pierce Resistance nor to get Poison Resistance. "Alright, time to move quick. Watch your footing obviously." The red slime said as he slid along the ground. Ah the joys of not having feet! He was moving pretty quick, but not so fast that he'd leave the others behind. He was cocky but he wasn't stupid.

Their objective seemed to be the pulsing red light...but what was between them and it?

Danny had no idea what had been going on between Jason and the human but judging by that terrifying scream before he removed the ax from play he doubted the Undead Slime had many way to non violently deal with this opponent. He didn't have much time to think of anything himself as the tip of a knife left a long but thankfully shallow gash on his chest. Unfortunately while he was able to avoid the following thrusts by constantly backing up while also making sue to hide his supplies from his opponent's point of view with his body, he was surprised by the second slash attack which resulted in another injury to his chest.

There was also no way he could back off any further without revealing his equipment which would no doubt make the situation worse and it turned out the human was ready for his Lesser Force trick by the way he prepared his third thrust which he only dodged by disabling his Levitation and falling on the ground. Still not actually wanting to fight Danny used Lesser Force to try and throw sand in the human's face and hopefully blind him long enough that he could both change his direction away from his hidden item stash and get some distance between him and that knife.

Ardur The Mighty Hipixie

More death >>> Another ambush /// Adventuring day 5 // Evening / Location - Old Goblin Camp > The Shimmering Pool

At least everyone seemed to be on the same page. Continuing to meditate he felt himself be picked up by who he could only assume was Trent. O well it wasn’t exactly comfortable but he pushed the discomfort out of his mind so that he could focus. Without mana there wasn’t much else he could do. At the very least he had a bone weapon.

The mana he could feel drawing in to him was different then what he remembered being here. Something about the mana here was just off but he couldn’t quiet pinpoint it. Surely it had to do with whatever the dungeon core had done to this place. His meditation was interrupted with a subtle notification telling him that his mana was full and a pulse, a distant heart beat that he had felt before. They were close.

He was jostled from his meditation fully when Trent began to speak again about him getting up and moving. He didn’t have time to react he just fell and rolled to the side of the human. Clearly they were under attack. “This not being able to see in the dark thing is bullshit.” Ardur complained to himself, he only had a moment to glance at the weapon thrown at them to use Material Analysis I. Asura was quick to pick up the javelin coated in the purple caustic liquid.

“Steve follow Asura at a distance, stay low and continue to pin or slow down anything out there.” Ardur continued to stay low to the ground while he looked around assessing the situation for a moment before acting. They couldn’t see what was coming at them and for all they knew this could just be a distraction for an ambush.

Getting into a defensive positon about 3 feet behind Trent the high pixie held his hand up at a 45 degree angle and spoke an incantation. “May the light of the sun shine through this darkness once more, so that we may purge this evil and rest these lost souls.” A combination of Spell Chant I, Inspire I, and fire ball I. He was attempting not to deal damage, just use the fire to cast light around them. He remembered the old war shows, the bright burning flame in the sky that lit up the world. Gathering the mana in his hand just like before with the fire ball, remembering to imagine the look and effect of those flares. Ardur aimed towards the air above and in front of them, “Flare.” letting the ball fly.

@Zeroth
@Kazemitsu

---

@Zeroth@Duthguy

As Jason was violently thrown back from Geir, he found himself disoriented; but only for a moment, as the sudden flurry of attacks against Danny snapped him back to focus. "Danny--" he cried to his ally as he made another rush at the redhead, "I'll do my best to slow him down, if you can make a break for the animal pens, you'll have a better chance of losing him!"

As Geir made his second thrust, Jason collided with the young man's body and activated [Transparancy], attempting to get inside before that red edged soul of his; now beginning to flare up, could put up any sort of defense. It was clear that the boy didn't fear Jason; that he perceived Danny as the only real threat, and that was something that Jason needed to exploit in order to buy Danny he needed to get some distance between himself and the bloodthirsty swings of the adventurer's blade.

During his time as a spirit, had learned quite a bit about his newfound spiritual nature. Spirits would dissipate naturally into ambient mana. Eating unintelligent souls was seemingly not taboo. Fighting between two souls is more dependent on raw will, than sheer ability or resistances. That he could lock himself within the spiritual world of a creature's body; using that binding to possess it's body. And lastly, that memories could be used as weapons. He intended to utilize this knowledge as best he could.

Entering the spiritual world of Geir's body, Jason steeled his nerves for what he expected to be heavy resistance as he cast [Shield] on the outside of the inner world, essentially locking himself in, immediately followed by an instinctual activation of [Mana Drain]. Jason's mana surged within him as he charged at the spiritual center of the young warrior-- he could remember every scar he'd ever gotten. The way every old wound ached, and strained. The countless battles he'd fought. The weight of a gun in his calloused hands. The pungent stench of blood, and steel, and fire, and gunpowder. He was a soldier , and brother. Savior, and slaughterer. Leader, and follower.

His name was Jason-- and in this moment, his will was to protect the one person that had yet to abandon him in this strange new world. Fervor swelled within Jason's breast as he reached Geir's 'inner self'; just as the third strike was made, hooking under the outstretched arm with one hand, and over the opposite shoulder with the other-- Jason released a mighty battle cry as he clasped his hands together behind the redhead's neck, "ONOGORO--" Jason planted his foot across Geir's body as he torqued his hips into the redhead's abdomen, "GIVE ME STRENGTH!!!"

---

Ed flinched as he felt the ground beneath him shake slightly. Was it an earthquake? His personal query was answered when he saw it. His jaw seemed to unhinge as he caught sight of, and stared blankly at, the creature that Asteria told him was known as 'gnome'. His brain promptly short-circuited as the creature spoke to him and began eating the offering they gave and explained to them how this deal worked between them.

EdBrain.exe and other core mental facilties have encountered a critical error...
Formulating solutions...
Solutions Found.
Proposal: Player "ED" should perform one or a combination of the following proposed solutions to reboot core mental facilities...

• Pass out.
• > Apply physical force to cranium
• s̵̟͉͊̒̅p̶͎̿̏̈̊i̵̗͙̲̾̈́ȑ̶̢̘a̸͔̕ͅl̵̫͋͐̓͘ ̷̮̝͕̄́̈͘i̶̹̓͆̓́n̸̠̎̔͊ţ̸̪̬̜̌́̐̃o̴͎̥̞̞̕ ̴͇̟͔̈́̽͜͝m̸͕̺̻̽̂̀a̴̡̭̩̒͜ḓ̷̼̼̈́̆ń̷̞͋̕e̵̗̿̂́ṡ̵̨̛̞̤̑s̴̡̩̓̆̎̑

Option Two Selected...
Executing Solution.

Ed's hand promptly smacks himself across the left cheek to bring him back to reality.

System Rebooting...
Core Mental Facilities Functionally Restored!
No other errors detected...
Player will regain control shortly.

Ed came back just as the gnome asked if they had something to start a fire with. "O-oh! Sorry. I-I kinda spaced out a bit there." He then scratches the back of his head out of embarrassment. "but-but I do get the gist of things. We don't mess with the...crypt..." Ed croaked out as he was still terrified at the thought of ghosts and zombies lying in wait at the slightest of transgressions. "And we get to stay without issue. A-a simple I don't mess with you, you don't mess with me rule." Ed by then would have excused himself to retrieve the Flint and Steel and Bundle of Sticks from the Grass Pack Roll and his Vine Belt before going out to gather some dried grass from the field before returning to the room where the gnome was and begin making a fire. While doing so he answers the gnomes questions and thoughts. "Well...uh...humans cook food cause it makes the food more digestible and kills off any nasty microorganisms that'd wreak havoc in their bodies. I should know, I'm a culinary arts student and my family owns a restaurant." He makes a spark and begins setting up the fire in the place. "As to what are we and why are we here? Well, that's a little more complicated...but one thing is for sure. Asteria and I were humans before but we died and got reincarnated into this world by someone." Ed intentionally left out the fact that It was actually the Demon King who brought them there.

@Zeroth @Stabby

Femus was gratified and relieved that Nira had finished the slime off, though he hoped that she still had more time before her evolution. He would have to wait till she came back to find out whether or not the countdown had started for that. So, he busied himself with more practical concerns while trying to ignore the residual shakes from his… flashback. The implications of him having flashbacks were not something that he had time to examine right now.

However, the implications of having completed his Growth skill were far more important. It seemed that Growth functioned a bit more like a minor enchantment than a healing spell, augmenting a single aspect of the affected plant so long as it received a sustained flow of mana. With that, it would allow exactly what he had wanted. He would be able to encourage his Blue Yill flowers to go to seed so that he could cultivate them… and possibly make other things from them as well. But…

At this point, he realized that his mana was depleted. He also noticed the approaching young goblins. He never would have thought, in his previous life, that he would find the information exchanged by quarrelsome goblin teenagers to be fascinating. But, knowledge is knowledge, regardless of its source. The petty squabbling was largely worthless but there were several worthwhile pieces of information in the argument.

First, there were sources of metal in the North as well as colder temperatures. This meant that any tool using creatures in this area with methods of resisting the cold would probably head there to find such valuable materials. After all, the ability and techniques necessary to refine metal from ore was probably unknown within the bounds of this forest.

Second, there was a river with fish to the East that also happened to be on the border with another goblin tribe… though the gobs here thought that it was a weaker one. Food, water, and weaker surrounding enemies could be a good thing, but it wasn’t likely that something like this tree would be a common occurrence. Moving away from here would have to be a… calculated move.

The goblins were coming closer. They couldn’t see where Nira was yet but they didn’t seem to be looking for something as small as a pixie just now. Still… they needed to be watched. Femus meditated as efficiently as possible until his mana was restored. Then, he focused on reducing his aura, as well as his glow. He sought to deaden even his thoughts so that they would not stand out and control his mana circulation to make him seem absurdly average. In this way, he manually used Suppress Presence to hide himself while continuing to observe. For all that he wanted to gain power, carelessly slaughtering enemies that have some kind of intellect would be foolish. It was just he and Nira. They did not need the enmity of a group that they weren’t strong enough to destroy or flee from.

Things were going downhill surprisingly fast and not in a way Oberon had anticipated. Digbie had left the cave for some reason and saw that the Goblins were, to no one’s shock, not undertaking Digbie’s orders in good faith by leaving the animal hobbled and disarmed. Torrent had gotten involved at some point, attacking one of Rag’s followers and having Rag’s point a knife at her in turn.

Nothing was on fire this time though, so that was something.

Any chance of handling this diplomatically or neatly had probably been lost at this point. The only question was did they try and salvage what little they could, potentially still have the Goblins lead them to their tower and get what they could out of this, or did they just throw the whole plan away?

“Are we doing this? Are we fighting?” Oberon got his answer in the form of a chipped and broken sword striking Rag’s shield. “Okay, I guess we’re fighting.”

Before Oberon could do anything, Rag’s was struck in the side of the head by a blunt arrow, a fact that the Sprite hadn’t fully processed before a cloaked figure burst from the trees riding a mount swinging a net over his head. The new arrival was concerned for several reasons, but it seemed to be focusing on the Goblin’s rather than them for the moment and Oberon was content to leave it at that for the time being. Instead he turned his attention towards the large, sword-wielding Goblin who was currently trying to retrieve his weapon from the goat’s flank.

Oberon would much prefer it if the swordsman didn’t manage to get his weapon back and use it against them, so he prepared a Mana Slice and launched it towards the Goblin’s arms, hoping to either cut and damage the limbs or at least force him to release the weapon and leave it where it was.



@Zeroth@Gardevoiran@Rune_Alchemist@Old Amsterdam

---

Item unequipped - Chipped Shank
Item equipped - Woodland Pick

He didn't need that sword anyway.

Digbie patted the pickaxe in his pack, smiling at the new notification that Digbie had received. About time that he got some sort of new toy to play with, and with how quick his magic recharged from Earth Vein, he had a pretty good chance of juggling his skills and getting a ton of mileage out of the dual casting.

"No killing. We can do this without death!" Digbie shouted to Oberon. "Especially now. I'll get Rags!" Digbie strafed forward to the right, trying to close the distance just a little bit to help get a better chance at loosing his spells without aftereffects. Digbie charged up a Mana Orb in his hands, the blue energy from the spell formulating around into the condense magical sphere he knew familiarly. Of course, he couldn't hold it for long, but he had a solid idea of what he wanted to try.

His hand surged with the same familiar golden energy from the Stone Shot II he just loosed. He just needed ammunition, and while solid rocks did work well with Stone Shot overall, he was a bit curious on how this would result. Maybe in something like Mana Shot? That'd be a pretty interesting development, all things considered, but he couldn't worry about that.

With the golden ball of residual magic in his hands, Digbie hurled it straight towards the Elite Goblin. If it worked, hey that's a pretty good thing. If it didn't... then hopefully he'd at least draw the attention of the group so something else can happen.

---

---

"I think we have a deal then." Not wasting any more time, Ash darted after the mysterious rider. Asking not to kill them was asking for a lot, truthfully, but roughing them up a little wouldn't matter too much. "I can help with that, Digbie." Instead of slinking along the ground, Ash kept her flight up, aiming for one of the goblins and sticking it with the stinger on her tail, utilizing her Stun Stinger skill to strike it in the back hopefully paralyzing it.

---

---

“Oh, hey there, gnome!” she greeted him, surprised that he’d so promptly showed himself. She was glad he’d allowed for the goblin meat, and nodded thankfully. “It’s what we have at hands – at paws? – so, great that it works for you,” she commented, rolling a shoulder.

Asteria listened intently as the gnome explained it situation. It was fascinating; he was a monster contracted by humans to work as a guard. She really, really wanted to see the contract itself, but since that was unlikely, hearing about it was the second-best thing. Apparently, the coin she’d stolen had been left as an offering, which was…not at all what she’d assumed. That was kinda embarrassing. At least she could keep the gold piece. It probably wasn’t worth too much, but who knew when it would come in handy?

“Heh, heh, loopholes are the best, right?” she chuckled slyly, but shifted in place slightly. It was a tad awkward discussing that so openly. “If you really don’t mind me keeping the coin, then I will,” she declared, somewhat hesitant. Regardless of what the gnome said, this was technically theft, and if the humans found out about it, Asteria was sure it would constitute as a breach of contact. While she considered why the gnome was fine giving away a gold coin to a random stranger (and to an unusual monster, moreover), the gnome asked for fire, which Ed promptly responded to.

Just after Ed left to gather the items for his fire-making attempt, Asteria added her piece. “Since you said the gold a gift from you to us…what do you expect in exchange? Is getting Ed to cook you the food enough?” she cocked her head to the side, considering the gnome. “I know that may be a crass thing to ask, but there are bound to be some…cultural differences,” she offered.

Then her companion returned, and explained why humans cooked food as he worked. “It can also be tastier cooked, as you noted. Especially if seasoning is added,” she remarked. Ed then told the gnome that they were humans reincarnated into monsters, without revealing the Demon King’s involvement, which Asteria agreed was for the best. “Yeah, we aren’t Familiars. Do you count as a Familiar, gnome, or is being contracted a different kind of a thing?” she wondered.

Asteria was certainly eager to find out as much as she could from this sentient creature. He was classified as a monster, sure, but it seemed perfectly willing to cooperate. “Are there many so-called monsters that can speak like we do? I mean, we’ve heard that goblins, hobgoblins, kobolds, and the like can, to an extent, but…I doubt that human speech – if what we’re using right now even is that – is so common among non-humans. By the by, those human owners you mentioned, do they come and go on a fixed schedule or are there random check-ups? We probably don’t want to be seen by them.” Running out of breath after her bout of rambling, Asteria inhaled, and let the gnome the opportunity to answer. She still had a lot of questions, though.

As Lear continued to read of Ishin's exploits--he had just defeated a group of bandits after his first quest as a proper adventurer had gone awry, in the process befriending a young knight and a treasure hunting girl--he paused for a moment and turned his head. Miiba too, normally so attentive to everything the family did, was distracted and kept looking out the window.

"...Say, Geir's still out there, huh? And it sounded like he used his Warcry. Mira, you might need to help him--I bet the Wisps are flying up over his head." the farmer said, before he started trying to find his place...though his full attention no longer seemed to be on the story.

Meanwhile, Jason charged back into the Spirit Realm, attempting to slam into Geir with the full force of his being. Using Transparency caused his form and Geir's to overlap, and both of them felt an unpleasant buzz like a constant crackle of static electricity. Jason tried to cast Shield as well to try and lock himself in--but Shield was not a barrier spell. It only buffered the target's natural defenses, and it seemed his abstract idea of a target--the spirit world itself--did not count. He felt another unpleasant shiver as the spell failed to activate. The spirit now tried to recover his MP by draining Geir--then it became a battle of wills.

Screaming out to Onogoro--a sound that seemed to echo even louder in this odd limbo world--he grabbed Geir and threw him over his hip. The misty white form of the redhead's body crashed into the "floor," with a resonating impact.

Anger. Fury. Sadness. Staring at a wood-backed plate of tin with small letters engraved into it. He looked up, because there were people talking to him. A boy as tall as he was, and broad in the shoulders but somewhat gangly. A younger kid, but better dressed.

"H-hello, sir. My n-name is Trent, and I just registered recently as well! I thought, perhaps, we could h-help each other out..."

"What Class are you?" Class. It didn't make a lot of sense out in the countryside, but there was a difference between your "class" and your "class," here in the city. A noble and a commoner might still both be trained in the same fighting style or the use of the same equipment, if they were both drafted into the army or hired as Adventurers. Asking what their "job" was wouldn't be specific enough for the bureaucracy in charge of the guilds and armies either--They were all Adventurers, to make their livings. But he was apparently, a "Barbarian." His upper lip curled. And these two...

"Ah, I, I'm a squah, Squire." Trent answered. "I'm h-hoping that, once I get some more experience, a Knight will pick me as an apprentice..."

"I'm Wulf. Just your regular Swordsman, here!" The taller boy put those long arms behind his head and grinned like he didn't have a care in the world. The redhead instantly hated him. "So who're you, pal? And why're ya so pissed off?"

He stood up, and Trent gulped when he saw how much bigger the other boy was.

"My name's--"

"GEIR OF IRONWOOD!"

Jason felt his ankle grabbed from below, but when he instinctively put his weight on the other leg a hand hooked that same knee and jerked, bending it enough that with a twist Geir forced Jason to his knees. At the same time he'd given himself a handhold to pull up, and now he pushed through with both feet, spearing Jason in the midsection. The two rolled over and over, until Geir came up on top and slammed a heavy fist into the former warlord's jaw.

For a battle of spirits, this battle felt perfectly real, and the shock of it stunned the Ectoslime for just a moment. Geir's shape was almost exactly the same as real life--it didn't shiver like the identities of other monsters, and his rage was palpable. As his fist came down one more time, Jason even noticed something else. The boy's arm had turned into a thick wooden log, studded with iron nails. Again Jason took an incredibly heavy blow.

"An Ashyran ghost!?" Geir's voice echoed. With a snarl he stood, dragging Jason's African form with him. "Fuck off!"

They seemed to be standing on a white circle floating in the black void. Geir's arms bulged with muscle as he tried to hurl Jason out once more...

In the real world, Geir spasmed and twisted once Jason hit him. Danny's throwing of sand caused the boy to yell even more as he wiped frantically as his eyes. His movements were jerky, but he still seemed to be somewhat aware of what was going on even as Jason fought him from the inside.

Danny managed to get away for the moment, but those wounds on his chest were bleeding pretty heavily, and the stinging pain felt like it got worse as he moved. Even though he had transformed, he still didn't have that much HP compared to other creatures--if Geir could get one heavy hit in, that might be it for him...

What would he do, now that Jason seemed to have the boy distracted?

And had someone just walked in front of those lit windows, back at the house?

---

You obtained Wild Kele Shoot x5!
Carrying this number of items is difficult given your size. Your speed is slightly diminished.

While Nira plucked the wild vegetables she found, Femus hid himself from sight and continued to observe the young goblins. They stopped a few feet short of the great tree's roots, and continued to bicker for a few moments.

"We can makes nets, is easy! Just needs vines and long grasses!"

"Bah! Dun even wanna go t'da riva. Wanna find sumtin' easy roun' heres." One kicked at the dirt with a dirty, hairy foot.

"All da aminals runned 'way afta da mountain blew up." The other goblin scratched his pointed ear as he looked around. "An' da rest of da growed-up gobs keepin' wat's left from yestaday in a seekret spot."

"Maddy says she knows where it is." The first one looked around as if they might be caught speaking about this conspiracy. "Ya reckon if we helps her get it, we three just keeps it for us'ns?"

"Maybe...but if da Bosses come back an' finds out--look!"

The conversation died immediately as the goblin pointed. "A Pixie! Get it, get it!"

They took off running before Femus had really even processed their words, weapons whirling in their skinny arms as they charged...

Back over to that tree Femus and Nira had left before, where one of those three pixies he had seen playing now found itself the target of that long weighted vine. The goblin's aim was true and the creature screeched pitifully as it was struck from behind. The weapon wrapped around it, and though it struggled valiantly the Goblin yanked it down without mercy. Soon the other goblin's weapon came down in a fatal blow, cutting off the pixie's agonized scream with a bony crunch.

Nira alighted softly on another branch near Femus, looking quite tired but with the onion-like herbs in tow. The goblins soon hauled off their prey, cackling to themselves, and the two Revivers were left to their own devices once again...

---

The firepit had no doubt been used many times, both by travelers seeking shelter and from pilgrims paying their respects. Though there wasn't much firewood to be had in the barrow-foyer, there was a bed of charcoal built up over time. With the long grass Ed gathered and his flint and tinder, he soon had a glowing red bed of coals that occasionally licked up with fire. The Gnome reached down with one baby-fat hand and drew a circle in the packed earthen floor.

"Stone Mold."

Out of the small circle, a rocky shape rose up. The inner area of that drawn circle had now become the bottom of a solid cylinder, and the Gnome wriggled it back and forth a few times before it came out of the ground with a crack. As he scooped meat into this small earthware pot and placed it on the coals, he looked at Ed. It was sort of hard to read the creature's expression, given that its gemstone eyes didn't change shape and its jaw was on a sort of hinge like a puppet. But it seemed to be rather confused, and slightly amused.

"What is a Mycra-Gasm?" he said, drawing out the unfamiliar word. "And...is a Cul-nary Art like...a Vulnerary? Like what the humans use when they get hurt?"

When the rats mentioned that they had been reincarnated, the elemental stopped cold before he finished pulling some of the browned meat out of the pot. He didn't seem bothered by the fact that the tip of his stone finger was beginning to glow in the fire.

"Reincarnated? Wait, so y'all are Undead? But...you ain't rotten or nothing?"

When Asteria seemed bashful about taking the coin, the Gnome gave her a similar look as he had given Ed.

"Uh. Yeah, I mean...what I was saying was that I gave ya the coin, fair trade for that piece of meat ya gave me last night since I wasn't really sure why you were here. But don't get ya hopes up, I ain't got much else to give and you specified that this here," he finished taking another handful of meat and began to chew it with zero table manners, "was an offering for safe shelter here in the barrow, even though you're both Monsters. So we're all even'd up--you guys get to make yourselves at home, so long as you don't touch the tomb, I gave ya a little payment on the side, and I got to eat my fill."

The female rat asked if he was a Familiar or not, and the creature grunted as if that was a silly question. Then he shrugged his shoulders, and muttered something like "rats wouldn't know magic anyhow."

"It sort of depends. See, you can have Tamed Creatures that might obey a human just cause that human provides for them or they have a beneficial kind of bond. A Familiar might be Tamed, in the sense that a human raises it, but it's different--Familiars are usually magical and pretty intelligent. Trying to put a leash on one can either be difficult, or just a plain bad idea. Most times, if a human has a Familiar, it's there by its own choice because it likes that human. It might also have been Summoned, which is similar to a contract but not always the same." The Gnome continued to eat while it talked, which was rather disgusting, but it seemed to be making a heavy dent in all that Hobgoblin steak. "Like this: a dog can't hunt on its own, so it has to stay with its owner. A wolf probably prefers being with a human because that makes its life easier, but if it had to leave it could." He began filling the pot with fresh meat, and once again set it in the fire to brown. "A Contract is a twist on all that. Like a Familiar, a Contract is formed with an intelligent, independent creature. But like a Tamed Creature, it's pretty much stuck once the contract is made. You get a choice, but you can't back out of it. Not without a whole lot of trouble, anyway. Tamed Creatures are always weaker than their masters. Familiars might have powers their masters don't, but again they're usually weaker. Summons can call creatures on equal standing or below, unless you do some more complex stuff that can go wrong real quick or you're on good terms with the stronger Summoned Creature. Contracts, typically, can work on any kind of creature--because the creature also gets something out of it, and their power is used to bind the other party just as much as they're bound themselves."

The earthen creature had gone through two whole pounds of Hobgoblin burger by this point, and slowed down considerably as he patted his stomach. Still, every so often he would grab another handful from the pot. So much fat had collected at this point that it sizzled and popped like a well greased pan, and the smell was mouthwatering.

"A creature might choose to take up a contract just cause it likes you, but that wasn't the case for me. I did it cause my family's always done it, and it's been a good deal for us--free food, any time something wanders in here that shouldn't. Occasionally I get some good stuff from the offerings that doesn't fit the "turn in" criteria. And a power boost from the Contractor. This is a multi-generational contract for the mage's family over in Laketown too, so I imagine he's pretty satisfied with the carryover he gets. The only thing that ain't too great is that, if things get bad enough for him, he can Summon me to fight on his behalf. But since the main purpose of the contract is to protect the barrow, I don't usually gotta worry about that."

Asteria then asked about monsters that could talk. Again, the Gnome's expression was hard to read.

"Uh...I'm speaking Gnomish, right now, I dunno about you. You...sound like you're speaking Gnomish? And for a Dire Rat, that oughta be damn near impossible. Can't say for speaking the Human or Goblin tongues. As for my Contractor..." again the stone infant-shaped creature shrugged. "He doesn't usually come by himself. A guard or two will pop their heads in a few times a week on patrol, a traveler who gets caught in the rain might camp out here in the front chamber, and once a month or so a priest comes by to make sure the place stays cleansed." He popped one more handful of food into his jaw, but seemed to have difficulty working it, as if he had filled himself to the brim.

"I imagine you guys would be fine to stay here...two, maybe three days? Long as you don't leave a trail of droppings or something." He sighed and leaned back, and despite being made of stone his belly definitely seemed like it poked out a little more. "Oh maaaan, I haven't eaten that good since one of them Orcs wandered in here! And just think, I got enough left for supper, and breakfast tomorrow, and maybe brunch too!"

Now somewhat relaxed, the Gnome tilted his head at the rats.

"I overheard you guys talkin' about training or getting stronger or something, right? You're talking about...that stuff humans do, where they stand there and swing a sword a hundred times or stare at pieces of paper to learn magic? What's the point of all that?"

---

You used Material Analysis I!
---Poisoned Wooden Javelin (Average)---
It seems a Pointy Stick was Sharpened into this lightweight javelin, then coated in Poison. With enough throwing force, it can cover a decent distance. Its tip is quite dangerous to soft targets, but any decent armor would quickly blunt the wood.

While the Hipixie analyzed the weapon, and Asura grabbed both the javelin and a handful of stones, Trent adjusted the strap on his targe. Thankfully the shield could still be used without having a full grip, and thus he could hold the torch in that hand while drawing his sword.

Another javelin arced through the air. It struck Trent in his shoulder just before he had fully drawn his weapon, but thankfully it failed to pierce his thick gambeson. However, the poison on the tip hissed and sizzled in the air, eating a short distance into the material. The impact drove the youth back a step, but he grit his teeth and bore it.

"You're right, Ardur--we're at a distinct disadvantage if we can't see them. But--"

Before he could finish what he was saying, Asura had slithered off in the direction the attacks were coming from. Steve the spider scuttled behind him, and Momma Slime pushed at the back of Trent's legs like a dog in an attempt to follow them. And the Hipixie conjured a quite bright ball of flame.

Upon release, with Ardur's words still lingering on the air, the spell flew up high--higher than it normally would have traveled if he had shot it the normal way. And it burned brighter than a fireball should have. When it reached its maximum height, it burst--not the area-of-effect explosion of the Rank II Fireball, but certainly more spread out than a normal blast. And it unleashed a short-lived flash, like turning on a bright lamp in a dark room before one's eyes have readjusted.

The party was bathed in light, as was the rest of the cave, for that short instant. Up ahead, Asura could see two figures blocking the exit of this chokepoint path along the pool's shore. One was a Fanged Lizard--it was too far away to use its poisonous spit to attack yet. Even if Asura were to use his Throw Item skill, however, it looked too far away for him to hit too.

The second figure was a Goblin--or, at least closer to one than the Skeleblins they found everywhere. Its belly was bloated, and something had been chewing on its limbs. Its flesh was dry and cracked in places. Its eyes and jaw sagged, black bile dripping between the yellowed teeth. And it seemed to be wearing armor, made of bony plates like shoulder blades, skull caps, and so forth--and these bones still had gristle and blood on them.

As Asura continued to charge forward, it picked up another javelin from a pile lying next to it...and affixed the weapon along a slot of some sort, carved into a shorter stick. Holding that stick like a handle, the undead creature gave a grunt and hurled it--sending the projectile flying much further than it could have thrown it normally. Thanks to Ardur's short lived light, it had an even easier target, and the hissing purple tip headed right for Asura's "face..."

While Asura was the first to get a good look at their attacker, Trent and Ardur could see further across the pond. That pulsing red light flashed brighter as well, and the various figures milling about the cave were lit from above and behind in a terrible light...

Dozens of Skeleblins, some even holding weapons, turned their chattering skulls towards the flare.

Two flickering green lights, Ghost Wisps like what they had encountered before, were already heading towards the exit to the choke point to join the other attackers.

And another dozen lights, whiter and brighter but with a slight purple sheen, began to flicker all along the cave's ceiling.

Creeping, crawling figures with raspy scales and hissing tongues scurried back into the shadows. Squeaking, fat, furry forms joined them. Piles of black, rotting goop and rolling spheres of color began to move in a slow, inexaustible fashion. Darting shapes reflected the light from their gossamer wings, and though some were slower--and others were far too thin--they too began to make their way towards the intruders...

Then the light went out, and save for Trent's quivering torch, the group was blind in the dark once more...

---

Oberon's Mana Slice parted the air with a whistle, cutting deep into the sword-goblin's forearms just as he loosened the weapon from the goat's corpse. He screamed and fell backwards. The edges of the spell hadn't gone bone-deep, nor did they seem to have struck any fatal arteries, but it looked like someone had taken a paring knife and simply slashed the goblin open. If it weren't for the crescent shaped energy being nearly two dimensional in width with a clean edge, it was the kind of cut that would have definitely needed sutures.

Digbie charged up a Mana Orb in his hands, and it crackled as the stripes on his arms glowed. Then he began to channel the power of Stone Shot as well. He trying to use Stone Shot II--but something unpleasant buzzed in his head and his hands, and the flow of energy suddenly felt choked. He remembered that Dual Cast's description had claimed its current rank couldn't use Spells higher than Rank I together unless they were the same spell.

Still, he held onto the Rank I Mana Orb and the Rank I Stone Shot's energies in his palms--the energy became unstable as it mixed, so he had to tense his arms and hold it close to his body as he glared at Rags Nar...

"Y-you, D-Demigob--!" The Elite Goblin growled, but he only managed to get up onto one knee. He had been hit, hard, in the head by that arrow and like a boxer getting hit on the jaw it had temporarily stunned him.

If Digbie could have seen himself from the outside perspective, he might have realized his stance--and the glowing energy in his hands--looked very much like a popular move from various fighting games and fictional martial arts. Like many young fans, Rags Nar was dumbstruck by the dramatic nature of the technique.

With a shout, Digbie hurled the magic right at the Broken Tower chief. In the moment it launched, Digbie felt the magic...condense? Its glow seemed to die down, and the sphere's "edges" seemed to be much more defined rather than a cloud of light. And like a pebble thrown by a baseball pitcher, it rocketed forward.

It hit Rags Nar's chain hauberk just as he forced himself onto his feet, and actually broke another section of the weakened links. Once again the goblin leader was knocked onto his backside.

The goblin fighting with Torrent had managed to land a light slash on her side, but now suddenly found himself jabbed by Ash's stinger as she sneaked in from above and behind. Thanks to the earlier dose from Torrent's jaws, the goblin's nervous system locked up and he went down with a slight twitching of his jaws and fingertips. Mahya was still unconscious, and the frying pan goblin was only just getting up after being headbutted by the goat.

A net, made of woven plant cordage with rocks tied to different parts of it, stretched out as it flew over the swordsgoblin and the one wearing the pan. As it fell and entangled them, the weight of the rocks pulled it tighter. The two goblins began to struggle to get out of it--but without coordinating their efforts, they hindered each other more than anything. And the mysterious rider jumped off of his mount.

"Demigob! You, YOU AIN'T ACTIN' LIKE A GOB--" The Elite was out of breath and clearly hurting, but he still managed to hold his knife in a firm grip. He took up a stance to start sprinting at Digbie--

Then the rider roundhouse kicked him in the stomach, stepping to the side as the goblin pitched forward.

The figure's hide-and-wrapping clothes had been adjusted somewhat, as he pushed his cloak out of the way of his arms and legs. Primitive sandals made from woven straw, with strips of bark wrapped over them, still had large enough gaps that yellowed nails and dark, heavily desaturated green skin showed through. Rawhide strings crisscrossed over trousers of overlapping furs, to keep them from catching and unraveling if they were snagged. The shirt was really more of a thick mantle, two limbs of whatever creature provided its pelt used to tie it around the shoulders and then smaller bits of hide sewn where it hung over the shoulders. Parts of the creature's midriff were visible, showcasing a hard and muscular trunk complete with scars and some kind of tattoos. Its head was still hooded, but that fanged smile still gleamed. Its arms were wrapped in a kind of thick gloves or mittens up to the elbows, but above that sinewy arms bulged not like a body builder's, but like someone accustomed to long hours of back breaking labor. But it wasn't just his appearance, or his size--just an inch or two over five feet--that had the Monster Party gawping at this mystery monster.

Rags Nar still managed to swing with his knife, doubled over from that kick. The covered figure took a step back and let the attack whiff, then when Rags lunged for a follow-up the being side stepped him and threw a heavy haymaker right on top of the goblin's ear. The smaller greenskin's skull made a thunk sound against the big one's fist, and for the third time the Elite hit the ground. The unknown monster kicked him again, a vicious soccer kick to the ribs. When Rags curled up like a bug, the assailant reached down and grabbed him by his scrawny shoulders and hauled him up--only to deliver a merciless knee to the goblin's warty nose. Blood spattered with a loud crack.

Rags Nar fell to his knees. Blood streamed down his face, a large bruise was forming over his temple, and his jaw hung slack as tears welled up in his eyes. He coughed and gurgled as he looked up at his tormentor.

The rider took a half step back, then surged forward with a front stomping kick across the goblin's relaxed jaw. The Broken Tower chief crumpled without a word.

As Ash, Torrent, Digbie, and Oberon saw this unfold before them, the creature straightened and did a slow turn. He counted Mahya, the paralyzed pelted Goblin, the two in the net, and then finally came back to Rags Nar.

"Ha! Haha! Ain't that a haul!" He walked over to the two goblins in the net--they had only just begun to work together to untangle themselves, when the figure grabbed a set of vines that were longer than the rest and yanked them. The net closed up at the other end, drawing taut around the two struggling runts. "You two, quitcher strugglin' if ya don't wanna end up like yer boss!" A couple of kicks accentuated the threat, and the helpless goblins gave a few last yelps before they clammed up.

"Here, little Demi!" The figure looked at Digbie, then hooked his foot under that Rusty Sword and lobbed it towards the magical goblin. "That don't look like it'd be too bad if ya polished 'er up!" He then gestured with his head towards the other downed members of the tribe. "And if ya want any'fin' off'm there, take it while ya can!" He rustled in a pouch on his belt, before also tossing Digbie a small, square stone made of something that felt rough and chalky, but also glittered in the light.

This strange rider dragged his catch back to the Cariblade, which simply stood and snorted through its huge nostrils. Every so often it would look around at the party dismissively. Its master reached into the saddlebags and pulled out some crudely made, but quite functional manacles of iron and a chain.

"Hands!" he growled at his two captives, and after an encouraging cuff to the ears they stuck their scrawny wrists through the holes in the mesh. The rider shackled them, and ran the chain through like a lead. After making sure they wouldn't be able to get out of the net, he removed a third pair of manacles and looked back towards the other goblins. After a moment of thought, he walked around to the other saddlebag and removed another length of cordage, this one somewhat better made. It had an iron grappling hook on one end of it, which he untied. While he was doing all of this, the Monster Party would have enough time to get everything they wanted off the fallen goblins.

"Oi, Pygmy Drake! Reckon you and yer buds could help me tie them two up?" He pointed at the unconscious Mahya and the paralyzed goblins. "I'll hav'ta throw 'em over me saddle, and lead the otha three back on foot." Then he looked over at Oberon. "An' you there, Sprite! Ya gots healin' magic, aintcha? When I get their chief in ir'ns, get 'im on his feet fer me!"

The group would likely feel some kind of inner conflict as all this occurred. What exactly were they doing, helping this creature? He was clearly taking the goblins prisoner, and had no qualms about using the most vicious means available to do so. But, did they want to release Rags and his cronies? Would it be easier to just let this thing take the Goblins, and get the Broken Tower tribe out of their hair? But what about the rest of the tribe, back at the broken tower itself?

Even so, if they were to fight this creature...He had beaten the absolute snot out of Rags Nar, an Elite Goblin and clearly no pushover. And he had done it with no weapons, and barely breaking a sweat. He was no Zawisza, but he was clearly above most enemies they had seen in this forest...even Rattleskull.

Assuming the group went through with helping the being secure the rest of the goblins, and laying Mahya and the fur-clothed one over the Cariblade's back while Rags Nar was chained to the others, the creature would chat good-naturedly as he worked.

"Oh ye, this'll be a notch in ol' Guze's blade fer sure! An' I suppose they won't be botherin' you lot no more, eh? Haha! Although," He paused for a moment and pointed slightly north and to the west, at an angle to the mountains. "Ya might get a few scouts lookin' fer 'em. But these Broke Tower Mukhs, they ain't much fer leavin' their rock pile. Got too comfy in there, scared of what's outside." He spat derisively. "If their cap'n don't show up after a day or two, they'll prolly just pick a new one."

"Ya dun kno' nuttin, Orc!" Despite Oberon's healing, Rags Nar would still have a big swollen knot on the bridge of his nose and several bruises and scrapes. "Broked Tower da strongest Gobs! We gots an army, gonna come find you an--"

"SHARRAP, YA MUKH!" The Orc said that word like "mook," which implied how much he thought of the goblins. Rags Nar squeaked as he jumped away from a half-hearted kick. A quick tug on his chains brought him back in ear-boxing range. "Anyway," Guze continued, "If yer lookin' to avoid other tribes, straight east of here there's a bigass Kao tree. Them gobs out there actually got some good sense 'bout 'em, far as scrappin' goes. I'd avoid them too. Oh, and the Kobolds." He made a sort of diagonal slash in the air with one hand. "If'n ye was to keep north a lil' bit instead of straight east, ya might slip right between the tower and the trees, and get up inta the valley. Used t'be a Human fort up there," here he chuckled, "til we sacked it! But dem li'l lizards done dug all under it, and them bastards is trouble an' a half if ya ain't used to 'em. Shame too, was good ore up there."

He now began packing up the rest of his belongings. Two tied goblins hung over his saddle along with his bags and re-folded net, while he held the lead chain and dragged Rags, the swordsgoblin, and the one whose frying pan had been shoved on his head like a blindfold.

"Oh, an' there's a small one down south, in a big cave. That one's got a nasty Bugbear leadin' it--he's a chump, dumb as rocks, but for li'l'uns like you he'd be--"

"Demigob! Dun let 'im takes us!" Rags Nar suddenly bawled. The other two goblins were sniveling as well. "We dun wanna be Orc slaves! I'll gives ya anyting ya want, I promises dis time--"

Guze's punch split Rags Nar's lip again, and he loomed over the goblin in a way all too familiar to Digbie when he thought about his father.

"It'd be a waste ta kill ya, Mukh, but if'n I thinks yer gonna be trouble I might be persuaded!" Then he turned back to the group, and that stormcloud dissolved from his face like it had never been there. "Oh yeah, and speakin' of ore earlier. If any of yas wanna get betta pay for helpin' out again..." The orc grinned under his hood, and jabbed a thumb over his shoulder towards the destroyed mountain. "Ghordosh Clan is gettin' ready fer one helluva scrap wif dem beardy Mukhs! If that Demigoblin of yers was really responsible for a Great Demon blowin' up that mountain, then ya gots big thanks from me and mines!" He pointed at Digbie. "You, ya gots some nice spells! Non'a this prancy chantin', just straight up blastin'! Ya'd make a good shaman--if'n ya wanna be an Orc, just c'mon up! And we got otha stuff fer the rest of yas. Money, food, whateva ya want! If we ain't got it," He winked at them, "we'll beat up some shmuck what does! Hahaha!"

Still laughing, Guze the Orc waved farewell as he patted his Cariblade on the rump. With his captives in tow, he headed back west and slightly south into the forest...

LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! Your Max MP has increased! You are now Level 10! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!

Unspent Skill Points: 11[[OOC: 5 from level up, 1 left over from last time, Christmas+NewYear+HiatusApology bonuses]]

Current Skills:
Stun Stinger II (2.1)
Poison Spray II (2.025)
Alchemy II (2.875)
Overwork III (3.3)
Charisma I (1.65)
Venom Shot II (2.0)
Crafting I (1.8)
Lesser Force II (2.225)
Magic Analysis III (3.20625)
Alert I (1.35)
Lesser Flight I (1.5)
Muffle I (1.65)
Monster Analysis II (2.8)
Material Analysis II (2.95)
Meditate II (2.35)
Poison Glob I (1.2)
Poison Breath I (1.05)
Plant Analysis I (1.1)
Tremor Sense I (1.05)
Mana Orb II (2.175)
Shield I (1.05)
Mana Slice I (1.7)
Mana Shape I (1.6)
Analysis (--)
Rabid Fit I (1.05)
Mental Resistance I (1.5)
Mana Vision I (1.75)
Mana Sense II (2.075)
Minor Heal I (1.2)
Prehensile Tail (--)
Poison Splash I (1.3)
Dual Cast I (1.2)
Mana Control I (1.2)
Stronger I (1.3)
<UNUSABLE>
Blunt Resistance (0.2)
Scribe (0.6)
Faster (0.3)
Intimidate (0.8)
Acid Volley (0.1)
Venom Claw (0.4)
Dragon Affinity (0.45) <CANNOT BE INCREASED WITH SKILL POINTS>
Slash (0.5)
Fireball (0.2)
Dextrous (0.7)
Mana Dart (0.4)
Use Light Equipment (0.2)
Minor Heal All (0.1)
Iron Gullet (0.3)
Poison Slash (0.2)
Mana Drain (0.6)
Lucid Dream (0.2)
Skewer (0.4)
Memor Eyes (0.1)
Stone Shot (0.1)
Dragon Lung (0.1)
Deception (0.2)
Stealth Kill (0.1)

YOUR BODY IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE! You are undergoing Transformation! Based on your life experiences, your ability to survive, and the strength of your will, new paths have appeared! Choose carefully--there is no going back! WARNING. THIS PROCESS WILL LEAVE YOU TEMPORARILY VULNERABLE.

OPTIONS (* Indicates Suitability):
*(Adult) Pygmy Drake - Stunted, pesky cousins of greater drake species, this creature has a poisonous stinger on its tail rather than a breath weapon and glides more than it flies. Nonetheless it is somewhat clever, and mages sometimes keep it the way someone might keep a pet bird.

• Very Slight increase to all base stats
• Increase Potential
• Increase MP
• Increase Lesser Flight
• Increase Mana Orb and Dragon Affinity (reduced)

**(Adolescent)[Winged] Kobold (High Variant Chance) - Small, reptilian creatures with odd primate characteristics like upright spines and grasping limbs. Quite similar to Goblins, often competing with them for the same territories and resources. Some individuals have other characteristics--the Winged Kobolds are often said to have Draconic power in their veins, and are often revered in their tribes.

• Slight increase to speed-related stats
• Increase Light Equipment Skill (reduced)
• Gain Access to Job System: 0th Tier

(Adolescent)[Winged] Lesserwurm (High Variant Chance) - Related to dragons, but still a cold-blooded reptile, this creature burrows through the earth and fills the enclosed spaces around its prey with poisonous fumes. Its lengthy body is quite fast and deceptively strong, and its ability to shed its skin somehow allows it to heal more quickly. Some individuals have other characteristics--the Winged Lesserwurms are one step closer to their draconic cousins.

• Lose hind limbs
• Increase to base speed-stats
• Slight increase to base power-stats
• Increase Minor Recovery (reduced)
• Increase Poison Breath (reduced)

(Adolescent) [Brute] Drake (Guaranteed Variant Chance) - A subspecies of dragons that many believe was once domesticated in the past, bred to be manageable by their tamers but still retain some of their ancestor's power. Larger than the biggest dogs and about as long as most men are tall, this broad shouldered and heavily built, quadruped drake has no wings but is incredibly strong and tough. Its scales can be compared to chain mail, its claws to well honed knives, and its jaw can crush bone as easily as the human jaw crushes a piece of fruit.

• Increase Dragon Affinity (reduced)
• Increase Chosen Breath (Options: Poison, Acid, Mana) (reduced)
• Increase base power and defensive stats
• Lose Wings. Lesser Flight Skill locked.

**(Adolescent) [Winged] Drake (Guaranteed Variant Chance) - A subspecies of dragons that many believe was once domesticated in the past, bred to be manageable by their tamers but still retain some of their ancestor's power. Though Drakes are normally quite brutish, every so often one of lither build retains its wings. However, this comes with a drawback that its body is not as heavily muscled and its scale layers are lighter. One could argue, though, that with more growth it is the closest type of drake to a true dragon's potential.

• Increase Lesser Flight
• Increase Chosen Breath (Options: Poison, Acid, Mana)(reduced)
• Increase Dragon Affinity (reduced)

(Adolescent) Lesser Wyvern (High Variant Chance) - Wyverns are already considered degenerated forms of primitive draconic species, but these smaller creatures are even further from the root of mighty dragons. Like many reptiles, Wyverns grow in proportion to their environment, so these creatures are often found in areas where a normal-sized Wyvern wouldn't have enough resources to support itself. Their stingers are potent, however, and they are swift fliers.

• Greatly Increase Lesser Flight
• Increase Poison Stinger
• Very Slight increase to all base stats

LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! Your Max MP has increased! You earn Skill Points to distribute as you please! You are now Level 9!

Unspent Skill Points: 10[[OOC: Normal 5+accumulated Bonuses]]

Current Skills:
**Use Light Equipment (--)
Tremor Sense III (3.275)
-Soil Manipulation II (2.8875)
Stone Shot II (2.125)
Taboo I (1.0)
*Stronger I (1.5)
**Sacred Ground II (2.375)
Rock Spire II (2.2)
Earth Affinity I (1.3)
Meditate I (1.5)
Earth Vein II (2.425)
-Spell Chant I (1.2)
Monster Analysis I (1.2875)
Material Analysis I (1.9)
Plant Analysis I (1.37)
*Mental Resistance I (1.1)
Fortify I (1.1)
*Mana Orb II (2.175)
**Shield II (2.55)
Overwork I (1.8)
Mana Affinity I (1.05)
Magic Analysis I (1.95)
Analysis (--)
**Earth Wall II (2.2)
*Minor Heal I (1.4)
Guidance I (1.9)
*Dual Cast I (1.15)
<UNUSABLE>
Quake (0.5)
Crafting (0.8)
*Point Strike (0.7)
*Smash (0.7)
Throw Item (0.4)
Charisma (0.6)
*Mana Strike (0.6)
Focus (0.6)
Stone Fist (0.6)
*Stone Breaker (0.6)
Intimidate (0.6)
-Scribe (0.2)
*Fire Resistance (0.3)
Demon Affinity (0.25)
Underground Movement (0.5)
**Use Medium Equipment (0.2)
Faster (0.3)
Alert (0.2)
Pacify Animal (0.3)
Inspire (0.3)
Lucid Dream (0.2)
Spiritual Awareness (0.1)
Lesser Cleanse (0.2)
Iron Gullet (0.1)
Wall (0.2)
Mana Shape (0.3)
Deception (0.4)
Charm (0.2)
Mana Drain (0.1)
Rabid Fit (0.2)
Mana Surge (0.1)
Condense Earth (0.1)

[[OOC: Hopefully Oberon and Torrent aren't discouraged, Oberon is 80% to his next level and Torrent is 60% of the way in case you wanna call up the System or something.]]

Asura ignored the brief flare of light overhead as he slithered along the ground. The only thing going in a constant direction was his pseudopod still holding his torch. But the light revealed enemies, two in front with more flying over. The wisps could be ignored, them and their attacks were obvious and easy to dodge. Two to three shots and they killed themselves, which would save the group the trouble of trying to hit high above targets.

With the vision he had he picked up his pace, moving as fast as he physically could to get to his enemies. He didn't get far before the zombie goblin, only something undead would have such features, lobbed another javalin with a spear thrower. How'd he know it was a spear-thrower? He liked medieval stuff and had seen people make them in primitive technology youtube videos. Unfortunately for the undead goblin all Asura did was part around the javalin as it struck the ground. He closed around it as he moved, pulling it up but avoiding the poison on its tip.

As he neared the flare died down, but his torch kept them barely alight. His pace increased, lighting them up more as he tore nearer. He tried to Analyze the undead goblin and its "armor". Finally he got to the pair and simply swarmed over the undead one. His body just slid between the cracks of the shoddy armor and he started trying to burrow into the zombie goblin by aside and using the stones held within to grind and pulp any flesh they could get to.