Ash’s Party
You used Monster Analysis I! Effectiveness at 100%.
---Ash---
Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. This one told you her name is Ash. She is unusual, she is like you.
---Reoth---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. Lizards will sometimes roam in packs of family units, but only until the young can hunt on their own, compared to Dire Rats often found in the same ecosystem. This one told you his name is Reoth. He is unusual, he is like you.
---Colchain---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. Lizards will sometimes roam in packs of family units, but only until the young can hunt on their own, compared to Dire Rats often found in the same ecosystem. They are normally various shades of gray, blue, and purple, darkening towards black with the lighter colors being speckled across their backs. You have heard this one called Colchain.
---Scott---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
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. They tend to live fast paced, hedonistic lifestyles doing whatever they please. This one told you his name is Scott. He is unusual, he is like you.
---Analysis Complete---
You have recovered from serious injuries, and your body has adapted!
Skill Gain: Fire Resistance I!
This damage resistance skill applies to both magical and natural flames, as well as higher temperatures in general. If other elemental resistances are gained, skill synergy may occur. Having this skill may make using certain types of fire magic or other fire oriented skills easier.
As the group conversed among themselves, lizards and pixies and one wisp, the two dead goblins remained dead. And dead things, in a cavern like this where resources were in short supply and every day was a struggle for survival, would attract scavengers.
While Ash talked to the two new members of her little party, and Ardur made his re-appearance, Colchain moved away from Scott with a quiet, wary hiss. After observing for a few more moments, the lizard made his way over to the other goblin that Naji hadn’t savaged yet, and began tearing off a few strips of green hide for himself--only to suddenly draw back with a loud hiss, his tail thrashing as three Dire Rats appeared! They had sniffed out the group from afar, and while they were intimidated by its size, none of them had been paying attention to the other goblin body. And the rats, being more numerous and aggressive, didn’t feel quite so threatened by Colchain on his own.
Just as Ash turned back to order her new “follower” to come with her, she would see one of the rats dart forward and snap at Colchain, who shuffled backwards to avoid it and spat a ball of poison at a second rat. This rat moved away, unable to attack but unharmed, and the third jumped onto Colchain’s back. It didn’t seem like it was able to get a good grip or do any real damage yet, but as the lizard thrashed from side to side and snapped his jaws it didn’t seem like he could dislodge the opponent…
Meanwhile, back the way Ardur had come all the way across the cave, something had taken notice of the lone pixie. That lone pixie was no longer alone, but the something didn’t really care about that--after all, this something was big, and felt it had little to fear. With three different colors swirling in a rotund, gelatinous body, a huge slime rumbled across the ground as it rolled towards the group from some distance away…
Bonfire Party
42 Mana Crystals remain.
5 Flame Touched Mana Crystals remain.
Skill Gain: Soil Manipulation I
An Earth Elemental Magic Spell. At this Rank, you may move up to 5 pounds of loose soil (sand, dirt, and powdered minerals, but not gravel, pebbles, or anything made of larger fragments) freely within a 10 foot radius around your body. Using this soil to create a shape or exert a larger amount of force consumes more MP, and takes 30 seconds at minimum. At this rank, created shapes cannot consist of more than one part, or be more complex than quadrilateral structures. At this rank, created shapes cannot change the quality of the soil (sharper, harder, etc) nor its color or texture.
Skill Rank Up! Tremor Sense I > Tremor Sense II!
Range increased. Projection increased--now instead of passively sensing incoming vibrations, you can more strongly emit your own. This skill is weaker when passive, but when actively used you can perform a more detailed type of echolocation through solid, earthy materials.
Skill Gain: Mana Shape I!
You can shape your raw Mana into the appearance of something. At this rank, your Mana does not have weight, force, or other physical qualities. Your Mana cannot produce sounds. Your Mana cannot move freely. Your mana can have its color changed. Your shapes must be relatively simple with no moving parts. The shape cannot be held for long without more MP.
Skill Rank Up: Magic Analysis II > Magic Analysis III!
Gain more detail about observed magic skills, objects, etc. Lose less effectiveness when using this skill on other things, even if they aren’t magically inclined. When analyzing a spell you have seen at least one time before, you may learn information such as its element or function depending on various factors.
You used Monster Analysis I! Effectiveness at 100%
---Green Slime--
Slimes are amorphous creatures more similar to undeveloped egg yolks, yet they are able to move on their own and digest prey. Their bodies are highly resistant to physical damage and malleable. This one is unusual.
---Red Slime---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Slimes are amorphous creatures more similar to undeveloped egg yolks, yet they are able to move on their own and digest prey. Their bodies are highly resistant to physical damage and malleable. Slimes can sometimes store objects inside themselves or change the shapes of their bodies.This one is unusual.
---Large Blue Slime---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Slimes are amorphous creatures more similar to undeveloped egg yolks, yet they are able to move on their own and digest prey. Their bodies are highly resistant to physical damage and malleable. Slimes can sometimes store objects inside themselves or change the shapes of their bodies. When they become too large, they reproduce by division.
---Dire Rat---
Dire Rats are quite large and strong for rodents, with sharp senses. They are predator scavengers, and because their teeth constantly grow they forage and gnaw constantly. This one is unusual.
---Dire Rat---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Dire Rats are quite large and strong for rodents, with sharp senses. They are predator scavengers, and because their teeth constantly grow they forage and gnaw constantly. Their forepaws are somewhat capable of gripping and manipulating, but they aren’t very skilled.This one is unusual.
---Large Dire Rat---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Dire Rats are quite large and strong for rodents, with sharp senses. They are predator scavengers, and because their teeth constantly grow they forage and gnaw constantly. Their forepaws are somewhat capable of gripping and manipulating, but they aren’t very skilled. Rats often hunt in packs, composed of family units, but the mothers will often drive off the fathers as they will behave aggressively towards the young.
---Analysis Complete---
Skill Rank Up: Lesser Force I > Lesser Force II!
MP Consumption decreased. Range slightly increased. Force strength slightly increased. Rather than more powerful, it would be more accurate to say this skill is now more efficient.
Skill Rank Up: Monster Analysis I > Monster Analysis II!
Gain more information about Monsters. Other analysis skills will further boost the information this skill provides, such as a creature’s capability with magic or its equipment.
Your Stamina is Low. Without food, water, and rest, you may experience HP Drain if stamina continues to decrease.
Skill Gain: Dextrous I!
Your practice with fine manipulation and using your forepaws, as well as the natural physical strength of a Dire Rat, has earned an unusual skill for your species! Your paws can now be used to manipulate small objects and tools, though you still aren’t strong enough yet to “wield” weapons or pick up very large things.
Making this group get along was almost as chaotic as the battle with Crispy had been. But ultimately it seemed like Jason’s group took over most of the actual preparation. With Jason himself, Asura, and Digbie working on digging a tunnel, the work went surprisingly fast. However, the fact of the matter was that the ceiling was a good ways above them, and most of these walls were solid stone, since they were load bearing and likely had been here since the first formation of the cave. Tunneling nearly vertically through these was a task indeed. And thanks to all the different methods they were employing, they were making quite a lot of noise and disturbing the area around them.
At some point, Jason took a break to argue some more with Mourningstar. And while doing so, he grabbed one of the volatile Flame touched crystals, and sent a Tremor Sense through it. When he did so, he got a notification saying that skill had upgraded, just as he slurped up the crystal into his inventory.
However, in the time it took a Slime to usually wrap up a foreign object they did not want to digest in an interior membrane, that item would still be temporarily exposed to their digestive juices. This would not have been a problem...had that Flametouched crystal not already been “shaken up” by Jason’s tremors. Like applying a spark to a primed fuse.
'Look Mourningstar, I'm Jason, none of us have time to argue over this shit, so yes, we will be able to talk after all of us survive this. So, if you'll excuse me....' he stated through his mind before retracting his pseudopod, and going onward with his plan to create the Palisade with Digbie…
BOOMJason’s green body suddenly turned orange as a hole in his side literally erupted, acting like a propulsive jet that slammed him against the wall. The slime felt a pain more intense than anything he had experienced thus far in his new life--though that particular experience seemed to be becoming more common, considering the different fights he’d gotten into lately. The explosion had only lasted a moment, but it left a smoky smell in the air and the sound had nearly deafened some of the others nearby. Jason’s whole world was a shrill, ringing, spinning blur.
WARNING! Your HP is Low!
But this was not the only misfortune to befall this unusually large party.
As Digbie and Asura continued to dig in their tunnel, though they were perhaps distracted by Jason’s explosive argument, they hit a loose pocket of soil. They seemed to have hit a much smaller tunnel dug by something else--and exactly what that was became clear as soon as two Dire Rats emerged, hissing and snarling with fangs and claws bared!
Momma Slime was too big to get into the tunnel from before, and Jason’s explosion had startled her into shifting somewhat further away from the group. But once she heard the noises coming from where Asura was, she seemed to take on a darker color and burbled loudly as she rolled over towards them. However, this had the unfortunate effect of blocking off the tunnel with her bulk, leaving Asura and Digbie trapped between a squishy blue wall and a pair of very angry rodents!
Ed, Asteria, and Mother Rat had been working steadily on their own, and swift progress was made on the earthen trench as well but at the cost of most of Ed’s stamina. And Asteria would soon hear her own stomach and Mother Rat’s grumbling if they continued at this pace--but more than that, the three rats had separated themselves from the group. One of them was tired. One of them was a young female, and the other, while stronger, was also older. They made tempting targets, putting themselves out in the open amongst all this commotion. Just as it seemed they might pause to take a break, suddenly three scaly heads poked over the edge of the trench! A pack of Fanged Lizards lobbed three spheres of sizzling poison at the rats!
Goblin Party
You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.
You made an item!
Fiber Cord (Good) + Cane Wood (Low Quality) + Small Stick (Low Quality)(Multiple) + Stiff Stick (Low Quality)
Your Crafting III skill increases the quality of your item. Average > Good.
Your method of crafting is more effective compared to your raw materials. The quality of your item is increased. Good > Well-Made.
You created: Wicker Shield (Well-Made)! You feel sturdier when equipping this piece of equipment! This shield is more effective against Blunt damage than Slashing or Piercing. It is very vulnerable to Fire.
You made an item!
Gnarled Stick (Low Quality) + Sharp Stone (Average Quality) + Tree Sap (Average Quality)
Your Crafting III skill increases the quality of your item. Low Quality > Average.
Your method of crafting is more effective compared to your raw materials. The quality of your item is increased. Average > Good.
You created: Stone Spike Club! You feel stronger when equipping this piece of equipment! This weapon can deal Blunt or Piercing damage. It is slightly vulnerable to Fire.
As Orchid worked, the three goblins that had listened to her earlier now returned from the edge of the forest. Two of them had picked up what looked to be about three items each, but the other only had what looked like a simple stick clutched in one hand, though it was a creamy white color compared to the other pieces of normal wood the goblins had gathered.
“I got dese!” said the first goblin, shoving his way to the front of the pack. He presented Orchid with a Curved Stick, though it was dried out and cracked, along with three Sharp Stones. Unlike the stick, however, these were clearly of much higher quality. One of them looked almost as fresh and sharp as the one she had just ground down to use in her trench club...and the other two both looked even sharper than that!
“Dis stuff betta!” insisted the second as he hip bumped the first out of the way. He had his items bundled in a leaf. It was a bright green, fresh, thick leaf with a sturdy stem, and it was so big Orchid might have been able to use it as a chest wrap if she had still needed one. The second goblin’s second material was another leaf--but this one was a fern of some sort, still large but not quite the right shape or style to be used as clothing. And with its rich purple color, it didn’t seem to be a normal leaf...in some ways it reminded Orchid of the Healing Herbs present in the cave. The second goblin’s last item was a length of vine, colored blood red with black spots on it.
“Careful with dis one!” said the second goblin as he pointed at the vine. “It’s Bloody Snare! Since it’s not attached to da root no mores it can’t move on its own, but if ya get blood on it it tightens up!” He pantomimed being choked. “Like dat!”
The last goblin timidly approached, holding his gift out to Orchid.
“Dis was all I could find...but it’s good! Found it near some Venture tracks!” As he handed Orchid the odd white stick, she realized it wasn’t quite a stick at all--or rather, it was, but at the same time wasn’t. It was definitely made of wood. She could tell by feeling it, and by its texture. It felt like a sturdy hardwood, much better than anything in the other pile. And yet it retained a level of flexibility and smoothness, almost to the point of seeming elastic. But it tapered at one end, and had what seemed to be dried blood vessels near the other--just like a deer’s antlers.
The other female goblin, the one who had protested as Orchid shouted before and who had just finished fire hardening a short spear for herself, made an angry grunt as she watched the three fawning over Orchid. She approached with stomping feet, shoving the first goblin out of the way.
“Gimme some o’ dat! We all needs good weapons!” she said, reaching for one of the high quality Sharp Stones…
Meanwhile, Crispy had made a small but robust campfire, and now sat with a couple of sticks. He was stripping the bark off a nearby tree with his fingers, and rubbing the sticks in the sap. Then he would wrap vines around the end, and coat them in another layer of resin. When he had them bundled up to the point that they looked like large matches, he began laying them aside near the fire.
Rattleskull, on the other hand, had bored a small hole all the way through his bat. He now took a Hard Rock just big enough to fit snugly through this hole, and pounded it on another piece of wood until it was firmly lodged through the center. He braced this with a single piece of thin vine wrapped a few times in an X shape. This short, crude Stone Hammer didn’t seem quite so well made as Orchid’s trench club, but it would certainly inflict some pain in any goblin’s hands. He laid it to one side, then looked for another piece of the nearest material. Said object turned out to be a thinner, but longer and straighter piece of branch. Rattleskull used the sharp edge of his axe again and began to whittle one end of the staff into a point, much sharper than what the other goblins could get by grinding their fire hardened sticks against stones...
Rain
As Rain made her way closer to the entrance while using her Muffle skill, she soon became able to see their new, impromptu campsite. She could observe the Goblins as they gathered resources, crafted weapons, and seemed overall to be preparing themselves for battle. ((See My/Orchid's posts starting from after your own last post.))
However, though Muffle seemed to make her movements near silent, it didn't do anything to hide her bright blue body. As she moved stealthily she was able to avoid detection by most, but one particular goblin who happened to be standing near the entrance must have noticed something off out of the corner of his vision. Or maybe he had "sensed" her the way some prey animals begin to sense the predator lurking in the bushes. Whatever the reason, he turned, not quite entirely sure, and scratched his head for several long moments...just before he picked out the blue tip of a tail going under a rock. But he, being a dumb goblin, wasn't quite sure what that was. A grub worm? A bug? It was an unusual color...
Brimming with curiosity, but also remembering that the cave was currently quite dangerous for his tribe, the goblin armed himself with a Gnarled Stick and wandered over towards where he had seen the blue thingie...
