Ash’s Party
Ash's methodical and scientific approach to her magic lessons were...surprisingly unscientific. There was nothing to it but to do it. Practice and effort couldn't be avoided, and neither could tedium and frustration. She didn't make these efforts blindly, however, as she seemed to think heavily about each skill and what it required before making new attempts. One might compare it to the oft-attributed Thomas Edison quote, "I have not failed. I have simply found 10,000 ways that will not work."
But that quote itself referred to something different, in a way. Edison's problem was that of finding a filament to use in a lightbulb. Hair, wire, fibers of all kinds. Every time Edison had to try something new, he was also trying something
different. A new material that had not yet been tried--not simply a new configuration of the old, but an entire replacement.
Was Ash's method equally effective? Did she put quite that much thought into it? When does one reach the point at which continuing to practice an activity in the exact same way becomes the definition of insanity, in which one tries the same thing expecting a different result?
Then again, even diminishing returns pay off.
As time passed, with the sounds of battle in the distance, Ash continued to feel the flow of magic. Her scientific mind was no doubt constantly churning, as it had been for some time now over the various spells the Pixies had shown her and how she would be able to use them.
Skill Gain: Magic Analysis I
You may now analyze magical energies or objects to learn their most basic magical characteristics. Less effective on Materials and Monsters unless they are magical in nature.
Until she was interrupted again, or succeeded in using Lesser Force, she wasn't going anywhere else or sleeping. How many times had she done this very thing in her old life? How many hours without sleep or food or water had she gone in the pursuit of brilliance? She had done it for fifty seven years, after all. It had become quite the habit...before she died, anyway.
But right now, this world was simple enough. Right now, this system was easy enough to work with--even if one simply tried to barrel their way through. Feel the power. Move the rock. Move the rock again. Move the rock some more.
Skill Gain: Lesser Force I
Use a type of magical telekinesis to manipulate objects a short distance from your body. Objects cannot be finely manipulated, and the strength of this Spell is comparable to your physical ability. It works better if the object is also within your sight. This Spell has low MP consumption.
Success!
Skill Rank Up: Overwork I > II
Stamina consumption increased. Self-Buff increased. When Stamina is fully consumed, this Skill can be kept active by sacrificing HP. This skill will automatically deactivate when HP reaches dangerously low levels.
You have no MP remaining.
WARNING! You have run out of Stamina! You will be Exhausted until you recover through rest--abilities are significantly decreased. You are Thirsty.
Ash had eaten quite a bit earlier while hunting those goblins and rats, but how long had it been since she had anything to drink? And all of her efforts had left her mentally and physically drained in a way that felt disturbingly familiar. Perhaps the worst part was that, without this MP, she couldn't even continue to use the skill she had just earned after such painstaking work! And...hadn't there been something, way back when, about her venom gland production being related to her Stamina rather than to MP like a magic spell?
But the System wasn't done with her just yet.
LEVEL UP!
Your experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 5! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!
Unspent Skill Points: 7
Current Skills:
Stun Fang II (2.0)
Poison Spit I (1.9)
Alchemy II (2.0)
Overwork II (2.0)
Charisma I (1.3)
Venom Shot I (1.3)
Crafting I (1.0)
Lesser Force I (1.0)
Magic Analysis I (1.0)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Muffle (0.9)
Alert (0.5)
Blunt Resistance (0.2)
Monster Analysis (0.3)
Material Analysis (0.1)
Scribe (0.6)
Minor Heal (0.7)
Faster (0.1)
Intimidate (0.1)
Acid Volley (0.1)
Venom Claw (0.1)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
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) Fanged Lizard - 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.
- Slight increase to all base stats
- Increase HP
- Increase Potential
**(Immature) Kobold - 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.
- Slight increase to speed-related stats
- Increase Light Equipment Skill (reduced)
- Gain Access to Job System: 0th Tier
(Immature) 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 MP
- Increase Lesser Flight
- Increase Mana Orb and Dragon Affinity (reduced)
(Immature) Tailed Frog - Tougher than the average amphibian, these slimy creatures are not to be underestimated. In addition to poison, their hefty bodies pack quite a wallop. They often hide in water, then pop up at a distance to lob their poison at unwary adventurers.
- Slight increase to strength-related stats
- Increase Poison Spit (reduced)
- Gain Water Breathing
Bonfire Battles
17 Mana Crystals remain.
2 Flame Touched Crystals remain.
Danny
As the lone Wisp floated up over the battlefield, he could see that the goblins were out in force. They had a lot more primitive weapons than he remembered from the few times he had seen them, and some of them weren't that bad at using them. And they moved in groups, with some modicum of tactical thought. But then there was this odd, motley crew of all different kinds of monsters fighting back against them. Their behavior, too, was out of the norm. Were they all working together? Did that mean they were like him and the others?
Ardur, Digbie, Mourningstar, Rain VS Rattleskull
Rattleskull snarled as he peered into the darkness. What creature had cast that spell? It had been a spell, right? He had seen the light from the ground just before that sharp rock had come up out of nowhere. But...he'd never seen any monsters in the cave cast that kind of spell before. Just the pixies and wisps with their sparkles, and Crispy's fire--
He heard something fluttering and turned just as Ardur hurled his rock. The hairy monster roared in pain once more as the projectile slammed into his face, bloodying his nose with a crunch! He stumbled back, away from the pillar he had been leaning against--just as another flash of golden light came out of it! Jason's second Rock Spire missed that oh-so-precise artery he had been aiming for, but it still nicked Rattleskull's hand, slicking the grip of his club with blood.
"RAAAAAAGH!! ME KILL ALL YOUSE!!" With his good hand the boss reached into the belt of vines around his waist, pulling out something that had been woven between the fibers and his body. A Healing Herb! He shoved it into his mouth, chewing and practically frothing with rage. Just then he caught sight of that same yellow glow he had seen twice before, but now it was somewhat further away. Far enough away that he had time to turn and hold up his stone headed axe to try and block it.
Digbie's Stone Shot hit the primitive weapon with a loud crack, knocking a few splinters off the haft before ricocheting into the darkness of the cave. Rattleskull drew his weapon back and prepared to charge, but at that moment Mourningstar cast her Mana Slice, and the big goblin had to duck so as not to lose more than the top few inches of his hair to the flying crescent-shaped light. Before he could regroup himself, Digbie's second Stone Shot hit him in the chest, forcing him to take a step back with a grunt. However, this had been the least painful hit thus far, and his earlier wounds had already stopped bleeding thanks to the herb he had eaten.
Without an open wound, Rain's Poison Breath merely stung the outer layer of Rattleskull's hide, and alerted him to the Fanged Lizard's presence. As she sank her teeth into his leg, drawing blood and another cry of fury from the Boss, he grabbed her around the middle in one meaty hand and pulled her off. Limping a half step to the cave wall, he slammed Rain against it and began to tighten his grip. She could feel her bones creaking, and couldn't draw any air into her lungs. The Boss slammed her again, sensing a kill...
WARNING! Your HP is Low!
"YOU CAN'T BEAT ME, RATTLESKULL DA STRONGEST!" he roared in her face...
Jason, Oberon VS Brawny Goblin, Bitchy Goblin, Brawny Minion
The three goblins could hear their Boss screaming at something, and they could see flashes of light. They had already seen that Wisp earlier, but this sounded like something more important. The broad shouldered goblin barked at the others to ready their weapons and charge. Oberon could see them coming, and Jason quickly hunkered himself down for an ambush.
As Oberon cast Shield on himself, the light of the spell attracted the goblins' attention. They turned just in time to see him preparing his spell, and the brawny leader ordered the others to get down--but just then, Jason's Stone Shot hit him. He had turned to the side, throwing off the slime's aim, so rather than hitting the throat Jason instead got him in one of those broad shoulders. But the attack had enough power behind it at this range to knock the goblin to the ground, the sharp stone sticking out of his shoulder and rendering that arm useless as blood poured down his green bicep. The first torchbearer was too shocked by the sudden attack to react in time to Oberon's first Mana Dart. It pierced through his torso, somewhere lower on the rib cage, with a meaty "thwip!" sound and burst out of his back in a spray of blood--a relatively clean shot, much like a well placed arrow. It hadn't torn through any of his organs, but this open hole bled profusely and the inexperienced goblin went down howling in pain.
The female, however, had better instincts than her companion. As soon as she'd seen the leader get hit she dropped to the ground in a crouch, spear held in one hand and torch tossed aside. Oberon's second Dart went over her head, hitting the stony ground harmlessly. With a snarl she leaped at the pixie, bringing her crudely made stone spear to bear.
And at this moment, Oberon and the others might realize something.
These goblins had prepared themselves for battle, made a plan, and then moved to carry it out. They were actively seeking a conflict, they were trying to exterminate all the other monsters in the cave. They were fighting any beast they could find--no running, no trickery, not much in the way of traps. It was almost like running around in circles in an RPG, just waiting for random encounters to grind. And by doing this, these Goblins had not simply been killing. They too, in their own way, had been growing. Learning.
"SKEWER!" roared the female, and her spear's tip lit up with a bright red spark much like the light seen when someone used the Smash skill.
Oberon's Shield was of the third rank, and he was level four. Not bad at all for something that seemed as fragile as the normal Pixie. But most attacks anyone with a shield had been hit by, thus far, were simple and unarmed blows. This goblin had an actual weapon, with a blade made of stone. She had been gaining experience through combat, and now used a skill that had been made stronger by that experience.
Oberon felt the shield shatter just as the momentum of the blow carried through--he never felt the sharp sting of the spearpoint, but it still tossed him like a ragdoll. He slammed into the ground, hard enough to nearly knock the wind from his lungs. Another blow like that for a Pixie like him, and he could be in serious trouble...
The Brawny goblin got to his feet, still managing to hold his own spear in one hand. He yelled at his minion to stand up, and the other goblin managed as well, hiding behind his torch and wooden club to try and put a defense between himself and whatever had shot him...
Asura, Momma Slime VS??? Orchid
As Orchid whipped her stone out of the sling, it made a distinctive whip-crack just before it struck Asura's body. He felt this blow just as strongly as he had felt Jason's Stone Shot that time they had been practicing by the pond--it hurt, but the damage wasn't fatal. He felt Momma Slime gurgle angrily next to him, and her large mass started to lurch forward...
Meanwhile, it seemed like Orchid intended to flee the battlefield entirely. She could hear the roars and screams and flashes of magic in the distance behind her. How would things go for the goblins without her?
Other Goblins
Seeing the fights breaking out up ahead, Crispy's team began hurrying in that direction. However, they came across the combined force of Orchid's Shield Bearers and the Hammer Team's remnants.
"Where dat youngling!?" Crispy demanded.
"She runned ahead!" shouted one of the shield bearers. "I can't see her torch no mores, though!"
"What!?" Crispy stomped his feet in rage. What was that dumb female doing!? If she went off by herself she'd just get ganged up on and killed! He had thought she was smarter than that, not like Rattleskull. Although in the Boss's case, he was strong enough and tough enough to take that risk.
"What we do now, Mini-boss?" asked the Hammer goblin.
"Hurgh...Everybody not gonna last much longer, moon's high in sky." Crispy rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand, absently smearing blood from an earlier kill over himself. "We clear big chunk for now, I wants to know how da other teams doin'! Youse all head back, hold yer grounds til da rest of us gets dere!"
The rest of the goblins, especially those who had been injured over the course of all these battles, sighed in relief. Keeping their more vulnerable torchbearers closer to the center, they formed a mass and started back towards the entrance of the cave--
"SHIELDS UP!"
One of Orchid's members had taken to her training a bit better than the others, and he managed to get the other two to raise their defenses just in time. A crackling bolt of energy struck the wicker shields, and one of them snapped several of its bindings.
"Fireball!"
Crispy's own spell struck the Wispmother in a burst of flame, drawing a pained and angry screech from the creature as she wheeled in the air. Another goblin threw a rock at her, but she easily dodged this.
"How we gonna reach it!?" yelled one of the greenskins as the Wisp fired another Mana Orb at Crispy, which he swiftly dodged.
"Let it shoot atcha! If ya dun get killed, it'll fall down tired!" The flame touched goblin had gone more than one round with most of the creature types in this cave. With Wisps you had to figure out a way to bring them down to the ground, or get in close. And once he had learned his own magic spell, he had figured out what spending all of one's MP did. He didn't have a complex understanding by any means--he just knew that when Wisps used a lot of spells, they couldn't levitate as well anymore.
[[The Map won't be used for a bit because the Parties that are in Battle are close enough to move around each other without needing the square grid. Still, keep in mind your general location for the time being.]]
