[h2][b]The Goblins[/b][/h2] [hr] [h3]Orchid[/h3][@Lucius Cypher] [quote=System:Orchid] 1 Sharp Rock added to Inventory. Would you like to exchange Sharp Stick with Sharp Rock? (Attack power =, Weapon Durability ^) [/quote] Orchid did indeed find a nice rock she could throw--it was a bit rounded on one side, but had been worn down on the other until it almost had an edge like a axe head or something. She could either throw it, or hold it in her hand as a weapon. It seemed this other youngling, Yoda, was offering to protect and work together with her. Was he just being nice, or trying to woo her? And would Orchid notice that his speech was very well put together for a goblin? They certainly didn’t seem intelligent thus far, and Yoda was as “young” as she was...Could he be…? But as she, Yoda, Eric, and Rattleskull approached the little group it looked like at least one of the Fanged Lizards had noticed them, and the others were starting to get tense. If the goblins didn’t act soon, their prey might scatter…! “Go already!” hissed Rattleskull--just as a glob of poison arced through the air at them! One of the lizards jumped up on a rock, bearing those razor sharp fangs and hissing its battlecry... [h3]Yoda[/h3][@Renny] As Yoda offered to protect Orchid and encouraged them to work together, Rattleskull made a “tch” sound. “Dun worry bout protectin’ nobody.” the boss growled out of the corner of his mouth in a low voice. “Focus on gettin’ yer kill. If’n some other gob dies it’s they own faults.” With one big, rough hand, he shoved Yoda further forward in front of the group. It looked like some of the Fanged Lizards had noticed them, and the others were getting tense. If the goblins didn’t act soon, their prey might scatter…! “Go already!” hissed Rattleskull--just as a glob of poison arced through the air at them! One of the lizards jumped up on a rock, bearing those razor sharp fangs and hissing its battlecry… [h3]Eric[/h3][@Knox] After pushing Yoda to the forefront of the group, Rattleskull hissed for them to go and attack already before the prey could scatter----just as a glob of poison arced through the air at them! One of the lizards jumped up on a rock, bearing those razor sharp fangs and hissing its battlecry. Then the boss turned around and looked at the other two. Noticing that Eric had been hanging back this whole time, the furry monster took a long stride around the edge of the group before booting the unfortunate goblin right in his backside. “Quitcher lazin’ about! Hunt!” [hr] [h2][b]The Mook Alliance[/b][/h2] [hr] [h3]Ryuu[/h3][@CriticalHit] As Ryuu got closer, he heard the goblins seemingly bickering amongst themselves. Just as he climbed up on the rock to attack them, he would see the big one shoving one of the others forward, and as he lobbed his Poison Spit the boss kicked another one. Time seemed to slow down immensely as the glob of venom arced through the air. Would it hit? If it did, would it do anything? Would they pay any attention to him? If not, what would happen to his newfound friends…? [h3]Ardur[/h3][@ReusableSword] As the Pixie moved to a better vantage point, he could see that Crispy had not left his bonfire, but that four figures were moving towards the collection of monsters. One of them was far bigger, and hairier, than anything he had seen in the cave--and it was wearing armor and carrying a more sophisticated looking weapon than just sticks or rocks. The other three were all armed in various degrees, but they looked young and inexperienced. As the pixie watched, he would see one of them hold back--a female, from the looks of it--while the big hairy one roughly shoved and kicked the two young males forward. The most active of the males looked like he was carrying a big stick with a knot on the end of it in both hands, while the other either didn’t have anything, or his weapon was something small and not easy to see. Maybe a stone blade of some sort, or just his bare fists. One of the lizards took up the attack at Ash’s urging for them to serve as a distraction. But it didn’t seem likely it would intimidate all of the goblins, especially not that big one. And they would be coming any minute…! [h3]Rain[/h3][@Old Amsterdam] Rain was apparently the most alert of the lizards, as she immediately reacted to the shadows in her peripheral and the musky smell drifting over the air. As she looked, four figures were moving towards the collection of monsters. One of them was far bigger, and hairier, than anything she had seen in the cave--and it was wearing armor and carrying a more sophisticated looking weapon than just sticks or rocks. The other three were all armed in various degrees, but they looked young and inexperienced. As the lizard watched, she would see one of them hold back--a female, from the looks of it--while the big hairy one roughly shoved and kicked the two young males forward. The most active of the males looked like he was carrying a big stick with a knot on the end of it in both hands, while the other either didn’t have anything, or his weapon was something small and not easy to see. Maybe a stone blade of some sort, or just his bare fists. As Ash formulated a strategy, Ryuu was the first to act on it. But just one Poison Spit probably wouldn’t stop all of them, especially not that big one. And they would be coming any minute…! But that meant that the one called Crispy might be alone, next to the bonfire… [h3]Ash[/h3][@Rune_Alchemist] Ash only became aware of the enemies approaching when Ardur began to move further away from the group and Rain suddenly began peering into the [b][u]growing darkness[/u][/b] of the cave. Four figures were moving towards the collection of monsters. One of them was far bigger, and hairier, than anything she had seen in the cave--and it was wearing armor and carrying a more sophisticated looking weapon than just sticks or rocks. The other three were all armed in various degrees, but they looked young and inexperienced. As the lizard watched, she would see one of them hold back--a female, from the looks of it--while the big hairy one roughly shoved and kicked the two young males forward. The most active of the males looked like he was carrying a big stick with a knot on the end of it in both hands, while the other either didn’t have anything, or his weapon was something small and not easy to see. Maybe a stone blade of some sort, or just his bare fists. The product of all her hard work at Alchemy still sat at the bottom of the stone bowl, a single Poison Tainted Mana Crystal. If these goblins were approaching them, that might mean Crispy was all alone at the bonfire--but she chose to prioritize her new allies first, quickly coming up with a plan of action. But if they were going to execute it, they needed to do so soon--Ryuu was the first to take off, launching an attack all by himself. But it didn’t seem likely the Poison Spit would slow all of them down, especially not that big one. And they would be coming any minute…! [h3]Asura[/h3][@Kazemitsu] While practicing his abilities was all well and good, would Asura notice the creatures getting closer to their little gathering? And could he hear Ash’s plan? "Slimes. Ardur." She hissed quietly over to her new compatriots, skittering closer to them so they could hear her but still keep her voice low. "You three get out of here. Fighting that big Goblin is going to be suicide." She turned her head quickly to the other lizards. "The three of us will distract them for only a few moments. We'll meet up again later, further from the bonfire. I have things I'd like to discuss about all of us." With that said, it was now up to Asura to decide what he would do, but he had better make that decision quick, as one of the lizards had already chosen to engage…! [h3]Jason[/h3][@Guy0fV4lor] "Slimes. Ardur." One of the lizards was hissing at him and Asura, skittering closer to them so they could hear her but still keep her voice low. "You three get out of here. Fighting that big Goblin is going to be suicide." She turned her head quickly to the other lizards. "The three of us will distract them for only a few moments. We'll meet up again later, further from the bonfire. I have things I'd like to discuss about all of us." His fellow slime--his brother actually, though whether or not he had realized they had both split from the same motherly mass had yet to be seen--was apparently practicing some kind of attack on a rock. Had he even noticed yet that they were apparently being hunted? Whatever they were going to do about this situation, it would need to be done fast…! [hr] [h2][b]The Exit[/b][/h2] [@Duoya] [hr] [h3]Puck[/h3][@Gobby] It turned out, in fact, that both of the goblins [i]were[/i] dead, either crushed under the weight of the rocks or impaled by the sharp points of falling stalactites. [quote=System:Puck] The bodies are carrying the following loot: 1 Sharp Stick (Unequippable) 1 Sharp Stick (Unequippable) 1 Healing Herb (Half-eaten) 1 ??? Hide [/quote] However, though the guards were taken care of, there was now another obstacle in Puck’s way. The cave’s exit had not been entirely blocked off, but it had been made much less stable. There were still holes here and there, near the top, betwixt the rubble that a small creature might be able to fit through. But the rocks didn’t look at all settled--just one wrong move, one slip up, might cause them to fall on him again, or close up around him. In addition to this, the [b][u]light from outside was starting to disappear[/u][/b], making it even harder to see and even riskier to try and navigate the pile of stones. As Puck waited, it felt like his MP [i]was[/i] slowly going back up...but it was [i]very[/i] slow. If he couldn’t find a crystal, he might need to take an extended rest of some sort. Keeping himself moving was a good way to keep himself from falling asleep, since he might possibly have a concussion, but he certainly couldn’t take a breather while doing that… As the red rays of what must have been sunset bled through the rocks, one of the newly revealed rock layers nearby glimmered [color=green]with something new[/color]... [hr] [h2][b]Elsewhere[/b][/h2] [hr] [h3]Digbie[/h3][@Gardevoiran] By the grace of the Demon King, or just pure dumb luck, Digbie’s throw hit home! The stone spike speared the slime all the way through! It gave a loud squeal mixed with the sound of a balloon that has been let go as its flight came to halt. When the Wisp crashed into it, she “popped” it, and now found herself covered in rapidly melting goo as the creature lost whatever consistency usually held it together. They had done it! Working together, this unlikely party had defeated their opponent--and although they were all beginner monsters, this seemed like a rather notable feat. Slimes, after all, had been the “toughest” of the monsters according to the information the Demon King had given them. It probably wasn’t easy to take them down. So with his newfound experiences, and possibly allies, what would Digbie do next? [h3]Oberon[/h3][@King Cosmos] For the first time, Jacob realized he might not be alone in his predicament. Could this Wisp be like him? Born on Earth, dead, and then reborn in this new world with all its odd creatures and strange rules? Could she tell him any way to get by, or any new information that might help him towards his goals? Were they the only two? What were the chances of the others all being in this same cave? The only way to find out would be to ask Mourningstar, who conveniently hadn’t flown away yet as she was covered in goop from the Slime they had just killed. Had [i]it[/i] been a former human as well? [h3]Mourningstar[/h3][@floodtalon] Luckily, the stone spike killed the slime before she ever made contact with it. Unluckily, dead slimes apparently could not retain their shape. As the Wisp crashed into it, she found herself covered in quickly melting goop that dripped all over her body and soaked through the odd, filament-like fur she was covered in under the glowing lights. And now the Pixie was speaking to her. “W-wait. Are you from Earth? Hey!” he called, as he zoomed up to her in the puddle of slime.