[h3]Ash’s Party[/h3]
The first Dire Rat that Ash attacked squeaked in alarm as her fangs sank into the scruff of its neck. It struggled as she dragged it back--it didn't seem to have taken a large enough dose of the paralytic venom thanks to its thick fur, but Ash could taste blood. Nonetheless it managed to get away from her with its thrashing, but she had accomplished her goal of getting Colchain free. Danny darted in, and the air took on a soft glow much like his body as he focused his Lesser Force into a distinct blow, jabbing the same rat in the eye as it tried to back away from Ash. Again it squealed in pain, now with one eye closed and already beginning to bruise. 

A glowing aura surrounded Colchain, who hissed in confusion as Scott's shield settled on him. When he realized it didn't hurt, however, the wild lizard turned his attention back to his enemies. He lobbed a ball of Poison Spit at the other two Dire Rats before they could assist their packmate, and they scattered to get away from the acid.

Just as the blinded rat seemed to get its composure back, Ardur came diving out of the sky with one glowing fist. With this much momentum, the added protection to his bulked up fist, and his choice of one of the most sensitive targets on the rat's body, this blow was tremendous. Already damaged, the rat couldn't recover in time to brace itself--with a meaty crack Ardur's punch struck it at the base of the ear, and this weaker point of its skull fractured under the force. As it spun around and collapsed to the ground the Rat's eyes glossed over, blood trickling out of its ear as it twitched its last.

Naji took to the skies to avoid the fight entirely, but as the remaining two rats tried to refocus their efforts on Colchain the pixie intervened. With a spin like an Olympic hammer thrower he let the goblin eye fly. Though it was made of squishy bits, it was still the size of a large marble, and it surprised one rat as it struck the beast in the side. The creature rolled over, but before it could come back to its feet Colchain lunged on top of it, snapping his fangs. At the same time, however, he once again exposed his back to the second Dire Rat, which wasted no time in leaping through the air at him...

In the distance something rumbled loudly...
[hr]
[h3]Bonfire Party[/h3]
[quote=System:Mourningstar]
You used Magic Analysis II!
Effectiveness at 100%
---Telepathy---
This skill seems to channel the user's thoughts to you somehow. It seems that it only works with physical contact. It seems simplified thoughts or emotions work best. It doesn't seem like you could communicate two ways through it. It does seem to take a fair bit of MP to work.
---Analysis Complete---
[/quote]

As Mourningstar fired her Mana Slice, the crescent wave whistled through the air faster than a Mana Orb. The three lizards had barely finished their first attack when the spell struck the first of them, leaving a deep wound just like it had been slashed across its back with a sword. The creature hissed and writhed in pain as blood spattered the rocks, but it wasn't quite dead yet. The other two realized that they, too, were under attack, and the group began to spread out--but just as they separated, a large rapidly moving mass of fur hurtled over the edge of the hole at them. Mother Rat immediately went for the weaker target, seizing the wounded lizard by a foreleg with her fangs and jerking hard enough to flip it over. As its injured back struck the ground it snapped its jaws, but caught only air before the big Dire Rat sank her teeth into its throat next.

The second lizard turned towards the big rat with a hiss, but then an even faster blur raced up out of the stash hole. Asteria not only lunged, but actually used her new-found dexterity to get a grapple on the lizard, forcing it to the ground. Its shorter legs couldn't push up against her entire body weight on top of its head, and it didn't have enough leverage to try and roll or to reach her with its fangs. She tore strips of flesh out of the back of its head and neck, causing it to hiss and thrash in agony--but before the arterial spray from its throat bled it out, the creature managed to get out a spurt of its acidic spit. The blob struck Asteria in the belly, pushing her off the dying lizard. And as the acid burned into her skin, she felt a sudden wave of nausea. At the same time as the burning, she also felt a cold clamminess spread over her skin.

[quote=System:Asteria]
You have been Poisoned! You are taking periodic damage!
[/quote]

With two lizards dead it didn't seem like the third one would have any chance. The creature looked like it might have fled if given the chance, but just then a terrifying roar reached the group. Every head, including the lizard's, turned toward Jason as he screamed like someone caught up in a fit. The lizard hissed on reflex, a threat display towards something that scared it--but that didn't stop the Slime's spell from piercing it underneath, the rock spire puncturing its soft belly and skewering it a few inches above the ground as it rose upward.

With this first threat handled, Oberon cast Minor Heal on Jason. The healing spell didn't completely restore the slime on the first go, but Jason would feel a distinct comfort and lessening of the pain around the place where he had exploded. As Oberon analyzed his own spell mid-cast, he felt his MP drain a little more than usual, likely from the fact that his Analysis skill had become more powerful.
[quote=System:Oberon]
You used Magic Analysis III!
This is a Monster. Effectiveness reduced to 30%.
---Slime---
Slimes are capable of magic but most do not possess it naturally. They are more suited for physically manipulating their bodies. [color=red]This one is unusual[/color]. This Slime has a few magical skills. This Slime's magic is mostly attuned towards the Earth element.

You used Magic Analysis III!
This is your own spell, which you know well. Effectiveness boosted past 100%.
---Minor Heal I---
The first rank of the Minor Heal spell. The most basic of healing spells. In most cases, only surface level wounds are affected. Cannot cure diseases. Will accelerate certain conditions such as malignant tumors. This magic is of the Nature Element, as a function of natural life force and biology. It can only be cast on a single target at a time. It can be cast at range, but the target must be within sight and near enough that the caster can distinctly make out their wounds.
[/quote]

With multiple casts, Jason was restored to Full HP, but Oberon found himself Out of MP, as the System informed them both. 

Meanwhile, in the tunnel, Asura took to his usual strategy of waiting until the Rat lunged at him and then Smashed it with all his strength. The counterblow must have broken a rib or two, as the creature's squeak was cut off by all the breath being driven out of its body with a loud snap. It fell to the floor of the cave, struggling to get up as it panted noiselessly. 

But rather than finish it off, or indeed even react to the attack at all, Digbie simply kept digging. He at least used his Tremor Sense to keep track of vibrations around him--but there was a problem with that. Because of all the ruckus going on both inside the tunnel and out in the rest of the cave, the goblin found himself experiencing something much like radio static with too many tremors coming from too many directions to make anything out with clarity. So he was forced to rely only on his ears and peripheral vision to detect something angry and furry coming at him.

The second Dire Rat sank its teeth into Digbie's green buttocks, drawing blood before getting a grip on his loincloth with its claws and beginning to rip and tear!
[hr]
[h3]Goblin Party[/h3]
[quote=System:Orchid]
You used Material Analysis I!
Effectiveness at 100%.
---Huge Leaf---
This is a very large leaf from a ???. It seems to be a mundane plant structure used for photosynthesis. It is Fibrous, Organic, Flammable, Fragile, and Water Absorbant. It is of Excellent Quality.
---Antidote Fern---
This purple fern contains a natural antibiotic chemical and also promotes the immune system, making it useful for fighting off certain sickness-inducing status effects. It is Fibrous, Organic, Flammable, Fragile, Water Absorbant, and Waxy. It is of High Quality.
---Blood Snare Vine---
A thick red vine from a Blood Snare plant. When exposed to fresh blood, tissues under the outer layer of the vine contract similarly to muscles. The original plant most likely uses this to constrain creatures for some purpose. It is Fibrous, Elastic, Tough, Organic, Flammable, and Water Absorbant. It is of Excellent Quality.
---Bowhorn Antler---
This is a horn from a ???. Despite being an antler grown naturally from a creature's body and having blood vessels inside it, it has more similarities to high quality wood from something like a hardwood sapling. It has an excellent blend of toughness and flexibility. It is Hard, Flexible, Sturdy, Waxy, Organic, and Solid, and has Low Sharpness. It is of Average Quality.
---Analysis Complete!---
[/quote]

Shortly after her analysis was complete Orchid noticed the female goblin trying to take part of her stash--and reacted in a way that not even these primitive creatures had truly expected. True, when she grabbed the female by the throat the three males looked on with interest, wondering if they were going to see dominance established in a manner similar to Rattleskull and Crispy's usual methods. Then Orchid planted a violent liplock on her opponent. Gob Boy #1's jaw dropped, Gob Boy #2's eyes bulged out of his head, and Gob Boy #3 slapped his hands to either side of his head with an exclamation that summed up the entireity of a truly groundbreaking discovery. 

"GIRLS CAN KISS GIRLS?!"

The female goblin was equally stunned, but she still managed to snarl and started to raise one of her pilfered rocks--until Orchid put that trench club under her chin.

Orchid's threats were more of the Goblins' usual speed, though delivered with far more eloquence and precision. The female's expression remained angry, but it was clear her resolve was wavering. She trembled as Orchid described her foe's evisceration and humiliation. Finally the female threw down the rock and backed away.

"Fine! Didn't want none of your stupid stuff anyway! I'm not scared--Gonna get my own better stuff!" She turned away and headed out towards the woods, calling one last time over her shoulder. "Don't need you to teach nothin' neither! Not dumb like those three dumbs!" She stomped away, tiny green fists clenched.

The three other goblins watched her go, then turned back to Orchid. They took note of her shield and club now that the drama was over.

"Hey, dat almost look like Venture stuff! You really make dat?" said one, eyeing Orchid carefully as he tentatively reached out to touch her Wicker Shield.

"Where you learn do dat?" said the second, scratching his head. "And...ain't youse one of the younglings?"

The third simply stood there, slowly shaking his head back and forth.

"Girls can kiss girls...?"

Crispy had completed making several torches, and now had found a Hard Stone that he was using to sharpen a Sharp Stone even further. Once the sharp stone actually had an edge on it sharp enough to even split a blade of grass that was dropped on it, he began wrapping vines around the end of it to give himself a stable grip--though it was still primitive, it was clearly a step above a Sharp Stone, a Stone Knife. Another goblin, at the firecaster's demand, had brought him another Healing Herb from the goblins' limited supplies. Using it as a fresh bandage over his eye, it seemed like he was starting to regain some of his sight.

Meanwhile Rattleskull had completed a second weapon, a Wooden Spear of longer length and greater sharpness than the usual plain Sharp Sticks. He handed it to a goblin that looked a little older than most, though not so much as Crispy and Rattleskull himself. The goblin had broader shoulders than some of the others, evidence that he must have been a fairly accomplished warrior. Rattleskull began to coach him on using the spear, and though the furry monster boss didn't seem anything like a true arms master, he at least seemed to have enough experience to know that holding the spear down towards the base, along the first third of its length, allowed one to use greater leverage and get more thrust into their attacks.
[hr]
[h3]Rain[/h3]
As the curious goblin approached, he bent down on his knees to see what the blue thing under the rock had been. That was when Rain came over the rock and lunged at the exposed back of his neck. The green humanoid never managed to cry out before she had a vice like grip on his throat with her fangs, and her paralytic venom quickly took effect. He seized up in something like a fetal position, though his eyes were wide and twitching with fear.

However, a second goblin happened to see one of his compatriats huddled down on the ground like a dummy while all the rest of the tribe were working on weapons and preparations. Seeing an opportunity to show off his own dominance, he headed towards the downed goblin.

"Oi, you dumb, what you doin' over here...?!" he began to call out...