Fortunately for Orchid the little lizard was easy to scare away. While she has no doubts she could kill it, fighting was the last thing on her mind right now. She just wanted to get out of here and form all of this madness. As she approached Orchid spotted a rather strange looking egg, or something like it, just on the ground. [color=firebrick]"Did a lizard lay this egg? I think reptiles lay eggs...."[/color] Orchid was about to go check it out when suddenly it hatched. She put her shield in front of her and got ready for a fight, only to see what was inside was [i]not[/i] a mere lizard. But some sort of tiny-sized dragon. Was this the same one that Orchid was looking for? Yes, yes she was. Apparently her name was Ash. Made Orchid remember she never told the lizard her name. She also deduced that Orchid was also formerly human, which the goblin nodded towards. [color=firebrick]"My name is Orchid. Formerly human... I think we all were once human in this cave. Some of us become monsters more easily than others."[/color] She says as she motions down the cave where the sound of fighting could vaguely be heard. Also turns out that lizard was Ash's pet. Orchid couldn't really feel any regret about that; she was frankly tired of all of this fighting and just wanted to build, dammit. Still she at least tried to say something. [color=firebrick]"Sorry. It's been... Harrowing. I don't trust the goblins anymore than anyone else here, but to just attack them entirely... Ugh. At this point I don't even care what happens to them anymore."[/color] It was then that Orchid received some system messages, one telling her about her leveling up and another regarding some change to the environment. [color=firebrick]"What the hell?"[/color] [hider=System Message] [quote=System:Orchid] LEVEL UP! Though you fled, in the end you survived dangerous trials! Your learning and battle experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 4! You gain Skill points to distribute as you please! Unspent Skill Points: [color=red]7[/color] Current Skills: Use Light Equipment (--) Pacify Animal I (1.1) Stronger I (1.4) Crafting IV (4.1) Material Analysis I (1.6) Monster Analysis I (1.25) Smash I (1.2) Charisma I (1.05) Muffle (0.8) Deception (0.6) Charm (0.3) Alert (0.2) Stone Shot (0.3) Slash (0.3) Warcry (0.4) Pierce Resistance (0.4) Blunt Resistance (0.1) Blood Drain (0.3) Taboo (0.6) Skewer (0.3) Mental Resistance (0.1) Fireball (0.2) Mana Orb (0.2) Focus (0.2) Magic Analysis (0.1) Faster (0.4) Overwork (0.1) Intercept (0.2) Defender (0.2) Rabid Fit (0.2) First Aid (0.1) Intimidate (0.1) Counter (0.1) Shield Slam (0.1) [/quote] [quote=SYSTEM] EVENTS HAVE ALTERED THE COURSE OF NATURE. SHIFT IN AMBIENT MANA DETECTED. MANA CONCENTRATION LEVELS TEMPORARILY RISING. ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS HAVE BEEN ALTERED. A DUNGEON CORE HAS FORMED. ASSIMILATION RATE INCREASED TO 0.1%. DUNGEON PRIMARY ELEMENT: [COLOR=GOLD]EARTH.[/COLOR] DUNGEON SECONDARY ELEMENT:[COLOR=BLACK]DEATH.[/COLOR]. OTHER PRESENT ELEMENTS IN ORDER OF CONCENTRATION: [COLOR=GREEN]NATURE.[/COLOR][COLOR=LIGHTBLUE]ENERGY[/COLOR]. [COLOR=BLUE]WATER[/COLOR]. DUE TO THE ALTERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS, INHABITANTS OF THE DUNGEON MAY EXPERIENCE VARIOUS EFFECTS. DUNGEON FORMATION COMPLETED: [color=purple]THE OTHERWORLDLY CAVERN[/color] [/quote] [/hider] Orchid gave a quick look through the skills available, her skill points, and weighed her options. She wanted to learn fireball but frankly even if she poured all of her skill points into it, she won't be able to use it immediately if she needed to hit a 1 at the very least. There were other skills she could level up instead, simple but useful. But she needed something new. Something different. Something unexpected. So she put four points into [b]Taboo[/b] and the rest of the three into Fireball. Next time she levels up perhaps she could put the rest of her points into it, but right now she needed a new ability. She just hoped Taboo was a good one. Aside from that, there was also some sort of change in the environment. It didn't sound like it was a major change, but she didn't like how [i]Death[/i] became a secondary element. She didn't need to know much about to this world to wonder if zombies were going to start popping up, which they no doubt will considering how many dead bodies were around here. Ash wanted to leave. [color=firebrick]"Same. From what I've been told, there are holes around here that are large enough to provide both illumination and ventilation in this cave. I doubt we can just go out from the cave's main entrance, we'll either run into other humans or the goblins, so we'll have to go through those holes."[/color] Orchid raised her torch into the air to see if there was any holes here they could use to climb out of. As she did so Orchid did have a few suggestions and warnings. [color=firebrick]"The things outside of this cave is stronger than the other monsters. Big animals with tougher hides and deadlier weapons. But unlike this cave, plenty of material for me to work with. I... I have a few goblins that I think might be loyal to me. Maybe with your help, I could convince them that we can all leave this cave. Maybe even seal it to keep those other pesky warmongers out of our hair."[/color] Orchid was mostly saying this out of spite, so she shook that thought aside. [color=firebrick]"But we don't need to risk it if you don't want to. More cooks spoil the soup after all. In any case it looks like you have wings. Can you fly? Hold a torch too?"[/color] [hider=Stats/Inventory] Health - Mostly Full Magic - Full Stamina - Mostly Full Skills - Use Light Equipment (--) Pacify Animal I (1.0) Stronger I (1.4) Crafting IV (4) Material Analysis I (1.15) Monster Analysis I (1.0) Smash I (1.0) Inventory - Raw Dire Rat Hide (Equipped) Loincloth (Equipped) Stone Spiked Club (Good) (Stored) Wicker Shield (Well Made) (Equipped) Torch (Equipped) Plant Fiber Sling (Loaded) (Equipped) Rawhide Bag (8/12) (Equipped) [list][*]Hard Stones x2 [*]Antidote Fern [*]Fiber Cordage (Average) [*]Bloody Garrote[/list] Leaf Sling Bag (1/3) (Equipped to Rawhide Bag) [list][*]Sling Stones x4 [/list] [/hider]