[h3]Ash, Digbie, Mourningstar, Oberon, Torrent[/h3]
[quote=System:Oberon]
You used Magic Analysis III! You used Monster Analysis I!
---(Self)---
You are a Sprite. A highly territorial, but otherwise relatively friendly type of creature. Quite similar to Pixies at first glance, they are much more empathetic and even altruistic than other types of Fey. Unless an enemy presents a threat to their homes and families, they often prefer to flee rather than fight, but if something enters their nesting area they are known to swarm much like wasps. However, you have not felt compelled to follow all of this behavior due to your unique circumstances. Sprites are aligned with the light element and their wings have scales similar to some types of moths. When these scales fall they sometimes glitter, and the Sprite's body is often covered with them. You know that you possess the spells and magically oriented skills, Minor Heal II (2.65), Shield III (3.325), Magic Analysis III (3.675), Mana Orb I (1.3), Mana Shape I (1.1), Lesser Status Heal I (1.2), Mana Dart (1.3), and Meditation I (1.15). You know that you are developing the spells and magically oriented skills Focus (0.6), Mental Resistance (0.4), Wall (0.1), Minor Regeneration (0.6), Charisma (0.9), Spiritual Awareness (0.4), Minor Heal All (0.5), and Light Affinity (0.5). Recently you have begun developing the skill Fire Resistance (0.2) after healing from damage. Recently you have begun developing the skill Gather Light (0.3).
---Crispy---
This is Crispy, an Adult Male Goblin with a Flame-Touched variance. Goblins stand between three and three-and-a-half feet tall on average, and they are much like human children. However, their natural cunning and viciousness is far more vile. They tend to form savage tribes with little in common save for the constant drive to survive. Crispy is longer lived and more accomplished than most Goblins. You know he possess the Fireball spell at at least Rank II, and that he has a higher level of Fire Resistance. He has a couple of other magically oriented skills and is developing at least one more. His MP is lower than yours but higher than all the other Goblins you've seen.
---Orchid---
This is Orchid, an Immature Female Goblin. Goblins stand between three and three-and-a-half feet tall on average, and they are much like human children. However, their natural cunning and viciousness is far more vile. They tend to form savage tribes with little in common save for the constant drive to survive. You know Orchid is an avid crafter, but she currently has no magical spells. However, she is developing a large number of spells and magically oriented skills. Her MP is average for a Goblin, and is lower than your own at full strength. [color=red]There is something off about her that you can't quite put your finger on...[/color]
---Analysis Complete!---
[/quote]
With the other goblins distracted by the declaration of a duel, and some commotion happening up in the cave, now was the perfect time to get away from all of this chaos. As the Pygmy Drake, Goblin, Sprite, and Lesserwurm headed into the woods, they made use of Oberon's observations from earlier. The smoke coming from the distant east likely meant some form of camp, or maybe the group had overheard the other goblins talking about the human farm. So they headed north, into the deeper woods...

Almost immediately after passing the treeline, they would see a [b]couple of Kele shoots[/b] in the shadows of the trees. A few more steps, and a bush full of [b]Blue Argeps[/b] came into view. Near this bush was also a pair of odd looking [b]purple, waxy ferns[/b]. And, at quite some distance even given the fact that it had to be thrown by the explosion, they found a piece of the deadly Flak Beetle. One of its [b]sharp mandibles[/b] had snapped off, easily four to five inches in length and still quite keen.

As they progressed further, it seemed that the explosion--and perhaps all the noise the goblins had been making--had driven some of the forest creatures away. Wild animals, even predators, often avoided loud noises. After all, trouble was danger to prey, but annoying to those trying to catch the prey. Some [b]wide footprints[/b] near a shallow puddle from last night's rain could be seen heading off into the bushes somewhere. But the prints were spaced oddly, four of them in a perfect formation with each other, then again several feet away with no other prints in between. The back prints were larger--and looked like they had dug in deeper than the front. There was also a slight trace of slime around these tracks, as if whatever the creature was it had a sheen of sweat all over it. Another set of footprints looked like cloven hooves, and rather large ones at that.

Stuck on a bush nearby these prints was a [b]tuft of stiff, black fur[/b]. It was no more than a handful, simply snagged on the branch as the creature no doubt rushed away from that loud boom. Still, it might make someone in the group sneeze, much like pet dandruff.

Still further the group went, passing by a [b]large Topapo bush[/b]. There was also a broken piece of something that might have been a horn or spike, and the grass around it looked like some kind of chemical had killed it judging from its discoloration. After several minutes, it seemed they were getting out of the territory usually roamed by the Goblins. The trees stopped showing the signs of greenskin hacking and sawing, the ground stopped showing goblin tracks or hunting trails, and the plantlife grew thicker. Or at least, it grew more fully. While the Goblins had probably been picking various things in the immediate vicinity of the cave for some time, they had also been cutting trees. As Ash, Digbie, Oberon, and Torrent went further away they could see that this part of the forest had been left to its own. The trees had grown larger, without their branches being pruned away, and thus the canopy turned thicker. Without as much light reaching the forest floor, smaller bushes and thickets began to die back--but every so often a plant would find purchase under a shaft of sunlight, and with little competition it grew lush and hearty. The terrain became more uneven, however, as despite the forest floor being flat the roots of trees were spread across it like entangled spiderwebs. If the group weren't careful they could easily trip here--if they had to run from something they might be at a disadvantage.

But they didn't stop here; they wanted to find their own place, far, far away from all the stupidity they had dealt with thus far. And even if this was far enough, the ground between the trees was too open. They would need someplace to build or expand upon a shelter.

At one point they passed through a small natural clearing--barely large enough for something like a deer to bed down. In fact, judging by the way the sparse grass laid over and some dried out droppings nearby, that might actually be was this was. Still, as they passed through this open space, Ash and Oberon would feel a tingle at the back of their necks. If they paid attention to the subconscious alert, they might notice a shadow of something watching them from the branches of a nearby tree...but watching was all it did. That might have been a furry tail hanging down from the branch...or perhaps a serpentine body...or maybe it was just a trick of the light. If they looked directly, there was nothing there at all...

Three of the four group members were evolved, and they were obviously moving as a group. This, too, would dissuade predators as the unusual assembly of creatures wouldn't be easy prey even if they were alone. For a while they didn't see any new tracks, but they would soon pass another [b]Blue Argep[/b] bush.

Then, without warning, it appeared!

Ash and Oberon's alert would only trigger at the last moment. By the time they looked up, it was already moving. The others would barely be in time to catch a glimpse as it leaped. It had a deer's shape, but its fur was a grayish blue the color of twilight mist. Its hindquarters were speckled with darker spots of green and a dash of black. Its horns had an elegant curve, almost like looking at a recurve bow drawn to full tension across its skull, but they had only four points--two near the "middle" on either side of the skull, and the other two at each tip.

The deer leaped away, and despite an initial crash its flight went silent. Such a creature would no doubt be far faster and more adept at moving silently through this habitat. The only trace it left behind was a handful of [b]fur[/b] from where it had been scratching its backside against a tree.

Though they might like to bask in the majesty for a moment, soon everyone would probably decide to move on again.

They came to a creek bed now, and it seemed to be running from west to east. It likely came down out of the mountains, and at the moment it was merely a babbling brook. Again it had probably been filled a bit by last night's rain, but it looked like even in the wet season this body of water wouldn't have been more than ankle-deep for the average human. It had been running through these woods for so long that a few tree roots crossed it like miniature foot bridges, and here and there fallen straw and leaves were enough to dam it up. 

From further down the creek, they would hear them before they saw them. Loud, gargling croaks--like an old man spitting up phlegm right after he wakes up in the morning. Two frogs--their bodies glistening like wet latex in a forest-green hue--sat on the bank of the creek. Their huge yellow eyes--made to appear even larger by the black eyespots on each side of their heads--blinked slowly with three eyelids at the four approaching monsters. These frogs had oddly round bodies, and their skin had a texture that reminded one of those distinct dodge balls from an elementary school gym class. What was more, they were the size of watermelons even without counting their beefy rear legs and sturdy forelimbs! They kept their feet tightly together underneath them, though obviously most of their weight sat towards the back.

The frogs croaked again as the group got closer to the creek, but otherwise made no move.

Just on the other side of the creek, nestled under a large tree, was a deep burrow of some sort. But even before they finished crossing the water, the group would hear a low, rumbling growl come from that burrow. Nothing came out of it to attack them, but it was clear whatever was in there was territorial. Still...they could probably pass by it or make a roundabout, as long as they were careful and didn't act in an overly threatening manner...

But then again, that burrow might make an excellent hideaway...

They had plenty of options. They might even head up the creek, towards the mountains, or keep heading deeper into the woods. Or they could go east, and see where the creek led. Or, if Oberon or Ash were to fly or climb up another tree, they might be able to get a further understanding of their environment...
[h3]Danny[/h3]
As Danny remained somewhat hidden, he soon didn't have to worry about making too much effort to conceal himself. The Goblins were completely immersed in the duel about to begin between the female and their current leader. So far it seemed like the leader hadn't thrown any fireballs, but he would probably see Torrent start to charge one up before cancelling it and leaving with the others.

[quote=System:Danny]
You used Monster Analysis II!
---Female Immature Goblin---
Goblins stand between three and three-and-a-half feet tall on average, and they are much like human children. However, their natural cunning and viciousness is far more vile. They tend to form savage tribes with little in common save for the constant drive to survive. This one seems to be an avid crafter. [color=red]This Goblin is unusual. There is something off about her that you can't quite put your finger on...[/color]
---Analysis Complete!---
[/quote]