[h3]Ardur, Asteria, Asura, Danny, Jason, Mother Slime[/h3] While Asura responded to Ardur's words, Jason scarfed down his last Healing Herb and was restored to full HP. Seeing this Asura immediately shoved past the Pixie, his rage and his stamina both reaching a breaking point as his gooey body tensed for a blow--! [quote=System:Asura] Skill Gain: Rabit Fit I! Fly into a mindless rage, and destroy the enemy! A sudden burst of fury grants you increased strength and damage, but you’ll become more vulnerable to damage yourself. Skill Rank Up: Smash I > Smash II! Damage buff increased. Stamina drain increased. Using a non-blunt type attack can now trigger this skill, but its power will be halved. Skill Synergy: Rabit Fit I, Overwork I, Smash II. Your attack's power is vastly increased! [/quote] Jason barely had time to activate his Bounce skill, but activate it he did. It could not, however, stop him from taking the damage--merely allow him to return it in equal measure. And that was only after the damage he [i]received[/i] had been taken into account--ironically, his Physical Damage Resistance and higher defensive stats meant that this output was lower than normal for a slime. From full health, Jason went right back into the Warning zone--and it seemed he was even worse off this time than before. But Asura also took the blow, being bowled back so far he almost went out of the little arena. Thanks to having Blunt Resistance on top of Physical Damage Resistance, he didn't take it quite as hard as Jason did--but given his current condition that wasn't much of an advantage... [quote=System:Jason] [color=red]WARNING! YOUR HP IS LOW! YOU ARE EXPERIENCING HP DRAIN! YOU HAVE ONE HIT POINT REMAINING, YOU ARE DYING![/color] [/quote] [quote=System:Asura] [color=red]WARNING! YOUR HP IS LOW! You are experiencing HP Drain, you must rest to recover Stamina.[/color] [/quote] When she saw Asura fly backwards, Mother Slime gurgled something high pitched and rolled towards him, and under her membrane one of the Healing Herbs he had given her started to float up. Meanwhile, Jason "chugged" the Mana Crystals Danny had thrown him, and began his most ambitious chant yet...but something was wrong. Those runic letters, all scrambled and flickering, did not seem right. The sigils weren't forming in the different quadrants of the diagram, and the lines bisecting it weren't the right length or angles compared to his past performances... Ardur flew up to the ceiling, finding two clusters of Crystals that would let him gather about four of them total. But before he could refill himself to cast a healing spell--on one or the other--Jason plunged a sharp stone into his own body. [quote=System:Jason] [color=red]YOU HAVE NO HP REMAINING. YOU ARE DEAD.[/color] [/quote] The spell exploded in a bright, violet flash of light that crackled with static and sounded like a warped and distorted dial tone. Jason's body, pierced and slowly losing its color, deflated. As his membrane gave way, his acidic innards spread over the rocks, seeping down between the cracks. As Danny drifted down in stunned silence, he saw for certain that the Slime Mage was dead. He picked up the Source Crystal, still as green and bright as ever. But the Fanged Lizards remained. Eyes set on the weakened Asura, they launched two more globs of Poison Spit at him while he was down... [hr] [h3]Jason, ???[/h3] [quote=D3W0ZK1ZG:Jason] [color=red]Ooooh, and we have the first one to bite the dust. But honestly, kind of impressed. I thought like five of you would've bitten it by now, and only two have even come close. Well. One came close. You went all the way.[/color] [/quote] Time seemed frozen, and all the color had drained from the world. Jason was still "lying" there on the cave floor, seeing everyone around him frozen as they had been at the moment of hid demise. When he rolled upward, he felt the coldest blast of wind he had ever felt, and saw thin streamers of something misty white. It was him. As if it were blowing away the last vestiges of his form. Something darker than black crouched over his shoulder. He could hear the grin in its voice. [quote=DE3ONKHN6:Jason] [color=red]Lucky for you, despite not having a [i]stupid fucking cheat[/i] like Save Point or Time Rewind or Revival Mode, this world is still quite generous if you meet the right conditions. But just keep in mind...Coming back to life doesn't always mean, well, coming back to life...[/color] [/quote] The presence was gone. All that was left, in the distance, was a glowing red light...No, not quite true. Jason could hear them now. The screams. The howls and roars of things all around him. In every direction, white mist the surged and roiled as if on the crests of stormy waves. Every so often, out of that mist, he thought he could pick out a shape. Shapes much like the various creatures he had already seen in the cave. "So ya weren't no Slime afta all, eh "Boss?" Keeheehee." laughed a mocking voice. Something tapped the gray stone floor, and the echo spread as if they were in the greatest ampitheater. "Tell me now...what cola be ya world?" Walking towards Jason, from the direction of the entrance, was a misty white figure. As he looked at it, it became more solid. It was Y'tahl--no, this skeleton still had all of her flesh. Her very, very old flesh. And despite the white mist, it did seem there was a tinge of green to it--the only color Jason had seen thus far in this grayscale world. The female goblin wore a toga of sorts that looked to have been made from Dire Rat pelts. She held a staff of gnarled wood, with disassembled Pixie bones tied to the end of it that jangled like bell chimes. Painted marks, glowing bright white as if under some kind of luminescent scanner, marked her face and arms. Her ears were pierced with the fangs from a Lizard, and only one hand, the one not holding her staff, had long disgustingly sharp fingernails. "Surely ya not so weak in da head ya cannot hear." She repeated herself, tapping the staff again. "Tell Bonie Bitz, WHAT COLAS DO YA SEE?" The red light in the distance beckoned to Jason like a lighthouse. [hr] [h3]Ash, Digbie, Mourningstar, Oberon, Reoth, Torrent[/h3] As the group discussed their goals and then set about their various tasks, the morning sun had risen fully and its bright rays were warm and cheery. They seemed to have been considerably lucky thus far...or perhaps the cave really was just an awful environment to be reborn in. As they went their separate ways however, they would be taking significantly more risks that a monster in the forest might see them as vulnerable enough to prey upon... About midmorning (if any of them could tell time solely by the sun, they might judge it to be around 10 AM or so), they got started in earnest. Ash, Oberon, and Mourningstar left to forage in different directions. The construction of their base in the side of the hill would be left to Digbie and Torrent. The Lesserwurm could dig much more quickly through loose soil, but unless she took the time to properly pack the tunnel along her sides as she went it would very easily collapse behind her, like a mole run rather than a true burrow. Digbie could move harder soils, easily scooping out bits of rock or root, and his digging didn't seem to collapse quite so readily, but in terms of distance he couldn't go quite so far so fast. Together, however, the two of them were eventually able to work out a rhythm and a method, and set to work. The plan was to create a central room and entrance with a fire pit, and then make smaller tunnels branching off from that like spokes on a wheel. At the ends of these tunnels they would enlarge them into rooms, smaller than the central chamber but enough that each member of the party would have a comfortable place to store their own things, have some privacy, and so forth. The cave would need to be at least three and a half feet high, by a (granted, very inexperienced) reckoning. Digbie would have to hunch somewhat to get in, but trying to make the cave match his own height would be more work and probably would need more support for the ceilings and walls. It would also need to be at least two and a half feet wide, so that they could comfortably move in the tunnels without having to go everywhere single-file. As for the length, they only had so much hill to work with, and the further they went again the more supports they would need. While they were digging, Ash stayed relatively close to the construction site. Ranging in a circle around the area, she searched for various edibles and used all of her skills to analyze whatever she found--one part scientific investigation, one part ensuring nothing her party ate would kill them. The first thing she found, just across the creek and to the south of the tunnel--near the top of the other hill--was a bush full of Argeps, however these were Green and not yet the ripe, tasty blues. She could see 15 bunches of the berries growing on the bush, however, and some of them were beginning to turn the deeper color of ripeness around their bottoms. In a day or so there might be some ready to pick and eat, but for now it might be better to leave them behind unless she wanted some solely for experimentation. Next she headed up the slopes of the mountains to the west, and as the trees began to thin out and the path became rockier, she found a patch of green shoots. If she dug into the ground, which was beginning to slant much more sharply, she would find a patch of Wild Kele--certainly edible, but much like eating a raw onion in terms of flavor. There were 23 shoots available in this patch, but considering the sizes of everyone in the party and how powerful the smell of the root bulbs were, they would probably only need two or three per person if they wanted to make some kind of dish with them. Torrent could create fire to cook with, after all. As she headed to the north, further upstream, Ash suddenly felt her Alert skill kick in. Using her own stealth skills, she carefully crept between the trees until she saw two Monsters fighting--a black cat with stiff, spiky fur on its head that made it look as if it were wearing a witch's hat, with its ears poking through the false brim, and a Rubber Frog. The cat had two differently colored eyes, one red and one orange, and looked to be stalking the unaware frog. When the cat had gotten quite close the frog seemed to pick up on its presence, but only turned to face it. Now that it knew the jig was up, the cat's red eye seemed to burst into black smoke--which then, without traveling between them, enveloped the frog as well! The frog immediately croaked and sucked in air. Its rubbery body expanded, from the size of a watermelon to the size of a monster truck's tire! The cat took a step back at this, hissing and yowling, then focused the other eye upon it. Ash had to fight back the urge to yawn all of a sudden, but the frog suddenly shook itself, then--while still inflated--turned and leaped an incredible distance. It almost seemed to fly up the mountainous slopes, heading for the edge of the trees at breakneck speed, with the cat in hot pursuit. The frog deflated a bit with each jump, but soon both forms grew smaller as they headed up into the rocks. Soon they were gone from sight. Continuing around, Ash came to the rear of their "base hill," and found another patch of Kele growing about 15 shoots. The trip around the eastern side of the hill was simply another pass through the area from which they'd already come, and she made it back to the dig site to check in on Digbie and Torrent before again heading out, this time deciding what to gather and bring back with her--honestly, not many options at this point. [quote=System:Ash] You used Alchemy II! You used Magic Analysis I! You used Monster Analysis I! This is a plant. You have analyzed this plant before. This item has no magical properties. This item is not a monster. Combined Skill Effectiveness at 60%. ---Green Argep--- Plant, Unripe, Berry. Crunchy Exterior, Low Hardness, Brittle. Low Sweetness. Acidic Juice, Tangy. Negligible Toxicity, Non-Harmful. Soft, Weak, Pulpy. No Magical Effects. Negligible Nature Mana. ---Analysis Complete!--- Skill Gain: Material Analysis I! You have developed an eye for determining the qualities of inorganic or non-living objects. At this rank, you will only be able to gain surface information about an object. When used in conjunction with a crafting skill, it may help discover more compatible items. You used Alchemy II! You used Magic Analysis I! You used Monster Analysis I! You used Material Analysis I! These targets have not been harvested, dissected, or otherwise broken down into useful components. One of these targets is magical in nature. Both of these targets are monsters. These targets have not been slain in order to convert them into Materials. You have analyzed a Material from one of these creatures before. You have analyzed one of these creatures before. Combined Skill Effectiveness is 90%. ---Hex Cat--- A cat of dark hues, with stiff fur atop its head that comes to a point. This fur, and the shape of its ears, give it the impression of wearing a witch's hat. While not highly intelligent, this feline has some native talent with magic. It's known as an unlucky omen among most races, and some say a Hex Cat looking through one's window can curse a child in the cradle with heterochromia. You saw it use a skill that seems to weaken an enemy, and attempt some sort of sedation or hypnosis skill. Both required eye contact but did not seem to cause direct damage. You suspect at least one of these skills was a Curse spell. The Hex Cat's fur is Fibrous, Organic, Flammable, Insulating, Fragile, Water Absorbant, and Waxy. Magic energy radiates from its body, especially its eyes. It seems like its fur might be highly reactive with other materials. Its flesh and bones don't seem different from other animals and thus might be useful as materials. ---Rubber Frog--- This frog's magical evolution certainly took an odd turn somewhere. The elasticity of its form, from its skin to its bones, is ridiculous. With a tongue that will stretch it has no trouble snagging flies, and it can expand its mouth wide enough to swallow many things whole. To intimidate predators it sometimes puffs itself up to enormous size. It has no magical abilities that you can tell. The Rubber Frog's hide retains its elasticity even after its death and after the hide dries. It is Extremely Elastic, Organic, Flame-resistant, Very Insulating, Slightly Durable, Water Repellant, Slippery, and Thick. It might be suitable for crafting. Its flesh and bones, aside from being rubbery, don't seem that different from other amphibians and thus might be useful as materials. ---Analysis Complete!--- [/quote] Oberon and Mourningstar had gone further afield, sweeping only a long arc back and forth in one direction of the camp. When they had gone out far enough they could no longer hear and see the construction going on back at the hill, they were suddenly forced to take cover--ahead of them, two other monsters were wandering. Mourningstar, of course, wanted to try and take out whoever won this fight in their weakened state. Oberon advised against such a course, as even with their analysis it wasn't quite clear how strong these monsters were or what abilities they might have, even if they didn't have magic. For the moment they waited to see what the outcome would be. A large badger, with thick armored plating over its hide and rough looking, spiky spurs growing from the shell around its forearms, seemed to be rooting around in the dirt without paying any attention to what was around it. A Rubber Frog, much like those they had seen out by the creek, simply sat on an old, rotten log, occaisonally ribbiting. Their observation skills told them the badger was a type of monster known as an Armored Badger, but its personality only became clear while they sat and watched. The badger blundered about, and finally bumped into the Rubber Frog's log. Sniffing at its bottom, it must have deduced that some grubs or mushroom it wanted grew under the dead wood, so with one claw it pushed at the thing. The frog, croaking in alarm, suddenly puffed up to the size of a monster truck tire! It almost seemed like it could eat the badger whole-- Armored Badger didn't care. With one bite the badger seized the frog's elastic hide, and the two observers could already see that they had pierced it deeply enough to draw blood. The frog squealed but the badger gave a violent heave and twist, dragging it off the log, then began to viciously shake the creature until-- The Rubber Frog "popped." Covered in gore, the badger nonchalantly held the frog's deflated remains between its claws and began to rip off strips of its hide to get at the flesh underneath. Mourningstar offered the idea of a tactical retreat, to bring back information to the others before dealing with this opponent at a later date, and Oberon agreed wholeheartedly. Further to the east of the hill, far enough out that the creek couldn't be seen anymore, they found two bushes laden with ripe Blue Argep berrries. It might be risky to come out this far in order to gather food, but as long as they were careful it would be a good resource for their little group. A quick count would show 38 bunches of berries--so if a bunch by itself would make for a handful of berries, probably that many "servings"--and Oberon decided to grab as many as he could carry and immediately take them back to the shelter. Though the Sprite was a little larger than he had been as a Pixie, he still couldn't carry all that much, so he delivered 10 bunches of Blue Argeps. Mourningstar joined him, though she was only able to carry 5 bunches. By the time they returned they had also found a large Topapo plant and some of the purplish-red ferns. There were 6 tubers that looked big enough to eat, and 5 of the ferns growing in a bunch. Since they had gone further out than Ash had, by this point they decided they had been away long enough and gathered up what they could before heading back. Oberon was able to carry 2 Topapos under each arm, and with her Lesser Force Mourningstar could grab the other 2 and 3 of the ferns. [Quote=System:Oberon_And_Mourningstar] Oberon used Monster Analysis II! Oberon used Magic Analysis IV! Mourningstar used Monster Analysis II! Mourningstar used Magic Analysis II! ---Armored Badger--- A regular sized badger, but ambient magic in its environment and a few quirks of evolution have caused it to sprout armored plates and spikes along its forearms, hindquarters, forehead, and the middle of its back. It can use its forearms and head armor, especially, as weaponry. Its body armor is quite tough, rendering it invincible to the fangs and claws of most other creatures around its level. Not normally overaggressive, but like regular badgers is known to have a mean streak. Is highly reactive to perceived threats and will often chase a fleeing offender, but in reality would rather avoid an equally strong opponent. It has no magical abilities as far as you can tell. ---Rubber Frog--- This frog's magical evolution certainly took an odd turn somewhere. The elasticity of its form, from its skin to its bones, is ridiculous. With a tongue that will stretch over twenty feet it has no trouble snagging flies, and it can expand its mouth wide enough to swallow anything up to twice its own size whole. To intimidate predators it sometimes puffs itself up to enormous size. It has no magical abilities that you can tell. The Rubber Frog's hide retains its elasticity even after its death and after the hide dries. [hider=Oberon] You have analyzed this creature before. Though it doesn't have any magical spells or affinities, this creature has a weakness to Fire, Ice, and Metal. It is immune to Lightning. It is resistant to Earth and Water. [/hider] ---Analysis Complete!--- Oberon used Monster Analysis II! Oberon used Magic Analysis IV! Mourningstar used Monster Analysis II! Mourningstar used Magic Analysis II! This is not a monster and it does not have any magical qualities as far as you can tell. Combined Skill Effectiveness at 40%. ---Blue Argep--- An edible berry, fresh and ripe. Its leaves have culinary use as well. It's quite sweet. ---Analysis Complete!--- Oberon used Monster Analysis II! Oberon used Magic Analysis IV! Mourningstar used Monster Analysis II! Mourningstar used Magic Analysis II! This is not a monster and its magical qualities are low. Combined Skill Effectiveness at 45%. ---Wild Topapo--- A hearty, starchy root that can be prepared in a variety of ways. This plant has no magic qualities. This plant is partially toxic or otherwise harmful in its current state. This plant can be eaten. ---Antidote Fern--- This purple fern has healing properties of some sort. You can feel a small amount of Nature magic from it. It may have other uses as well. ---Analysis Complete!--- [/quote] Once they had all returned and taken stock of their discoveries, as well as compiling information so that they would have a rough mental map of the area, the sun had risen somewhat. It was probably around noon or so, and the digging team had managed to create a rough, domed in area for their central chamber after digging into the hill for a few feet. At the tallest point it was probably just enough for Digbie to stand up straight if he didn't mind his head rubbing the ceiling, but closer to the edges it was barely big enough for him to crouch down and get in. Oberon, being a foot and a half tall, walked in and out easily as if it were a great cavern instead of a burrow. Ash and the others had it even easier. Right now the shelter didn't need any reinforcements, but as they expanded on it they would either need to gather materials, or do some fancy digging. The Lesserwurm came up with an idea of digging around in a circle to leave an earthen support pillar, while Digbie thought he might be able to use chants or circles to improve his Rock Spires. For the moment, though, after digging a firepit in the center of the chamber, the group took a break. Now the group decided to consolidate their knowledge of skills. First of all, everyone wanted to try and learn how to Meditate from Oberon. The Sprite's explanation was rather simple, and surely most of them had known by simple osmosis about meditation being used in things like Yoga and religious practices in their old world. Those who had Magic Analysis were able to glean more information, and soon they were all sitting around the firepit and trying their best to feel at one with the universe. First came the feeling of actual calm, of clearing one's mind--not to reach emptiness, but to focus only on the moment, and the feelings within the body. Next they would feel the Mana within them. For Ash especially this was much like her struggles to learn magic from the Pixies back in the cave, and as she related this experience to the others to help them they too soon understood. Those who could already use some magic had a much easier time of it. Once they could feel the flow of their mana, they soon began to perceive the mana that existed outside of their bodies. From the ground underneath them, the air around them, and in Oberon's case even the sunlight. There seemed to be energy within everything in this world, but it could only be found if one ignored all other senses and focused their new, supernatural sense. It hadn't even existed until they came to this world, so it was little wonder they hadn't grown used to it yet. Once they could feel the Mana, all that was left was to sit and practice it--Oms and Kumbayas optional--until the System informed them of their success. But that wasn't all. Oberon, who would likely take the opportunity to sit out in the sun, also activated the Gather Light skill he had been developing, and felt a surge in the mana he was able to intake. Digbie, perhaps due to his Earth Affinity, also quickly gained a new skill after Meditate triggered--Earth Vein. It seemed as long as he was in contact with the ground and wasn't rapidly moving, he could also replenish his mana more quickly. Even Mourningstar activated a different skill--perhaps she had been doing it unconsciously without realizing it, given that everyone around her was gathering mana and generating a sort of "magically thick" area, or maybe Meditating was a bit like draining the environment of its magic. Her Mana Drain skill activated, allowing her to actively steal energy from something else so long as it was magically charged. She learned that she could even temporarily boost her maximum MP beyond its normal limit, but if she tried to do too much of this it seemed like it could be harmful... By the time everyone had learned how to meditate, about an hour and a half had passed. Ash then decided to ask Torrent about her various related poison skills, Torrent wanted to learn Tremor Sense from Digbie, who in turn wanted to learn the Analysis Skills. Oberon wanted to learn Fireball from Torrent, and Mourningstar wanted to learn Mana Dart from him. Torrent would first have to explain how to use each of her different poison skills, along with providing a demonstration, then Ash was able to begin working on them on her own for a few moments. Digbie did the same to teach Torrent the Tremor Sense, which she had already gotten a head start on when they were working together in order to dig the cavern. And though she might not have realized it, ever since she began tunneling on her own after her evolution, she had accrued a small number of points towards the skill. Thus she quickly achieved this first goal, and then had to spend time with Oberon demonstrating and trying to explain the basics of her Fireball spell. Unlike Crispy she hadn't been using it for very long...but then again, she might recall that time she had witnessed him using it in the cave, and what he had said to Orchid about it. Maybe she could combine that with her new experiences in order to not only improve her own understanding, but pass it on to Oberon as well. Oberon had quite a bit of practice with Mana Orb at this point, using it as the basis for his Mana Dart, Light Ring, and Mana Shape. Using what Torrent had taught him, and given Oberon's tendency to really analyze his magic and think himself through each step of developing it, he would likely realize that perhaps emulating the burning effect of Light Ring might aid in the formation of a Fireball. He was able to practice much more freely at this point, as his Meditation skill combined with Gather Light allowed him to recover his Mana very quickly, although still not quite as fast as using a Mana Crystal. Since Mourningstar already had Mana Orb and Mana Shape for herself, Oberon was able to easily explain how to perform the Mana Dart to her during his Fireball training. By the time Torrent learned her Tremor Sense, Ash had paused to take a break from practicing the various poison techniques. She had been having some difficulty with Poison Breath, as it seemed like her poison glands were no longer in her fangs, but sometimes the best way to combat a problem was to stop and do something else for a while. So she began teaching Digbie the basis of her Analysis skills, Monster Analysis, Magic Analysis, and Material Analysis. Digbie didn't really have the background for it, but given how it seemed to synergize with the other skills Ash may have also taught him a little bit about Alchemy. There was also the Plant Analysis skill, though Ash hadn't activated that one yet. Judging from the others, however, it was a good guess that one only needed practice to perfect it, and various plants and trees were all around them. In the time it took Ash to finish her lecture (she had, at one point, been a leading researcher and professor of her field after all) and absolutely boggle poor Digbie, the others had achieved their next set of goals as well. Oberon was able to help the Demiblin with his own explanations of Magic Analysis and Monster Analysis, and Mourningstar could add her two cents as well. With all these explanations something was bound to click--and the others would find their own abilities improving from all the tests and demonstrations it took. There was a saying, after all, that the best way to learn something was to teach it. Digbie, and Torrent as well, soon found themselves capable of various analytical skills--and the overflow of information gave them quite the headache temporarily. Another two hours had gone by and the afternoon was well upon them. And at this point, as they were outside Analyzing the different vegetables they had collected, the trees, and so on in order to practice with Digbie, a Fanged Lizard of all things came upon them! They never saw it until it spoke, as its body was the same shade of brown as the leaf-covered forest floor, and its steps were quiet...even just looking at it, it almost seemed like the creature would go out of focus if you diverted your attention even for a moment. "Finally found you guys...so how you been?" asked Reoth, as he laid down the Hex Cat's Eye he had been carrying. By now the thing had dried somewhat, and taken on a texture akin to that of a plastic bead--but that red iris still felt as if some sort of power were contained within. After some healing from Oberon and a short explanation of his adventures, Reoth retired into the chamber to get some well deserved rest. The others took a short break as well, then set about training their next set of skills. They were starting to tire, however, and it might prove to be too much for one day to accomplish everything they were aiming for... Ash also wanted to learn Tremor Sense, and while Torrent had learned everything she wanted at the moment plus some more, Mourningstar still wanted to learn Fireball from the Lesserwurm. Digbie and Oberon decided to trade spellcraft, Sacred Ground for Mana Orb. With Oberon able to assist Mourningstar and Digbie able to assist Ash, both Tremor Sense and Fireball were learned quite quickly. Mourningstar now joined Oberon in teaching Mana Orb to Digbie, and also to Ash. Since Ash already had some of the basics thanks to her evolution, it was much easier for her--however, Digbie discovered that not only did his variance improve his ability with magic, but it seemed that Mana Orb was a skill that his Job would boost, if only slightly. Both of them were quickly adept with the spell, and Mourningstar and Oberon had improved their understanding of it as well thanks to the practice and feeding off of each other's explanations. Another two hours gone, and the sun was starting to get low. By an estimate, it had to be at least half past five. They still had perhaps 3 or 4 hours until nightfall, and they had a good store of food saved up. With the creek nearby they had plenty of water. Despite being thoroughly exhausted thus far, they still wanted to continue expanding their skills--after all, they had made incredible progress thus far all things considered. Compared to living in the cave, struggling to survive, and constantly fighting for their lives, it seemed like working together, sharing their knowledge, and practicing in a secure environment was just as effective at leveling up. However, how long could such a golden opportunity last? Ash still wanted to learn Mana Slice and Shield. Torrent had taken to talking to Reoth in the tunnel in hopes of learning his Scale Shift ability. Oberon was still working on Sacred Ground--it seemed it was actually a fairly complex spell, as despite doing everything exactly as Digbie had it didn't seem to want to trigger. He drew the circles, he chanted, he tried to focus his Mana into the earth first by will alone, then by focusing on the flow going through his feet, then by placing both hands on the ground and trying to drive the Mana in. Digbie's natural affinity towards the earth--even before he had earned that Affinity skill--and his desperation to save Torrent in that terrible accident before, seemed to have greatly affected the skill's formation. Nonetheless, after much work Oberon DID get it to activate. Digbie also wanted to learn the Shield spell, and Mourningstar wanted the Demiblin's Stone Shot and Rock Spire. As Oberon was the only one who could use the Shield spell--like Ash he also wanted to learn Mana Slice--he was stuck as the only teacher this time around. Luckily, Digbie found that Shield was another boosted spell for him. And like Sacred Ground, it seemed it was especially well suited to the Skirmisher, which made sense if the Job was supposed to defend oneself and others. Now Mourningstar took over as the only one of the group who had access to Mana Slice. She had been trying to make a proper sword using Mana Shape quite some time ago in the cave, and that experience had helped make the actual spell somewhat more concrete. Oberon, as usual, picked up the new spell quickly once he knew how Mana Shape played a part in its formation, and while Mana Dart didn't have an "edge" it still followed a similar principle of making a Mana Orb "sharp." Ash wasn't as experienced with Magic, but after what she had learned so far combined with her own analytic tendencies, she picked this up in due time. It wasn't as fast as Mana Orb, but it wasn't nearly as excruciating as learning Lesser Force had been either. All that was left now was for Digbie to teach Mourningstar his two earthen spells. However, at this point the sun had set and the stars were beginning to come out. The group was absolutely exhausted--and had the System notices to prove it, unfortunately. But with their food and water supplies, and with a safe place to sleep during the night, surely it wouldn't hurt to keep going just a little longer. After all, all Digbie really had to do was teach Mourningstar how to channel her Mana into a rock, which Oberon could help with after his experiences with Sacred Ground. Once Earth Mana had been attained by infusing the stone, all you had to do was envision the use of Mana Orb, or just throw it as hard as possible. Eventually the skill would trigger. Using Rock Spire required a more fine-tuned manipulation of Earth Mana, sending it into the ground towards an opponent. Mourningstar was the only user of this technique so far who didn't also have the Tremor Sense skill, and as a result it took longer for her to get the hang of it. If it weren't for the Meditate skill, she likely wouldn't have been able to do it at all, as she had to take frequent breaks to recoup some of her MP. While Mourningstar worked on these last two spells, despite being quite ready to get a good night's rest the others had some last minute things they wanted to attent to. Reoth, now feeling much better, wanted to learn Fire Breath from Torrent. Having no experience with magic, however, he had quite a bit of trouble with it--the best he seemed to be able to manage was getting a feel for his own mana flow, and forcing his breathing hard enough to make his throat slightly sore. Ash gathered wood, both for the firepit and for her own crafting efforts. Oberon attempted to achieve Lesser Force using Danny's advice from what seemed like quite long ago now, but with the sun having gone down his Mana recovery was much slower. Digbie began trying to use his new Mana Orb and Shield spells in conjunction with his Soil Manipulation, making various attempts to create some form of construct with Earth Mana for defensive purposes. Now that Torrent had gained Scale Shift, she began practicing simply sneaking around the camp, occaisonally calling out to the others to see if they could find her. While doing so she also practiced using her Muffle skill in conjuction with the new technique. The already ninja-like lizard would soon be quite the shadow operative to reckon with. As the moon now rose towards the middle of the night sky, however, the group could no longer push themselves. They had quite literally Overworked themselves to the point that, despite having available food and water and being able to recharge their Magic, they were simply too physically exhausted to continue. With their HP threatening to drain, they relieved themselves and filled their bellies one last time and went inside the shelter. It was a little bit packed--Digbie and Torrent hadn't had time to finish anything besides the first chamber--but thanks to the small fire Ash built and Torrent started, they were quite warm and able to lay down on beds of leaves and straw gathered from the forest. They slept like the dead, completely unaware of anything outside their dreams. When they awakened the next morning, they were well rested, but hunger and thirst again showed their heads. Out of their 15 Blue Argeps, 6 Topapos, however many Kele shoots Ash had brought back, they had (assumedly) made three meals yesterday. That meant 5 portions, then 6 after Reoth arrived, so this morning they had only 4 portions remaining not counting the Kele. ((You guys decide what combination/ratios of food you have left.)) They would need much more food if they were to keep working as hard as they did yesterday--and potentially, something more filling that might prevent their Stamina dropping as quickly. As Oberon and Mourningstar hadn't been able to procure any animal samples for yesterday either, it seemed they and the Pygmy Drake would likely resume their foraging duties... But as everyone went out to the creek for water, they would hear a sudden rustling. Up near the top of the hill, barely silouhetted against the deep blue morning sky, was a Goblin! But it didn't look like any of the ones they had seen at the cave--not that they had looked very closely, but especially for Digbie its face didn't ring any bells at all--! The lone Goblin took off, scrambling in a mad rush through the forest. [color=red]((The following System update is in no particular order, so they would have gotten the skills whenever the timing was appropriate.))[/color] [quote=System:Ash] Skill Rank Up: Poison Spray I > II! Initial Damage increased. Chance to Poison increased. Stamina Cost increased. Skill Rank Up: Overwork II > Overwork III! Stamina consumption remains the same. Self-Buff increased. When Stamina is fully consumed, this Skill will remain active by sacrificing HP automatically. It will replace HP Drain, but its HP consumption is higher than a normal HP Drain. It will automatically deactivate if the user has only 1 HP remaining. Skill Rank Up: Magic Analysis I > Magic Analysis II! Gain more detail about Magic oriented Skills and Spells. Lose less effectiveness when analyzing Monsters, Materials, etc so long as they are magically inclined. Skill Rank Up: Monster Analysis I > II! Gain more information about Monsters. Other analysis skills will further boost the information this skill provides, such as a creature’s capability with magic or its equipment. Skill Gain: Meditate I! By concentrating and calming oneself, increase the regeneration of Magic Power and Stamina. This skill cannot be used in battle. Any distractions in the environment will drastically decrease the effectiveness of this skill. This skill cannot be used in conjunction with other Active skills. Skill Gain: Poison Glob I! Compare to Poison Spit/Spray: Projectile speed decreased. Projectile range slightly decreased. Acid Damage increased. Stamina consumption equal. Chance to inflict Poison equal. Skill Gain: Poison Breath I! -Though your poison gland is now located in your tail, your draconic physiology is specifically suited for breath weapons. This has also increased your Dragon Affinity.- Whether by magic or biology, produce fumes projected from the mouth. This skill deals very low acidic damage and has a lower chance to poison an enemy than most other poison-type skills due to its lower density, but is ranged and covers a small area of effect. The fumes have a small chance to linger in the effected area for a short time. Skill Gain: Plant Analysis I! Basic field knowledge of botany. At this rank, using this skill only grants you “generalized” information. Skill Gain: Tremor Sense I! You can feel vibrations through the earth within a 30 foot radius or so around you, whether they be footsteps, tunneling creatures, etc. You have already learned through your previous experimentation that you can also produce these vibrations to a very limited degree. This skill has to be Activated at this rank. Skill Gain: Mana Orb I! A simple blast of Energy elemental magic with a range of 30 feet. At the moment it only does as much damage as a strong punch on average, unless the enemy is weak to magic. As it gets stronger it becomes a generic, non-elemental energy blast. Due to its simple nature and lack of elemental properties the Mana Orb spell is easily malleable into other spell forms. Skill Gain: Shield I! The most basic of defensive support spells. An aura effect reduces incoming damage, but no physical barrier or counteractive forces are generated. Only natural resistances to damage are reinforced. Can be cast on objects. Skill Gain: Mana Slice I! A blade of magical energy made by shaping a normal Mana Orb to have an edge. It uses more MP but does Slashing damage and is generally faster. Skill Gain: Mana Shape I! You can shape your raw Mana into the appearance of something. At this rank, your Mana does not have weight, force, or other physical qualities. Your Mana cannot produce sounds. Your Mana cannot move freely. Your mana can have its color changed. Your shapes must be relatively simple with no moving parts. The shape cannot be held for long without more MP. Skill Gain: Fusion Skill [Analysis]! A Fusion Skill is not a true skill by itself, but a sort of shortcut. You have acquired Monster, Magic, Plant, and Material Analysis skills. By activating [Analysis] you will use all of these skills at once without as much mental effort. [Analysis] will not go up in Rank, but its effectiveness will increase if the Skills used for Fusion are increased. However, if only Analysis is used, the growth of the individual skills will not be as fast. LEVEL UP! Your learning experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 6! You gain Skill Points to use as you please! Your Max Stamina has Increased! LEVEL UP! Your learning experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 7! You gain Skill Points to use as you please! Your Max HP and MP have Increased! [color=red]Unspent[/color] [color=green]Skill[/color] [color=red]Points[/color]: [color=green]14[/color] Current Skills: Stun Stinger II (2.0) Poison Spray II (2.0) Alchemy II (2.5) Overwork III (3.25) Charisma I (1.6) Venom Shot I (1.8) Crafting I (1.25) Lesser Force I (1.5) Magic Analysis II (2.5) Alert I (1.3) Lesser Flight I (1.2) Muffle I (1.5) Monster Analysis II (2.0) Material Analysis I (1.5) Meditate I (1.7) Poison Glob I (1.0) Poison Breath I (1.0) Plant Analysis I (1.0) Tremor Sense I (1.0) Mana Orb I (1.5) Shield I (1.0) Mana Slice I (1.5) Mana Shape I (1.0) Analysis (--) Blunt Resistance (0.2) Scribe (0.6) Minor Heal (0.725) Faster (0.1) Intimidate (0.4) Acid Volley (0.1) Venom Claw (0.1) Dragon Affinity (0.45) Rabid Fit (0.1) [/quote] [quote=System:Digbie] Skill Rank Up: Tremor Sense II > Tremor Sense III! Range has increased from 40 feet to 50 feet. When Passive, you will have a much more detailed perception of incoming vibrations. When used Actively, your Tremors cannot cause damage but can sometimes resonate with certain objects or other spells depending on various factors--for instance, setting off some sort of trap in your path. The Active use has an increased MP cost. Skill Rank Up: Stone Shot I > Stone Shot II! Earth Magic Damage Increased. Casting Speed Increased. Piercing Damage Increased. MP Consumption Increased. Skill Gain: Meditate I! By concentrating and calming oneself, increase the regeneration of Magic Power and Stamina. This skill cannot be used in battle. Any distractions in the environment will drastically decrease the effectiveness of this skill. This skill cannot be used in conjunction with other Active skills. Skill Gain: Earth Vein I! By remaining still and in contact with the earth by at least two solid points of your body for a short amount of time, you can begin passively drawing Mana from the Earth to refill your MP. Moving other parts of your body can drastically decrease the effectiveness of this skill. This skill cannot be used in conjuction with other Active skills. Skill Gain: Spell Chant I! Magic is the unison of Nature, Spirit, and Will. Language is the expression of Will. Using personalized language as an aid in manipulating one's energy is the first step to conceptualization and understanding of what Magic truly is. Using a previously existing Spell Skill as the Base, you may enact one (1) alteration of the spell's typical qualities. You possess the skill Focus, which allows a spell to increase either its power or range in return for increased MP cost of 50% of its initial value and delayed casting time of 30 seconds. Spell Chants will also delay casting time by a default of 10 seconds, as any chant shorter than this will be ineffective. Skill Synergy between this skill and Focus will allow you to alter Power/Range + One (1) other spell quality, which may include Power or Range a second time. The more complex the chant, the greater the alteration, but also the greater the increase to MP cost; by default the spell's cost is increased by a further 50% of its initial value. Skill Gain: Monster Analysis I! Gain basic biological information about a Monster. 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. Skill Gain: Material Analysis I! You have developed an eye for determining the qualities of inorganic or non-living objects. At this rank, you will only be able to gain surface information about an object. When used in conjunction with a crafting skill, it may help discover more compatible items. Skill Gain: Plant Analysis I! Basic field knowledge of botany. At this rank, using this skill only grants you “generalized” information. Skill Gain: Mental Resistance I! Take less damage from Psychic-type spells or skills, and have a better chance of resisting mind-altering effects such as Confusion or Hypnosis. This counts as an Elemental resistance for the purposes of Magic Resistance. Skill Gain: Fortify I! When creating something, especially a Structure of some type, you are able to imbue it with your own magic in order to strengthen its resilience. A piece of wood will not break so easily, a piece of stone will withstand weathering longer. With a better understanding of the Materials, or higher Crafting skills, this skill's effect is boosted. Skill Gain: Mana Orb I! A simple blast of Energy elemental magic with a range of 30 feet. At the moment it only does as much damage as a strong punch on average, unless the enemy is weak to magic. As it gets stronger it becomes a generic, non-elemental energy blast. Due to its simple nature and lack of elemental properties the Mana Orb spell is easily malleable into other spell forms. Skill Gain: Shield I! Skill Rank Up: Shield I > Shield II! The most basic of defensive support spells. An aura effect reduces incoming damage, but no physical barrier or counteractive forces are generated. Only natural resistances to damage are reinforced. Can be cast on objects. >>> This defensive spell increases the target’s natural defenses through supernatural means. Skin and bone are not hardened, resistances are not increased, but they will take less damage. At Rank II, this spell will last for 1 minute if it is not broken by a stronger attack. Skill Gain: Overwork I! Push through, break the limit, and--probably need a nap later. When you really need it, you’re able to summon up just that little extra bit of power, at the cost of slowly stressing yourself to death. This skill will deactivate when Stamina runs out. Skill Gain: Fusion Skill [Analysis]! A Fusion Skill is not a true skill by itself, but a sort of shortcut. You have acquired Monster, Magic, Plant, and Material Analysis skills. By activating [Analysis] you will use all of these skills at once without as much mental effort. [Analysis] will not go up in Rank, but its effectiveness will increase if the Skills used for Fusion are increased. However, if only Analysis is used, the growth of the individual skills will not be as fast. Skill Gain: Mana Affinity I! You have developed a bond with Magic itself. At this rank, your Max MP is increased. Magic-related skills will develop more quickly. Increase the rank of your affinity by deepening your understanding of Magic. LEVEL UP! Your learning experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 6! You gain Skill Points to use as you please! Your Max Stamina has Increased! NOTE: You are very close to your next Level! Unspent Skill Points: 5 Current Skills: Job - Skirmisher **Use Light Equipment (--) **Use Medium Equipment (0.1) Tremor Sense III (3.2) -Soil Manipulation II (2.8) Stone Shot II (2.0) Taboo I (1.0) *Stronger I (1.5) **Sacred Ground I (1.5) Rock Spire I (1.5) Earth Affinity I (1.15) Meditate I (1.5) Earth Vein I (1.7) -Spell Chant I (1.0) Monster Analysis I (1.0) Material Analysis I (1.0) Plant Analysis I (1.0) *Mental Resistance I (1.0) Fortify I (1.0) *Mana Orb (1.5) **Shield II (2.0) Overwork I (1.75) Mana Affinity I (1.0) Analysis (--) Quake (0.5) Crafting (0.2) *Point Strike (0.6) *Smash (0.6) Throw Item (0.2) Charisma (0.1) Guidance (0.1) *Mana Strike (0.3) Focus (0.1) Stone Fist (0.6) *Stone Breaker (0.2) Intimidate (0.2) -Scribe (0.2) *Fire Resistance (0.3) Demon Affinity (0.25) Underground Movement (0.5) **Earth Wall (0.8) [/quote] [quote=System:Mourningstar] Skill Rank Up: Mana Orb II > Mana Orb III! Magic damage further increased. Range Increased. MP Cost slightly increased. Skill Rank Up: Magic Analysis II > Magic Analysis III! Gain more detail about observed magic skills, objects, etc. Lose less effectiveness when using this skill on other things, even if they aren’t magically inclined. When analyzing a spell you have seen at least one time before, you may learn information such as its element or function depending on various factors. Skill Rank Up: Mana Shape I > Mana Shape II! You may now produce more than one shape at a time (interlocking or separate), and these shapes may move. More complicated movement and higher numbers of shapes causes higher MP Drain. At this rank, your Mana still does not have weight, force, or other physical qualities. Your Mana cannot produce sounds. Your Mana cannot move freely. Your mana can have its color changed and can now be more than one solid color. Skill Rank Up: Mana Slice I > Mana Slice II! For the same MP cost, the crescent shaped magic blade now covers a larger 180 degree arc in front of you and can strike multiple targets as it surges forward. It still does the same damage and moves at the same speed. Skill Gain: Meditate I! Skill Rank Up: Meditate I > Meditate II! By concentrating and calming oneself, increase the regeneration of Magic Power and Stamina. This skill cannot be used in battle. Any distractions in the environment will drastically decrease the effectiveness of this skill. This skill cannot be used in conjunction with other Active skills. >>> Increase the amount of Mana recovered. Low background noises, movements, etc (comparable to the common room of an Inn, a busy street at the market, etc) will no longer decrease the effectiveness of this skill so long as the user maintains stillness and a calm state of mind. This skill still cannot be used while moving or in the midst of battle. This skill cannot be used in conjunction with other Active skills. Skill Gain: Mana Drain I! You have experienced the flow of mana inside your own body, and felt the energy of other creatures being used upon you. Like siphoning water through a tube, this ability allows the user to draw the energies of others into themselves. By using Stamina, you will drain MP from an opponent and add it to your own. However, certain factors may come into play--you are not guaranteed to restore the exact same amount of MP that you drain. At this rank, in order to use this skill you must be touching the creature or object to be drained. While you are using this skill you cannot use any other spell or skill that is offensive in nature or requires complex movements. Skill Gain: Mana Dart I! A focused magic projectile that deals non-elemental Magic damage and Piercing Damage. Higher cost than Mana Orb but increased range, speed, and damage. However, its smaller size makes it less accurate. Skill Gain: Fireball I! The fire-themed version of a basic magical attack. With roughly the same power, range, and MP consumption as a Mana Orb, it has the unique property of being able to inflict a burn on the target. However, as an elemental spell, these same properties render it harder to use in certain circumstances. Non-flammable or elementally opposed targets, for example, will be much less effected. Skill Gain: Shield I! The most basic of defensive support spells. An aura effect reduces incoming damage, but no physical barrier or counteractive forces are generated. Only natural resistances to damage are reinforced. Can be cast on objects. Skill Gain: Overwork I! Skill Rank Up: Overwork I > Overwork II! Push through, break the limit, and--probably need a nap later. When you really need it, you’re able to summon up just that little extra bit of power, at the cost of slowly stressing yourself to death. This skill will deactivate when Stamina runs out. >>> 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. LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 6! You gain Skill Points to use as you please! Your Max Stamina has Increased! LEVEL UP! Your learning experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 7! You gain Skill Points to use as you please! Your Max HP and MP have increased! [color=red]Unspent[/color] [color=green]Skill[/color] [color=red]Points[/color]: [color=green]14[/color] Current Skills: Mana Orb III (3.0) Lesser Force III (3.0125) Levitation (--) Magic Analysis III (3.0) Mana Shape II (2.5) Mana Slice II (2.0) Monster Analysis II (2.5) Focus I (1.1) Taboo I (1.3) Meditate II (2.0) Mana Drain (1.0) Mana Dart (1.0) Fireball (1.0) Shield I (1.0) Overwork II (2.0) Muffle (0.5) Smash (0.2) Defender (0.2) Deception (0.3) Charisma (0.35) Blunt Resistance (0.2) Mental Resistance (0.5) Point Strike (0.1) Fire Resistance (0.2) Rabid Fit (0.1) Dextrous (0.3) Suppress Presence (0.6) Crafting (0.1) Blood Drain (0.9) Intimidate (0.2) Alert (0.5) Keen Sight (0.2) Plant Analysis (0.6) Material Analysis (0.6) [/quote] [quote=System:Oberon] Skill Rank Up: Minor Heal II > Minor Heal III! MP Cost increased. HP Heal increased. Healing can now be used on deeper wounds, but is still less effective on bones. As an Active Spell Skill, you may use any rank of this spell you are capable of within the limits of your MP. Skill Rank Up: Shield III > Shield IV! MP Cost slightly increased. The aura effect encompasses the target's entire body and what they have on their person, possibly increasing the ability of shields or armor, unless otherwise shaped. Shaping the aura no longer applies the Shield spell on that one part--rather, the effect of the Shield that would normally be spread across the body is now concentrated, greatly increasing the effect applied on that shape. Defenses are further increased. Lasts for 2 minutes or until broken by significant damage. Skill Rank Up: Mana Orb I > Mana Orb II! Magic Damage Increased. MP Cost Increased. Skill Rank Up: Mana Shape I > Mana Shape II! You may now produce more than one shape at a time (interlocking or separate), and these shapes may move. More complicated movement and higher numbers of shapes causes higher MP Drain. At this rank, your Mana still does not have weight, force, or other physical qualities. Your Mana cannot produce sounds. Your Mana cannot move freely. Your mana can have its color changed and can now be more than one solid color. Skill Rank Up: Meditate I > Meditate II! Skill Rank Up: Meditate II > Meditate III! Increase the amount of Mana recovered. Low background noises, movements, etc (comparable to the common room of an Inn, a busy street at the market, etc) will no longer decrease the effectiveness of this skill so long as the user maintains stillness and a calm state of mind. This skill still cannot be used while moving or in the midst of battle. This skill cannot be used in conjunction with other Active skills. >>> Increase the amount of Mana recovered. The decrease suffered from distraction remains the same as Rank II. This skill may be used while moving in a slow, relaxed fashion, such as while walking or bathing. This skill cannot be used in conjunction with other Active skills. Skill Gain: Gather Light I! Under full sunlight, convert solar energy to Mana. You may move at a slow, relaxed pace while using this skill. Any blockage of sunlight will immediately cancel this skill, and it may not be used in conjunction with Active skills. Its Mana Recovery is slightly slower than Meditate. Skill Gain: Fireball I! The fire-themed version of a basic magical attack. With roughly the same power, range, and MP consumption as a Mana Orb, it has the unique property of being able to inflict a burn on the target. However, as an elemental spell, these same properties render it harder to use in certain circumstances. Non-flammable or elementally opposed targets, for example, will be much less effected. Skill Gain: Plant Analysis I! Basic field knowledge of botany. At this rank, using this skill only grants you “generalized” information. Skill Gain: Material Analysis I! You have developed an eye for determining the qualities of inorganic or non-living objects. At this rank, you will only be able to gain surface information about an object. When used in conjunction with a crafting skill, it may help discover more compatible items. Skill Gain: Sacred Ground I! By marking an area on the ground, you channel your Mana to boost the natural properties of the earth and create a safe zone for anyone who enters it. At this rank, HP will recover slowly for those you deem allies, and damage taken from enemies outside the zone will slightly decrease. This Spell consumes MP for as long as it is active. The larger the created zone, the more MP required. Skill Gain: Mana Slice I! A slashing wave of projected mana--essentially, a Mana Orb that has gained the Slashing property. It consumes the same amount of MP as a Mana Orb spell of equal rank, and moves faster, but its damage is split between Slash and Non-Elemental Magic. Resistances and Defenses of the target will apply for each type. Skill Gain: Overwork I! Push through, break the limit, and--probably need a nap later. When you really need it, you’re able to summon up just that little extra bit of power, at the cost of slowly stressing yourself to death. This skill will deactivate when Stamina runs out. Skill Gain: Fusion Skill [Analysis]! A Fusion Skill is not a true skill by itself, but a sort of shortcut. You have acquired Monster, Magic, Plant, and Material Analysis skills. By activating [Analysis] you will use all of these skills at once without as much mental effort. [Analysis] will not go up in Rank, but its effectiveness will increase if the Skills used for Fusion are increased. However, if only Analysis is used, the growth of the individual skills will not be as fast. LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 6! You gain Skill Points to use as you please! Your Max Stamina has Increased! LEVEL UP! Your learning experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 7! You gain Skill Points to use as you please! Your Max HP and MP have increased! [color=red]Unspent[/color] [color=green]Skill[/color] [color=red]Points[/color]: [color=green]17[/color] Current Skills: Minor Heal III (3.0) Lesser Flight II (2.55) Shield IV (4.0) Magic Analysis IV (4.15) Mana Orb II (2.5) Mana Shape II (2.5) Lesser Status Heal (1.2) Mana Dart I (1.5) Alert I (1.2) Monster Analysis II (2.4) Meditation III (3.0) Light Ring I (1.2) Gather Light I (1.6) Fireball I (1.5) Plant Analysis I (1.0) Material Analysis I (1.0) Sacred Ground I (1.0) Mana Slice I (1.0) Overwork I (1.75) Focus (0.8) Mental Resistance (0.9) Wall (0.1) Faster (0.4) Minor Regeneration (0.6) Charisma (0.9) Keen Sight (0.6) Spiritual Awareness (0.4) Minor Heal All (0.5) Light Affinity (0.75) Fire Resistance (0.2) Spell Chant (0.5) [/quote] [quote=System:Reoth] ((Assuming someone may teach Reoth how to check his Skill List, just so you know progress is being made)) Skill Gain: Suppress Presence I! While Muffle and some other skills physically reduce one's conspicuousness with physical attributes, Suppress Presence uses MP to "hide" one's self. The closest comparison to this phenomenon is how a meek or shy person can seemingly disappear in a crowd. You become less noticeable--if they aren't looking directly at you, others may feel that you are blurry and out of focus, or you may disappear from their peripheral vision. While moving this effect is noticeably decreased, unless one has other Stealth skills that can synergize with it. Skill Gain: Scale Shift I! A unique skill learned by many Reptile-class monsters. Using their Stamina to create structural changes that affect how light reflects off their scales, they are able to change the color of their bodies to either blend into the environment, or intimidate opponents. Other skills related to either of these things will synergize. At this rank, you may only change into one solid color based on something you are touching. Current Skills: Stun Fang I (1.2) Poison Spit I (1.8) Crafting I (1.4) Charisma I (1.0) Muffle I (1.6) Suppress Presence I (1.1) Scale Shift I (1.6) Faster I (0.3) Mental Resistance I (0.1) Counter I (0.1) Monster Analysis I (0.4) Magic Analysis I (0.2) Fortify I (0.2) Plant Analysis I (0.3) Keen Ear I (0.3) Keen Eye I (0.3) Alert I (0.2) Slash Resistance (0.3) Fire Breath (0.5) [/quote] [quote=System:Torrent] Skill Rank Up: Poison Spit I > Poison Spit II! Initial Damage increased. Chance to Poison increased. Stamina Cost increased. Skill Rank Up: Muffle II > Muffle III! The sounds of your movements are completely silent so long as you are moving slowly or at walking pace. At running speed, the sounds are noticeably reduced. When using Skills or Spells, any sounds created are slightly reduced. Skill Rank Up: Posion Breath I > Poison Breath II! Instead of only covering an area immediately around you, the fumes can now be focused into a cone in front of you. Your range is roughly 10 feet. This skill has roughly the same Stamina Cost as Poison Glob, but its damage depends on the target's range. A target at the edges of the cone will take the same damage they would from Poison Spit I, whereas one that is in the center and close to you will take a fair amount more. The fumes now linger for a full minute. Skill Rank Up: Fireball I > Fireball II! MP Cost slightly increased. Fire Damage increased. The spell now explodes on contact, dealing slight Area of Effect damage to targets immediately next to the origin. The chance to inflict a burn remains the same as Rank I. Skill Gain: Meditate I! By concentrating and calming oneself, increase the regeneration of Magic Power and Stamina. This skill cannot be used in battle. Any distractions in the environment will drastically decrease the effectiveness of this skill. This skill cannot be used in conjunction with other Active skills. Skill Gain: Tremor Sense I! You can feel vibrations through the earth within a 30 foot radius or so around you, whether they be footsteps, tunneling creatures, etc. You have already learned through your previous experimentation that you can also produce these vibrations to a very limited degree. This skill has to be Activated at this rank. Skill Gain: Soil Manipulation I! An Earth Elemental Magic Spell. At this Rank, you may move up to 5 pounds of loose soil (sand, dirt, and powdered minerals, but not gravel, pebbles, or anything made of larger fragments) freely within a 10 foot radius around your body. Using this soil to create a shape or exert a larger amount of force consumes more MP, and takes 30 seconds at minimum. At this rank, created shapes cannot consist of more than one part, or be more complex than quadrilateral structures. At this rank, created shapes cannot change the quality of the soil (sharper, harder, etc) nor its color or texture. Skill Gain: Underground Movement I! A skill gained by becoming strong or skilled enough to rapidly tunnel through the earth. You may now move underground at the same speed as you could walk above it. The speed of a brisk pace makes the earth more likely to collapse around you, and the deeper you go the slower your movements will become. At a range of about 1-3 feet below the earth, your movements will still be visible to those on the surface much like a mole's run. Skill Gain: Monster Analysis I! Gain basic biological information about a Monster. 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. Skill Gain: Material Analysis I! You have developed an eye for determining the qualities of inorganic or non-living objects. At this rank, you will only be able to gain surface information about an object. When used in conjunction with a crafting skill, it may help discover more compatible items. Skill Gain: Plant Analysis I! Basic field knowledge of botany. At this rank, using this skill only grants you “generalized” information. Skill Gain: Scale Shift I! Skill Gain: Scale Shift I! A unique skill learned by many Reptile-class monsters. Using their Stamina to create structural changes that affect how light reflects off their scales, they are able to change the color of their bodies to either blend into the environment, or intimidate opponents. Other skills related to either of these things will synergize. At this rank, you may only change into one solid color based on something you are touching. Skill Gain: Overwork I! Push through, break the limit, and--probably need a nap later. When you really need it, you’re able to summon up just that little extra bit of power, at the cost of slowly stressing yourself to death. This skill will deactivate when Stamina runs out. Skill Gain: Fusion Skill [Analysis]! A Fusion Skill is not a true skill by itself, but a sort of shortcut. You have acquired Monster, Magic, Plant, and Material Analysis skills. By activating [Analysis] you will use all of these skills at once without as much mental effort. [Analysis] will not go up in Rank, but its effectiveness will increase if the Skills used for Fusion are increased. However, if only Analysis is used, the growth of the individual skills will not be as fast. Skill Gain: Mental Resistance I! Take less damage from Psychic-type spells or skills, and have a better chance of resisting mind-altering effects such as Confusion or Hypnosis. This counts as an Elemental resistance for the purposes of Magic Resistance. LEVEL UP! Your learning experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 7! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! Your Stamina has increased! [color=red]Unspent[/color] [color=green]Skill[/color] [color=red]Points[/color]: [color=green]9[/color] Current Skills: Stun Fang II (2.3) Muffle III (3.0) Poison Spit II (2.0) Poison Glob I (1.75) Poison Breath II (2.0) Fireball II (2.0) Stealth Kill I (1.0) Minor Recovery I (1.0) Fire Resistance I (1.0) Fire Breath I (1.5) Rabid Fit I (1.0) Meditate I (1.25) Tremor Sense I (1.7) Soil Manipulation I (1.0) Underground Movement I (1.5) Monster Analysis I (1.0) Magic Analysis I (1.0) Material Analysis I (1.0) Plant Analysis I (1.0) Scale Shift I (1.25) Overwork I (1.0) Analysis (--) Mental Resistance I (1.2) Crafting (0.2) Alchemy (0.4) Alert (0.4) Warcry (0.3) Poison Fang (0.3) Blunt Resistance (0.5) Smash (0.2) Magic Break (0.1) Suppress Presence (0.2) Spiritual Awareness (0.4) Prehensile Tail (0.1) Spell Cancel (0.1) Fortify (0.5) [/quote]