[center][h1][color=chocolate]Edward Marsh[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] [color=chocolate]'Sweet, a level up.'[/color] Ed thought to himself as he smiled. He was not expecting to level up while they were simply travelling, but he wouldn't complain. Gaining a level only means that he can survive longer and find out what the hell is going on in this world as well as find a way back to Earth if possible. [color=chocolate]'Please place 1 point to [Mental Resistance], 1 point to [Rabid Fit] and 1 point to [Magic Analysis] and 2 points to [Focus].'[/color] Once done allocating his points, Ed then refocused on the task at hand. While it did seem that the road was not that recently used and the tall grass still sufficiently hid them away from sight, and a number of his passive skills made it hard for someone or something to detect him normally and even harder to ambush; but it was still no excuse not to be careful. Overconfidence is a slow but effective killer. So Ed kept his nose and ears sharp for any sounds or smells that seemed off or strange, hoping that the passive form of [Beast Sense II] would suffice in keeping him up to date in regards to the scents and sounds. At one point he smelled smoke that reminded him of the strange dream. Looking towards the direction of the smokey smell, he noticed the pillar of smoke rising from the distance. Ed quickly put it off as another settlement that they'd have to investigate later on when they finally have a base that is both safe and secure. As the hours of quiet and absolute normality passed, it was some sort of miracle or something that they had not encountered anything. It was a surprise surely, but a welcome one at that. Though they did manage to find a campsite, likely from the travellers from yesterday judging by the footprints. Though they seemed to avoid the pillar of smoke and that meant one thing and one thing only. Trouble. Ed was still curious as to what was causing that pillar and why would people actively avoid it...but he still valued his life more than satisfying his curiosity. [color=chocolate]" I don't think this place has anything worthwhile but I'm pooped. Lets set up ca-"[/color] Ed suggested before he realized that the smell of water was getting stronger than ever. [color=chocolate]"Wait, no. Smell that?"[/color] The ratman asked the rhetorical question; of course, Asteria smelled what he smelled. Impossible she couldn't. With his nose into the air, he let it guide him down the slope and eventually to another rise. Though this one seemed more unnatural and out of place as compared to the other rises and slopes they had encountered in their trek. As they approached the unnatural hill, they got a better sight of the thing. It was obviously artificial and man-made. [color=chocolate]"Whoa. It's like one of those burial mounds from Skyrim..."[/color] Ed commented as he approached the thing and laid down the grass mat burrito beside him as he inspected the structure. While walking around the thing, Ed stumbled upon the entrance. [color=chocolate]"I don't have nyctophobia but Jesus Christ this is unsettling."[/color] Ed said before picking up a small stone and tossing it in the darkness. Hoping to ascertain how far or how deep this thing really was. [hider=Stats] LVL: 7 HP: [color=Yellow]Hurt[/color] SP: [color=red]Tried[/color] MP: [color=darkred]Very Low[/color] Effect/s: PECKISH, THIRSTY [b]SKILLS:[/b] Unspent Skill Points: [color=red]0[/color] Current Skills: Monster Analysis (1.25) Magic Analysis I (1.0) Overwork (1.3) Dynamic Eye I (1.1) Rabid Fit II (2.0) Smash I (1.3) Focus I (1.0) Beast Sense II (2.75) [color=green](ACTIVE)[/color] Mental Resistance I (1.0) [color=yellow](PASSIVE)[/color] Alert I (1.15) [color=yellow](PASSIVE)[/color] Harder I (1.0) [color=yellow](PASSIVE)[/color] Faster I (1.05) [color=yellow](PASSIVE)[/color] Stronger I (1.65) [color=yellow](PASSIVE)[/color] Muffle II (2.275) [color=yellow](PASSIVE)[/color] Dexterous I (1.1) [color=yellow](PASSIVE)[/color] Use Light Equipment (--) [color=yellow](PASSIVE)[/color] __________________________________ SKILL PROGRESS: Material Analysis (0.5) Warcry (0.7) Tremor Sense (0.05) Telepathy (0.1) Mana Shape (0.7) Shield (0.5) Mana Shell (0.4) Soil Manipulation (0.7) Crafting (0.6) First Aid (0.1) Meditate (0.4) People Sense (0.3) Plant Analysis (0.2) Swift Swimmer (0.4) Charm (0.025) Repel (0.025) Stealth Kill (0.3) Blunt Resistance (0.1) Prehensile Tail (0.5) Mana Strike (0.6) Minor Heal (0.05) Iron Gullet (0.4) Taming (0.1) Suppress Presence (0.5) Use Medium Equipment (0.4) Inspire (0.2) Point Strike (0.3) Strengthen (0.3) Pierce Resistance (0.2) Double Skill (0.1) Deception (0.2) Lucid Dream (0.2) [b]Inventory:[/b] - Vine Belt (Shoddy Quality) x 1 [color=green][b][Equipped][/b][/color] [list][*]Bundle of Sticks x 1 [*] Flame touched crystals x 2[/list] - Grass Mat (Unknown Quality) x 1 [b][Dropped][/b] [list][*] Healing Herbs x 1 [*] Nullven Cone x 1 [*] Flint and Striker x 1 [*] Tainted Crystal x 1 [*] Great Club (Unknown Quality) x 1 [/list]- Short Cudgel (Unknown Quality) x 1 [color=green][b][Equipped][/b][/color] - Assorted Insect Parts and Meat x 1 [b][With Asteria][/b] [/hider] [hider=Action Summary] -Levelled up and allocated points before keeping a nose and ear out for disturbances. -Noticed the smell and discovered the pillar of smoke. Places it in the 'investigate later' list. -Finds the camp of the duo and notices that they actively avoided the pillar of smoke and gave it a wide berth. -Decides that the pillar of smoke must be trouble and transfers the pillar of smoke to the 'nope' list. -Wanted to make camp there but notices that the smell of moisture is stronger than ever. -Lets his schnozz guide the way and discovers the structure. -Investigates the structure further and finds a creepy-ass entrance. -Throws a rock in to see how far this thing really is and how deep it really was. [/hider]