[center][h3]Tora & Poppi[/h3]
[b]Level 5 Tora[/b] - (14/50) EXP and [b]Level 4 Poppi[/b] - (13/40) EXP 
[b]Location:[/b] Morgensloft Field, the Land of Adventure
[b]Word Count: 375[/b] 
[@DracoLunaris][@Stekkmen][/center]

With Agoston's assistance, the remainder of the gathering went smoothly and quickly, taking only a couple more minutes. By that period's end, enough of the grain lay stacked in Poppi's cart to make a mountain of noodles, and more than likely only the King Koopa himself would be able to haul the overburdened carrier back to Lumbridge in time for dinner. However, the spirit of adventure meant that their trip wasn't over just yet; Poppi's discovery provoked Bowser's interest, and after dusting their hands of chaff and spare grain the party started east toward the settlement the artificial blade claimed to have sighted. Bowser pulled the cart along, clearly not fond of the idea of leaving it where it could be pilfered from.

The hamlet did not prove difficult to find. Shortly past where the swaying golden field ended, a large number of odd [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dont-starve-game/images/e/e9/TownhousesRegular.png/revision/latest?cb=20190226170416]buildings[/url] stood is close proximity. These houses defied all logic—tall and thin, each seemed barely able to accommodate one person standing up, let alone a family. Between them lay rather picturesque lanes, complete with hedges and trimmed trees, though all less spread-out than one might expect of a town. Tora, hustling behind Bowser as he led the way, was the first to spot one of the hamlet's inhabitants.

His eyes went wide as they laid upon a trio of [url=https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/4434400/07b4f9f4616635aa3417a57f21d597a001ca952a.png]pigs[/url] in the middle of an urgent discussion, standing in front of the spindly, windmill-sized castle that might have marked town center. They stood upright, they walked, they talked, and they wore not just any clothes but [i]fine[/i] clothes indeed. For a brief moment the Nopon couldn't believe his eyes, but after a moment he thought better of it. Of all the things he'd seen in this strange new world, civilized swine were practically mundane.

At about that time, the pigs noticed the newcomers too. Most of the townsfolk went about their business while keeping a wary eye on the outsiders, but after brief deliberation these three approached their guests. Bowing, the mustached pig greeted them. “Hail, travelers.I bid thee welcome to mine humble hamlet. I am Truffleston, the mayor. Art thou in search of something, or need thee anything?” As he inquired, nearby [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dont-starve-game/images/1/1f/Royal_Guard.png/revision/latest?cb=20181029190701]guards[/url] eyed the strangers cautiously, their axes firm.

[center][h3]Coral Highlands[/h3]
[b]Location:[/b] Land of Adventure
[@ProPro] [@Yankee][/center]

The first word out of 6's mouth caused the Tzitzi-Ya-Ku's head to snap his way, orange eyes glaring. It instantly went on alert, stepping away to face the Courier head-on while lowering its own head and tensing its leg muscles. 6, however, displayed no hostility as he grew nearer and nearer. As the seconds passed, it showed no overt sign of attacking, perhaps confused by the human's actions. A high-pitched growl issued from its throat, warning him to get no closer, but the Courier took another step. Immediately the monster's head went up, and the horns on either side of its head started to unfurl. A warning shout echoed from above as a rugged-looking, red-haired man came into view, just in the nick of time. The next instant the reflective membranes of the Tzitzi-Ya-Ku stretched wide, catching the sun and concentrating it into a brain-blastingly bright flash right in the Courier's face.

With a snarl at the incoming Ace Cadet to discourage his intervention, the monster hopped back before launching itself at 6. It lashed out with its legs, the cruel hooked blades on its feet shooting out to cleave flesh from bone.

[center][h3]Nero[/h3]
[b]Location:[/b] Charnal Lane, Dead Zone[/center]

[hider=For Kamek][center]You have acquired:
[url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dont-starve-game/images/a/ab/Tentacle_Spike.png/revision/latest?cb=20121216143501][b]Tentacle Spike[/b][/url]
Organic but not alive -at least, not anymore- it makes for a half-decent mace
[url=https://remnantfromtheashes.wiki.fextralife.com/file/Remnant-From-The-Ashes/bloodwort_consumable_remnant_from_the_ashes_wiki_guide_220px.png][b]Bloodwort[/b][/url] x2
A tonic made from plants that grow in defiance. Restores a little vitality every second for a minute
[url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/2007scape/images/f/f2/Bones_detail.png/revision/latest?cb=20160615135219][b]Bones[/b][/url] x9
The remains of the departed, remarkably clean. Their burial appears to incrementally grant one prayer skill
[url=https://www.evilresource.com/images/entities/full/re3/green-herb.png][b]Green Herb[/b][/url] x4
Native to the Arklay mountains, they boast the ability to incite a brief burst of potent healing, though far more of combined with other herbs
[url=https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.369440752.7202/aps,650x642,small,transparent-pad,750x1000,f8f8f8.u2.jpg][b]Breakfast[/b][/url]
That smell...that consistency...there's no mistaking that this milk's well past its expiration date. If you don't die drinking (eating?) it, you'll surely come out of the ordeal with a hardier constitution
[url=https://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/file/Dark-Souls-3/HomewardBone.png][b]Homeward Bone[/b][/url]
Bonfires, resting places for lost souls, are fueled by bones of the Undead. In rare cases, the strong urge of their previous owner's to seek respite enchants their bones with a homeward instinct. Returns someone who breaks it to their last established resting place
Wooden Board x2
A sturdy length of oak. The sort that might be used to blockade windows during an undead invasion[/center][/hider]

[hider=For Ratchet][center]You have acquired:
[url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/doom/images/f/f0/Reaper.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20161119125152][b]Reaper[/b][/url]
A demonic weapon that unleashes a six bolts of hell energy in a tight spread formation per shot. Strong and heavy, and not terribly useful for melee despite the claws. It uses souls for ammunition, with each one granting another burst, but spirits seem to work too. Begins with ten shots. Its shots are neither quite physical nor spiritual, and are thus able to damage entities with an immunity to either.[/center][/hider]

[hider=For Blazermate][center]Notable Spirit Consumed:
[url=https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/015/246/761/large/leroy-strauss-lees-vigil-suffering2.jpg?1547642344][b]Suffering[/b][/url]
Strong resonance has consolidated the transformative power of the consumed spirit into a singular part: the Suffering Arm. Replacing her off hand and its accompanying forearm, it's formed of hardened bone casing and green demonic nanoflesh to form a bulky forearm, oval shield, and clawed hand. On the shield's face is a fanged maw like the Suffering's. It can open to unleash screeches and howls capable of affecting minor undead. It also has a skull-laced tongue inside, and the teeth bear demonic toxins that can mutate minor undead. The Suffering Arm grants three Powers with their own upgrade paths: [b]Vocal Cords[/b], [b]Lash Tongue[/b], and [b]Demon Fangs[/b]. Putting points into them will greatly empower their abilities, granting undead control, a highly extendable tentacle lash, and a stronger mutative bite capable of strengthening entities besides undead. The Suffering Arm imparts the weakness[b] Demonic Corruption[/b], which makes the wielder susceptible to dark influence and passively feeds corrupted data from the arm into Blazermate's system, causing intermittent pain and malicious tendencies[/center][/hider]

[hider=Results!]
[b]Party:[/b] [@Archmage MC]'s Blazermate, [@ProPro]'s Jak, Daxter, & Ratchet, [@Dawnrider]'s Banjo and Kazooie, [@Simple Unicycle]'s Gene, [@Genon]'s Donovan Lee 
[b]Encounter Reward:[/b] +10 EXP
[b]Environmental Bonus:[/b] Banjo and Kazooie
[b]Environmental Bonus:[/b] +2 EXP[/hider]

Though curious about what exactly the others were doing with the spirits, especially Blazermate as she 'installed' one of the Sufferings to manifest a new left arm from nowhere, Nero did nothing to prevent Nico's van continuing on. It went northward, rumbling across cobblestones toward the graveyard's other side. As it went by the other passive skeleton, he and Nero exchanged evaluating looks. The demon hunter didn't know what to make of these friendly undead, especially the stout one with clothes that could not have possibly been from a human given his proportions. While he looked harmless -lazy even- Nero's instincts told him something wasn't quite right with the guy. Well, whatever. So long as the dead didn't get in his way, he didn't need to pay them any mind.

Toward the northernmost section of the Charnel Lane, the number of reanimated corpses went up, but they presented little obstacle. Those that lacked the self-awareness to get out of the van's way got smacked to the ground and run over by Nico's Minotaur. Shortly afterward, its fender busted through the wrought-iron gates. Beyond lay a small brick lot with a couple benches, a trash can, and no discernible purpose. Its three walls and small staircase, however, left no avenue for the van to continue onward. “Aw, crap,” the driver observed. “Looks like y'all gonna head up there on foot.” The stairs accommodated the elevation change to the higher ground the cathedral rested upon as it overlooked graveyard and Empty Space alike. Even from this poor angle, everyone could clearly see the giant Qliphoth root extending upward from the great church's roof. There was in one corner of the lot an open sewer grate, perhaps the way by which the skeletons came.

Nero's boots hit the ground, and he slammed the van door behind him. “Fine by me. You should head somewhere safe. Well, safer.” Ignoring him, Nico reclined herself into a relaxed position. A sigh escaped Nero as he took the steps two at a time, and after a moment he emerged onto a parking lot between the stairs and the cathedral. It opened up into an enormous roundabout plaza, circled by buildings on all sides not bordering the void. He took one step beyond the elaborate archway leading to the stairs before shrinking back with a cautionary hand behind him to warn against the others forging ahead. “Wait a minute, hang on.”

Something was up with the place. Boughs of dark wood with branches of red leaves extended from most of the buildings, wrapping in and out of them, reaching into the air and ground. A number of zombies, many still moving, were impaled or trapped among the foliage. This eerie plantlife matched that of the deadwood crater, which the heroes had avoided, but this time there appeared to be something too big to avoid.

Leaning against the giant double doors of the cathedral was a hulking mass of gnarled wood, garbed in a soft pink mist. It might have been mistakable for another piece of the scenery if it wasn't moving ever so slightly. Its exact form was difficult to determine in that position, but a menacing air wafted from it nonetheless. Whatever it was, it didn't seem to be aware of the intruders just yet.

“If you need to heal or rest, do it now,” Nero advised. “V must be around here somewhere. If he isn't trapped by that thing, we'll at least get his attention. We're taking that thing down next.”