[h3]Deep Forest[/h3] [quote=System:Femus] ---Transformation Option: Increase Potential--- The majority of creatures are not born fully mature. Undergoing Transformation without a fully matured body, or fully realized Skills, may limit a creature's growth. Transformations that grant higher Skill Ranks or increase base statistics may be reduced due to a lack of foundation. Some Transformations are not possible if a creature has not fulfilled its Potential. If a creature's Potential reaches the peak, it may affect its natural lifespan or its future learning ability. You used Magic Analysis I! The skill Plant Analysis is not fully developed! ---Great Elder Mystic Kao Tree--- This Kao Tree has drawn from a rich source of Mana for many years. It is likely the oldest and most powerful of all plant-life in the area, and at this stage of growth excess Mana is shunted into the surroundings. Certain creatures may be drawn to this energy. Skill Rank Up: Magic Analysis I > Magic Analysis II (1.95 > 2.025)! [/quote] Nira and Femus were in agreement to move into the lower branches of the tree. Even these were a decent height off the ground, enough so that no Goblin would be able to easily reach them. They were soon able to find a thick branch that culminated in a bushy, thickly leafed fork. The leaves were broad enough that the two tiny magical creatures could practically sit on them like mattresses. From here, they had a better view of their surroundings. It seemed that not all of the Goblins had left to go on whatever raid they were preparing for--of those who were left behind, it seemed the majority were elderly or female. But there were still some younglings around, some of whom had taken it upon themselves to hunt in the adults' absence. A few perky greenskins with mean eyes and sticks still wandered here and there among the deep forest denizens. That field of Blue Yills was a little closer, and in fact they could now see that its patch seemed to grow between two winding roots reaching out from this tree. The roots lifted up the ground around them, so that the Yills were nestled in a little valley of sorts, where they grew so thickly one couldn't see the ground beneath their petals. Nearby, in the air--near that other tree they had just left, actually--they could see a few pixies flitting about. It was too far to tell exactly, but one of them actually looked a little bit familiar. They were flitting in and out near the hollow that Femus had once called his home. And, down below, a little further away from the great tree, it seemed a Dire Rat was trundling along through the underbrush. It had the look of an animal that was on the hunt, though it hadn't found any prey yet. They only caught its tail end before it slipped into the shadows of a different tree, and disappeared. Underneath them, the tree's branches felt somewhat warm. Was it just because they were sitting out under the sun, while a pleasant breeze rustled the leaves? Or did it have something to do with that sleepy presence they could still feel... [hr] [h3]Monster Party[/h3] [quote=System:Digbie] You used Material Analysis I! You used Plant Analysis I! You used Magic Analysis I! ---Ragged Cap (Poor)--- This roughspun cap barely provides any coverage for the head. It only seems suitable for a beggar, if anyone. It has no Magical properties. It is old and smells musty--your earthy sesnes tell you it might have been worn in a sealed off, underground structure? The rough, woven plant fibers used to weave it seem to have come from long, hay like stalks of some type of grass. Sub-stat Enhancements are Negligible. ---Ragged Trousers (Poor)--- These roughspun pants barely provide any warmth against the elements. They only seem suitable for a beggar, if anyone. They have no Magical properties. They are old and smell musty--there are dirt stains on the knees and around the ankles. There are also worn places where they seem to have rubbed against brick. Your earthy senses tell you it might have been worn in a sealed off, underground structure--perhaps a tunnel of some sort? The rough, woven plant fibers used to weave it seem to have come from long, hay like stalks of some type of grass. Sub-stat Enhancements are Negligible. [/quote] [quote=System:Ash] Oberon cast Shield IV on you! Your Defenses are significantly increased for 2 minutes! You used Mana Sense II! You used Mana Vision I! You used [Analysis]! ---No Target Specified--- [[General Analysis of Goblin party repeats previous posts' analysis from other characters but for Ash]] From -Adult Goblin Male (Hide Armor)- you can feel a rough, beast-like Mana in very low quantities. It has no defined Structure yet. From -Elite Male Goblin (Rags Nar)- you can feel a clinging, negative mana. The faintest sense of blood comes from his equipment. Its Structure is rapidly fading but feels somewhat [color=red]familiar[/color]. Alert I has Activated! There is a presence to the West of the camp, in the treeline between the area and the Mountains...It seems to be observing... [/quote] Somehow, whether it was due to a real magical effect or just for his own peace of mind, Digbie's prayer seemed to fill him with a sense of calm. The anxiety surrounding this situation with Rags Nar's tribe took a backseat for the moment, and in this darkness of the sealed cavern there was peace and quiet. Here he and Oberon could focus on whatever step came next. Oberon couldn't feel the same strange calm Digbie could, though the book the Demiblin found engaged his curiosity. As the Sprite used his Meditate skill, at its higher rank he was able to recover Mana without so much single minded focus--but, the more he drifted from this focus, the slower the recovery went. Still, he had recovered quite a bit with Gather Light earlier, and soon the System told him that his MP was full. As Digbie extended his Tremor Sense, he could feel Torrent's Soil Manipulation through the earth several layers above their cave's roof. She seemed to be preparing to dig if necessary--as an escape? Or to lay a trap? Or as some means of ambushing the enemy? So far, they couldn't hear any yells or magical blasts from outside...did that mean things were going well, or...? Meanwhile, things were still quite tense outside. When Ash spoke up again, the Goblins collectively flinched. The one with the sword watched her the most warily, turning his body as she flew up to a tree so as to remain ready for any moment. He kept his eyes on her the whole time, though he looked to his leader for a moment while the pygmy drake taunted the Elite Goblin. As Torrent focused her power, with the intent to somehow magically amplify and project her voice, she felt a tingle beginning in the base of her throat. When she spoke, it felt like her words were...floaty. Like her mouth moved, but the actual sound was just an instant too slow. Still, the Goblins heard her taunt up on the hilltop right after Ash accused Rags Nar of cowardice. The Goblin that had seemed to catch onto something began looking around, clearly hearing the sound but unable to identify the source for it yet--and soon, he turned away from the brush towards Rags Nar, who had apparently decided to respond to these taunts in typical goblin fashion. "Me ain't scared, not scared o' nuthin'!" The Elite Goblin drew his Dagger with a distinctive sound of metal against leather. He began swinging it wildly in the air as he stomped in a circle, seemingly raging against the "voices" in the air. Then he whirled to point at Ash with the tip of the blade, high up in her tree. "Ain't dumb neither! Dis don't make no sense--but Rags Nar too smart for yas! I'mma show yas I ain't scared, but I ain't gonna fall for no tricks neither!" He turned to the rest of his crew. "Oi! All you gobs, group up! If dey tries somethin', yell!" The other goblins jumped to it, though the one with the sword was slow to back off, still paranoid about the drake watching them from up in the tree. As they began to circle around the goat--now ignoring the bushes and the rest of the camp--Torrent could breathe a little easier while Ash observed from safely high up... However, something else soon prickled the Pygmy Drake's senses. There was...something...in the woods. To the West of the camp, towards the mountains. It had hidden itself fairly well. It wasn't moving much. But it was...big. Bigger, at least in terms of height, than that rat. She couldn't make out many features through the foilage but, if she had to guess...Four legs, somewhat skinny? A deer or small horse of some kind? Yet it was bigger than that, up top--was that shape an arm? A humanoid body? Too hard to tell. Even her glowing eyes, after using her analysis skills, weren't picking anything up either due to the distance or due to how hidden the creature was. Yet for now, whatever it was seemed content to simply stand and...watch? In the ring of goblins, the Four Horned Goat snorted and threw its head. Rags Nar had a difficult time getting around to its rear with the knife in hand--the creature would buck and step away from him every time. "Stupid goat! If youse get lucky, ya might get to run away! Sit still and lemme cut--lemme--c'mere ya fuggin--!" Finally he managed to grab a rear leg, and avoid getting bitten or kicked while he sawed at the restraints. With a snap they came loose--and the goat gave a loud bleat as he tried to kick the Elite Goblin's head off. Rags Nar rolled backwards, awkwardly but effectively avoiding the blow. The other goblins yelled and jumped aside as the beast charged them, though the one with the sword took a swing. Blood flew from a gash on the animal's flank, but it didn't seem too deterred as it landed and turned with another violent kick. The frying pan worn by one of the other goblins made a distinctive ding as he was sent rolling down the side of the hill. Much screaming and flailing ensued. Now Digbie and Oberon started to hear things. [hr] [h3]PixieSlime Party[/h3] [quote=System:Asura] Skill Gain: Magic Analysis I (0.9>1.0)! You may now analyze Magical energies or objects to learn their most basic magic characteristics. Less effective on Materials and Monsters unless they are magical in nature. Error. You have already been added to Trent's Party. Your Bond is not strong enough to access other Party Features. [/quote] "The Maker intended the World to be a certain way. Due to the creation of Magic, and other beings like Demons that defy the Maker's plan for the world, sometimes things don't work the way they're supposed to..." Trent started to explain, before he was interrupted by the creatures attacking them. He immediately got his shield up, just in time for one the Ghost Wisps to shoot a Mana Orb at him. It impacted the leather-covered protection with a crackle of white light that left a singed spot. "--And whenever it's been affected by these things, the World acts like a person's body when we have a disease! A "World Echo" is like a sign that something's wrong--in this case, it's announcing the Dungeon's presence!" Asura's pseudopod Smashed into the Zombie Rat's jaw, knocking fangs out of its mouth and cracking the jawbone into a distended mess. But, the creature was still kicking, and managed to slash at the slime with one claw. Asura felt only a little pain, like nicking oneself with a papercut, thanks to his upgraded resistance. [quote=System:Ardur] You used Monster Analysis I! ---Ghost Wisp--- An Undead Wisp, its body has been consumed by both necrosis and magical energy to serve as fuel. What is left is a transient spirit that has a higher level of Mana, which allows it to exist as a Spirit-class Undead, but little control. Without a source of Mana nearby to recharge, a Ghost Wisp typically won't last more than 24 hours in the living realm. Its other abilities are typical of a low level Wisp. ---Zombie Rat--- An Undead Dire Rat, raised as an unthinking corpse. It is more durable against attacks, but has become much slower and less coordinated. The longer it persists, the more disease can fester in its jaws and under its claws. [/quote] While Ardur analyzed the enemies, the other Ghost Wisp got off a Mana Orb that struck the Hipixie in the chest, driving him back like a physical blow. “Steve go for the wisp on the right.” He commanded while he readied himself with the beetle mandible in hand for the other one coming at them. The Oculus Spider jumped up on the back of Trent's cloak, prompting a short-lived yelp from the boy, before the creature spat a blob of webbing at the other Spirit. The Ghost Wisp seemed to "blink" in and out of the air, and the webbing passed through it harmlessly. Trent pointed his sword over Asura's head--he couldn't get enough reach for a proper attack, but shouted a Spell instead. "Mana Orb, First Rank!" The white crackle spread over his sword's blade before leaving the tip, blasting into the Zombie Rat. It rolled the creature over, where it struggled to get back up. Ardur slashed through the flickering Ghost Wisp on his side, and while the creature didn't seem to "die" it did waver with a high pitched creen, and it moved more slowly. Once again, it fired a Mana Orb at the Hipixie, which streaked through the dark cave like a night's comet... Meanwhile, Mother Slime burbled angrily in the back, as she tried to get around the others in front of her... [hr] [h3]Rat Party[/h3] The seeming leader of the bandit party grimaced as the Mana Orb crackled over his metal shield, but his expression turned to one of shock as Ed shouted a threat at him. The Rat Man charged forward with shield at the ready, slamming the ramshackle wooden planks into the much sturdier metal. But Ed had a great deal of strength and was pushing from a lower center of gravity--the human's hips gave way and he staggered a step back. With a desperate cry he swung his sword. To Ed's Dynamic Eye it seemed to move a beat slower, and the Ratman ducked down. The blade passed harmlessly over his ears, as he whirled and lashed out with his tail. The muscular appendage struck the man's shins hard, buckling his knees. The bandit fell with a heavy thud, sitting down hard. The spearman stepped up, but again that shield got between the blade and its intended target. Still, he managed to force the bandit flat on his back and now held the man pinned under his own shield. The ruffian's sword arm was free, but he couldn't swing far enough or reach high enough to do any damage. "Yield, and you may yet live!" the tribal-looking man snarled, stomping hard on one of the bandit's legs to make him stop kicking. "Fatty! Lizard! Where the hell are you guys!?" The bandit tossed his head this way and that as he struggled, causing his dented helmet to roll into the grass. "Fatty," as he was called, was currently about to soil his breeches as the tall swordsman closed in on him. But just a few moments before that, Asteria had cast Minor Heal on Mother Rat's stab wound. As green light sparkled around her blood matted fur, the red liquid dried and flaked away. The blood stopped flowing from the wound, but it still hadn't closed. When Asteria cast her new spell a second time, the skin stopped looking so puffy and swollen and grew closer together, but it still hadn't healed all the way. Still, it was no longer bleeding and looked clean, the new skin a healthy pink color under the fur. [quote=System:Asteria] You used Mana Sense II! You sense your own Mana, channeled into the Nature element to increase the body's natural biological healing factor. Your own mana is used as a substitute for the required sustenance. You have no MP remaining. [/quote] She tried to drain more MP from the dead hobgoblin, but it seemed that magical energy did not remain in this body for long. She only got back a trickle, not enough to cast the Minor Heal spell again. When she investigated the state of her needle, she found that it had been broken too badly to continue using as a weapon. The Hobgoblin, however, had several pieces of equipment. [quote=System:Rat Party Loot] Hunter Hobgoblin (Asteria) ??? Shortbow x1 Wooden Arrows x5 Green Dyed Hood x1 Green Dyed Cloak x1 Green Dyed Body Wraps x1 Green Dyed Arm Wraps x2 Green Dyed Pants x1 Skirmisher Hobgoblin (Looted by Ed) Jawbone Sword (Broken) > Sturdy Stick x1 Battered Wooden Shield (Equipped by Ed) x1 Wooden Breastplate x1 Vine Belt x1 Straw Sandals x2 Voodooist Kobold (Killed by Ed) Rabbit Skull Staff x1 Black Dyed Robe x1 Bone Necklace x1 Straw Sandals x2 Vine Belt x1 Stone Knife x1 [/quote] What was more, as Asteria headed back towards the actual battle, she found that the magic using bandit had already been dealt with. She came just in time to see Ed and that spearman taking down the bandit with a proper sword and shield, and it looked like one of the humans was engaging the last one further up the road. The fat bandit let out a screech and thrust forward with both hands on his weapon. It was nothing more than a cornered animal lashing out. The swordsman had both greater range and better training--he stepped to one side and brought his sword up from the side. The fat man closed his eyes and desperately tried to block even though his knife was so much smaller. Still, the swordsman flicked his wrists and turned the attack--now it sped down to the bandit's leg. Blood flew and the larger man fell back, clutching his injured thigh. He looked up with teary eyes as the youth stepped forward-- "Woah there, Wulf--!" "Wait, Wulf--!" Both the driver on the cart and the mage sitting in the back had called out, but their cries went unheeded as the tall boy, "Wulf," skewered his opponent through the heart. The boy looked up at them with an innocently blank, quizzical expression while the bandit fell limp to the earth. "What?" "I yield, I yield!" the other bandit hollered under the spearman's boot. He glared at Ed, then back at the other humans. "Call off the boy and your crazy Ratman pet!" "We don't have a pet Ratman." The spear user turned towards Ed now, seeming at a loss. "...I don't even know where it came from."