[center][h1][color=chocolate]Edward Marsh[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] As they returned to the mound, Ed made sure that nobody can see them enter their hideout by poking his head out just as they entered the structure. Finally safe from the threat of being found out, the ratman let his shoulders sag down in relief and lay down the loot he had collected on the first room's floor. [color=chocolate]"That fight was a mess...but we managed to help the travelers, made it out alive, and got some new stuff to boot. Considering all that, I'd say we did a helluva good job."[/color] For the first time in two days, Ed bore a genuine smile of satisfaction and happiness. Things may be looking up for him and his companions. Maybe. After letting all of the adrenaline out of his blood, he approaches the bindle and lays them bare on the floor. In the pale dim light cast by the moon laid the gear he managed to obtain. [color=chocolate]"So, we have the following items: two vine belts, two pairs of straw sandals, the black robes of the caster, his rabbit skull staff, a necklace made of bone, a wooden breastplate, a sturdy stick, a battered shield, a stone knife, and a metal one."[/color] Ed says as he presents them in an orderly manner to Asteria and Mother Rat. [color=chocolate]"I'll be keeping the sturdy stick, the shield, the breastplate, one pair of sandals, the black robes, and the stone knife as I think I could use them to their full potential."[/color] He says offhandedly as he begins to equip the gear he selected for himself. He would then wait for Asteria to decide what equipment she wanted for herself as well as for Mother Rat if Mother Rat was alright with wearing things that is. It was at this time that Ed noticed the still healing flesh on the elder dire rat's hide. He approached the elder rat and gently caressed her back to help soothe and remove any lingering feelings of pain or panic. [color=chocolate]"That Hunter asshole got you good, huh?"[/color] He paused, he didn't expect a response from her but he still paused. [color=chocolate]"Good thing Doc Asteria was there to patch you right up."[/color] He slightly chuckles as he gives her some gentle ear scritches. Much like how he would scritch Cheeseburger. He would always give Ed the warmest of welcomes whenever he had a chance to go home to Twinbrook during breaks. The feeling left the ratman a little down. [color=chocolate]I wonder how's everyone doing now?[/color] Ed thought to himself. He wasn't sure how time worked here compared to how time worked back on earth. For all he knew, a week here could have well been years back home or even vice versa! Even if he managed to find a way back, would it be the same Earth he left behind? Would his friends and family be still there? Would they remember him? Would he still be the same Edward Marsh? So many questions he had no clue what was the answer...but he at least he knew one thing. He missed home more than anything in the world right now. [hr] Asteria's revelation snapped the ratman out of his thoughts and caused the ratman to be mildly confused by the statement. [color=chocolate]"We're not talking about the garden variety of gnomes, are we? *sigh* I suppose that was the case. Well, I suppose we can offer it meat from the kobold and perhaps the hobgoblins. I don't think giving the fat guy's meat would garner a positive reaction from it though. None the less, I'll start butchering the bodies and offer the prime cuts. Let's see if it accepts the offer or maybe it'll just send phantasms to run us out."[/color] He hoped to God that it wouldn't be the latter. Ed would then go to the dead hobgoblin atop the barrow and steel himself for what he was about to do. But before leaving, he asks his companion for something. [color=chocolate]"While I'm going to 'prepare' the offering, can you make a strap for the grass bundle with the remaining vine belts, Asteria? It's going to make carrying it a whole lot easier. Thanks."[/color] Brandishing the knife, Ed approaches the corpse to prepare it for butchering. It was rare for a culinary course to offer a butchery class for its students, but Golden Oak University did not offer a run-of-the-mill course. The only real issue here was that this was Ed's first time butchering a humanoid...and he was not going to enjoy this but he would do his damndest. [hider=Stats] LVL: 7 HP: [color=Green]Healthy[/color] SP: [color=Yellow]Rested[/color] MP: [color=Green]Full[/color] Effect/s: SORE [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=yellow](PASSIVE)[/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 [*]Short Cudgel (Unknown Quality) x 1 [*]Sturdy Stick (Unknown Quality) x 1 [*]Stone Knife (Unknown Quality) x1[/list] - Wood Breastplate (Unknown Quality) x 1 [color=green][b][Equipped][/b][/color] - Straw Sandal (Unknown Quality) x 2 [color=green][b][Equipped][/b][/color] - Black Dyed Robe (Shoddy Quality) x 1 [color=green][b][Equipped][/b][/color] - Battered Wooden Shield (Unknown Quality) x 1 [color=green][b][Equipped][/b][/color] - 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] - Assorted Insect Parts and Meat x 1 [b][With Asteria][/b] [/hider] [hider=Action Summary] -Finally relaxes in the barrow and commends the group for their success. -Unwraps the bindle and displays the loot he had gathered from the bandits. -Explains to his companions which of the loot he is planning to keep. -Takes the following: A pair of sandals, the wooden breastplate, the shield, the sturdy stick, the stone knife, and the black robe. -Lets Asteria decide what she wants to keep. (Maybe for Mama Rat as well if she can convince her to wear equipment.) -Equips the gear he had selected. -Notices Mama Rat's healed injury and comes to comfort her and passively thanks Asteria for healing her. -The comforting gesture reminds him of his old life. -He is saddened by the realization that it would be unlikely he would return the same, or at all for that matter. [/hider]