[h3]Monster Party[/h3]
[@Gardevoiran][@Rune_Alchemist][@King Cosmos][@Old Amsterdam]
The leader of the Broken Tower Tribe seemed puzzled as Digbie threw himself to the ground, but when the Demigoblin began to glow and speak in a different tone the Elite Goblin slowly shifted the point of his knife and took a guarded stance. He didn't turn when the other goblin, the one holding the big rusty sword, went charging back towards the Four Horned Goat with his sword raised high. The swordsgob had been injured and looked like he was almost out of breath after his warcry--when the goat hoofed him in the chest it had probably knocked the wind out of him.

At the same time as Digbie stood up and roared, drawing his Broken Sword, the Four Horned Goat recovered from that stunning blow the greenskin wearing a pan had dealt it. It reared with a snort and kicked out, striking the goblin in the head this time. The smaller monster yelped and was knocked to the ground--he wasn't out yet, but as he tried to get up it was like his feet wouldn't get under him.

The Demigoblin's weapon began to glow. Rags Nar tightened his grip on his own weapons. The swordsgoblin jumped onto the Four Horned Goat's back, and sank his blade deep into its spine by dropping all of his weight on top of it.

The Broken Sword turned end over end, far more rapidly than Digbie's splindly arms should have been able to throw it. His Earth Vein had been stuttering and starting the whole time, as even though his feet were in contact with the ground he was also trying to put mana into the sword at the same time. And on top of that his mana seemed to be surging throughout his body just from his sheer rage, and he was putting all he had into this attack.

Rags Nar got his shield up. The Broken Sword shattered even further against it--the tang broke, the hilt came apart, the guard slid off of the cracking blade--but the wooden pot lid, too, split right down the middle like old firewood. The fastening fell out of one side of the handle, and the whole thing fell apart as Rags Nar stumbled backwards with a grunt, shaking his sore arm.

Digbie cast his protective spell upon himself, but he was trying to keep his feet planted for Earth Vein as well. Both spells crackled and fizzled, but he soon received a notice that his MP was full as the aura around his body was completed.

Some distance away, perhaps Ash had been caught off guard by the sights and sounds of Digbie's sudden heroic entry into the fray. Perhaps everything had just become so chaotic so fast that her orderly mind was thrown off track. But the mysterious companion next to her, despite having just told her to call Torrent off in her engagement with the pelted goblin, still continued to work his bow with professional precision. Another of those blunted arrows began to shine with a red light, and the robed creature loosed. 

"YA BROKED MY SHIELD!" Rags Nar yelled--just before he got sniped in the temple. He went down to one knee, stunned and unable to rise much like his companion down the hill. "GAH! WHO DAT?!" The Elite Goblin still had a grip on his knife, and glared at Digbie as he struggled to get up on legs that wobbled like those of a newborn deer.

The sound of hooves beating the ground and rustling leaves heralded the appearance of the strangely clothed archer, as he and his mount burst from the treeline and charged into the camp. Mahya, the goblin with the pan, and Rags Nar were still on the ground. The pelted goblin Torrent had attacked was still engaged with her, though clearly on the losing side of things. The one with the sword was trying to pry his weapon out of the goat monster's bulk.

The unknown rider pulled what looked like a net from a saddle bag, and began to whirl it over his head...

[quote=System:Digbie]
Skill Gain: Dual Cast I (0.8 > 1.0)!
Splitting one's focus is a difficult task, but like playing the drums it can be learned. Casting different spells with different effects or requirements increases the difficulty and the MP required, but the caster's mindset can also affect this Skill. A Caster at this Rank may Dual Cast by: (1) Cast the same spell simultaneously, usually within two hands. Example using Current Skills: Stone Shot. This expends twice the MP cost, and both versions of the spell must be the same Rank, but the Casting time is only that of a single cast.(2) Prepare two spells simultaneously, to be used one at a time. Example using Known Skills: Rock Spire and Mana Orb. Rock Spire is prepared but not cast; the Earth Mana shines under the targeted area. Mana Orb is cast at a target, knocking it into Rock Spire's prepared area. Rock Spire is released. Both spells can be no higher than Rank I. Delayed Spells can be held no longer than 10 seconds at this rank. Certain spells that might require rituals, components, or other complexities might not be Dual Cast in this manner even at Rank I. This use consumes twice the MP for a Delayed Spell plus the normal MP cost for the other spell. (3) Cast a single instance of two different spells, usually within two hands. Example using Known Skills: Your Mana Orb and Ash's Mana Slice. You cast Mana Orb at a target to your right and Mana Slice at a target to your left, at the same time. This usage expends the sum of both spells' MP cost, and requires a slightly longer casting time, but both spells can be used at the same time or one after the other. Both spells must be Rank I. Certain spells with more complexities may not be Dual Cast even at Rank I. Certain spells that synergize well may increase in power or cause new effects when Dual Cast in this way.

There are several drawbacks to the Dual Cast Skill. Passive Skills can already be used together unless they contradict or otherwise interfere with one another; Dual Cast cannot be used to combine Passive and Active Skills. Example using Current Skills: Meditate and Mana Orb. Casting Mana Orb would cancel Meditation immediately. Dual Cast requires that the caster split their focus; it cannot be used with your <Unusable>Focus skill or similar abilities. Dual Cast only works on Spell Type Skills, it cannot combine Spells with your Physical Skills. It also cannot combine Pure Spell skills with Battle Spell Skills, but Battle Spell Skills can be Dual Cast. Dual Cast and Spell Chant cannot be used together at the Current Rank. Even when the caster has higher proficiency with both of these abilities, the amount of MP consumed and the increased chance of error within the Chants make such a combination risky.
[/quote]
[hr]
[h3]PixieSlime Party[/h3]
[@Kazemitsu][@ReusableSword]
As Ardur healed Asura, the System notified the red slime that his HP was Full again. The Hipixie answered Trent's question, and made note of their next destination, before he began to meditate.

"T-twenty!?" Trent blinked rapidly, and shook his head. "Great Galatine...I hope they made it away from this place. If not, we're likely to have to fight them. And given that you seem to have human level intelligence, that means the Dungeon Core would..." The boy sighed, and bent down to check the injury on his foot. He made a breathy noise through his nose, but he must not have been hurt too badly as he re-laced his boot and seemed ready to continue.

Asura insisted that fighting the denizens of the dungeon was an easy feat. Trent bristled.

"Even a weakling can deliver a fatal blow if your guard is down. Or hinder you from an otherwise simple victory. Remember what Master said outside." Upon hearing Asura's disdain for the other possible Revivers, the flickering torchlight showed that the young squire's face cast a shadow of irritation.

Though it was somewhat awkward, the human was able to carry the still-meditating Ardur with one arm. The Hipixie soon received a signal that his MP was Full as the group pressed on through the darkness. Soon, the reflection of Trent's flame showed them the shore of the small pond. Its waters were dark and still, but across its far side they could see a soft, flickering red light...

The closest and easiest path was to their right, going around the west side of the pond. But here the wall of the cave came almost to the bank, making the passageway narrow. Passing single file in their little formation, there was plenty of room for them to travel...but Trent seemed even more nervous than usual.

"We need to pick up the pace. Ardur, can you fly again yet?" the squire said. "If we don't get out of this chokepoint--"

As if on cue, something whistled through the air towards them. Unceremoniously dropping Ardur, Trent's shield arm whipped up. He didn't have a proper grip on it, because it had been dangling from his arm while he carried the Hipixie, and it only barely deflected the missile. It hit the stony ground, almost nicking Asura, but well within the torchlight for them to see. It was a Pointy Stick, though it had been Sharpened by something, obviously to increase its damage...and it was soaked in hissing purple fluid.

They couldn't see far enough into the darkness to pick out an enemy--but soon they heard another whistle, and Trent ducked entirely this time. The javelin flew over the group entirely and clattered loudly in the cave behind them. How far would they have to advance while these projectiles rained down on them? And how many enemies were there?

That red light in the distance continued to pulse, like a heartbeat...
[hr]
[h3]Rat Party[/h3]
[@SilverPaw][@Searat]
Both Ed and Asteria heard the dirt beneath their feet rumble slightly, and again, in a corner of the room, loose earth began to shift. The large, pebble-encrusted head of the gnome emerged face first from the ground--and this time, he pulled himself out in full. Like Asteria's analysis had said, he was about four hand-spans--by human standards--tall, and his proportions were that of a fat infant. His back was covered with a hard shell that, at first glance, could probably pass for a rock if he were lying down on his belly. His feet lacked toes as well, and his joints moved stiffly as he waddled across the room.

"You got a weird way of negotiating, rat number two!" The creature chuckled, and sat down around the fire pit in the first chamber. Then he looked to Asteria. "I know I said no gross bloody stuff, but since this counts as food I'll let it slide. Red meat's hard to come by around here!" He began tearing off chunks of the large offering pile of Hob-meat, and chewed one handful before he looked around at the grass roll and other things the rats had collected.

"Lemme tell ya how this usually works, huh? A Human comes in here, no problem. He walks into the second chamber, no issue. If he wants to go in the tombs, he's got to have a key to get through. If he tries to break in, I sound the alarm. He touches a body, I gotta kick 'em out." Flecks of meat spilled across his hands and chubby chest as he talked. Then he swallowed. "A Non-Human comes in here, no problem--long as they stay out front. They come into that second chamber, I sound the alarm. If they try to break into the door, I gotta kick 'em out if I can." He pointed at the fire pit. "Anybody who makes an offering, which is normally incense or money by the way, not food, they get one extra chance. A kid who puts a coin in the bowl gets to jiggle the doorknob without me snitchin' on him, that kinda thing. Humans have all these rules about "respect for the dead" or whatever." He nodded towards Asteria again. "That gold coin of yours, that was left here as an offering. According to the contract, when the people who own this here barrow show up, I gotta turn over all that stuff like that--not including perishables--travelers have offered up. Since they're not here right now, though, I can give it to you and they won't notice. My pap figured that one out--every once in a while that loophole lets us get some cool stuff."

He stopped eating, and looked at the fire.

"Here's somethin' else humans are weird about--they cook all their food. But I'll be durned if the scraps of that I get ain't better, ya know? Either of you got anything to start a fire with?"

He held out his hand, and a spire of rock rose up and broke at its base. He used it to spear several pieces of the hobgoblin like a kebab.

"Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, you two got free reign so long as ya don't mess with the door. So, care to tell me just what the heck's goin' on with ya? You two some kinda Familiars or something?"
[hr]
[h3]Deep Forest[/h3]
[@Stabby][@Haeo]
As the memories of his sister overlapped with the sight of his friend under attack, Femus unleashed a rapid assault. His Mana Orbs sparkled as they flew, and the slime bubbled a cry in surprise. As Nira wheeled away in mid-air, the pseudopod barely missing her, she saw the limb severed by the first blast. The blob monster lurched, and thus the second Mana Orb only grazed it--but just like before it screeched in clear pain, and the parts of its body shaved off by Mana Orb left it smaller like half-eaten gelatin. 

Again focusing her magical power, the pixie tried to shoot a blast of her own. This time, a blue-white crackle of energy spread down her arms. It collected in her palms in an instant, then shot forward! Striking the Slime dead center, the blast tore right through it--and with one last gurgling wail, the creature died.

[quote=System:Nira]
Skill Gain: Mana Orb I (0.9 > 1.0)!
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.

LEVEL UP! Your battle experiences have culminated in new power! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! You are now Level 5!

Unspent Skill Points: [color=red]20[/color] [[OOC: Due to timing of Level Ups, Christmas/New Year Bonuses were missed for 2019. These, and a little extra to make up for my hiatus, were added to the 10 points Nira had been saving up and the 5 she got from Level Up.]]

Current Skills:
Alert I (1.4)
Lesser Flight I (1.6)
Minor Heal I (1.0)
Muffle (1.55)
Shield I (1.05)
Mana Orb I (1.0)
<UNUSABLE>
Crafting (0.1)
Keen Ear (0.2)
Mana Strike (0.1)
Meditate (0.7)
Point Strike (0.2)
Stealth Kill (0.3)
Suppress Presence (0.5)
Monster Analysis (0.3)
Smash (0.1)
Faster (0.3)
Magic Analysis (0.4)
Iron Gullet (0.2)
Charisma (0.9)
Charm (0.4)
Deception (0.2)
Pacify Animal (0.2)
Taming (0.1)
Plant Analysis (0.2)
Mana Sense (0.2)
Spell Chant (0.3)

YOUR BODY IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE! You are undergoing Transformation! Based on your life experiences, your ability to survive, and the strength of your will, new paths have appeared! Choose carefully--there is no going back! [color=red]WARNING. THIS PROCESS WILL LEAVE YOU TEMPORARILY VULNERABLE.[/color]

OPTIONS (* Indicates Suitability):
**(Adult) Pixie - A tiny humanoid Fey-type Monster. While somewhat intelligent, they lack empathy towards one another even compared to beasts like Goblins. Capable of flight and healing magic, but not physically strong or skilled enough to fight or use weapons well.[list]
[*]Slightly increase all base stats
[*]Increase HP
[*]Increase Potential[/list]

(Immature) Imp - The smallest and most pitiful of Demon-type monsters. Though relatively strong for their size, they are still mostly specialized in magic. However they lack the finesse and technique of other Demons, using plain and often brute-force style spells. Their cunning and absolute refusal to ever admit that they are lesser to any other being, however, can make them dastardly plotters.[list]
[*]Increase base power-stats
[*]Increase Rank: Mana Orb
[*]Increase Lesser Force (reduced)
[*]Increase Demon Affinity (reduced)[/list]

(Immature) Sprite - A highly territorial, but otherwise relatively friendly type of creature. Quite similar to Pixies at first glance, they are much more empathetic and even altruistic than other types of Fey. Unless an enemy presents a threat to their homes and families, they often prefer to flee rather than fight, but if something enters their nesting area they are known to swarm much like wasps.[list]
[*]Increase Max MP
[*]Increase Rank: Minor Heal
[*]Increase Minor Heal All (reduced)
[*]Increase Light Affinity (reduced)[/list]

**(Immature) Hipixie - A larger, stronger, and more sophisticated variety of Pixie, very similar to the commonly known relationship between a Goblin and a Hobgoblin. Growing almost as large as a goblin themselves, their ability to fly becomes more difficult to use but their size now allows them to use many forms of lightweight tools and weapons. Considered to be some of the first True Fey, species of Fey-type monsters capable of forming societies and cultures rather than simply flitting about on any whim or reacting to any emotion that comes into their tiny heads.[list]
[*]Increase all base stats
[*]Increase Use Light Equipment (reduced)
[*]Slightly increase HP[/list]
[/quote]

While Nira was now free to gather the materials she had come for, Femus had returned to the safety of their new base. He recovered his Mana, then decided to try and continue restoring the damage he had done to the Great Kao Tree. Using what he had learned so far, and the result of the different skills he had noticed when trying to affect the kao buds, he began to direct his energy...

[quote=System:Femus]
Skill Gain: Growth I (0.9 > 1.0)!
A spell skill of the Nature element, but unlike many spells its usage is less "specific." The user channels energy into a plant, and accelerates its maturation or increases its natural qualities. Fruits will grow bigger and richer, vines will grow longer and stronger, and so on. At this rank, only one quality of the plant can be enhanced, and the spell's effect can only reach the parts of the plant one is directly touching. MP Cost is increased depending on the amount of enhancement.
[/quote]

As Femus was "sitting" on the same branch he was trying to heal, he could feel the energy flowing out of him through the point of physical contact. He wanted to enhance the tree's "healing" factor, and as he watched the small wound he had inflicted on it began to shrink. Sap oozed out of the gash in the bark, and light colored layers of growth rapidly followed it...By the time the tree was fully restored, however, Femus felt that his just-filled Mana stores were almost exhausted again. Even considering he had increased his total mana pool after transforming, such a simple concept as "healing" had almost drained him. Perhaps it was due to the size and age of the tree, or something else?

From his perch he could see that Nira had successfully fended off the slime. But he could also see something else--wandering in from further afield, at an angle where they likely wouldn't see Nira at all and would probably only notice Femus if they looked up into the branches, were two young Goblins. They were both male, as evidenced by their nakedness, but they were shorter and scrawny even by the standards of the greenskins. One held a pointed stick in his hands, and the other had a rock tied to a piece of vine.

"Bah, Grampy Kiri dunno nuttin'!" one of them was saying, rather loudly. His gesticulations made it clear he was angry. "We could too get dose medals! Been hearin' da Boss and Mid-Bosses talk 'bout it! If da mountain hadn't blowed up dey'd prob'ly've gone up dere already!"

"Iz too far, ya dum! An' up Norf is colder!" said his companion. "If yas wanna go huntin' somewheres, I sez we go to da riva!" He pointed to the east. "Dem gobs down dere been stayin' way aways since we beated 'em up!"

"Yeh? And how we's gonna catch da fishes, huh? Ain't got no nets! YOU da dum!"

The two were getting closer to the Great Kao, walking at a nonchalant pace...
[hr]
[h3]Farmstead[/h3]
[@Duthguy][@Jollan][@Guy0fV4lor]
[[OOC: Jolly don't forget that last update had a bit for Miiba in it too.]]
As Geir launched himself forward, Danny floated backward. Lesser Force pressed on the back of the axe as it flashed through the air, changing its course just slightly. Geir's attack swept the ground instead--and it was quite the blow, kicking up a chunk of the sod with no resistance. The young man grunted and continued his charge, running past Danny at an angle. He seemed to realize something had happened, sliding his grip on his axe to steady it and resetting the distance between them. His eyes were calculating--until they went wide as Jason flashed into existence in front of him.

Danny watched the young man go into a wild fit as if something had wrapped around his face. But in the inner realm, Jason saw something quite different.

In that monochrome space, they were face to face. Telepathically Jason roared a warning at the young adventurer, and Geir was forced back a metaphysical step. But suddenly Jason felt an intense pressure pushing back against him--far stronger than the mind of any goblin or other creature he had invaded since he became a spirit. The anger and rage were intense, a thunderous crash of willpower.

Everything smelled like fire and steel. Timbers reduced to splinters, walls of plaster and clay cracked and broken, crumbling to dust. Blood, sticky and warm and wet, covering his forehead. Tears blurring his vision.

"GET OOOOUUUUUT!"

Jason was practically thrown away like a ragdoll, and even Danny felt immediately cowed by the shout that ripped its way out of Geir's throat. This battle cry seemed to drown out everything else around them for an instant, and they felt as if only they and Geir existed--and Geir, for a split second, looked much more intimidating. Then the effect was gone, and the young man drew his knife as well as his axe and took up a more defensive posture, circling to one side.

"Begone, spirit! All of you, you monsters! I won't let you any closer to them!" His eyes were starting to look bloodshot, and as he took a deep breath his muscles tensed--

With a distinctive "ping" sound, Danny managed to actually shoot the axe out of the young man's hand. He watched it in pure shock as it spun through the air and landed in the dirt--then he whirled back on the Poltergeist. 

Like a rabid dog, the redhead leaped at the smaller foe. His knife buzzed with red energy as he began rapidly slashing in a combination too swift and flowing to be a wild, brainless attack. The first strike was a wide sweep at Danny's torso, followed immediately by a high, then low thrust, and that low thrust turned into an upward slash as Geir's body turned. He used his own momentum, rather than the action of the arm, to draw the knife back before his extended limb could be grabbed, and another turn sent out a third thrust...