[center][h1][color=chocolate]Edward Marsh[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] [color=chocolate]"Good to know our options. Thank you, gnome."[/color] The ratman says to the earth spirit as he thinks about where would be the best place. He considered going back to the myrminors but remembered how much of a danger they were in larger numbers...and those were just workers and scouts. Ed perished the thought of encountering a swarm of soldier myrminors. The goblin tribe beyond the town seemed too far but would likely warrant investigation in the future. Laketown's sewers would have been a fine option if they didn't look like monsters and the fact that it's a place where newbie adventurers go; meaning the likelihood of them getting killed would be far greater than he was comfortable with. That left the bandits at their camp and the mongrels. Both had pros and cons in hunting them but, after some consideration, the bandits would be a good quarry for them. Closer to the base to boot. If the bandits he and Asteria helped kill earlier were part of that group, it would mean they were down five members. Dealing with them now would also likely help them in the long run and maybe afterward they can go deal with the mongrels or myrminors. First things first though, they needed to practice and get used to using their new gear before they formulate a plan of action. Ed would then excuse himself if Asteria and the earth spirit were not yet done conversing with one another and return the [b][Flint and Steel][/b] back to the [b]Grass Pack Roll[/b] before retrieving his [b][Great Club][/b] and heading outside to begin practicing with it. It was like practice back in high school...but with the bat being an oversized weapon designed to destroy armor. Beginning with a few basic warm-ups to prepare his body for physical exercise. Then he would begin to swing the club with as much force as he could muster and try to keep his balance and footing after the swing itself. While doing this, he would also focus on his breathing to help circulate blood better, prevent cramps, and increase the time he can keep going without getting exhausted. He would repeat the process until failure, wherein which he would take a break but still focus on his breathing exercise to hopefully recover his stamina faster. [hr] At some point, Asteria would exit the barrow and see Ed as he was just getting warmed up for his impromptu batting practice with the great club. She asked him which group would he prefer to take on first. [color=chocolate]"Bandits, preferably. Also, careful. I'm not used to swinging this thing yet. I don't think we want any accidents happening."[/color] He would pause to finish up his first set of warm-ups. [color=chocolate]"If the five we helped kill were part of the bandits gnome mentioned, it would make the bandits are weaker by five. Including a caster and a bowman. Though we can't be completely sure. So I suggest we go scout the place out first. See how many there are and identify the defenses. Possibly even find out patrol routes and rotations. Only then we can formulate the most optimal attack plan."[/color] [hider=Stats] LVL: 7 HP: [color=Green]Healthy[/color] SP: [color=Yellow]Rested[/color] MP: [color=Green]Full[/color] Effect/s: [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][*] [Empty] [*]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] - Great Club (Unknown Quality) x 1 [color=green][b][Equipped][/b][/color] - Grass Packroll (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 [*] [Empty] [/list] - Assorted Insect Parts x 1 [b][With Asteria][/b] - Hobgoblin Meat x 10 lbs. [/hider] [hider=Action Summary] -Thanks gnome and thinks about the options given to them and which to choose. -Concludes that the best course of action was to choose the bandits or the mongrels. -Decides bandits assuming that the five they helped kill was part of the encampment. -Ed excuses himself if Asteria and gnome are yet to finish conversing with one another. -Returns the flint and steel to the pack and retrieves the great club for training. -Goes outside to limber up and begin swinging practice with the great club. -While doing so, also focusing on his breathing to help blood circulation, prevent cramps, and prolong his stamina. -Will do this until failure, wherein which he would take a break but keep his breathing in check to help regain stamina faster. -[edit] Told Asteria his preferred target between bandits and mongrels. [/hider]