[h3]PixieSlime Party[/h3] Asura was correct in that it took more than a single torch to get a dead body burning. However, Steve’s webbing was much more flammable, and its sticky nature made it hard to beat the flames out for any creature caught up in the tangle of corpses, struggling undead, and now a slowly spreading flame. Not to mention, the fur of the dead dire rats--both the literally dead and otherwise--was dry and dirty and greasy by nature. The more the various creatures struggled, the more the sticky web entangled them, and the longer the threads continued to burn, the greater the pyre became. Against both a blinding bright light and the dangerous heat, the undead began to shrink back--and soon the party of Hipixie, Slimes, Spider, and Squire were out of the chokepoint! No other monsters had come around the edge of the lake yet. As they kept going, they encountered no further resistance--the few scuffles they had on the way here had not been replaced by new minions. Soon they could see another flame--Knight Zieglar, waiting at the camp just outside the cave’s mouth. “Trent!” The armored man jumped up when he spotted Asura hefting the boy over his “shoulders.” As he assisted the red slime in bringing the youth into the light and safety of the campfire, he placed a hand on his forehead and closed his eyes. “Surprisingly little damage, all things considered...but he’s overdrawn his Magic Power...and his Stamina is nearly gone.” The man glanced at the sword, Undine, but as of yet said nothing. He turned to the Reincarnators and the other monster companions. “I suppose things didn’t go as well as we hoped, then? I didn’t see any signs of the Core’s destruction. Do any of you need healing?” After explaining all that had happened inside the caverns--Zieglar would ask a few questions to pull out every detail, in a concise and matter-of-fact manner much like a seasoned military veteran--and casting his own Minor Healing spell, Rank II, to top off their HP, he also cast a new spell on Asura. Placing one gauntleted hand on the Amorphous Slime’s membrane, he focused until a light purple glow, mixed with minty green sparkles, suffused his palm. “Lesser Theriac, Rank I.” Night had long settled outside the cave, but they could still see the distant light and smell the smoke of the funeral pyre Ardur had created. It did not seem like any of the monsters would pursue the would-be-dungeoneers. Trent was already sound asleep by the time the rest of the group’s treatment and explanations were finished. “I’ll wake him up in a few hours when it’s time for watch, and take two shifts myself. Ardur, Asura, if each watch goes around two hours, I’ll be relying on you. I’m sure your other companions are sensitive to danger, but I doubt they can measure time too well. In the meantime…” He handed everyone a bowl of stew. It smelled...somewhat familiar? Asura couldn’t be sure, but that [i]might[/i] be a Bugbear hair floating in his portion...In any case, the group soon settled in for the night. [quote=System:Asura] Skill Gain: Poison Resistance I (1.15)! Take less damage from Poisonous spells or skills, and have a better chance to resist this particular status infliction. By gaining at least one rank of all other status resistances, Skill Synergy will occur and grant you one rank of Status Resistance. By gaining further ranks in this specific skill, you will gain a choice of Branch Skills related to it. LEVEL UP! You have survived a harrowing trial, and gained new power! You are now Level 9! Your Max Stamina has increased! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! LEVEL UP! You have survived a harrowing trial, and gained new power! You are now Level 10! Your Max HP has increased! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! Unspent Skill Points: [color=red]22[/color] Current Skills: Physical Damage Resistance II (2.0) Overwork II (2.1) Blunt Resistance I (1.5) Limited Shapeshift IV (4.196) Smash II (2.45) Pierce Resistance I (0.6) Faster II (2.075) Magic Resistance I (1.55) Harder I (1.7) Counter I (1.3) Cling I (1.4) Slime Whip I (1.4) Throw Item I (1.1) Rabid Fit I (1.1) Iron Gullet I (1.9) Monster Analysis I (1.95) Stamina Furnace I (1.4) Mental Resistance I (1.2) Stronger I (1.5) Slime Shell I (1.55) Blood Drain I (1.15) Earth Resistance I (1.0) Skewer I (1.35) Slash I (1.1) Slash Resistance (0.2) Charisma I (1.1) Magic Analysis I (1.1) Slime Coil I (1.0) Dextrous I (1.0) Poison Resistance I (1.15) Soil Manipulation (0.8) Stone Shot (0.55) Bounce (0.6) Muffle (0.3) Dash Attack (0.4) Spiritual Awareness (0.5) Intimidate (0.3) First Aid (0.2) Acid Spit (0.2) Fire Resistance (0.3) Water Resistance (0.0125) Focus (0.4) Alert (0.6) Fortify (0.1) Point Strike (0.5) Cleave (0.3) Crafting (0.3) Material Analysis (0.5) Telepathy (0.1) Defender (0.8) People Sense (0.2) Deception (0.2) Plant Analysis (0.1) Acid Resistance (0.2) Stone Shell (0.3) Steal Stamina (0.3) Use Light Equipment (0.2) Mana Sense (0.1) 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) Amorphous Slime (Variant Chance) - Slimes that have a preference for shape shifting sometimes develop a weakened membrane. Their defensive abilities stop increasing so quickly compared to normal slime types, but their shapeshifting and movement skills rise more quickly. These slimes avoid water, as it has a much stronger diluting effect on them.[list] [*]Increase speed-stats (reduced) [*]Increase Rank: Limited Shapeshifting [*]Very Slightly increase non-defensive base stats [*]Increase Potential[/list] *(Adolescent) Giant Slime (Variant Chance) - Giant Slimes have simply grown bigger, and their membranes have increased in strength so as to hold more mass without causing their bodies to split. Their digestive fluids also become stronger, but as a result of these advantages they require more food.[list] [*]Increase Rank: Physical Damage Resistance [*]Increase HP (reduced) [*]Increase base defense-stats (reduced) [*]Very Slightly increase non-defensive base stats[/list] (Adolescent) Mush Slime (Variant Chance) - Slimes that have ingested lots of poisonous, rotten, or otherwise unsavory things. In addition to building up their own tolerance to poisons and diseases, anything that their body cannot fully break down is concentrated into “bubble spores” of impurities and pushed out towards the top of their membrane, creating a “cap” of sorts that often bursts on an unwary attacker.[list] [*]Increase Rank: Poison Resistance (reduced) [*]Increase Rank: Poison Spit (reduced) [*]Increase Rank: Iron Gullet (reduced) [*]Increase Rank: Acid Spray (reduced)[/list] ***(Adolescent) Parasite Slime (Variant Chance) - Like the Amorphous Slime, it is more fluid in its movements, but its mass has been more efficiently concentrated to make it a bit smaller and denser than an Amorphous Slime. With the appearance of an oversized bacterium, it tries to find ways into the bodies of other creatures. Using Skills like [Slime Shell], [Cling], and [Limited Shapeshift], it worms its way into a vital organ or hard-to-reach place and begins to siphon nutrients from the unlucky host. If allowed to grow, it will eventually be able to completely take over another creature’s body, sometimes producing strange hybrid Transformations. However, many dangers come with relying on the power of another for your own survival…[list] [*]Increase Rank: Blood Drain [*]Increase Rank: Limited Shapeshift (reduced) [*]Slightly increase all non-defensive base stats[/list] [/quote] [quote=System:Ardur] LEVEL UP! You have survived a harrowing trial, and gained new power! You are now Level 8! Your Max MP has increased! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! LEVEL UP! You have survived a harrowing trial, and gained new power! You are now Level 9! Your Max HP has increased! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! Unspent Skill Points: [color=red]16[/color] Current Skills: Shield II (2.275) Lesser Flight III (3.4875) Minor Heal III (3.75) Physical Conditioning I (1.0) Fire Resistance I (1.45) Taming II (2.15) Fireball I (1.8) Stronger II (2.3) Crafting II (2.0) Muffle I (1.35) Inspire I (1.25) Guidance I (1.9) Spell Chant I (1.25) Use Light Equipment (--) Meditate I (1.35) Point Strike I (1.25) Monster Analysis I (1.7) Keen Sight I (1.15) Material Analysis I (1.9) Lesser Cleanse I (1.1) Alert I (1.6) Mana Strike I (1.05) Faster I (1.0) Throw Item I (1.25) Stone Shot I (1.1) Keen Ear (0.3) Alchemy (0.5) Magic Analysis (0.9) Mana Orb (0.15) Focus (0.6) Throw Voice (0.1) Mana Strike (0.9) Charisma (0.8) Soothe Song (0.9) Harder (0.1) Reinforce (0.7) Throw Item (0.5) Stone Shot (0.6) Iron Gullet (0.5) Soil Manipulation (0.3) Rabid Fit (0.6) Fire Fist (0.2) Magic Resistance (0.8) Minor Regeneration (0.1) Flame Aura (0.1) Warcry (0.1) Immolation (0.1) Spiritual Awareness (0.4) Overwork (0.4) Lucid Dream (0.1) Blood Drain (0.1) Dextrous (0.4) Mana Sense (0.2) Mana Drain (0.2) Mental Resistance (0.2) Slash (0.2) Counter (0.1) Smash (0.2) Sol Flare (0.1) Mana Gift (0.1) Deflect Spell (0.05) Dash Attack (0.2) Acrobatic (0.4) Intercept (0.1) Swift Swimmer (0.6) Breath Control (0.3) Aqua Siphon (0.1) Targeting (0.1) STEVE, LEVEL UP! Your Tamed Creature [Steve] is now Level 5! Steve has survived a lethally dangerous trial, and gained new power! Steve gains Skill Points that you, as the tamer, may influence! STEVE, LEVEL UP! Your Tamed Creature [Steve] is now Level 6! Steve has survived a lethally dangerous trial, and gained new power! Steve gains Skill Points that you, as the tamer, may influence! STEVE, LEVEL UP! Your Tamed Creature [Steve] is now Level 7! Steve has survived a lethally dangerous trial, and gained new power! Steve gains Skill Points that you, as the tamer, may influence! Unspent Skill Points: 15 Current Skills: Web Spit II (2.675) Doze I (1.025) Thread Control I (1.425) Poison Fang I (1.375) Muffle (0.5) Blunt Resistance (0.275) Alert (0.425) Fire Resistance (0.125) Faster (0.625) Poison Resistance (0.225) Pierce Resistance (0.375) YOUR TAMED CREATURE IS READY TO TRANSFORM! Based on its life experiences, its ability to survive, and the strength of your bond, new paths have appeared! Choose carefully--there is no going back! [color=red]WARNING. THIS PROCESS WILL LEAVE THE CREATURE TEMPORARILY VULNERABLE.[/color] OPTIONS (* Indicates Suitability): **(Adult) Oculus Spider - A low-ranking Arachnid-class Insect-type Monster. While it possesses venom, it is not that much more potent than a normal spider and thus it is virtually harmless to humans save in very large doses or in the case of specific allergies. However, because it has adapted to Mana in its environment and thus become a Monster, it has gained a large eye that works differently than its normal eyes. It will swing from a web in a hypnotic manner to entice prey.[list] [*]Increase all base stats [*]Increase Potential (Overlevel Boost) [*]Increase Rank: Doze (reduced) [*]Increase HP[/list] (Immature) Razorpede - A fairly typical Arthropod-class Insect-type Monster. Its long body is supported by many pairs of legs, each of which have sharp blades of chitin running along their last joint. Its mandibles are also quite vicious, capable of snapping right through an animal’s hide. As if that weren’t enough, its bite is venomous and it moves quite swiftly. [list] [*]Increase Speed stats [*]Increase Rank: Poison Fang (reduced) [*]Increase Rank: Faster (reduced) [*]Increase Potential (Overlevel Boost) (Reduced)[/list] (Immature) Guard Mantis - A fairly typical Insect-type Monster. The back of its body, and its two forelimbs, bear thick shells it can use to fend off attacks. After an enemy tires itself out trying to hurt it, it uses the shells to deliver powerful, battering-ram strikes to the prey.[list] [*]Increase Defense stats [*]Increase Rank: Defender (reduced) [*]Very slightly increase all other Base Stats [*]Increase Potential (Overlevel Boost) (Reduced)[/list] Steve's intelligence, ability, and physical stats are not high enough to enable Skill Teaching. Do you wish to distribute your Tamed Creature's Skill Points? [/quote] [[Like the Farmstead group, you’re on the night of Day 5. I’d like to do a timeskip to get you to the end of Day 6 so that every group can start Day 7 at the same time, but I’m assuming you’re going to want to make another go at the dungeon. Let’s get in touch on Discord to plan something out.]]