[center][h2]The Forest[/h2][/center] [hr] [@Rune_Alchemist] [hr] Like a blast from one of those heathen foreign cartoons, Svarok’s Holy Bolt took the goblin between the shoulder blades. The creature cried out breathlessly as it was knocked end over end through the brush, coming to rest with a crash against a tree trunk. As the Orc Runt caught up with the so-called spy, the smaller greenskin rolled over onto its belly with a groan. As it got onto all fours, rubbing its head, it looked up to see the stern face of Svarok. “Eeeeek!” The goblin bowed down, putting its forehead to the ground as it blubbered. “I sorriez, Mighty Orcling! Please, please forgives!” sobbed the creature. “Please don’t kills me! I’s only a widdle gobby! I’s just a silly little guy! Pwee-heeeeze, has murh-hurr-cies!” Whether or not Svarok had mercy to spare, however, another rustling just out of her periphery on the right side reached her ears. Less than a half-second after that sound, [b]a second goblin sprang out of the brush! This one had a long stick tipped with a sharp piece of black-tipped rock, which it thrust squarely at Svarok’s midsection with a phlegmy roar![/b] [hr] [@Timemaster] [hr] [b][color=red][[Since Steel Legion has gone dormant, feel free to either attack the monsters you’ve encountered or to try and join up with another player instead. We can assume that Legion’s character either stays behind or chooses to retreat for now, etc]][/color][/b] As Carmina watched the Jackalope and the Slime before her, there was a bright burst of light not too far away, followed by a lot of what sounded like…crying? It didn’t seem like an Orc’s voice, being higher pitched in nature and kind of wheedling or nasal. The two monsters facing off with each other reacted as well, both looking in the same direction. If Carmina wanted a [b]distraction[/b], now would be the perfect moment to strike one of them…but, whoever that was that had caused the flash of light, [b]from the sounds of it they were either in, or causing, a great amount of distress[/b]. That voice sounded desparate… [hr] [@ReusableSword] [hr] The Tatzelwurm and the Harpy faced each other, both wounded. One bleeding, one seemingly poisoned. Both injured. The snake-cat coiled its body for what appeared to be a straight forward spring…the movement was telegraphed, but maybe it was relying on its seeming advantage in speed? The harpy, meanwhile, folded its wings and crouched low on those five-taloned, disturbingly hand-like feet… [b]Another red crackle of energy covered the Harpy’s talons[/b]. The tatzelwurm’s tail unleashed its muscular force like an activated spring. Its claws were held ready to intercept the Slash it thought was coming—it would use its fangs to deal the final blow instead! But the harpy didn’t take a swing at it. Instead, that energy on its legs seemed to be channeled into a sudden forward lunge that matched, maybe even exceeded, the Tatzelwurm’s speed! With an angled step the Harpy [b]dashed past the tatzelwurm[/b], and while the creature was still in the air after missing its own lunge, the bird-like monster bit down on the back of its neck! The cat-snake struggled and thrashed, but the harpy shook it back and forth like a dog, biting down harder all the while. [b]Within seconds, the tatzelwurm ceased to move. The harpy dropped it, stepping on it with one talon as if to make sure it was actually dead…[/b] The bruise on its shoulder grew larger, dark veins running up its neck. [b]The creature let out a pained yowl, and seemed to be out of breath…[/b] Agar’s target had seemingly been decided for him… [hr] [h2][CENTER]North Caves[/CENTER][/h2] [hr] [CENTER][@Unkown58][@Lucius Cypher][@King Cosmos][@Kazemitsu][@Crusader Lord][/CENTER] [hr] As Lazash and Vola explored deeper into the cavern, they were quick to notice the purple fungus and the large beetle. But now that they were inside and could look down the passageway, once their eyes adjusted they had a closer view of other things inside the cave as well. [b]A part of the cave wall looked dark and smooth and slightly wet, yet within it were faint sprinkles of lighter material, like individual grains of sand. It was clearly a different kind of stone from the rest of the material around it…[/b] And deeper into the cleft in the rock, the narrow passage, along the right-hand side of the wall there was another difference in the stony layers. [b]Standing out from the crags around it was a jagged part of the wall with a yellowish color and a metallic luster. It bore what looked to be scratch marks in several places. A distinctive black streak with green flecks crossed the uneven surface, as if drawn there with paint.[/b] But these materials were probably at the back of the Orc Runts’ minds, because two more immediate concerns were now within arm’s reach. Both of them decided to examine, and take a few samples, from the clusters of mushrooms under where the beetle clung to the upper wall. [quote=SYSTEM] Lazash acquired 2 Pimplestools! Vola acquired 4 Pimplestools! [/quote] Lazash was careful to watch the insectoid monster as well as she bent down, and activated her [Creature Analysis]. [quote=SYSTEM] Analyzing Creatures... [code]Flak Beetle - An aggressive insectoid known for the glowing sac hidden under its shell. The shell hides a gland in the bug's thorax that, similar to a firefly, contains a substance that produces light. It also has strong jaws.[/code] Skill Progress: Creature Analysis - Rank I > Rank II! [i]Gain more information when analyzing a creature, including a general assessment of the threat it poses. Warning: Assessment’s accuracy is based on known factors and does not account for individual differences within specimens.[/i][/quote] But as they pulled the purple mushrooms from their stalks, [b]the white pustules on each cap began to swell up![/b] With a sound like a fart, they burst and spewed clouds of tiny lavender spores into the air! The girls found that the dust settled on them without immediate harm, aside from perhaps causing some sneezing and coughing. Some of the spores also landed on the rocks around them. Then, the mushrooms that were still in the ground suddenly began to swell too—except instead of the white pustules, it was the [b]purple caps[/b] that began to inflate, and only one out of every four mushrooms seemed to be doing it. Then, rather than explode, the caps simply split open. [b]Followed by tongue like, barbed tendrils that lashed out with frightening speed towards Lazash and Vola[/b], as well as what seemed to be random spots on the ground and walls… Meanwhile, outside the cavern, it seemed like the three Runts waiting for something to bumble their way so they could unga-bunga it to death would have a rather boring time of it. However, if they were to pay close attention to their surroundings, especially on the rocky ledge above the entrance to the cave, they might note that there were indeed other life forms in this valley…some that were quite different from what they’d encountered in the forest… A [b]dire rat[/b], with the same kind of urgency that a squirrel has when leaping between trees over passing humans on the trail, jumped off one pile of rocks and scurried across the ledge towards another. In the process, however, it stepped on [b]one rock that actually jumped upward[/b]. From beneath the stone came a pair of [b]chitinous pincers[/b] that snapped and snatched at the rodent, who responded by biting back viciously and letting out an enraged squeak. [hider=Rock Mite (Bottom Right)] [img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1094242197211185182/1137859911594815569/dfq8gwi-010ee9cc-961d-4b12-8347-ecd55a702c8c.png?width=609&height=609[/img][/hider] And [b]behind[/b] the three waiting orc runts, from further up the slope of the valley, another creature came rolling downhill. [b]It wasn’t exactly coming right for them[/b]…but it didn’t look like it had any intention of avoiding them either…nor of slowing down… [hider=omg is that Jason?] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1094242197211185182/1137864967123632268/1000.png[/img][/hider] If they chose to engage these monsters, however, they might be risking not being in position when it came time to do their thing…however, Lazash and Vola hadn’t made much noise so far, so who knew how long it’d be until they found something…? [quote=TAKE NOTE] Grunthor acquired Spiked Club from Gren's inventory. Vola acquired Spear Thrower and Short Spears from Gren's inventory. [/quote]