Marcelin was a tad disappointed with what the group found inside the chamber. Or better said, what they didn't find. "While I'm no decorator, this room is quite big to only house that chest and book." One of his hands came up to his mustache, fingers running and smoothing the bristles. "I wonder..." Searching inside the backpack, the storyteller would produce a torch, lighting it with flint and steel, before walking to one of the corners of the chamber.

Actions
1 - Manipulate -> Produce Torch
2 - Manipulate -> Light it up with flint and steel
3 - Verify one of the corners of the chamber

Samuel lingered outside the doorway as the others entered, his gaze scanning the ceilings, walls and floors for irregularities or inscriptions. His instincts told him there was more to the space than met the eye... The warning sigil was probably warranted and the lack of anything warranting it didn't sit well with the Gambler. Beating steep odds was one thing; not knowing the odds stacked against you was a a while different thing.
"Let's not discount the danger this room may possess." he cautioned. "A little caution goes a long way."

Actions:
1) Observe the room for abnormalities
Insight F

2) Remain on Alert
- Dodge (if necessary)

Clarisse, let out a bit of a ‘hmph’ at Kain’ response. For the time being she looked into the room from the doorway, and periodically back out into the hallway as if just to keep watch and make sure nothing was sneaking up behind the group, while also watching what they were doing, to be at the ready to intervene if need be, even if her opinion had been made pretty clear early on that the room didn't seem particularly dangerous.

Marcelin examined one of the dark corners and he’d find what looked like a sort of small wooden button on a stone pillar in the corner. It wasn’t really known what it did, could be something helpful, neutral, or problematic for all that could be told immediately.

Samuel using insight, took notice that room felt sort of off, like it was curated well beyond what might be expected for a side room in a dungeon with so few objects in it, the stone floor looked cleaner as did the walls than the parts they had seen so far.

As the arcane book was picked up and examined his appraisal would soon reveal that the book said [monster] as a title pretty quickly..but that was probably apparent as by the time he was trying to open the thing, revealing completely blank pages, rows of sharp teeth materialized from the edges and three small amber eyes appeared along either side of the cover and it let out a screeching sound as a long purply tongue shot out and it immediately tried to bite him on the arm with a

Book Bite! Attack (E grade attack)

And two more follow up basic bite attacks.

While that was going on the chest didn’t fare much better as after he kicked it, the chest opened up revealing a large gaping mouth of rows of teeth, and a single large amber eye opened up on the front of the chest, as it sprouted brown almost goo like arms from it’s sides and it opened up it’s mouth wide and let out a screeching sound before moving aggressively and sporadically in to try to swallow kain, with it’s wide mouth, trying to clamp down on him after with a

Mimic Swallow- (D grade attack)

Thankfully The chest mimic didn’t go for a multi-attack.

A disconcerting growling sound was heard from the darkness in the corner parallel to the one which Marcelin had been exploring.

Round Summary: Marcelin found a mystery button in the corner,
Samuel could tell the room look sorta off and different, two mimics are trying to eat Kain for lunch,
there’s weird growling sounds coming from the dark corner on the same wall as the one that Marcelin was exploring.

As the book came to life Kain made a desperate attempt at throwing the book monster toward the chest monster, hoping they might eat each other instead. “By the gods! What devious beasts!” He yelled as the chest came toward him with a gaping maw.

Things were not looking good for the overconfident god as he was double teamed by vicious beasts. All he could do was attempt to side step the chest monster and hope to put some distance between them.

Actions
Attempt to dodge and throw the book monster.
Attempt to dodge again.
And try to dodge some more.

Marcelin was wiser, at the least in that very moment, to not press non-descript buttons embossed on walls. However, that didn’t mean the storyteller just forgot about its existence at all. He kept looking at it for a good moment, eyebrows furrowing, humming. “I wonder what this is all about…” He murmured.

His head would whip over his shoulder as he heard the slurping sound coming from the center of the room and saw the situation unfolding right before his eyes. “Hah! I knew there was a reason for that chest to be unattended!” He sounded almost glad that there was something in that very room.

“Hold on a moment, Your Eminence; let’s dispatch those filthy vermin!" The quill in his hand was raised high as he locked his emerald eyes on the beings.

First, he would embolden Samuel, Clarisse, and himself with his bardic magic. [1] Following that, he would fire a dual blast of raw mana against both the book and the chest. [2]

Actions:
1 - The Tale of Victory (FLUX) - Magic F + Magic Range F + Magic Targets F + Bolster [STR] F + Bolster [INT] F + Bolster [PRE] F + Energized F - Grade F 0 Post Cooldown - on Samuel, Clarrise and himself
2 - Smudge Erasure - Magic E + Magic Range F + Magic Targets F + Energized E - Raw bolts of mana fired up to 30ft and towards 5 targets - Grade E 0 Post Cooldown - on the Book and Chest mimics

"Yep." Samuel shook his head with a wry grin. "There it is. Knew there was something amiss about this room. Guess we should've brought a 10 foot pole after all..." Despite his mirth, he didn't intend on letting their only fighter go down due to the lusts of some overly ambitious furniture.
Standing his ground, the Gambler fanned cards in his hands and launched them to aid his teammates. First, to strike the malicious mimics then to salve any wounds the monsters inflicted on Kain.

ACTIONS:

1) Scaling
Magic F + Magic Targets F + Magic Range F + Enervate F
Scaling is the art of card throwing; in Samuel's case, the magical cards carry a heavier hit. He may choose up to five (5) targets within a 30 ft range to target with disruptive, damaging magic.

Grade: F Cooldown: 0

-targeting both Mimics

2) Draw Two
Healing F + Magic E + Magic Range F + Magic Targets F
Calling upon the power of Chance and Fate, the Huckster can reveal that injuries or illnesses were not as bad as initially surmised.
Samuel may choose up to five targets within 30 feet of him to receive the benefits of Healing | F |.

*Grade: E Cooldown: 1*

- targeting Kain

As Kain attempted to throw the book monster away it still managed to sink it’s sharp teeth into the lower part of his left arm, causing him a very unpleasant feeling, but it’s follow up bite attacks missed, More troublingly for Kain was that his basic dodge was not sufficient enough to dodge the more powerful larger mimic, who used it’s tongue to force him down so that it could clamp down it’s sizable teeth on him, this caused searing pain, as a large portion of his body suddenly felt numb like it wasn’t responding properly to what he wanted it to do, perhaps some kind of paralytic that this mimic had at it’s disposal.

In either case it was not a good experience for him, and he wasn’t seeing much inside of the mimic’s dark mouth.

Thankfully it wouldn’t be all that much longer even if he felt like he was on the verge of losing consciousness that it seemed some hope had arrived.

“These things?! Seriously?!” Clarisse called out a bit exacerbated at seeing two mimics attack, even less happy about the stronger one trying to attack. Though she did suddenly feel somewhat stronger than usual with the bolster, so it was apparent that her teammates had some powers it seemed, everyone who had been bolstered feeling similarly like their physicality, magic and mind processes were working more efficiently to a not extreme at F but noticeable degree.

Marcelin’s magic bolts after his bolster looked like they had more ‘oomph’ looking more glowy than usual thanks to the intel bolster as one slammed into the side of the mimic cracking it’s natural armor some with magical burns on it’s body, as it let out an earpiecing screech.

The book Mimic who still had its teeth sunk into Kain also got hit the book’s ‘cover’ taking significant damage.

Once again at being bolstered Samuel’s magic origin cards struck their targets true with a bit more oomph, hitting the book mimic and knocking it off of Kain’s arm finally as it landed on the ground, bleeding out a strange gray goo, it tried to get up and leap at Clarisse it’s mouth flapping still with sharp teeth as it bled.

Clarisse’ eyes narrowed as she moved her fan around,

“Don’t even think about touching me you filth!” She exclaimed with utter disdain.

“[Lux Terra Percutius!]” She called out allowed and sent suddenly two sizable fists made of earth from where her fan ended, they were like balled up fists with light energy glowing on them sort of like runes as her magic brutally smashed the book mimic to a fine goo as it was already almost dead before she hit it, and it even knocked over the chest mimic who was already quite damaged too from the others as it’s mouth eventually opened up when it was flipped over, it's natural 'wooden' armor pretty well looking destroyed.

At feeling the healing Kain got a chance to feel the numbness go away gradually and he felt better

To team up with Samuel she also used her own support there,

"[Lume Satem M!] She called out in Terran and a gentle orb of light left where she waved her fan and it washed over Kain some, furthering along the healing process as his bite mark wounds closed quicker between her and Samuel’s healing.

However the chest mimic didn’t look like it had been entirely killed, as it was trying to right itself up, just struggling some as it bled the same gray sort of substance from before.

Clarisse Actions:

1. Use following ability on mimics
Lux Terra Percutius! - Magic E, Light Affinity F, Earth Affinity E, Magic Targets F, Accurate Affinity F Magic Range F, Energized E,
Clarisse causes up to five fists conjured from earth and light to bash up to five foes for light and earth affinity damage, up to 30 ft away. -E grade ability ( cooldown 0, Energized)

2. Use following ability on Kain:

Lume Satem M! - Magic F (flux), Light Affinity F, Earth Affinity E, Magic Targets F, Accurate Affinity F Magic Range F, Energized F,
Clarisse casts a minor light of healing to help heal, up to five allies up to 30 ft away. -F grade ability ( cooldown 0, Energized)

Round summary:

Kain gets super injured by mimics, almost loses consciousness but twin healing team up helps bring him back.

Book mimic defeated, friendlies bolstered.

Chest mimic damaged badly but not defeated, instead trying to right self up.

As the book monster latched ahold of his arm Kain gritted his teeth and started to flail his arm around. “Get off me you godless heathen!”

As he flailed trying to get the book mimic off his arm he stumbled trying to dodge the larger mimic and was subsequently partially eaten and paralyzed by the mimic's attack.

The reincarnated god had never felt such pain and as he felt his strength fading away he let out a yell of desperation. But it was all for not as he felt consciousness slipping away from the combination of pain and probably venom.

Once released thanks to the combined efforts of his team he simply laid on the floor half conscious, but grateful to not have been digested. As the healing kicked in he slowly sat up and groaned. “What a terrible ordeal. I do not recommend getting bit by those monsters.”

When he saw that the mimic was still alive and struggling to right itself he weakly raised his right hand and fired off a Divine Surge to hopefully put the monster down for good. And as revenge for attempting to eat him. “Take that you vile demon.”

Actions
1. Get bitten on the left arm by the book mimic.
2. Get partially eaten by the chest mimic.
3. Fire off a Divine Surge at the chest mimic.
Divine Surge(Flux): [Elemental] Affinity [Lightning] F, Magic F, Magic Augmentor F [Range]. (Grade F, Cooldown 0.) (Lighting strikes a single target within 30 feet of Kain for immediate damage.)

"That was a serious gamble to go All-In, Mister Kain." Samuel offered, staying in place in case he needed to cast again. "Always consider the cards you're dealt and those your opponents might hold before you stake your bet." The adventuring life was a bit new to Samuel, being far more comfortable at a felt covered table in a nice safe Inn or tavern, but so far his insights from the game table were serving him well.
Kain struck at the ailing polymorphic monster with vengeance but what pulled the gambler's attention were the unexplored, shadowed corners and the mysterious button. "Clarisse, could you shed some light on those corners? In case anything might be hidden there?” The Noble had an element of light to her magics, perhaps she wouldn't take too much offense to being asked to be a flashlight.

Actions:
1) Stay on Alert
-prepare to Dodge or Block with 'Hedge Your Bets' (if necessary)
2) Read the Room
Insight F
-observe the shadowed parts of the room illuminated by Kain's divine lightning blast.

"The nerve on some creatures!" Marcelin grumbled as the Book mimic tried to get a slurp of Clarrise and was deftly defeated. "Although I feel like the story value of this room has already been spent." The storyteller crosses his arms, tapping one biceps with his index finger while wondering about something.
"Well then, time for an encore!" He says as he readies his magic once more.

Actions:
1 - The Tale of Victory (FLUX) - Magic F + Magic Range F + Magic Targets F + Bolster [STR] F + Bolster [INT] F + Bolster [PRE] F + Energized F - Grade F 0 Post Cooldown - on Samuel, Clarrise, Kain and himself
2 - Smudge Erasure - Magic E + Magic Range F + Magic Targets F + Energized E - Raw bolts of mana fired up to 30ft and towards 5 targets - Grade E 0 Post Cooldown - on the Chest mimics

Between the divine surge that looked a bit brighter from being bolstered that smited the knocked over sizable chest mimic, in tandem with Marcelin’s raw mana bolt smudge erasure attack which looked a bit more hefty from being bolstered, both flashy magics struck the chest mimic with impact on it’s under side, causing it to break apart in a bright spectacle in the dim space, it had been defeated.

Kain felt that the numbness and a rather uncomfortable tingly feeling was still lingering some in the arm where he had been bitten by the book mimic but gradually it was going away, still in part thanks to the healing.

There were a couple of sort of interesting objects left in the mimic’s remains.

From the book mimic, there appeared to be a small pearl like object that was a dark purplish hue.

From the chest mimic there appeared to be a larger pearl like object which looked like it was also dark purplish but this one had a bit of a sinister aura which eventually died down to look more mysterious and neutral.

“Guess those are cores..” Clarisse said a bit more softly but still aloud.

“And it looks like we can agree there, they’re vile creatures which are better off destroyed..” She’d speak on what the party had shared regarding their opinions on mimics.

Though she turned to look when Samuel spoke up.

“A bit of a pedestrian task for someone like myself..”She murmured, but even so,

“[Lum Adiuvare]” She spoke aloud, moving her fan around in a bit of a circular motion, before a ball of light simply moved forward into the areas that were darker so that the party could see what was going on.

It had been a bit harder to see just with the brief smite flashes when Samuel had been trying to see what was going on in the dark corners, but now it was much easier.

There were two small wooden buttons on each of the two corner wall pillars on the wall that Marcelin had been investigating. There still wasn’t really any kind of indicator what they did. Or how they had to be pressed to do anything.

Thankfully there wasn’t any kind of additional monster revealed that could have caused that earlier growling sound either.

“I guess the question is whether we want to push those or not, these types of dungeons can change in..ways I’ve heard when the monsters repopulate it.”

Clarisse actions:

Lum Adiuvare! - Magic E + Light Affinity F + Magic Targets F + Magic Range F + Magic Duration F + Selective E + Energized E
Clarisse creates up to five balls of lights up to 30 ft away to better illuminate a space or strike targets dealing radiance damage.

“Most certainly that is the fitting end for them.” Agreeing with the notion that those creatures are better destroyed, Marcelin skipped forward, bending over to pick up the smaller core from the book mimic. He would bring it up and hold it against the light of the torch in his hand. “Mmmm… curious, so this is all they are about in the end.” The storyteller threw it in the air, grabbing it as soon as it started to make its descent. “Maybe some little bauble can be made out of it.” He secured it inside a small coin pouch at his waist.

From there, he began walking back to the pillar he had first examined, looking at the buttons. Now that they were out of immediate danger, perhaps it would be good to figure them out. “Well… we were assigned to clear the first floor. Would be less than optimal if our job here were shoddy and rushed. It could very well damage your fine reputation and besmirch this wondrous tale, yes, yes?” He added, while elbowing one of the wooden buttons.

“Not every bluff pays off.” Kain laughed as he pushed himself to his feet, rubbing his left arm as he stood. “Thank you all for saving me! I will be sure to repay the favor!” Kain said loudly as he watched Marcelin toss the book mimic core up in the air. “Maybe they could be sold for some coin?”

As Marcelin elbowed one of the buttons on the wall Kain looked around the room. And waited to see what was going to happen, ready for what might come. "We should be thorough in our search. It's part of the job after all."

"Coin comes and goes, ebbing and flowing like the tides." Samuel offered nonchalantly. "No doubt someone might want the left-behinds of such a creature. Academic wizards love to poke and prod at things. Clarisse might know more about the mercantile virtues of such things."
The Gambler shuffled the magic cards in his hand in reactionary anticipation as the bard elbowed the button. In places like dungeons, anything could result from exploring uncautiously.

"You'll find that a lot of monsters have cores and stuff like that." Clarisse responded matter of fact almost a bit boredly, examining one of her finger nails a bit closer after she said it, as if to make sure it wasn't broken, before looking back around to everyone.

"But most peasants you meet won't be able to even handle one of those, so the core has some value to some people." Claisse asserted. Nodding at what Samuel had to say some. She then made her way over to the unoccupied button seeing that everyhone else was hitting one.

"Right then, You all ARE pretty safe with me here, just make sure you're careful what you touch. Might as well do a thorough job if we're going to go through the trouble of it all."

She said with a bit of a smug expression on her face, before she made her way over and elbowed the last button that wasn't being pressed by the group.

When each button was pressed they made a small click sound before suddenly the room began to shake briefly, causing Clarisse to look a bit more alert and ready her fan. But thankfully it did not seem like the group was in immediate danger, instead a wall began to slide open revealing another pathway which had been hidden, it was a dimly lit stone corrior which was only wide enough for about three of them to stand side by side, but it looked like some arrows had been written on the wall in a blue arcane color that glowe,d slightly, indicating to follow the path, perhaps it was left behind by other people who had ventured on the first floor before the floor had shifted around again as the floors tended to from time to time according to people who scouted and investigated the floors more regularly to give reports about their current status.

From what the group could see the new path revealed started to incline down gradually with some steps.

"it looks like we may have found a shortcut." Clarisse eventually said.

"Might as well check it out, they mainly care about you guys showing that you can beat the first floor boss to advance, course extra stuff isn't bad along the way but the sooner we beat that boss the sooner the job is successful."

As the wall opened revealing a secret path Kain rushed forward, the first to make his way down the slope into the cave. “Come, follow me!” He exclaimed excitedly as his sense of adventure got the better of him. You would think after that previous encounter he would be a bit more cautious, but you would be wrong.

His golden scales reflected what little light there was across the walls as he walked down into the new area, dim lights dancing across the stone with each step. “Maybe there will be actual treasure at the end. Let's hope the floor boss is as easy as those mimics were.”

Samuel hid a smirk at Kain's overly enthusiastic rush into the dark corridor as he doffed his hat and stowed it away. It made him wonder whether the ersatz 'god' was sent to this mortal realm to learn a bit of humility...the hard way. If Kain were to leave a story behind, probably via Marcelin, it would just as likely be a cautionary tale as it would one of adventure.
With the golden scaled god entering the corridor, Samuel followed cautiously observing the blue litten runes and the hallway itself for dangers. It occurred to him that learning by experience might not be the best way to approach adventuring and perhaps visiting an academy might not be the worst way to pick up the knowledge he'd need to avoid getting killed.
For now, though, he concentrated on what he already knew about not getting killed and examined the corridor for the likelihood of traps or other unpleasant surprises whom ( or what) ever made this place.

Actions:
1) Follow Kain cautiously and at a distance.

2) Look for traps or surprises:
Insight F

3) Block (if necessary):
Barrier E + Resist: Physical F

"Of course, my fair lady! We only enjoy full assurance of our survival all thanks to your magical might! I can only count myself fortunate thanks to your illustrious presence among us!" Marcelin declared as Clarisse assured their safety in his usual rambunctious tone. His mouth formed an almost theatrical 'O' as the wall began to move.

"Huzzah! The path ahead is revealed to us, and whatever 'guardian' skulks about at the end of this floor clearly has its days numbered!" The storyteller said while opening his arms wide. And seeing how Kain simply rushed ahead without any instinct of self-preservation, he couldn't help but smile.

"Brave god Kain rushed ahead,
Clearly, without an inch of dread,
Whatever lay in wait would not suffice,
For he, himself, was quite a surprise,
Let lurking horrors curse the skies,
For valor walks where caution dies!"

Actions
1 - The Tale of Victory (FLUX) on Kain - Magic F + Magic Range F + Bolster [STR] F + Bolster [INT] F + Energized F - Marcelin inspire tell tales of grandeur of his comrades, affecting their outcome in battle - Grade F 0 Post Cooldown

Clarisee followed after the others as they began their way down the corridor. Samuel didn’t immediately see anything particularly problematic with skill usage at a surface level as the group went down the stairs. Kain found his mind feeling a bit sharper and a stronger than usual from the bolster that Marcelin used on him as he headed down the corridor quickly.

As they went further down the hallway widened some, and the group would encounter a longer flat hallway made of the same dark stone, but there were some carvings in beastial script in pillars along the walls. Strangely enough though the floor looked like it was now made of cypress hardwood planks.

Periodically along the hallway looked like a few stone tori gates that had some tailsmen scattered around them again some of the talisman sort of looked erratic and written in a way that not even being able to read the language one could probably surmise that they were warnings.

At the very end of the hallway there appeared to be a large wooden door with a pretty good sized wooden beam across it, however the party would likely be able to slide the beam away from the door to open it if they so desired. The torches along the walls flickered some.

“Hm..as much as an expert I am..it what makes these dungeons harder to navigate is that they can change over time and rearrange themselves with new enemies and traps..it doesn’t always happen, infact when the change happens can actually be rather sporadic timing wise from my understanding..but when it dos it can create situations like the mimics earlier or..a hallway that looks safe but odd..”

“In short if you’re smart you’ll becareful moving through here.” She announced matter of fact ,even if nothing looked immediately dangerous.