Zeroth

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

@PathtowrathNot at the moment, sorry. This RP requires me to keep track of a lot of behind the scenes stuff, and I'm barely able to remember how to respond to everyone's posts as I go along as is. If something changes later on I'll try to let those who have expressed interest know.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Bonfire Party

39 Mana Crystals remain.
4 Flame Touched Crystals remain.

LOOT

You have obtained a Source Crystal.
You Used the Source Crystal!
---Target: Mourningstar---
More magical manifestation than biological creatures, Wisps nonetheless possess physical bodies. Their ability to cast spells from range makes them a foe that should not be underestimated by the novice. Wisps are magically oriented monsters, normally possessing two spells. This Wisp possesses the skills Mana Orb (Rank II), Lesser Force (Rank II), Levitation, Magic Analysis (Rank II), Mana Shape, Mana Slice, Monster Analysis (Rank II), and is developing an unusual number of other skills. This Wisp is
Level 3, with average stats for its species. You have learned this Wisp's name is Mourningstar. This Creature's Source is Unrecognized. ERROR: ENCOUNTERED FOREIGN OBJECT.

System:Jason

As Jason felt the headache coming on, he would also notice something else. The mysterious green Source Crystal suddenly went a dark, cloudy gray. The pressure on his mind seemed to abate...but then one of the Mana Crystals in his inventory pulsed.

Source Crystal recharged.
You Used the Source Crystal!
---Target: Asteria---
Dire Rats are quite large and strong for rodents, with sharp senses. They are predator scavengers, and because their teeth constantly grow they forage and gnaw constantly. Their forepaws are somewhat capable of gripping and manipulating, but they aren’t very skilled. Rats often hunt in packs, composed of family units, but the mothers will often drive off the fathers as they will behave aggressively towards the young. This Dire Rat possesses the skills Beast Sense, Faster, Monster Analysis, and Dextrous, and is developing an unusual number of other skills. This Dire Rat is Level 2, but is rapidly gaining experience. You have learned this Dire Rat's name is Asteria. This Creature's Source is Unrecognized. ERROR: ENCOUNTERED FOREIGN OBJECT.

Source Crystal recharged.
You Used the Source Crystal!
---Target: Mother Rat---
Dire Rats are quite large and strong for rodents, with sharp senses. They are predator scavengers, and because their teeth constantly grow they forage and gnaw constantly. Their forepaws are somewhat capable of gripping and manipulating, but they aren’t very skilled. Rats often hunt in packs, composed of family units, but the mothers will often drive off the fathers as they will behave aggressively towards the young. This Dire Rat possesses the skill Beast Sense, and is developing the skill Poison Resistance. This Dire Rat is Level 6. This Dire Rat is called Mother Rat by others. Its HP and Base Stats have increased over time. Its Potential has increased after maturation.

Source Crystal recharged.
You Used the Source Crystal!
---Target: Hard Rock---
This is a Hard Rock. It is a solid aggregate of mineral substances. If used as a weapon it deals Blunt damage. It has very minor Earth Element properties. It is of Bad Quality.

Source Crystal recharged.
You Used the Source Crystal!
---Target: Flame Touched Mana Crystal---
Mana Crystals that have been exposed to a large amount of elemental Mana associated with Fire. Forcibly breaking this crystal produces a small-scale, fiery blast similar to many low-rank Fire Spells. It is of Low Quality. It has Low Sharpness, and is Brittle, Hard, and Crystalline in structure.

You have no Mana Crystals remaining.
Source Crystal requires a charge before further use.

System:Jason

The splitting pain in Jason's head was so bad that he couldn't even stop his wandering eye before the Source Crystal had used up all of his stash. That probably wouldn't be a big deal, given the loot they had stolen from the goblins, but it seemed this odd system wasn't quite done with the green slime just yet--!

Your experiences have culminated in new skills!
Skill Gain: Material Analysis I!
You may now analyze physical materials to learn their most basic physical characteristics.

Skill Gain: Magic Analysis I!
You may now analyze magical energies or objects to learn their most basic magical characteristics. Less effective on Materials and Monsters unless they are magical in nature.

Skill Gain: Monster Analysis I!
You may now analyze Monsters and other living creatures to learn their most basic characteristics.

LEVEL UP!
Your battles have culminated in new power! You are now Level 4! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!

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

Unspent Skill Points:
10

Current Skills:
Physical Damage Resistance I (1.0)
Warcry I (1.5)
Stone Shot II (2.05)
Rock Spire I (1.4)
Tremor Sense II (2.1)
Soil Manipulation (1.0)
Telepathy I (1.5)
Material Analysis I (1.0)
Magic Analysis I (1.0)
Monster Analysis I (1.0)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Faster (0.3)
Wave Shock (0.1)
Swift Swimmer (0.1)
Aqua Sphere (0.7)
Alert (0.1)
Limited Shapeshift (0.8)
Smash (0.4)
Cleave (0.3) <CURRENTLY INCOMPATIBLE>
Blood Drain (0.6)
Taboo (0.3)
Muffle (0.1)
Crafting (0.1)
Mental Resistance (0.7)
Magic Resistance (0.3)
Agriculture (0.2)
Plant Analysis (0.1)
Acid Spit (0.5)
Bounce (0.1)
Charisma (0.75)
Focus (0.7)
Fire Resistance (0.3)
Fortify (0.2)
Sensory Resistance (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! WARNING. THIS PROCESS WILL LEAVE YOU TEMPORARILY VULNERABLE.

OPTIONS (* Indicates Suitability):
(Adult) Slime (High Variance Chance) - Slimes are amorphous creatures more similar to undeveloped egg yolks, yet they are able to move on their own and digest prey. Their bodies are highly resistant to physical damage and malleable.

• Slight increase to all base stats.
• Increase HP.
• Increase Potential.

(Immature) Giant Slime - 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.

• Increase Rank: Physical Damage Resistance.
• Increase HP (Reduced).
• Increase all base defensive stats (Reduced).
• Very Slightly increase non-defensive base stats.

**(Immature) Slime Mage (Low Variance Chance) - Slimes are normally of limited intelligence, but every so often one somehow learns magic. With its poor magic stats its casts are limited in number, but few expect a Slime to have such abilities. Keep studying, slimy student!

• Very slightly increase all base stats.
• Slight Increase MP
• Increase Rank: Mana Orb (Reduced)
• Increase Rank: Shield (Reduced)

*(Immature) Block Slime - An elemental variation of a Slime aligned with the Earth. Their bodies become much more rigid, and take on a hard, geometric shape. It becomes much more difficult for them to use any shapeshifting or movement based skills, but their durability is comparable to Giant or Metal Slimes and they sometimes develop Earth based magics.

• Increase all base defensive stats.
• Increase Rank: Earth Affinity
• Increase Rank: Stone Shot (Reduced)

System:Jason

---

Oberon's treatment of Asteria helped boost her HP back to full, but she soon received another System message that she was taking minor damage from the poison--which she didn't really need, considering the spasming cramps and pain that told her the same thing. As of yet, it didn't look like either the rat's focus on her mana, or the pixie's treatment could cure her. For right now, however, it seemed that they would be able to manage the symptoms. His Shield spell would serve to protect her from further damage, but other than that he couldn't quite achieve the result he was going for.

As the dirt settled from the battle, however...

Your practice has increased your skill!
Rank Up: Shield II > Shield III!
MP usage remains the same as Rank II. The Target's defenses are further increased.

LEVEL UP
Your battles and experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 4! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!

Unspent Skill Points:
10

Current Skills:
Minor Heal I (1.6)
Lesser Flight II (2.15)
Shield III (3.0)
Magic Analysis III (3.25)
Mana Orb I (1.2)
Mana Shape I (1.0)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Meditation (0.3)
Focus (0.5)
Lesser Status Heal (0.4)
Monster Analysis (0.5)
Material Analysis (0.1)
Plant Analysis (0.1)
Mental Resistance (0.2)
Wall (0.1)
Faster (0.2)
Mana Dart (0.3)
Alert (0.1)
Minor Regeneration (0.1)

System:Oberon

LEVEL UP!
Your battles have culminated in new power! You are now Level 3! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!

Unspent Skill Points:
10

Current Skills:
Beast Sense I (1.8)
Faster I (1.85)
Monster Analysis I (1.7)
Dextrous I (1.05)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Poison Resistance (0.2)
Muffle (0.2)
Use Light Equipment (0.4)
Crafting (0.5)
Charisma (0.7)
Magic Analysis (0.55)
Mana Sense (0.25)
Telepathy (0.15)
Mental Resistance (0.1)
Stronger (0.2)
Soil Manipulation (0.25)
Overwork (0.1)
Minor Cure (0.025)

System:Asteria

---

As Ed eviscerated the Fanged Lizard for the sake of making an impromptu waterskin, he managed to accidentally get some of the stomach's acids on his paws. It didn't burn nearly as much as the lizard's venom tended to, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. Despite this he persevered and dragged it all the way to the pool. Once filled with water, the stomach's tissues didn't exactly seem water-tight. All the digging and pulling and dragging Ed had to do to get the thing in the first place had probably ripped it in some places. However, it held at least a little bit, perhaps a cup's worth, long enough for him to get it back to Asteria as Oberon tended to her.

But he soon felt his strength diminishing more and more rapidly.

You have no Stamina remaining. You are experiencing HP Drain from continued activity. Some Skills may become unusable.

LEVEL UP!
Your battles and struggles have culminated in new power! You are now Level 3! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! Total SP increased! (You do not recover SP by leveling up.)

Unspent Skill Points:
5

Current Skills:
Beast Sense I (1.5)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Muffle (0.5)
Material Analysis (0.2)
Magic Analysis (0.6)
Monster Analysis (0.6)
Faster (0.3)
Rabid Fit (1.0) <REQUIREMENT UNMET>
Warcry (0.1)
Alert (0.3)
Dextrous (0.2)
Tremor Sense (0.025)
Mental Resistance (0.7)
Telepathy (0.075)
Mana Shape (0.6)
Focus (0.6)
Shield (0.5)
Mana Shell (0.3)
Stronger (0.6)
Soil Manipulation (0.4)
Overwork (0.4)
Harder (0.2)
Crafting (0.1)
First Aid (0.1)

System:Ed

---

Asura managed to grab both Dire Rats, but while he finished off the injured one the second managed to tear off his pesudopod with its fangs and escape the Slime's grip. As it tried to regroup, however, Digbie grabbed a handful of stones. Not only did the goblin throw them, but he attempted to use his Soil Manipulation to accelerate them. The spell didn't work properly on non-soils, as the rocks were too large and too hard to count compared to something like dirt or sand--but something about using this particular skill just seemed to "click." The four stones took on a golden glow as they left Digbie's hand, suddenly seeming to accelerate in midair. They punched into the Rat's body like darts, sending blood and a chipped tooth spraying across the wall of the tunnel.

LEVEL UP!
Your battles and experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 3! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! Base power stats have slightly increased!

Unspent Skill Points:
5

Current Skills:
Physical Damage Resistance I (1.86)
Overwork I (1.0)
Blunt Resistance I (1.05)
Limited Shapeshift II (2.1)
Smash I (1.25)
Pierce Resistance I (1.05)
Magic Resistance I (1.0)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Earth Resist (0.6)
Mental Resistance (0.3)
Monster Analysis (0.2)
Slime Shell (0.3)
Faster (0.6)
Cling (0.4)
Charisma (0.3)
Counter (0.4)
Slime Whip (0.3)
Dextrous (0.1)
Soil Manipulation (0.2)
Stone Shot (0.1)
Slime Coil (0.1)

System:Asura

Your experiences have enabled a new skill!
Skill Gain: Stone Shot I!
You have learned to charge a piece of stone with your energy before hurling it at your opponent. This attack does blunt, piercing, and Earth-elemental magic damage. It consumes less MP than most spells, but requires ammunition.

System:Digbie

---

Goblin Party

"...But where you learn from?" the curious goblin persisted. Yet when Orchid ordered him to go gather materials, he shrugged and wandered off towards the woodpile to argue with other goblins over branches and saplings that might make good spearshafts. Orchid gave the third goblin the Bowhorn with an order to find more, but as he snapped out of his daze he shook his head.

"Dun think I could find no more! I only got this cause Ventures forgot to take it. I dun think I could catch one of them deers by meself!" He shoved it back at Orchid, then headed for the trees. "I knows lots of trees like dat though! I getcha the stretchy stuff!"

When they returned with what Orchid had asked, they didn't seem to have as much as before. In addition to plain, dry wooden sticks and a few crackly strips of bark, however, they did bring back a few things of value. Or at least the first two did. The first goblin handed Orchid another Antidote Fern, and the second one who asked all the questions also gave her...a dried grape? No, it wasn't exactly a dried up grape...it looked like the eyeball of some creature! And rather than becoming wrinkly or leathery after drying in the sun for who knew how long, it had instead hardened to a texture much like a pebble. It reminded Orchid of child's marbles, particularly the ones called catseyes, but the eye's sclera was a dark black.

With her materials in place, Orchid began teaching her prospective disciples. Oddly enough, while trying to explain it to someone else, the female goblin would find doing so helped her to solidify her own ideas and put her focus on the fundamentals of her newfound crafting abilities.

You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.
You made an item!
Cracked Bark (Bad Quality) + Cracked Bark (Low Quality)
Your Crafting III skill increases the quality of your item. Bad > Low Quality
You have made this item before. Your experience helps increase the quality of your item.
Your crafting method is more effective compared to your raw materials. It helps increase the quality of your item.
Your item quality has been increased. Low Quality > Average

You made Fiber Cord (Average!)

You made an item!
Fiber Cord (Average) + Cane Wood (Low Quality) + Small Stick (Bad Quality)(Multiple) + Stiff Stick (Low Quality)
Your Crafting III skill increases the quality of your item. Low Quality > Average.
You have made this item before. Your experience helps increase the quality of your item.
Your method of crafting is more effective compared to your raw materials. It helps increase the quality of your item.
Your item quality has been increased. Average > Good.

You made a Wicker Shield (Good)!

You made an item!
Sharp Stick (Low Quality) + Sharp Stone (Well Formed Quality) + Fiber Cord (Good)
You have processed these items.
Sharp Stick + Hard Rock = Smoothed Sharp Stick (Low Quality > Average)
Smoothed Sharp Stick + Fire = Smooth Fire Hardened Stick (Average > Good)
Sharp Stone + Hard Rock = Stone Blade (Well Formed > Well Made)
Your Crafting III skill increases the quality of your item. Well Made > Excellent.
Your method of crafting is more effective compared to your raw materials. It helps to increase the quality of your item.

You created: Stone Spear (Excellent)! You feel stronger and faster when equipping this piece of equipment! This weapon can deal Slash or Piercing damage. This weapon can be thrown. It is slightly vulnerable to Fire.

Your constant practice has increased your skill!
Rank Up: Crafting III > Crafting IV!
You can now craft more complex objects with multiple moving parts, though the more parts there are the more difficult maintaining quality becomes. The quality of your created items is slightly increased. Stamina depletion is the same as Rank III. Sub-Stat Enchancements are the same as Rank III.

System:Orchid

After handing the three stooges the rest of her cordage, the high quality spear she had just created, and leaving them to their bundle of sticks, Orchid sat down near Crispy and began to cook. The Flame Touched Goblin stoked the flames as he watched her--it looked like his eye had been healed up by this point thanks to a few more Herbs. He seemed to be thinking about something...but if Orchid ever noticed, he would look away and return to sharpening another Stone Knife in his hands.

You made an item!
Blood Snare Vine (Excellent) + Broken Goblin Teeth (Bad Quality) + Tree Sap (Low Quality) + Short Stick (x2) (Low Quality)
Your Crafting IV skill increases the quality of your item. Good > Well Made
The Special Quality of this item makes it more efficient. Special Quality: Blood Drain I

You created: Bloody Garrote (Well Made)! This weapon's damage is increased by Stealth! This weapon has the effect Blood Drain I--if the weapon draws blood, the enemy will suffer very minor damage over time.

System:Orchid

As Orchid set off from the fire into the forest looking for that other female, Crispy watched her go. Then he looked over towards the three goblins that were now attempting to imitate her. His gaze then drifted towards Rattleskull, who had now begun whittling the less-sturdy pieces of wood from the rapidly-diminishing pile. The bigger boss simply tapered their handles and smoothed them out, so as to make them easier to hold and give more leverage to their swings. The wood was often too dried, too rotten, or otherwise unable to withstand the more complex bits of crafting like inserting stone blades or making notches. So they were simple wooden clubs, but slightly better, and much easier to produce.

The one broad shouldered goblin now carried a Wooden Spear. Some random goblin Rattleskull had picked out got the Stone Hammer the boss had made. Crispy had two Stone Knives made, along with several torches, and Orchid had shown the other three how to make shields and spears. That left about ten of the goblins out of the group still using their simplified sticks and stones...but the day was beginning to grow late, the sun headed towards the horizon as the sky turned redder by the moment.

Orchid's bitch-hunt didn't take long. She soon came across the other female sitting on a tree limb up above what looked like a game trail, sawing on branches with her one Sharp Stone. It was taking quite a while, as her stone was dulled and the trees were still green with life.

---

Rain

Rain's recently upgraded Stun Fang seemed to be doing the job much more efficiently--the second goblin went down much the same way as the first. But now more green heads began to poke through the entrance of the cave, and there was much chattering among them.

"What da heck happenin' over dere?!"

"Dey both just fell over!"

"Somethin' must be over there! Boss! Hey Boss! Come see this!"

Two of them kept watch while the third ran off, most likely to get Rattleskull. One of the two lookouts picked up a hefty rock and got ready to throw it at the first thing that moved. For now Rain was hidden behind the bodies, but how would she get away...?

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Ash’s Party

The first Dire Rat that Ash attacked squeaked in alarm as her fangs sank into the scruff of its neck. It struggled as she dragged it back--it didn't seem to have taken a large enough dose of the paralytic venom thanks to its thick fur, but Ash could taste blood. Nonetheless it managed to get away from her with its thrashing, but she had accomplished her goal of getting Colchain free. Danny darted in, and the air took on a soft glow much like his body as he focused his Lesser Force into a distinct blow, jabbing the same rat in the eye as it tried to back away from Ash. Again it squealed in pain, now with one eye closed and already beginning to bruise.

A glowing aura surrounded Colchain, who hissed in confusion as Scott's shield settled on him. When he realized it didn't hurt, however, the wild lizard turned his attention back to his enemies. He lobbed a ball of Poison Spit at the other two Dire Rats before they could assist their packmate, and they scattered to get away from the acid.

Just as the blinded rat seemed to get its composure back, Ardur came diving out of the sky with one glowing fist. With this much momentum, the added protection to his bulked up fist, and his choice of one of the most sensitive targets on the rat's body, this blow was tremendous. Already damaged, the rat couldn't recover in time to brace itself--with a meaty crack Ardur's punch struck it at the base of the ear, and this weaker point of its skull fractured under the force. As it spun around and collapsed to the ground the Rat's eyes glossed over, blood trickling out of its ear as it twitched its last.

Naji took to the skies to avoid the fight entirely, but as the remaining two rats tried to refocus their efforts on Colchain the pixie intervened. With a spin like an Olympic hammer thrower he let the goblin eye fly. Though it was made of squishy bits, it was still the size of a large marble, and it surprised one rat as it struck the beast in the side. The creature rolled over, but before it could come back to its feet Colchain lunged on top of it, snapping his fangs. At the same time, however, he once again exposed his back to the second Dire Rat, which wasted no time in leaping through the air at him...

In the distance something rumbled loudly...

---

Bonfire Party

You used Magic Analysis II!
Effectiveness at 100%
---Telepathy---
This skill seems to channel the user's thoughts to you somehow. It seems that it only works with physical contact. It seems simplified thoughts or emotions work best. It doesn't seem like you could communicate two ways through it. It does seem to take a fair bit of MP to work.
---Analysis Complete---

System:Mourningstar

As Mourningstar fired her Mana Slice, the crescent wave whistled through the air faster than a Mana Orb. The three lizards had barely finished their first attack when the spell struck the first of them, leaving a deep wound just like it had been slashed across its back with a sword. The creature hissed and writhed in pain as blood spattered the rocks, but it wasn't quite dead yet. The other two realized that they, too, were under attack, and the group began to spread out--but just as they separated, a large rapidly moving mass of fur hurtled over the edge of the hole at them. Mother Rat immediately went for the weaker target, seizing the wounded lizard by a foreleg with her fangs and jerking hard enough to flip it over. As its injured back struck the ground it snapped its jaws, but caught only air before the big Dire Rat sank her teeth into its throat next.

The second lizard turned towards the big rat with a hiss, but then an even faster blur raced up out of the stash hole. Asteria not only lunged, but actually used her new-found dexterity to get a grapple on the lizard, forcing it to the ground. Its shorter legs couldn't push up against her entire body weight on top of its head, and it didn't have enough leverage to try and roll or to reach her with its fangs. She tore strips of flesh out of the back of its head and neck, causing it to hiss and thrash in agony--but before the arterial spray from its throat bled it out, the creature managed to get out a spurt of its acidic spit. The blob struck Asteria in the belly, pushing her off the dying lizard. And as the acid burned into her skin, she felt a sudden wave of nausea. At the same time as the burning, she also felt a cold clamminess spread over her skin.

You have been Poisoned! You are taking periodic damage!

System:Asteria

With two lizards dead it didn't seem like the third one would have any chance. The creature looked like it might have fled if given the chance, but just then a terrifying roar reached the group. Every head, including the lizard's, turned toward Jason as he screamed like someone caught up in a fit. The lizard hissed on reflex, a threat display towards something that scared it--but that didn't stop the Slime's spell from piercing it underneath, the rock spire puncturing its soft belly and skewering it a few inches above the ground as it rose upward.

With this first threat handled, Oberon cast Minor Heal on Jason. The healing spell didn't completely restore the slime on the first go, but Jason would feel a distinct comfort and lessening of the pain around the place where he had exploded. As Oberon analyzed his own spell mid-cast, he felt his MP drain a little more than usual, likely from the fact that his Analysis skill had become more powerful.

You used Magic Analysis III!
This is a Monster. Effectiveness reduced to 30%.
---Slime---
Slimes are capable of magic but most do not possess it naturally. They are more suited for physically manipulating their bodies. This one is unusual. This Slime has a few magical skills. This Slime's magic is mostly attuned towards the Earth element.

You used Magic Analysis III!
This is your own spell, which you know well. Effectiveness boosted past 100%.
---Minor Heal I---
The first rank of the Minor Heal spell. The most basic of healing spells. In most cases, only surface level wounds are affected. Cannot cure diseases. Will accelerate certain conditions such as malignant tumors. This magic is of the Nature Element, as a function of natural life force and biology. It can only be cast on a single target at a time. It can be cast at range, but the target must be within sight and near enough that the caster can distinctly make out their wounds.

System:Oberon

With multiple casts, Jason was restored to Full HP, but Oberon found himself Out of MP, as the System informed them both.

Meanwhile, in the tunnel, Asura took to his usual strategy of waiting until the Rat lunged at him and then Smashed it with all his strength. The counterblow must have broken a rib or two, as the creature's squeak was cut off by all the breath being driven out of its body with a loud snap. It fell to the floor of the cave, struggling to get up as it panted noiselessly.

But rather than finish it off, or indeed even react to the attack at all, Digbie simply kept digging. He at least used his Tremor Sense to keep track of vibrations around him--but there was a problem with that. Because of all the ruckus going on both inside the tunnel and out in the rest of the cave, the goblin found himself experiencing something much like radio static with too many tremors coming from too many directions to make anything out with clarity. So he was forced to rely only on his ears and peripheral vision to detect something angry and furry coming at him.

The second Dire Rat sank its teeth into Digbie's green buttocks, drawing blood before getting a grip on his loincloth with its claws and beginning to rip and tear!

---

Goblin Party

You used Material Analysis I!
Effectiveness at 100%.
---Huge Leaf---
This is a very large leaf from a ???. It seems to be a mundane plant structure used for photosynthesis. It is Fibrous, Organic, Flammable, Fragile, and Water Absorbant. It is of Excellent Quality.
---Antidote Fern---
This purple fern contains a natural antibiotic chemical and also promotes the immune system, making it useful for fighting off certain sickness-inducing status effects. It is Fibrous, Organic, Flammable, Fragile, Water Absorbant, and Waxy. It is of High Quality.
---Blood Snare Vine---
A thick red vine from a Blood Snare plant. When exposed to fresh blood, tissues under the outer layer of the vine contract similarly to muscles. The original plant most likely uses this to constrain creatures for some purpose. It is Fibrous, Elastic, Tough, Organic, Flammable, and Water Absorbant. It is of Excellent Quality.
---Bowhorn Antler---
This is a horn from a ???. Despite being an antler grown naturally from a creature's body and having blood vessels inside it, it has more similarities to high quality wood from something like a hardwood sapling. It has an excellent blend of toughness and flexibility. It is Hard, Flexible, Sturdy, Waxy, Organic, and Solid, and has Low Sharpness. It is of Average Quality.
---Analysis Complete!---

System:Orchid

Shortly after her analysis was complete Orchid noticed the female goblin trying to take part of her stash--and reacted in a way that not even these primitive creatures had truly expected. True, when she grabbed the female by the throat the three males looked on with interest, wondering if they were going to see dominance established in a manner similar to Rattleskull and Crispy's usual methods. Then Orchid planted a violent liplock on her opponent. Gob Boy #1's jaw dropped, Gob Boy #2's eyes bulged out of his head, and Gob Boy #3 slapped his hands to either side of his head with an exclamation that summed up the entireity of a truly groundbreaking discovery.

"GIRLS CAN KISS GIRLS?!"

The female goblin was equally stunned, but she still managed to snarl and started to raise one of her pilfered rocks--until Orchid put that trench club under her chin.

Orchid's threats were more of the Goblins' usual speed, though delivered with far more eloquence and precision. The female's expression remained angry, but it was clear her resolve was wavering. She trembled as Orchid described her foe's evisceration and humiliation. Finally the female threw down the rock and backed away.

"Fine! Didn't want none of your stupid stuff anyway! I'm not scared--Gonna get my own better stuff!" She turned away and headed out towards the woods, calling one last time over her shoulder. "Don't need you to teach nothin' neither! Not dumb like those three dumbs!" She stomped away, tiny green fists clenched.

The three other goblins watched her go, then turned back to Orchid. They took note of her shield and club now that the drama was over.

"Hey, dat almost look like Venture stuff! You really make dat?" said one, eyeing Orchid carefully as he tentatively reached out to touch her Wicker Shield.

"Where you learn do dat?" said the second, scratching his head. "And...ain't youse one of the younglings?"

The third simply stood there, slowly shaking his head back and forth.

"Girls can kiss girls...?"

Crispy had completed making several torches, and now had found a Hard Stone that he was using to sharpen a Sharp Stone even further. Once the sharp stone actually had an edge on it sharp enough to even split a blade of grass that was dropped on it, he began wrapping vines around the end of it to give himself a stable grip--though it was still primitive, it was clearly a step above a Sharp Stone, a Stone Knife. Another goblin, at the firecaster's demand, had brought him another Healing Herb from the goblins' limited supplies. Using it as a fresh bandage over his eye, it seemed like he was starting to regain some of his sight.

Meanwhile Rattleskull had completed a second weapon, a Wooden Spear of longer length and greater sharpness than the usual plain Sharp Sticks. He handed it to a goblin that looked a little older than most, though not so much as Crispy and Rattleskull himself. The goblin had broader shoulders than some of the others, evidence that he must have been a fairly accomplished warrior. Rattleskull began to coach him on using the spear, and though the furry monster boss didn't seem anything like a true arms master, he at least seemed to have enough experience to know that holding the spear down towards the base, along the first third of its length, allowed one to use greater leverage and get more thrust into their attacks.

---

Rain

As the curious goblin approached, he bent down on his knees to see what the blue thing under the rock had been. That was when Rain came over the rock and lunged at the exposed back of his neck. The green humanoid never managed to cry out before she had a vice like grip on his throat with her fangs, and her paralytic venom quickly took effect. He seized up in something like a fetal position, though his eyes were wide and twitching with fear.

However, a second goblin happened to see one of his compatriats huddled down on the ground like a dummy while all the rest of the tribe were working on weapons and preparations. Seeing an opportunity to show off his own dominance, he headed towards the downed goblin.

"Oi, you dumb, what you doin' over here...?!" he began to call out...

♦ A New Era ♦ - A My Hero Academia RP

K E N I C H I

Dorm Lobby

@Feyblue

---

"Oh oh, I've seen that one!" Kenichi excitedly pointed as Fumika imitated the poses. "I mean, not all of it, but yeah! The Henshin belt has the little song, Sha Be Do Bi TOUCH Henshin!" He pantomimed the turning of Kamen Rider Wizard's belt buckle, then the pose he would make whenever he transformed. "And each element had its own little showtune! Flame, PLEASE! Hii, Hii, HIIHIIHII!" Then he kicked one leg out to the side, holding it in a perfect pose only someone with naturally high physical coordination would have been able to do without training--although, he immediately winced and felt his body tell him that he really shouldn't have done that. "Ugh--but, uh, his Rider Kick actually used the big mecha dragon as his BOOT!" He calmed himself down, slowly planting both feet on the ground in his usual confident stance as he shook his head. "But I don't wanna spoil it for you! Now that I think about it, I should probably pick it back up myself..."

He chuckled, then folded both arms behind his head.

"I always liked Kamen Rider, even the really old ones. You can really see how imaginative they had to be back in the Pre-Quirk days. And now they make it interesting by replacing Quirks with magic, or "spiritual" stuff, or sci-fi." His eyes moved slightly as if he were looking towards the ceiling, the sign of a person recalling a memory. "And my dad was always showing me lots of different stuff, usually American movies, but they still seem to have the same idea, you know? What makes a Hero a Hero. Regardless of Quirks." He looked at Fumika again and although he definitely focused on her response and listened to her piece of the conversation, something nagged at the back of his mind.

He didn't really know what else to say, honestly. Not in terms of the conversation. They could probably talk for hours if they wanted, about movies or manga or classes or music. But...what else could he really say? He had wanted to come back here to see her again. To make sure she wasn't mad at him, to make sure they were still friends, to...to protect her? Maybe. To be rivals, or fellow classmates firing each other up...to be Heroes, together. Definitely. But...what else was there? He was back now. She didn't hate him. And...now what?

After what he had been through, it kind of seemed like...like there had been a driving force behind him. And he had won, in the end, even if it hurt and even if it left him feeling like he hadn't really won. But what...what was he getting out of it? And where did he go from here?

Well, he kind of knew the answer to that. He was going to learn martial arts from...somebody. Somewhere. And he was going to train more, train harder, be better. And of course there'd be so much more to do at school. So...why was he feeling so directionless all of a sudden? Why did he feel like there was something...missing between Fumika and himself?

Was it just that he didn't really want to leave? Was that weird to say? That he just wanted to...be here?

With her?

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

@HaeoThanks! I think this is the first time I've ever started getting comments from people who find the RP fun just to read even if they're not playing in it--we've gotta be doing something right, then!

Thanks to all my players too--after all, it's your story these folks are reading.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Ash’s Party

You used Monster Analysis I! Effectiveness at 100%.
---Ash---
Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. This one told you her name is Ash. She is unusual, she is like you.

---Reoth---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. Lizards will sometimes roam in packs of family units, but only until the young can hunt on their own, compared to Dire Rats often found in the same ecosystem. This one told you his name is Reoth. He is unusual, he is like you.

---Colchain---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. Lizards will sometimes roam in packs of family units, but only until the young can hunt on their own, compared to Dire Rats often found in the same ecosystem. They are normally various shades of gray, blue, and purple, darkening towards black with the lighter colors being speckled across their backs. You have heard this one called Colchain.

---Scott---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
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. They tend to live fast paced, hedonistic lifestyles doing whatever they please. This one told you his name is Scott. He is unusual, he is like you.
---Analysis Complete---

System:Danny

You have recovered from serious injuries, and your body has adapted!
Skill Gain: Fire Resistance I!
This damage resistance skill applies to both magical and natural flames, as well as higher temperatures in general. If other elemental resistances are gained, skill synergy may occur. Having this skill may make using certain types of fire magic or other fire oriented skills easier.

System:Ardur

As the group conversed among themselves, lizards and pixies and one wisp, the two dead goblins remained dead. And dead things, in a cavern like this where resources were in short supply and every day was a struggle for survival, would attract scavengers.

While Ash talked to the two new members of her little party, and Ardur made his re-appearance, Colchain moved away from Scott with a quiet, wary hiss. After observing for a few more moments, the lizard made his way over to the other goblin that Naji hadn’t savaged yet, and began tearing off a few strips of green hide for himself--only to suddenly draw back with a loud hiss, his tail thrashing as three Dire Rats appeared! They had sniffed out the group from afar, and while they were intimidated by its size, none of them had been paying attention to the other goblin body. And the rats, being more numerous and aggressive, didn’t feel quite so threatened by Colchain on his own.

Just as Ash turned back to order her new “follower” to come with her, she would see one of the rats dart forward and snap at Colchain, who shuffled backwards to avoid it and spat a ball of poison at a second rat. This rat moved away, unable to attack but unharmed, and the third jumped onto Colchain’s back. It didn’t seem like it was able to get a good grip or do any real damage yet, but as the lizard thrashed from side to side and snapped his jaws it didn’t seem like he could dislodge the opponent…

Meanwhile, back the way Ardur had come all the way across the cave, something had taken notice of the lone pixie. That lone pixie was no longer alone, but the something didn’t really care about that--after all, this something was big, and felt it had little to fear. With three different colors swirling in a rotund, gelatinous body, a huge slime rumbled across the ground as it rolled towards the group from some distance away…

---

Bonfire Party

42 Mana Crystals remain.
5 Flame Touched Mana Crystals remain.

LOOT

Skill Gain: Soil Manipulation I
An Earth Elemental Magic Spell. At this Rank, you may move up to 5 pounds of loose soil (sand, dirt, and powdered minerals, but not gravel, pebbles, or anything made of larger fragments) freely within a 10 foot radius around your body. Using this soil to create a shape or exert a larger amount of force consumes more MP, and takes 30 seconds at minimum. At this rank, created shapes cannot consist of more than one part, or be more complex than quadrilateral structures. At this rank, created shapes cannot change the quality of the soil (sharper, harder, etc) nor its color or texture.

System:Digbie

Skill Rank Up! Tremor Sense I > Tremor Sense II!
Range increased. Projection increased--now instead of passively sensing incoming vibrations, you can more strongly emit your own. This skill is weaker when passive, but when actively used you can perform a more detailed type of echolocation through solid, earthy materials.

System:Jason

Skill Gain: Mana Shape I!
You can shape your raw Mana into the appearance of something. At this rank, your Mana does not have weight, force, or other physical qualities. Your Mana cannot produce sounds. Your Mana cannot move freely. Your mana can have its color changed. Your shapes must be relatively simple with no moving parts. The shape cannot be held for long without more MP.

Skill Rank Up: Magic Analysis II > Magic Analysis III!
Gain more detail about observed magic skills, objects, etc. Lose less effectiveness when using this skill on other things, even if they aren’t magically inclined. When analyzing a spell you have seen at least one time before, you may learn information such as its element or function depending on various factors.

System:Oberon

You used Monster Analysis I! Effectiveness at 100%
---Green Slime--
Slimes are amorphous creatures more similar to undeveloped egg yolks, yet they are able to move on their own and digest prey. Their bodies are highly resistant to physical damage and malleable. This one is unusual.

---Red Slime---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Slimes are amorphous creatures more similar to undeveloped egg yolks, yet they are able to move on their own and digest prey. Their bodies are highly resistant to physical damage and malleable. Slimes can sometimes store objects inside themselves or change the shapes of their bodies.This one is unusual.

---Large Blue Slime---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Slimes are amorphous creatures more similar to undeveloped egg yolks, yet they are able to move on their own and digest prey. Their bodies are highly resistant to physical damage and malleable. Slimes can sometimes store objects inside themselves or change the shapes of their bodies. When they become too large, they reproduce by division.

---Dire Rat---
Dire Rats are quite large and strong for rodents, with sharp senses. They are predator scavengers, and because their teeth constantly grow they forage and gnaw constantly. This one is unusual.

---Dire Rat---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Dire Rats are quite large and strong for rodents, with sharp senses. They are predator scavengers, and because their teeth constantly grow they forage and gnaw constantly. Their forepaws are somewhat capable of gripping and manipulating, but they aren’t very skilled.This one is unusual.

---Large Dire Rat---
You have analyzed this type of monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
Dire Rats are quite large and strong for rodents, with sharp senses. They are predator scavengers, and because their teeth constantly grow they forage and gnaw constantly. Their forepaws are somewhat capable of gripping and manipulating, but they aren’t very skilled. Rats often hunt in packs, composed of family units, but the mothers will often drive off the fathers as they will behave aggressively towards the young.
---Analysis Complete---

Skill Rank Up: Lesser Force I > Lesser Force II!
MP Consumption decreased. Range slightly increased. Force strength slightly increased. Rather than more powerful, it would be more accurate to say this skill is now more efficient.

Skill Rank Up: Monster Analysis I > Monster Analysis II!
Gain more information about Monsters. Other analysis skills will further boost the information this skill provides, such as a creature’s capability with magic or its equipment.

System:Mourningstar

Your Stamina is Low. Without food, water, and rest, you may experience HP Drain if stamina continues to decrease.

System:Ed

Skill Gain: Dextrous I!
Your practice with fine manipulation and using your forepaws, as well as the natural physical strength of a Dire Rat, has earned an unusual skill for your species! Your paws can now be used to manipulate small objects and tools, though you still aren’t strong enough yet to “wield” weapons or pick up very large things.

System:Asteria

Making this group get along was almost as chaotic as the battle with Crispy had been. But ultimately it seemed like Jason’s group took over most of the actual preparation. With Jason himself, Asura, and Digbie working on digging a tunnel, the work went surprisingly fast. However, the fact of the matter was that the ceiling was a good ways above them, and most of these walls were solid stone, since they were load bearing and likely had been here since the first formation of the cave. Tunneling nearly vertically through these was a task indeed. And thanks to all the different methods they were employing, they were making quite a lot of noise and disturbing the area around them.

At some point, Jason took a break to argue some more with Mourningstar. And while doing so, he grabbed one of the volatile Flame touched crystals, and sent a Tremor Sense through it. When he did so, he got a notification saying that skill had upgraded, just as he slurped up the crystal into his inventory.

However, in the time it took a Slime to usually wrap up a foreign object they did not want to digest in an interior membrane, that item would still be temporarily exposed to their digestive juices. This would not have been a problem...had that Flametouched crystal not already been “shaken up” by Jason’s tremors. Like applying a spark to a primed fuse.

'Look Mourningstar, I'm Jason, none of us have time to argue over this shit, so yes, we will be able to talk after all of us survive this. So, if you'll excuse me....' he stated through his mind before retracting his pseudopod, and going onward with his plan to create the Palisade with Digbie…

BOOM

Jason’s green body suddenly turned orange as a hole in his side literally erupted, acting like a propulsive jet that slammed him against the wall. The slime felt a pain more intense than anything he had experienced thus far in his new life--though that particular experience seemed to be becoming more common, considering the different fights he’d gotten into lately. The explosion had only lasted a moment, but it left a smoky smell in the air and the sound had nearly deafened some of the others nearby. Jason’s whole world was a shrill, ringing, spinning blur.

WARNING! Your HP is Low!

System:Jason

But this was not the only misfortune to befall this unusually large party.

As Digbie and Asura continued to dig in their tunnel, though they were perhaps distracted by Jason’s explosive argument, they hit a loose pocket of soil. They seemed to have hit a much smaller tunnel dug by something else--and exactly what that was became clear as soon as two Dire Rats emerged, hissing and snarling with fangs and claws bared!

Momma Slime was too big to get into the tunnel from before, and Jason’s explosion had startled her into shifting somewhat further away from the group. But once she heard the noises coming from where Asura was, she seemed to take on a darker color and burbled loudly as she rolled over towards them. However, this had the unfortunate effect of blocking off the tunnel with her bulk, leaving Asura and Digbie trapped between a squishy blue wall and a pair of very angry rodents!

Ed, Asteria, and Mother Rat had been working steadily on their own, and swift progress was made on the earthen trench as well but at the cost of most of Ed’s stamina. And Asteria would soon hear her own stomach and Mother Rat’s grumbling if they continued at this pace--but more than that, the three rats had separated themselves from the group. One of them was tired. One of them was a young female, and the other, while stronger, was also older. They made tempting targets, putting themselves out in the open amongst all this commotion. Just as it seemed they might pause to take a break, suddenly three scaly heads poked over the edge of the trench! A pack of Fanged Lizards lobbed three spheres of sizzling poison at the rats!

---

Goblin Party

You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.
You made an item!
Fiber Cord (Good) + Cane Wood (Low Quality) + Small Stick (Low Quality)(Multiple) + Stiff Stick (Low Quality)
Your Crafting III skill increases the quality of your item. Average > Good.
Your method of crafting is more effective compared to your raw materials. The quality of your item is increased. Good > Well-Made.
You created: Wicker Shield (Well-Made)! You feel sturdier when equipping this piece of equipment! This shield is more effective against Blunt damage than Slashing or Piercing. It is very vulnerable to Fire.

You made an item!
Gnarled Stick (Low Quality) + Sharp Stone (Average Quality) + Tree Sap (Average Quality)
Your Crafting III skill increases the quality of your item. Low Quality > Average.
Your method of crafting is more effective compared to your raw materials. The quality of your item is increased. Average > Good.
You created: Stone Spike Club! You feel stronger when equipping this piece of equipment! This weapon can deal Blunt or Piercing damage. It is slightly vulnerable to Fire.

System:Orchid

As Orchid worked, the three goblins that had listened to her earlier now returned from the edge of the forest. Two of them had picked up what looked to be about three items each, but the other only had what looked like a simple stick clutched in one hand, though it was a creamy white color compared to the other pieces of normal wood the goblins had gathered.

“I got dese!” said the first goblin, shoving his way to the front of the pack. He presented Orchid with a Curved Stick, though it was dried out and cracked, along with three Sharp Stones. Unlike the stick, however, these were clearly of much higher quality. One of them looked almost as fresh and sharp as the one she had just ground down to use in her trench club...and the other two both looked even sharper than that!

“Dis stuff betta!” insisted the second as he hip bumped the first out of the way. He had his items bundled in a leaf. It was a bright green, fresh, thick leaf with a sturdy stem, and it was so big Orchid might have been able to use it as a chest wrap if she had still needed one. The second goblin’s second material was another leaf--but this one was a fern of some sort, still large but not quite the right shape or style to be used as clothing. And with its rich purple color, it didn’t seem to be a normal leaf...in some ways it reminded Orchid of the Healing Herbs present in the cave. The second goblin’s last item was a length of vine, colored blood red with black spots on it.

“Careful with dis one!” said the second goblin as he pointed at the vine. “It’s Bloody Snare! Since it’s not attached to da root no mores it can’t move on its own, but if ya get blood on it it tightens up!” He pantomimed being choked. “Like dat!”

The last goblin timidly approached, holding his gift out to Orchid.

“Dis was all I could find...but it’s good! Found it near some Venture tracks!” As he handed Orchid the odd white stick, she realized it wasn’t quite a stick at all--or rather, it was, but at the same time wasn’t. It was definitely made of wood. She could tell by feeling it, and by its texture. It felt like a sturdy hardwood, much better than anything in the other pile. And yet it retained a level of flexibility and smoothness, almost to the point of seeming elastic. But it tapered at one end, and had what seemed to be dried blood vessels near the other--just like a deer’s antlers.

The other female goblin, the one who had protested as Orchid shouted before and who had just finished fire hardening a short spear for herself, made an angry grunt as she watched the three fawning over Orchid. She approached with stomping feet, shoving the first goblin out of the way.

“Gimme some o’ dat! We all needs good weapons!” she said, reaching for one of the high quality Sharp Stones…

Meanwhile, Crispy had made a small but robust campfire, and now sat with a couple of sticks. He was stripping the bark off a nearby tree with his fingers, and rubbing the sticks in the sap. Then he would wrap vines around the end, and coat them in another layer of resin. When he had them bundled up to the point that they looked like large matches, he began laying them aside near the fire.

Rattleskull, on the other hand, had bored a small hole all the way through his bat. He now took a Hard Rock just big enough to fit snugly through this hole, and pounded it on another piece of wood until it was firmly lodged through the center. He braced this with a single piece of thin vine wrapped a few times in an X shape. This short, crude Stone Hammer didn’t seem quite so well made as Orchid’s trench club, but it would certainly inflict some pain in any goblin’s hands. He laid it to one side, then looked for another piece of the nearest material. Said object turned out to be a thinner, but longer and straighter piece of branch. Rattleskull used the sharp edge of his axe again and began to whittle one end of the staff into a point, much sharper than what the other goblins could get by grinding their fire hardened sticks against stones...

---

Rain

As Rain made her way closer to the entrance while using her Muffle skill, she soon became able to see their new, impromptu campsite. She could observe the Goblins as they gathered resources, crafted weapons, and seemed overall to be preparing themselves for battle. ((See My/Orchid's posts starting from after your own last post.))

However, though Muffle seemed to make her movements near silent, it didn't do anything to hide her bright blue body. As she moved stealthily she was able to avoid detection by most, but one particular goblin who happened to be standing near the entrance must have noticed something off out of the corner of his vision. Or maybe he had "sensed" her the way some prey animals begin to sense the predator lurking in the bushes. Whatever the reason, he turned, not quite entirely sure, and scratched his head for several long moments...just before he picked out the blue tip of a tail going under a rock. But he, being a dumb goblin, wasn't quite sure what that was. A grub worm? A bug? It was an unusual color...

Brimming with curiosity, but also remembering that the cave was currently quite dangerous for his tribe, the goblin armed himself with a Gnarled Stick and wandered over towards where he had seen the blue thingie...

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Orchid’s Party

@Lucius Cypher
Of the handful of goblins that heard Orchid barking orders, only a few of them listened. And even then, they looked at each other in confusion for a moment. Finally, about three of them went off to gather the wood and leaves Orchid wanted, but more than that just ignored her and went back to what they were doing. One in particular, another female, crossed her arms and yelled back.

“Shut up! You talks too much--why you think I gots to listen!?”

When Orchid explained her plan to Crispy and Rattleskull, Crispy shook his head. His advice was probably worth listening to, considering he had the most experience with fires out of all of them.

“Could use dat to smoke rats and lizards out of tunnels, but won’t work for whole cave.” He pointed through the entranceway up to the stone ceiling. There were a few other shafts of sunlight besides the entrance. “There’s still places where smoke can get through da ground. I had bonfire going for a long time, but we neva got smoked out. Is cause da ceilin’ is high, and cause da smoke eventually finds way out.”

“Dat coward way anyhow!” Rattleskull snorted, stomping one foot. “We gonna kill ‘em! Get to work!” He glared at Orchid for a moment, before heading over to the wood pile. He grabbed a thick branch about six feet long, then levered it over another piece of wood and under one more. With it rooted in place, he took a few steps back, then made a running start. He jumped, and came down with all his body weight on the wedged branch, breaking off about two feet of its length. This he sat down with, and using the stone headed end of his axe he began to scrape one end of it. He seemed to be leaving the tip of this end untouched, but slightly tapering the rest of it for a couple of hand lengths. Slowly it began to resemble a shape more like a baseball bat.

“You dere! Gimme rock, small sharp one!” he barked at another Goblin. Unlike with Orchid, the trembling green creature hastened to obey and handed him a Sharp Rock. Rattleskull’s tongue poked out of one side of his mouth as he concentrated on tapping one side of the bat and then the other, making a slightly larger mark each time…

You’ve made an item!
Bark Fiber (Low Quality) + Bark Fiber (Low Quality)
Your Crafting III Skill increases the quality of your item. Low Quality > Average
Your method of crafting is more effective compared to your raw materials. The quality of your item is increased. Average > Good
You made: Fiber Cordage (Good)!

System:Orchid

Though Crispy couldn’t help with his own crafting, he gathered a few of the smaller sticks and some loose grass and leaves just by feeling along the ground with his hands. Once he had them piled up, in mere seconds he had a smaller fire started. The same female goblin that had refused to follow Orchid began blackening the tip of a Sharp Stick in the fire, then shaving off the blackened bits against a Hard Rock. All around, the other Goblins were doing similar things--either gathering or crafting. While none of them except maybe Rattleskull went at it with anything similar to the methods Orchid did, they seemed to be quite capable of either learning by example, or simply following what Rattleskull and Crispy ordered them to do.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Ash’s Party

@Duthguy@Rune_Alchemist@CollectorOfMyst@ghastlyinc@Kangutso
As Ash melted away what was left of the lizard--Colchain’s--collar, and then signalled what she wanted him to do, the other Lizard slowly began to follow after her, though his eyes darted from side to side occasionally. And so it was that Colchain was the first to actually notice Reoth--the domesticated lizard did an odd pushup-gesture, before looking back at Ash. And in that time Reoth had put his jaws near Colchain’s neck. The other lizard hissed in alarm--then, with a soft snap of the rawhide, the collar fell away. Colchain merely looked at Reoth for a few moments, before doing another pushup in what might have been a gesture of thanks.

Now that Naji had filled his belly--after all, one small pixie couldn’t possibly hold the remains of two matured goblins--he wasn’t quite “healed” of the HP drain he had suffered, but he was certainly full and felt much better. With some rest he would probably make a full recovery. As Danny spoke to Naji, while Ash and Scott would probably notice Reoth sooner or later since he was messing with Colchain, it seemed that for now this particular adventure had come to an end. What would this motley crew do next?

---

Orchid’s Party

@Lucius Cypher

Skill Gain: Smash I!
A Physical Skill that consumes Stamina instead of MP. One blunt type attack deals increased damage!

System:Orchid

The female applied a Healing Herb directly to Crispy’s wound like a bandage, and when he felt it on his face Crispy put his own hand over it and began to squeeze it around the edges until the leaves began turning into a kind of paste. Some of the swelling around the wound seemed to go down and the plant fibers stopped the bleeding at least through pressure, if not through magic. Crispy’s nose and ears twitched occasionally, and with Orchid’s help he seemed to be able to glean most of what was in his surroundings.

As Orchid and Crispy approached the three lookouts, the flame-touched goblin called out to them without fear.

“Oi! You lots, where’s Rattleskull!? We gots trouble!”

“Crispy? What happen!?” One of the goblins moved to help Orchid get Crispy to a flat rock where he could sit, and a second peered out towards what remained of the bonfire. The other cupped his hands around his mouth and turned towards the outside of the cave before letting out a loud, braying cry.

From here, Orchid could actually see the outside world. Sunlight had caused stone and dirt to fade a lighter color than the usual soils inside the cave, and a small dusty path had been walked outside the entrance just enough to give some leeway between the archway and the grass. But there was grass, and it was greener than Orchid’s skin. It rustled in a soft breeze, which carried a fluttering leaf in a fairy-like dance. Leaves. Trees. There were trees--maybe it was just because she was smaller than she had been in her previous life, but to Orchid these trees appeared more majestic than any she had seen! They were sturdy hardwoods, possibly some type of oak, and while they were thinner nearer to the cave--a few stumps evidenced that some of them had even been chopped down recently--they grew much thicker further out. The cave seemed to be on a slope, which was gentle here but seemed to get steeper off to the east. Orchid might be able to tell by the position of the sun overhead that she was facing the south, and that it was just about high noon.

The cave was at the base of...cliffs? Possibly a mountain? And there was a forest out there. But...what else? Where was this?

By this time Crispy had explained what had happened to the other goblins. He even gestured to Orchid with praise.

“Dis youngling fought ‘em all off and helped me get away, after dumb pixie played stupid trick on me! If you gobs don’t get ‘em back double times as good, I’m gonna give her half your foods!” The other goblins seemed dismayed at this, but rather than take it out on Orchid they seemed to immediately begin bragging to Crispy of all the things they “was gonna do” to the attackers. The one closest to the outside, however, gave a cry and pointed all of a sudden.

“It’s da boss, dey comin’ back!”

Sure enough, Rattleskull came jogging out of the trees, several roughly hewn sections of branch under each arm. Behind him came the roughly thirteen or so goblins that remained of the entire cave’s tribe, not counting Orchid, Crispy, Rattleskull himself, and the three lookouts. All totaled, the goblins were 18 in number--except for that one that had betrayed them, the one that dug lots of holes.

“Which of youse sounded da alarm? What happen!?” Rattleskull demanded as he threw the wood down in a pile outside the cave. The others following him all repeated the gesture with their own wood, though they each carried considerably less.

Once again, Crispy--and possibly Orchid too--relayed their tale. Rattleskull rubbed his chin with one filthy hand as he listened.

“I been noticin’ dat things was kinda off lately…” he said, walking into the cave proper and looking towards the now-completely-dimmed bonfire. Without adjusting from the outside light, he couldn’t see well enough yet to pick out the group of monsters, but he had a vague idea of where they would be. “You guys been seein’ any monsters actin’...weird? Like...not monstery?” Some of the other goblins, though not all of them by any means, nodded their assent.

“What we gonna do, boss? If different ones is workin’ together, it ain’t right. Is it...some kinda magic?”

“Is it a demon!? A demon dat can make slaves?!” This fearful murmur set the gobs to chattering, but Rattleskull silenced them with rough kicks to their backsides.

“Ain’t no Demons dat strong gonna be way out heres! Just cause it ain’t right dun mean we can’t handles it!”

“Rattle, I thinks it might be time to takes action!” Crispy said. Using a sharp stick he had grabbed from one of the lookouts as a cane, he wobbily made his way over to the boss. “We spent all dis time makin’ da stash, and gatherin’ up stuff, but it ain’t gonna do us no good if other mobs is stealin’ it! Gotta make da cave safe for gobs!”

“Hm...Yeah.” Rattleskull seemed to be thinking very, very hard, but at least he seemed to be getting somewhere. “Me an’ you, Crispy, we da strongest ones here, but we been around a while. Might be a few other monsters in da cave like you--close to gettin’ bigger--or like me, already got bigger. Maybe dey been around long time like us, but dey cowards. Hidin’ out. And now dey decided to strike!” He punched a big furry fist into his palm.”

“And if we waits, they just get stronger!” Crispy nodded, seeing where his boss was going with this. “So now’s da time!”

“Oiright, all youse gobs!” Rattleskull turned around the gathered crowd, puffing out his chest. “Grab dat wood! It ain’t goin’ into da fire--or at least not all of it! Any of youse dat’s any good makin’ stuff, we needs smashers and cutters and stickers! And if ya can makes it, some woody shells like what I gots! Think about da kinda stuff ya see da Ventures with! Makes dat!”

Crispy turned to Orchid.

“You good at makin’ stuff, I knows cause o’ dat sword! You helps us!” He gestured to the wood pile, and to a few sharp and blunt rocks scattered around.

“And when we gots all da stuff we needs, maybe by tonight…” Rattleskull continued, “We’s gonna go from one end of da cave to da other! And if’n it ain’t a gob...it’s gonna be DEAD!” He smashed his Stone Axe against a piece of wood, making a loud clacking sound and splitting the limb into two pieces.

All the other goblins threw their hands up and cheered.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Rain/Mourningstar’s Party

@floodtalon@Gardevoiran@King Cosmos@ReusableSword@Old Amsterdam@CriticalHit

Used Monster Analysis I!
---This is Digbie.---
You have analyzed him before with a different skill. Effectiveness at 100%. Skill Boost from Magic Analysis II.
This is a Goblin, named Digbie, who has joined your party. Goblins are a semi-intelligent monster with the limb dexterity and mental capacity to use tools. Digbie is using a pickaxe made from sticks. By comparison, most Goblins are usually as large, strong, and intelligent as a human child, but far more vicious. Digbie does not display this behavior in most cases. He likes to dig, and is generally cheerful and curious. Goblins are capable of using magic, but do not possess it naturally in most circumstances. Digbie possesses a semi-magically oriented skill, and is in the process of learning several others. Digbie has stronger magical stats than most other Goblins you have analyzed, with one exception being Crispy. Digbie is unusual. He is like you.

---This is a Fanged Lizard. You think Orochi said her name was Rain.---
You have analyzed this type of monster before with a different skill. Effectiveness at 100%. Skill Boost from Magic Analysis II.

Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. Fanged Lizards are capable of magic but most do not naturally possess it. Rain has not yet unlocked at least one magically oriented skill. Her magical stats are normal for a Fanged Lizard, which is weaker compared to Wisps and Pixies but about the same as anything else you’ve seen. You don’t know her well enough yet to deduce any mannerisms, but you know that she does not behave as is typical of other Fanged Lizards. Rain is unusual. She is like you.

---This is Orochi.---
You have analyzed him before with a different skill. Effectiveness at 100%. Skill Boost from Magic Analysis II.

This is a Fanged Lizard, named Orochi, who has joined your party. Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. Fanged Lizards are capable of magic but most do not naturally possess it. Orochi possesses one usable magically oriented skill, and is developing a few more. Orochi’s magical stats are normal for a Fanged Lizard, which is weaker compared to Wisps and Pixies but about the same as anything else you’ve seen. Orochi does not behave as typical Fanged Lizards, and seems rather serious and cautious. Orochi is unusual. He is like you.

---This is Oberon--
You have analyzed him before with a different skill. Effectiveness at 100%. Skill Boost from Magic Analysis II.

This is a Pixie, named Oberon, who has joined your party. Pixies are 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. You have seen, however, that Oberon is not like this. Oberon behaves in a very sensible and caring manner towards others. Oberon has 3 magical skills and 1 semi-magically oriented skill, and is developing several more. Among these are skills similar to your own. His magic stats are strong even for the normally magically oriented Pixies. Oberon is unusual. He is like you.

---This is a Pixie. You haven’t caught his name yet.---
Pixies are 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. This Pixie is different from the others, he seems somewhat detached, yet well meaning, but also opportunistic. He left your party momentarily. He seems much more physically fit than most pixies. His magic stats are slightly above average for his species. He has 2 magical skills, one of which is fairly strong for his level, and is developing several more. This Pixie is unusual. He is like you.

System:Mourningstar

As Mourningstar ate, her new analysis skills were giving her a great deal of information to process all at once. It made her head hurt, but perhaps the silver lining would be that it distracted her from the taste of the burned rat.

As Digbie and Oberon tried to “analyze” the rat themselves, they came to an impasse--Digbie had no analysis skills and Oberon’s skill dealt only with magic. Like Mourningstar, when he analyzed monsters he still got some sort of result--but when he tried it this time, the System instead gave him an ERROR message--No Magic Found. Was it because the Rat was dead, or because it had no magic to speak of? But in the end, by their regular non-systemized observation abilities, they determined that even if it probably would not taste good the singed Dire Rat was likely okay to eat. The burns had not gone very deep, so only the outer layer of flesh was burned--they weren’t going to eat the fur and leathery hide anyway. The meat inside was actually fairly well cooked...for about a third of an inch down. Then the layers got tougher and rougher and gamier until the taste and musk were nearly overpowering. Still, their digestive systems didn’t seem to raise too much of a fuss--wild animals ate things raw, after all.

Skill Rank Up: Lesser Flight II! Flight speed slightly increased. MP Consumption slightly decreased. Maximum height slightly increased. Maximum distance slightly increased.

System:Oberon

With 5 skill points left over, Oberon’s level up menu had disappeared for the moment. But as he continued his experimentation to form a piercing projectile of Mana, he became more adept at shaping it, controlling it, and generally feeling how the energy behaved in accordance with his will. He wasn’t getting any new skill notifications yet, but based on what he had learned thus far he could certainly call these experiments successful.

Skill Rank Up! Stun Fang II!
Chance to inflict Paralyzation increased. Stamina consumption slightly decreased.

Skill Gain: Poison Glob I!
Compare to Poison Spit: Projectile speed decreased. Projectile range slightly decreased. Acid Damage increased. Stamina consumption equal. Chance to inflict Poison equal.

System:Rain

Rain would now find herself even more deadly with her venom in both forms of its use. It seemed like Poison Glob had a few drawbacks, but perhaps with more skill ranks those could be mitigated, or at the least she now had a bit of variance in her venomous arsenal. Plus, these two skills might go well together--even if Poison Glob was slower, a Paralyzed target wouldn’t be able to dodge so easily.

Skill Rank Up! Minor Heal III!
MP Cost increased. HP Heal increased. Healing can now be used on deeper wounds, but is still less effective on bones. As an Active Spell Skill, you may use any rank of this spell you are capable of within the limits of your MP.

Your MP was boosted at level up. At current MP levels, you may use (4) Minor Heal Rank I from full MP; 2 Minor Heal Rank II with leftover MP from Full; 1 Minor Heal Rank III with leftover MP from full; (4) Shield Rank I from full MP. Your MP is currently not full; you do not have enough left to cast more than one Rank I spell.

Skill Gain! Physical Conditioning I!
You have used a unique and effective method of bodily strain combined with your healing magic. These exercises have culminated in this passive skill: All Physical Attributes are slightly increased. Note: If you obtain ALL of the passive skills Harder, Better, Faster, and Stronger, Skill Synergy will occur and Physical Conditioning will rise by one rank regardless of its Progression.

System:Ardur

This was good news for Ardur, as he ended up not even having to spend a skill point from his level up to get a new skill in addition to increasing an old one. However, even though this was a “passive” skill, Ardur immediately noticed something actively change--

He buffed up.

It was not an enormous change. He certainly didn’t go from a wimp to a jerk. He didn’t suddenly have a six-pack, or a barrel chest. But his body mass actually did seem to increase a bit, as did the definition of his muscularity. If he stood next to another Pixie, like Oberon, it would be like looking at two relatively average people--one of whom simply stays skinny via a high metabolism, and one who actively works out at a beginner level.

But the real oddness about it was how suddenly it happened. It was like someone had stuck an air pump into him. Just “pop.” Just like that.

Aside from all of these things, it soon became clear to the various members of the group who bothered to look just what exactly had been buried under the bonfire’s ashes, likely having been coated over each time the fire’s coals had to be raked.

A huge pile of Mana Crystals had been placed in a hand-dug pit, and then covered with the ashes layer by layer over time. Whether this was part of some kind of cooking recipe or just a method of hiding them wasn’t clear yet, but this was most certainly Crispy’s stash!

58 Mana Crystals Discovered.
7 Flame-Touched Mana Crystals Discovered.
1 Source Crystal Discovered.

LOOT!

As Mourningstar used her Magic Analysis on it, she found…

Used Magic Analysis II
These are Materials, but they are of a Magical Nature. Effectiveness reduced to 80%.
---Mana Crystal---
This crystal is a physical manifestation of ambient and excess Mana built up in the environment. When enough Mana collects and suffuses impure physical material, it takes on this crystalline form. Usually found in places of high magical activity or concentration. Breaking or consuming these crystals can restore a small amount of Mana to a creature.

---Flame-Touched Mana Crystal---
Mana Crystals that have been exposed to a large amount of elemental Mana associated with Fire. Forcibly breaking this crystal produces a small-scale, fiery blast similar to many low-rank Fire Spells.

---Source Crystal---
Mysterious forms of Mana Crystals. The ore veins of the crystals can be traced back to a root system. These Crystals are closer to the Source of the World…

You have No MP Remaining.

LEVEL UP!
You have faced dangerous odds, and survived. Your experiences have culminated into new power! You are now Level 3! Your Max MP increases! You have new Skill Points you may distribute as you please!

Unspent Skill Points: 5

Current Skills:
Mana Orb II (2.2)
Lesser Force I (1.7)
Levitation (--)
Magic Analysis II (2.5)
Mana Shape I (1.4)
Mana Slice I (1.05)
Monster Analysis I (1.5)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Muffle (0.1)
Smash (0.2)
Defender (0.2)
Focus (0.8)
Deception (0.2)
Charisma (0.2)
Blunt Resistance (0.2)
Mental Resistance (0.1)
Point Strike (0.1)
Fire Resistance (0.2)
Rabid Fit (0.1)
Dexterous (0.1)
<UNUSABLE SKILLS>

System:Mourningstar

The Mana Crystals were their usual blue, the flame-touched crystals glowed with a warm orange,, and the Source Crystal was an almost hypnotic shade of green...

---

Pool Party

@Searat@Kazemitsu@Guy0fV4lor@SilverPaw

---

Ed took his discovery of a Mana flow within himself in stride, though as he practiced he found himself growing tired. It wasn’t quite the same kind of “tired” as, say, running a mile and being out of breath. If Ed had ever spent a full workday in front of a computer screen, or watched a long movie with its brightness settings not quite adjusted to the right level, or been unable to get enough rest on a weekend off before returning back to work, it was a similar kind of strain to that. A strain that makes a person say, “I haven’t done anything today, why am I still so tired?” At the least, though, he had made some kind of progress thus far.

As Jason and Asteria continued their telepathic experiments, Jason too would feel his mental strength ebbing. And after his last transmission to the Dire Rat, the slime suddenly felt a throbbing pain in his “head,” like a mild migraine or a stress-induced headache. He could feel his MP draining too, but he wasn’t out of it quite yet and it seemed like Telepathy didn’t use a great deal of it...perhaps it was because the skill had implied it was too low a level for more “complex” usage? He had been “thinking” in full sentences, and even a couple of paragraphs, after all. Maybe that was pushing it too much at this rank?

Asteria, much like Ed the first time, did not see any noticeable “skill” activations. No flashing lights, no surges of power. But she did become “aware” of an odd, warming flow through her body, a second circulatory system. And as she focused more upon it, it became more noticeable--though as soon as she stopped, much like when someone stops thinking about their own heartbeat or their own breathing, it would fade to a bare minimum of awareness in the back of her head.

Asura tried to help Momma Slime by relaying his memories and experiences to her as she struggled to speak. But even if he only used “images” or “sensations” rather than words and detailed descriptions, he only got through a few hazy moments of memory from his first attempts at giving himself a mouth to speak with before Momma Slime drew back, with a quick thought passing through to Asura before she broke their link.

Careful of hurt, you give too much. Then she settled down again and once more undulated her surface membrane. “BlrblrblbrbeeeeeEYE. Blllwwwwblwah.Wah.” At least she was making new sounds.

Mother Rat seemed somewhat reassured by Asteria, and none of these monsters thus far had gotten aggressive with one another. Seemingly willing to relax for now, she instead returned to perching up on a higher rock and scouting their surroundings. Once again, she soon squeaked at the group, then turned back to the direction she was looking at.

The distant glow from the bonfire seemed to have faded. Had it gone completely out? If the group thought about it, they might realize that not once since their new existences in this cave began had that fire gone out. Not for a whole week, and then some. Why would it do so now? Had something happened to that odd goblin that kept it going?

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

@Zanderkvothe

The thing is, we already have so many players that I'm having to try and figure out new ways of formatting my posts or new patterns/cycles to posting to try and strike a balance between not spamming back-and-forth, not running myself ragged keeping up with everything, and not forgetting what people are doing where when what why (and then I seem to constantly miss a detail here and there anyway >_<).

I really hate to discourage anyone, but I think it's partly my failing as a GM and partly just the unwieldy nature of a semi-sandbox RP like this that makes me say I don't think we can handle any more members right now. Given that you've also said you're not sure if you could commit, it might be best if you either use whatever idea you had for your adaptive version, or maybe just wait a while and see if things change in the future for either your schedule, or my competence as a GM.