Messages

["Huh? Ju? Everyone? Where are you going!? Wait, their eyes-"]

"Huh? Ju? Everyone? Where are you going!? Wait, their eyes-" Fred stops his panic and calm begins assessing the situation. First, and most importantly, he looks to his friends to study their actions. They're just...leaving. The look in the eyes was strange, too. Fred then spins around to address the room again, looking throughout it and inspecting for any more clues as to what happened.

[info]Making a spellcraft check to understand the spell in effect. Then a perception check to understand what caused it and its intent.

[blockquote]Spellcraft:  1d20+14 : 9 + 14, total 23[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Perception:  1d20+19 : 8 + 19, total 27[/blockquote][/info]

["I want to hold Fred's hand too!"]

Fred nodded along while going through the motions, as his choice to ask for guidance proved to be right. I might've ripped her hair out a bit by mistake if I went in blind. He thought to himself before noticing Ju internally struggling beside him. Why is she so unsettled? Did I do something weird again?

"I want to hold Fred's hand too!" Sio Ai stated, interrupting Lai Ju.

Seeing a hint of why Ju had been struggling through this moment, Fred pressed the little girl before him for answers. "Why's that, little one? It'll be tough to brush your hair if I don't have both hands."



"The Baleful Raven Method, huh?" Fred says pensively, staring off into space for a bit before turning back to Shuren. "Based on what you've said about the source of this 'darkness', I would need to have experienced extremely unjust treatment. That seems like such an odd, almost selfish source for power. The most I've ever experienced was extreme hunger, but that was as a bird. I've not experienced enough injustice to have vengeful thoughts like that, so I may have to rely on the Goddess of Darkness to aide me if I'm to pick up this method. Hopefully I'm lucky-" Fred stops as he suddenly has a realization, his eyes lighting up in curiosity as he realized he missed something Shuren said. "Training? You trained Lai Fen to have that kind of ki?"

["Alright, Ju. Lead me through the actions, only know what I saw, but I wouldn't be surprised if I missed something important."]

Fred plopped down next to Lai Ju, taking the brush in hand. "Alright, Ju. Lead me through the actions, only know what I saw, but I wouldn't be surprised if I missed something important."



"What do I think of them?" Fred looked blankly at Shuren, not having expected to be asked this. He turned to look down for a moment, deep in thought about what his feelings were about this group over the week or two he'd been with them. Having settled on the words, he looks back to Shuren with an equally serious expression. "I think they're good people. They mean well to their family, and many of them desire their actions to be able to change the world for the better. Were I in the situation where I have to choose who I supported in that throne room again, I would still make the same choice." Fred paused a moment before moving to his second thought, one that was more at the heart of what he came to Shuren for. "But they're all so close and self-reliant, I don't see how or why they need me. I'm not nearly as strong as they are, and this world seems to value strength above all. And I still don't understand this 'hero' thing. Maybe that's why I don't understand their actions, but I can't think of anything this 'hero' could offer that would lend itself to commanding such a family instead of acting as a separate ally."

["Great work everyone. No major injuries?"]

Fred let out a sigh in relief, "Great work everyone. No major injuries?" He looked around inspecting the group. "If not, let's keep moving. We should almost be there."

["Ju?"]

"Ju?" Fred called out as he noticed Lai Ju's sudden change in behavior, veering away from the known path back to camp. When she made her way further down that path, Fred signaled everyone to follow. Shortly afterward, all he could do is stare in awe at the crystalline structures before him. "Whoa~!"

Replying to Lai Ju's statement, Fred muttered out, "I don't think anyone could have expected it..."

[info][blockquote]Mental Resist:  1d20+14 : 19 + 14, total 33[/blockquote][/info]

["Oh?"]

[info]Lai Ju and Ai[/info]

Fred was notably surprised at Lai Ju's lack of fluster. Maybe that tease has gotten overused? He thought to himself, bemused.

"Oh?" Fred looked toward the eager little Ai before turning back to Lai Ju. "Sure! Run me through how it's done. If I end up any good at it, I could even do yours as thanks." Fred smiled happily, oblivious to why Lai Ju would stutter over something like this.



[info]Shuren[/info]

Fred lets out a chuckle as he finishes his approach, "I'm still not sure how that joke came about." He gave a short greeting bow, which he'd learned during martial training with Shuren previously. "My questions involve being the sect leader of the Dark Ravens. What exactly sets me apart from the rest other than my title? Is there anything specific to being the leader that I should be learning or know of? If not, then I don't really understand the point of the leader position. I'm not the strongest member, nor the wisest. As it stands now, I'm not sure what my role in this community is."

[info]
[blockquote]Survival: 1d20+19 : 12 + 19, total 31[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Stealth: 1d20+19 : 11 + 19, total 30[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Perception: 1d20+19 : 15 + 19, total 34[/blockquote][/info]

Fred grinned as he saw his barrier hold up to the attack. Well it's too close to use the ki techniques I know. But it looks like these creatures will no longer be a concern with how damaged it is already. Good. Relieved at the results of combat thus far, Fred steps forward, attempting to cleave the ooze with a pair of sweeping slashes.

[info]Fred does a 5 ft step to reposition and a full attack at the ooze in front of him.
[blockquote]Attack:  1d20+17 : 12 + 17, total 29[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Damage:  1d8+14 : 3 + 14, total 17[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Attack:  1d20+12 : 13 + 12, total 25[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Damage:  1d8+14 : 7 + 14, total 21[/blockquote]
[/info]

["Great! Carry it carefully, we'll act defensively as we return to camp. Good work, everyone."]

"Great! Carry it carefully, we'll act defensively as we return to camp. Good work, everyone." Fred responds motioning for the team to begin moving back.

[info][blockquote]Survival:  1d20+19 : 20 + 19, total 39[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Stealth:  1d20+19 : 16 + 19, total 35[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Perception:  1d20+19 : 19 + 19, total 38[/blockquote]
[/info]

["You're going to need to explain why it's so important to do something that's the exact opposite of normal. At least, what I think is normal. I still don't understand what is and isn't normal for you humans."]

Fred looks at Zhihao with concern. "You're going to need to explain why it's so important to do something that's the exact opposite of normal. At least, what I think is normal. I still don't understand what is and isn't normal for you humans." Fred says in obvious confusion. "I don't want to hit you. Why is hitting so important?"



"Ok, so anything infused with Mana I can't destroy yet. But I can somewhat refine mundane minerals into spheres like this. Which is interesting. And probably not too useful." Fred muses to himself.

Fred then begins playing with his powers a bit, cradling the multiple rock and crystal marbles he'd created in a barrier, rolling them around as though they were in a bowl while he thought. While watching them, his eyes suddenly lit up. Moving spheres...! Of course, I haven't even tried that yet! Focusing a bit, Fred attempted to move the barrier holding the marbles through the air gradually, seeing whether or not the barriers that are created are static. If this works, I have one more way of protecting myself.

[info]Attempting to move a barrier that's in air, while it holds the marbles.[/info]

["Got it. I'll take lead, support where you can!"]

"Got it. I'll take lead, support where you can!" Fred says as he moves forward, brandishing his spear and using his Barrier power.

I'd say about double the normal output should be good to start. Hopefully it resists acid. Then I can try attacking with my Ki. Fred strategizes to himself.

"Shield!"

[info]Fred moves forward, still out of range, and uses his Barrier power at 20 HP[/info]

["Take all the time you need. We'll all stand guard."]

"Take all the time you need. We'll all stand guard." Fred says as he motions for anyone not helping with the extraction keep watch with him. He also took this time to inspect the area more closely, hoping to find something else of use.

[info][blockquote]Perception:  1d20+19 : 4 + 19, total 23[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Survival:  1d20+19 : 4 + 19, total 23[/blockquote][/info]

[info]Didn't notice I had increased my skills, should've been +19.

[blockquote]Survival:  1d20+19 : 20 + 19, total 39[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Stealth:  1d20+19 : 2 + 19, total 21[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Perception:  1d20+19 : 17 + 19, total 36[/blockquote][/info]

[info]Don't have Knowledge(Dungeoneering), and honestly, Fred wouldn't know anyways. So passing that.[/info]

[info][blockquote]Initiative:  1d20+9 : 9 + 9, total 18[/blockquote][/info]

["Good work, Ju. A shimmering blob?"]

Fred nods at Ju's report in acknowledgement. "Good work, Ju. A shimmering blob?" He thinks back to his past encounters, as they'd fought multiple blobs before. "We've fought something like this before, and succeeded with half the number of people. Let's try to clear it out so we don't re-encounter it when coming back. We should be alright doing so." Fred determined and announced to the group.

"I have no idea if it's the same as the ones from before. But the only type that had given us trouble before was not 'shimmering'. I'm sure you all have been itching to test out your skills from the past days of training." Fred states with a barely-contained excitement apparent in his facial expression.

[info]The group will initiate combat.[/info]