[Hanako] Chapter 14: Southern Mining Site

[Throndir]

Your lightning spell fired off. One of them seemed to get out of the way of the majority of the strike, but it was still singed.

You leveled up.
You are now level 37. Spend your unallocated points.

Once that was done, one of the creatures released a cloud of spores, Kari, having been warned, held her breath. At that same time, the other two creatures in the back released more sonic waves. However, with Kari needing to hold her breathe, she wasn't quick enough to get away from the first blast, but managed to roll away from the second to soften the blow.

Kari responded with striking out, out of 4 attacks, 2 were criticals, 1 hit, and the last missed. She managed to down one, and hurt another.

Trudy's eyes begin to focus. She didn't look like she was doing too well, though the same could have been said about you. She still had a determined look on her face though.

"I can still use magic, I want to help Kari." She told you.

Trudy to take turn then Hanako.

Combat

Initiative: Hanako: 23, Lizard creatures, Kari: 10, Trudy: 9
Map & Status roll20
Log
Round 1
Hanako readies attack.
Lizard creatures attack with sonic attack. Everyone saves, but Hanako on 2nd Phys. Resist.
Kari 5 ft. steps forward, power attack, fullround attack.
Trudy attacks with rifle, reloads
Round 2
Hanako is stunned.
Creatures attack, the ones in the back use sonic.
Kari 5 ft steps, power attack, fullround, downs next creature.
Trudy is stunned.
Round 3
Hanako casts Rakurai, spends hero point to move Trudy.
Creatures attack, one of them creates a spore cloud, the ones in the back use sonic.
Kari fullround attacks, downs one creature.
Trudy to take turn, then Hanako.

[close]

Exploration

Log
9-10 AM: Head deeper to Section 1, success, encountered ruins.
10-11 AM: Head deeper to Section 2, success, encountered nothing.
11-12 PM: Head deeper to Section 3, success, encountered moist stone creature.
Noon-1 PM: Head deeper to Section 4, success, encountered nothing.
1-2 PM: Head deeper to Section 5, success, encountered mushroom forest, lizard-like creatures.
Current: Section 5

[close]

[Asta]

Before Trudy could run out into the open again, Hanako put a hand on the girls shoulder to hold her back. She seemed weak, she looked like hell. "You're gonna stay right the fuck here in cover, because I refuse to let you get hurt anymore. If you can blind-fire a spell around the corner, then do it. Kari is strong, she'll probably be able to avoid it. I won't let you take as big a risk as walking out there to get killed though."

Hanako gave her a firm look, but then smiled. "We'll be OK."

[Throndir]

Trudy bit her lip, but she eventually nodded and began casting.

"Come forth, Wasser! Freezing storm, 『Blizzard』!" With that, the corridor began to get extremely cold as waves of cold and chill air began to emanate from where she directed the spell.

You leveled up.
You leveled up.
You leveled up.
You have gained a new title 『Max Multiplier I』
You have gained +2 MAG
You are now level 40. Spend your unallocated points.

The moment the notifications started to disappear, you also began to notice something else that was different about yourself. Normally you would sense mana in you, which felt like a giant reservoir in them, but now, there was something else too. It was smaller in quantity, but seemed to spread itself through the entire body. It felt more like a river that was constantly flowing, rather than a still lake.

Hanako to take turn.

Combat

Initiative: Hanako: 23, Lizard creatures, Kari: 10, Trudy: 9
Map & Status roll20
Log
Round 1
Hanako readies attack.
Lizard creatures attack with sonic attack. Everyone saves, but Hanako on 2nd Phys. Resist.
Kari 5 ft. steps forward, power attack, fullround attack.
Trudy attacks with rifle, reloads
Round 2
Hanako is stunned.
Creatures attack, the ones in the back use sonic.
Kari 5 ft steps, power attack, fullround, downs next creature.
Trudy is stunned.
Round 3
Hanako casts Rakurai, spends hero point to move Trudy.
Creatures attack, one of them creates a spore cloud, the ones in the back use sonic.
Kari fullround attacks, downs one creature.
Trudy casts Blizzard.
Hanako to take turn.

[close]

Exploration

Log
9-10 AM: Head deeper to Section 1, success, encountered ruins.
10-11 AM: Head deeper to Section 2, success, encountered nothing.
11-12 PM: Head deeper to Section 3, success, encountered moist stone creature.
Noon-1 PM: Head deeper to Section 4, success, encountered nothing.
1-2 PM: Head deeper to Section 5, success, encountered mushroom forest, lizard-like creatures.
Current: Section 5

[close]

[Asta]

As Trudy unleashed her spell, and the notifications piled up in the corner of her vision, Hanako popped out from behind cover pulling the rifle from her shoulder as she stepped into the deadly field of view of the monsters. As quickly as she could she lined up a shot, invoked the mysterious blessing that would create a duplicate of her actions, and fired.

Attack, Rifle, vs AC

Rolled 1d20+20 : 12 + 20, total 32

Rolled 1d10 : 3, total 3

Multiply Blessing used.

[Throndir]

The moment you spoke Multiply, like before, a notification appeared that stayed in your vision as you felt the drain of mana.

Action Multiplier: x1

And right after that, it changed.

Action Multiplier: x2

With that notification active, you fire your rifle. Firing around the corner made aiming a bit more difficult due to the cover, but you still took your shot. Like before a ghostly image of you appeared overlayed on top of you, doing similar actions but just slightly different. The end result however was still the same. The bullet fired and managed to hit your target, dealing a wound that looked exactly similar from each other, though, placed in a slightly different area.

That notification in your view then changed again.

Action Multiplier: x1

A few seconds after that, the window at the corner of your vision would disappear.

With three of them downed, the both of them screeched again. However, due to the corner and your vantage point, only one of the sonic waves was headed towards you.

Hanako to roll Agility save

After that, one of the creatures started to retreat. The other, noticing, began to follow as well. Kari took the opportunities to attack. The valkyrie reacted amazingly quick, and she managed to unleash two strikes, one for each creature as they attempted to run past her. Kari continued to hold her breathe in the cloud of spores.

But she took a step towards one who was attempting to get away. Her first strike hit critically, and her second managed to hit as well. That was enough to down it. However, she struck at it again, ensuring the kill.

You leveled up.
You are now level 41. Spend your unallocated points.

Hanako to take turn.

Combat

Initiative: Hanako: 23, Lizard creatures, Kari: 10, Trudy: 9
Map & Status roll20
Log
Round 1
Hanako readies attack.
Lizard creatures attack with sonic attack. Everyone saves, but Hanako on 2nd Phys. Resist.
Kari 5 ft. steps forward, power attack, fullround attack.
Trudy attacks with rifle, reloads
Round 2
Hanako is stunned.
Creatures attack, the ones in the back use sonic.
Kari 5 ft steps, power attack, fullround, downs next creature.
Trudy is stunned.
Round 3
Hanako casts Rakurai, spends hero point to move Trudy.
Creatures attack, one of them creates a spore cloud, the ones in the back use sonic.
Kari fullround attacks, downs one creature.
Trudy casts Blizzard.
Hanako move action while drawing weapon. Free action trigger Multiply. Standard action attack. Multiply expended.
Lizards attack, then move, triggering AoO.
Kari fullround attacks and downs another.
Trudy catches her breathe.
Hanako to take turn.

[close]

Exploration

Log
9-10 AM: Head deeper to Section 1, success, encountered ruins.
10-11 AM: Head deeper to Section 2, success, encountered nothing.
11-12 PM: Head deeper to Section 3, success, encountered moist stone creature.
Noon-1 PM: Head deeper to Section 4, success, encountered nothing.
1-2 PM: Head deeper to Section 5, success, encountered mushroom forest, lizard-like creatures.
Current: Section 5

[close]

[Asta]

Hanako tried desperately to avoid yet another blast from the remaining creatures, as hard as it was dodging what she could only conclude was a concussive wave of pure sound.

Agility:

Rolled 1d20+18 : 13 + 18, total 31

She shifted slightly to get a better view, but couldn't spot the last creature. Instead of pursuing the deadly beast, she pulled up short and prepared to fire on the thing if it revealed itself to her again.

Ready action, attack the creature with the rifle if it moves into Hanako's line of sight.

[Throndir]

Mining Site #2 - 5th Level
Day 16 - 2 PM

Though Kari prepared for the creature, the last creature never came out to attack her. Instead, Kari moved out of the cloud of spores. She had held her breathe successfully fighting in the cloud, so she took a deep breath of air when she finally got out of it. She grimaced when she noticed both yours and Trudy's wounds.

"One of them got away." Kari said simply.

From Kari's pack she immediately took out what looked to be a healer's kit.

As for Trudy, she began to collect the rifle and the torch on the ground.

State any more prep, or if you plan to go anywhere, or camp out, or anything.

[Asta]

"Good work. That was, more difficult than I anticipated but we're alive and that's what matters. We should take some time to recouperate and see to our wounds. I'll get a golem up and running to help stand watch." Hanako proceeded to open up the menu visible only to herself and pick out the materials that would compose the golem.

I should have been more careful... she thought, cursing her negligence. She could have called up several servents to fight with them as soon as she was out of sight of the guards above, but hadn't. Was it simply careless neglect, or perhaps the excitement of venturing into the unknown had made her blind to the dangers she had been so obviously warned about? It mattered not. Trudy was in a critical state, and unlike the games she was accustomed to there was no easy way to restore her party to better health. All they could do was wait until their situation was less dire. She wouldn't make the same mistake in the future.

Summon golem, Medium, using stone and any of the mana crystals that might be around. Configured to fight physically.

When the spores no longer present a danger, Hanako will collect her sword. Afterwards, the party will rest for a while to recouperate. Hanako will take the first watch. Staying in the area for a full night isn't really an option since they are sort of pressed for time, but they will rest until Trudy is at least in fighting shape.

Pre-emptive perception, if needed:

Rolled 1d20+8 : 13 + 8, total 21

[Throndir]

Mining Site #2 - 5th Level
Day 16 - 2 PM - 3 PM

You created the golem. It was made out of both stone and mana. To your eyes, through mana sensitivity, it looked like it glowed from the mana stored in the crystals.

While the group decided to rest, first-aid kits were applied to everyone.

"During the war with the demons o'er the last century... Tis said the witch of Jorundarfell woulds't descend from the mountains, cursing many an elf with fell magic as they lay unconscious or perhaps dying in the fields of slaughter betwixt the mountains and their forests..." Kari said non-nonchalantly as she began to apply bandages on both you, Trudy, and herself. "In truth, tis not any curse, though elves refuse to open their eyes to what had actually begotten them." She began to chant words then, as arcane circles started to appear on the bandages.

"Mayhaps indeed a pity twas that witch of Jorundarfell, seeking only to aid those against the hated demons, but alas, being branded a demon herself."

Kari uses Heal to Treat Deadly Wounds on everyone, casts a double heal-rate spell on everyone.

An hour later, you felt much more healthier, though the wounds were still fairly bad. At the very least, nothing had appeared to wander in your vicinity.

"Hanako... do we want to keep going? We might be able to make a room here, too, if we need to rest more, but I'm not skilled in earth magic."

[Asta]

Hanako pinched the bridge of her nose in thought. It was a difficult scenario to deal with, on one hand as battered as they were further exploration would be difficult; on the other, it would be unwise to spend more time than needed here at the mines. Why is it we never have the luxury of time... Hanako grumbled internally.

"We should rest." she said finally. "At least until our wounds are healed, no longer. There are lots of people waiting for us back home, but we should at least do our best to make it back alive."

The group will rest in whatever nearby area seems safest and easily defended. The golem can try to hollow out a space for them to camp in, if feasible but if it seems too much of a task then they'll just make due. Whenever they are back to full health, they'll continue.

Preemptive rolls for further exploration once everyone is back in fighting shape.
Going deeper, Survival:

Rolled 1d20+9 : 19 + 9, total 28

Perception to not be caught off guard:

Rolled 1d20+9 : 19 + 9, total 28

[Throndir]

You can roll Survival to find something more defensible. Higher roll the better the camp area, and tweaking the encounter roll table depending on what it is.

I'll use your pre-emptive rolls above for after the resting period when you plan to head in deeper to the next section.

During that time, Kari began to cast some magic as well, focusing on the 4 corpses of the slayed beasts. One by one she worked on each one. The first casting of her spell seemed to strip every amount of flesh on the creatures, leaving only the skeletal remains. Her next spell on each of the corpses animated them, and soon enough 4 of the skeletons rose again. This time however, instead of fighting the three of you, and your golem, the skeletal creatures positioned themselves some distance away, watching out into the darkness alongside the golem.

Exploration

Log
9-10 AM: Head deeper to Section 1, success, encountered ruins.
10-11 AM: Head deeper to Section 2, success, encountered nothing.
11-12 PM: Head deeper to Section 3, success, encountered moist stone creature.
Noon-1 PM: Head deeper to Section 4, success, encountered nothing.
1-2 PM: Head deeper to Section 5, success, encountered mushroom forest, lizard-like creatures.
2-3 PM: Treat Deadly Wounds
Current: Section 5

[close]

[Asta]

Survival:

Rolled 1d20+9 : 20 + 9, total 29

[Throndir]

Survival: 29
You manage to find a very suitable location to camp. It was a short distance away from the where your group had fought the sonic blasting creatures, but one of the cracks in the wall soon lead to an enclosed room.

At the center of that room looked to be a blue glowing flower, with a pool of water forming underneath it. Though it was glowing, it didn't actually shed enough light to light up the room, but Trudy's torch eventually confirmed the fact that this was a safe, if not claustrophobic inducing room, with the only thing of note aside from some fungus, and crystals, was the flower itself.

It was large, perhaps 2 ft. in radius. Droplets of liquid seemed to drip from the flower itself, and the pool that formed underneath it, had the same luminscent quality as the plant. There was much more life around the pool as well. More fungus seemed to sprout at the pools edges, and these had the same glowing quality as the plant. You noted that instead of the yellow and green glow that most of the other fungus had, this particular flower, pool, and set of fungus, had a blue glow to them.

The tunnel into the room was just big enough for you squeeze into. Since the golem was the same size as a normal human being, the crystal golem managed to fit through the tunnel-like crack as well. It was the skeletal summons that Kari had which did not fit. As a result, she decided to leave them at the entrance.

"Mayhaps mine minions shalt alert us to any more danger that draws near." She reasoned.

[Asta]

"Nice work." Hanako said to Kari, giving a nod. "Both of you get some rest, I'm going to take a look at that before I settle in." she continued, gesturing to the enourmous flower.

Getting up close to investigate she examined it thoroughly, the pool that had formed beneath it as well. As far as she was aware, she had never seen such a thing in her life but racked her brain for an explaination none the less.

Investigating the flower and liquid, trying to pull info from a variety of potential knowledge bases as well as just generally checking it out in more detail.
Knowledge, Dungeoneering:

Rolled 1d20+12 : 15 + 12, total 27

Knowledge, Arcana and Arcane Lore:

Rolled 1d20+10 : 2 + 10, total 12

Knowledge, Local:

Rolled 1d20+11 : 9 + 11, total 20

Knowledge, Nature:

Rolled 1d20+12 : 17 + 12, total 29

Perception:

Rolled 1d20+9 : 14 + 9, total 23

[Throndir]

Knowledge (dungeoneering, on glowing blue flower): 27
As far as deep caverns go, there weren't many flowers that fit this particular description. However, you knew that in deep caverns such as the one you currently were in, with the lack of sunlight, the ecosystem here was much more fragile. Energy sources for life were fewer, and generally relied on either geothermic activity, nutrients carried by water, other life through decomposition or consuming them directly. There wasn't anything particularly obvious about how this particular plant manage to grow, much less produce the glowing liquid that was dropping from it.

Knowledge (arcana & arcane lore): 12
You couldn't quite figure out from any of your arcane knowledge learned from back in the estate, or recently from Kari, to explain the plant.

Knowledge (local, on glowing blue flower): 20
You've read or heard a particular legend about glowing plants that produce liquid that can have a variety of effects on the user. There were some legends associated with that even here in the new world. There was some similarities in stories back on Earth, for example was Alice in Wonderland who ate particular sides of a toadstool in order to change sizes, more recent examples would include Mario. Though you weren't able to specifically identify this from the legends you knew of, there was a likely chance that this could do something strange.

Knowledge (nature, on glowing blue flower): 29
Going through what you knew about the nature of this new world, it finally hit you. You recognize this as something called the 'Mage's Gift'. It was something you briefly recall seeing in a book back in the estate, as part of Klein's collection about the new world. This particular flower dripped a continuous supply of mana-infused liquid that puddle around it. Unlike most plants, the Mage's Gift used mana itself to grow, and treated it as nutrients. Most living things had a measure of mana in them, but likely the mana-infused crystals throughout the area had been feeding this, along with anytime a monster or creature would draw near. Absorption was quite slow however, so it wasn't likely that anyone could notice it.

Perception: 23
There was nothing hiding around the flower, both Trudy and Kari were staring at the flower as well.