The ability to issue quests seems limited to Debrah and only in her capacity as the leader of the village. So far the only reward she's able to give is reputation, but it's better than nothing. We accept her quests and begin our day. More than a few people greet us on our way out, some avert their gaze and a few like Dennis and his crew are openly... not quite hostile.

No matter, we'll deal with them later if we have to, assuming they don't deal with us first. As we walk Zoe skips ahead fighting [Horned Leporids] while the rest of us discuss our battle strategy now that we are short two people. The plans don't really change much, except for the part where we retreat sooner rather than later if anything goes wrong. Jenny drops the occasional trap behind us just in case Dennis or someone worse wants to find out how much EXP we are worth. She only set them to last about a minute so there are no worries about hurting some innocent lost soul.

We check the smaller corner stores and plaza's in our search for more goblins, looting what we think might be useful. The larger places we stay away from, they're either monster infested or show signs of having two legged occupants, which may be worse. The world went to shit so fast there is actually quite a bit for the taking. There are a few people out and about this morning. It's safer to approach someone who can see you coming, so we have no problem directing them to our new home. Other than that we talk as we please and enjoy the relative peace of the morning, practicing our spells and skills as we can. Once an ability as reached level four, it seems reluctant to grow without a target though. The lumps of flesh from monster and man alike, are less shocking and it's a little sad to realize just how hardened we've had to become.

Finally we find out first target, a goblin abode not far from the park, right on the edge of a large subdivision. We waste little time, having more or less perfected our plan of attack. After Jenny and I snipe the guard, we check the sides of the house unlike last time, just to be sure we don't have to worry about an attack in our flank mid battle. It's a good thing we do, since she finds one using the side of the house for a bathroom. He never got the chance to wipe. The plan is basically the same as last time, except this place has a longer entry way than the last house so we can start the fight inside and retreat as needed.

The house is pack with the little bastards, but most were still sleeping, given how early it was. Feeling a bit bold and reckless, we start with attacks on the ones we find downstairs. Judicious use of wide-area attacks spread confusion as they wake up, letting us take out a few more before we set up our formation in the entryway. Zoe is first with her hammer and whatever buffs Mr G can giver her. His [Prayer] raises our HP and Health regen by 10% at level two, which is something I sorely need. My HP is only 306 with a 23hp per minute regen. 337HP might not seem like a big boost, but I'll take it thank you very much.

My MP is 521 and my MP regen 468, which sounds nice and plentiful, but there is that small problem of being a [Mage]. The cost is 50mp for [Quicksand], 30 for [Haste] times four people and another 50 for [Stone Skin], plus ANOTHER 60 every time I use [Flamethrower] and one last 30 for each [Ice Blade], plus [Subterranean Attack] is another 3mp per yard per attack. Plus all of those spells have a cost of 1 to 5 MP per second to maintain. My regen eats the upkeep rather nicely, thank the being that resides in this part of the universe, but all of this means my available MP is hovering around 25. That's right, less than 5% of my total mana is left in reserve. This is a dangerous way for me to fight. I'm going to need a larger mana pool.

As the goblins get their shit together, they start to attack in greater numbers. Zoe is on it though, her [Taunt] doing wonders keeping them off of the rest of us. Her favorite combination seems to be [Ground Slam] which knocks them off balance, [Charge] + [Throw] in which she shoulder charges the lead goblin, then throws him into his friends when he double over in agony. That little girl in her pink dress is dangerous, glad she's on our side. I'm forced to use my spells sparingly, [Quicksand] slows them down and the occasional [Flame Thrower] + [Subterranean Attack] through the floor keeps them honest, but I'm worried about setting the house on fire. The [Ice Blade] + [ Subterranean Attack ] combo is good for decimating their front line while forming a weak barricade.

Jenny is a nonstop arrow delivery machine. Three of her four inventory slots are now extra arrows and she isn't shy about sharing them pointy end first. My barricade with a gap lets her shoot a [Light Pulse] arrow into the faces of the goblins, blinding them for a moment. A moment is all we need to really mess them up, even if we have to retreat immediately to not be over-run from the other rooms and upstairs. A few spell casters show up, more than the last house, but now that I know how to deal with them, they aren't as scary as last time. After what I'm sure is forever, but probably no more than 10 minutes, we hear a loud screech from somewhere in the house.

Finally the boss shows up, It's another Goblin leader, but this time he shows up before we finish with the small fry. We have to take the fight out onto the lawn again. but with Zoe's taunt, Jenny and I are able to pick the little ones off while she and Mr G, keep the Leader occupied. I don't want that Leader's Axe anywhere near Zoe so I have her run in Large circles away from him. After a while she stops and goes toe to toe with him though, damn near giving me a heart attack. My G is on it though, I don't know how she's standing the pain of his attack though, I clearly see her take a glancing blow to the face, but it doesn't stop her from knocking him back with a shoulder [Charge].

Finally Jenny and I are finished with the mobs and able to concentrate on the Leader. He goes down quickly enough when all four of us surround him and give no mercy. I'm using the last of my MP by the end with pot shots of [Fire Shot] aimed at his head. We've gained levels and loot, but really this is a piss poor way to fight a war. I can think of a million different ways in which we've been lucky. Death is always one missed step away. Being a little removed from the thickest part of the battle lets me see we really need a better way of doing things.

We rest and collect the loot from the goblins. Lots of arcane wands for Debrah to break down, no [Spatial Gem] though, Damn. Jenny finally gets her own [Goblin Leather Breastplate] and couldn't be happier about it. The Leader has no rings but does have a [SunVine Necklace]. For now that goes to Jenny as well due to her STA to MP conversion skill. The spell casters had necklaces of their own that Mr G and I can use, though for now Zoe also wears one. There is also a [Skill Scroll] that looks like it's a one time use spell [Sonorportation].

SunVine Necklace

Type

Accessory

+4 Con

Small STA Regen

MoonVine Necklace

Type

Accessory

+4 WIS

Small MP Regen

We each gain a level from the fight, but just as we go to step inside A new window appears.

Attention Sentient Beings

[Ancient Beings of Power] have successfully incorporated [converted extra-universal energies]

To compensate expect greater understanding and survivability at the cost of [Greater Discomfort]

No additional information is available.

No additional... That sounds incredibly suspicious. The last update said the cost was greater discomfort as well, but we couldn't figure out what that actually meant. This time, however, we figure it out right away. A full ten minutes of cursing follows, mostly from me. If I had to guess what happened, I'd say whatever these Ancient being of power were, they managed to hijack the new magic the Celestials made for us. I don't know how this solution affected them but I know EXACTLY how it affect us! All of our regeneration have been cut by at least 90%. I've dropped from 468 to 47MP per minute. my HP regen was 3! I curse and laugh at the enormity of this change. After a time though, the fact that there is nothing we can do about it forces us to move on.

A search of the house Reveals what I'm beginning to suspect might be normal for Goblins. A group of women the youngest not much older than Zoe, locked upstairs. There are six in total and I have Zoe and Jenny take care of freeing them. Given their state of undress as well as their general fear, it didn't seem like a good idea for Mr G or myself to do it.

We take a few minutes catch the women up on what's going on outside. All but one of them, the youngest, have classes. That's another mystery for later. We simply don't have the time to escort them to the park, but it's not far and they should get used to the reality of this world. The others don't fully agree, I can tell, but after giving the women directions, I start to walk the other way. The others catch up soon enough.

Sigh. I huff and puff a bit still upset over the massive nerf, but Jenny walks beside me anyway. She looks at me with concern, so I force a smile. Ah well, still a long day ahead of us... Damn it, damn it, damnit.

We find a lone level 26 Minotaur wondering the streets less than half an hour later. He's chewing on what has to be someone's arm. My anger must have made me stupid because I attack it with little thought for tactics. My [Fire Shot] barely fazed it. It turns slowly to meet my next one in the face. A frightening bellow comes out of it's mouth, so I toss another fire ball down it's throat. That did damage, and now it's really pissed.

Lesser Asterionae

Level

Type

Health

Mana

26

Monster/Humanoid

1124/1400

210/310

I have to jump out of the way of it's charge. That thing is massive, but slow. No weapon, so maybe we can take it. or maybe we should just run, this isn't a game, and forgetting that will get us killed. Jenny is already aiming for it's eyes though and Zoe has switch her hammer for an axe I knew she had and a shield I didn't know about. Heh, my cute little klepto. Mr G, Drops a [Holy Ground] spell for extra heals and attack, so it's time to fight.

This beast may be weaponless, but those hoofs look sharp, not to mention the horns. Jenny's crafted arrows just aren't cutting it, forcing her to switch to her original load-out. She's only got 30 of those left and I know she won't be happy about the number that are salvageable after this. Assuming we survive. Her arrows break the skin now, but they aren't getting past the muscles on this guy. She aims for its face instead, but that's a harder target. My [Ice Blade] + [Subterranean Attack] is doing less than nothing. My [Fire Shot] isn't significantly better either. [Flame Thrower] sets it on fire though, making me smile. Easier than I thought it would be.

I turn to make sure everyone else is alright, only to hear a terrified scream from Jenny, "Leon!" I don't even have to think, [Stone Skin] and [Haste], but it's too late. I'm hit by what I can only assume is the last working train in the world. I'm airborne long enough to think about [Slow Fall], but not long enough to use it. Hello Asphalt, long time no see...

When I come to, Zoe is the only thing standing between me and a messy death via Hoof to face syndrome. If she's using [Taunt] then either it ain't working or this guy is really pissed at me. Most of it's fur has been burnt off, but all the damage looks to be superficial. I'm bathed in light as Mr G hit's me with what has to be one of many healing or regeneration spells. OK, it's way past time to go. I don't know how much damage I took, but I'm betting I almost died.

"Time to go!" I yell at everyone, "Zoe run!"

"Has Rick would say, 'Don't gotta tell me twice'!" She turns to do just that, and time slows, because I can tell this is about to go from bad to worse. Zoe tries to go right, but does so just as the Minotaur reaches both massive hands for her. I don't think she gonna make it and no way I can live with myself if I get our resident weapon thief killed. My lounge knocks Zoe out of the way, but now I find myself trapped in the hands of this beast-man. Hands pinned to my sides it lifts me up and Bellows loud and long in my face. Blood and spittle hitting my face are the least of my worries when I see the size of those flat teeth. It opens its mouth again, but with no yell this time, because the sonofabitch is going to eat me!

I'm so scared I do the only thing I can think of, I take a breath and try to blow his approaching mouth away. It doesn't work of course, but that doesn't stop me from trying over and over, like a hyperventilating human snack-pack. The teeth get closer and I have time for one last try, I take a deep breath, and blow with all my might, putting everything I have into it. [Flame Thrower] activates and I'm sending a stream of Fire down the Bull-mans throat. It drops me and tries to scream, but I'm fairly sure that's next level difficult to do when your lungs are barbecue.

While it’s preoccupied with learning new breathing methods, my group pours everything we have on to it. It takes some time but eventually the Minotaur dies, we all gain another level and I'm swearing to the being that reside in this part of the universe to never to do that again!