Chapter 1: Stream of Consciousness

"Water clones, I have seen this technique before. We will change our strategem. Your fire will not work here, tend it with your fangs instead, I will seal it." The Growlithe lunged forward, snapping it's jaws at the creature, while the series of blurs that were its master gestured frantically.

(Iga delays until after Growlithe.)

o_WFfyFJ1d20 Bite Vs. Slick
2d6+26 Dark Physical Damage.

1d20+3 Hypnosis Vs. Slick, expending a charge of Double Team and an AP.

One of the afterimages dissipates as Iga's technique befuddles his opponent.1d20·2d6+26·1d20+3

Lucas dives forwards, sweeping through the slime and seeming to disorient it... though it does leave an oily, yet not particularly disgusting, residue on his foot and lower leg.

The Growlithe's bite seems to be far more effective than its flaming exhalation, ripping off a chunk of the ooze, which sinks into the sand as it disperses, leaving the main creature reduced... and to add insult to injury, it seems to become quite dazed from Iga's actions.

Ritsuko's wrath - or rather, that of the dragon within - strikes out at the slick before her, causing globs to fly off, before being finished off by Seraphine's leaves as Czar stomps the one in front of it. Both fall apart, flowing apart, and sinking into the sand.

A similar situation occurs when Superbia and his minion team up, quickly smashing the slime into the ground, leaving only the one in front of Iga and his dog, which is still dazed.

With their immediate threats dispersed, Lucas can afford to face Ritsuko with his full attention. To put it simply, her corrupted draconic appearance chills him to the bone. It oozes a malevolence unlike anything he's ever experienced. Even still, the masked boy puts on a fearless act and grabs her left wrist before she potentially continues to lash out, albeit with a shaking hand, and looks directly into her glowing red eyes. "Ritsuko, say something!"

As soon as the sphere touches the creature's body, the ooze disappears, turning into energy and being sucked inside. There's a shaking and vibrating in Iga's hand, before the sphere finally clicks and goes still.



And, with that, the fight is over. No more creatures seem to be nearby.

As Lucas attempts to calm down Ritsuko seem to be working, Superbia moves between the two of them and Iga and looks at the ball in Igas hand "So, you managed to capture one of them in one of those strange metal apples?"

The Demon seemed entirely unconcerned with what was going on behind him, though he noted to himself to have a talk with Ritsuko later about Mana control, since hers seems to be entirely wild still. The strength was there for sure, she just needed to focus it a bit. He nodded to himself internally as his attention swung back to Iga

"They didn't seem so tough" He says as he looks at the bruising on his shoulder that moved its way up his neck a little bit "Although they did manage to hit pretty hard. Could be useful if you can control it"

Czar sniffs Ritsuko's head to see if she is fine, and she does pull her heavy body up right. Another outburst...It wasn't the first, and wont be the last...for now...She finally got to her feet, and looked around at the slain slime. She rubs her temples to alleviate the migraine that follows after her outbursts. She doesn't have anything to say as they all saw what happened to her, and she wasn't too keen on talking about it. She is ready to follow with what the others decide.

Superbia inspected the flask for a moment before realizing that it was just water and drinking it, chuckling to himself since water is what had injured him in the first place. It was good though.

Heading over to Lucas, he placed a hand on the boys shoulder and looked down to meet his eyes "Was this your first combat? You did a fine job Lucas. I'll be happy to have you watching my back as we continue on. And thank you for the water." He sounded more sincere than he had up to that point, his voice slightly somber, as if he was reflecting on something before he stepped away.

"I agree Iga, going in seems to be the best choice. I can lead the way if you all want? I know both you and Sir Albin work better either from the back or when you're unseen, and that way you can get a little rest Ritsuko" He nods towards his fellow warrior before taking a few steps forward towards the water "Besides, I feel like I could take on a whole horde of them with my little Minion at my side" He says with that same oversized grin as before as he looks at his Timburr

The water initially seems chilly, but it's actually not terribly bad of a temperature. Certainly could stand to be warmer, but nobody will get hypothermia from it, thankfully. Unlike the ooze, this just seems like fairly ordinary viscosity; simply water.

Getting away from the sandbar, it seems like the bottom quickly drops away, making the river a lot deeper than it first seems. The other bank is a fair distance away, and there's a lot of river to search, especially if you're also wanting to try and examine the bank.

Before you have to do that, though, knowing what to look for, the group spots more slicks floating on the surface around. A lot more, scattered around. It doesn't seem like any have noticed the group yet, but if you hang around, there's no guarantee that series of events will continue.

With the other three having already drank of the water, preventative present or not, past experience was very clear that neither he nor Superbia had a strong grasp of things as they were in this place. Iga did not further approach the water, with Ritsuko's outburst it seemed she was the first to succumb, back in control or not it was of great concern to him. "I will remain back, Superbia, as you have suggested."