News of a group of monster hunters exterminating creatures without regard for the natural ecosystem had been circulating in the adventurer's guild, and there was a bounty out for them. A group of 5 was not going to be easy by any means, not that Ambika had any intention to. But it was worth filing as useful information given that she was about to take on a quest involving the observation of the secret to an Ooze's reproduction. Hopefully, the quest would end with less hassle than it already was going to be, given how hostile Oozes are known to be.

Ambika entered the Eclipse Jungle in search of her prey. Her senses should not fail her - her fair share of adventures have been a better teacher than whatever training she could have done on her own. And true enough, she would soon come upon a trail of corrosive goo, the telltale sign of an Ooze's presence. Now all that was left was following the trail and making sure she did not get spotted. Though it seemed she might not be the only adventurer around here. Better safe than sorry, she thought as she slipped a glass sphere of irritants[1] into her palm, imperceptible to all but her[2]. A terrible habit of hers to be wary of anyone by default, but one that has helped more often than not.

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[1]Improvisation Engineer: Glass Sphere + Powdered Capsaicin + Powdered Glass

SPOILER: Click to show

Glass Spheres	An empty glass sphere with a hole that is closed off by a cork. Used to store liquids, powders, etc. Four bottles come included in the kit.
Powdered Capsaicin	A handful of bright red powder made from various plants and peppers that are spicy in nature. If this powder comes into contact with the eyes, nose or is breath in through the mouth, it will cause intense burning and irritation. Anyone affected can not use novice level spells, martial or stealth skills for their next post. Comes with two uses.
Powdered Glass	A handful of white powder made from ground up glass. If this powder comes into contact with the eyes, nose or is breath in through the mouth, it will deal damage, create discomfort and prevent the target from taking any action other than moving during its next post. Comes with two uses.

[2]Quick Palm

SPOILER: Click to show

A simple technique that allows you to hold small items in the palm of your hand with no effort at all. You have mastered the skill of holding an item in your hand and making it look natural. In addition you can hold the item in a way that makes it look like the item is not there, concealing it within your palm. This does not work on large items like a sword or shield.

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SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: The creation of Oozes
Chapter: One
Description: Where these creatures come from is still very much a mystery to us. We have yet to witness an Ooze being created. Do they give live birth, hatch from eggs or just bud off from one another. We need you to venture deep into one of the many forest in Charon, locate an Ooze and attempt to witness how new ones come into this world. However we are not the only ones after information on the creature. A group of monster hunters have set out to rid the world of these creatures and will attempt to stop new ones from being created. 
Requirements:
- Requires at least two people (you and one other )
- You must make at least 5 post to complete the mission with each post being at least 200 words
- Must locate and witness an Ooze being created without disturbing the creature. (They Bud from each other)
- Must protect the Ooze from a group of 5 monster hunters trying to kill it
- Once you complete this mission you gain access to chapter two. (which needs to be a separate topic)

Inmo's heart pounded with exhilaration as she carefully made her way through the dense foliage of the Eclipse jungle, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any hint of the elusive ooze she was so eager to study. The air was thick with humidity, and the sounds of unseen creatures echoed through the dense underbrush.

Despite a tinge of apprehension about the possibility of encountering the notorious group of monster hunters known for decimating the ooze population, Inmo remained steadfast in her quest for knowledge.

After what felt like an eternity of relentless searching, Inmo's determination finally paid off when she stumbled upon a faint trail of corrosive goo. The goo unmistakably indicated the presence of the enigmatic creature she had been tirelessly pursuing. The goo glistened in the dappled sunlight, starkly contrasting the lush greenery surrounding it.


With a surge of adrenaline and an excited "yes!", she eagerly followed the trail, her mind teeming with anticipation for the revelations that awaited her. Her heart raced with the thrill of discovery, and she marvelled at the diverse flora and fauna that thrived in this mysterious ecosystem.

Little did she know, as she delved deeper into the jungle, that Inmo was not the only one pursuing the ooze.

Skulking along, keeping to the shadows to maintain her silence[1], Ambika observed this other person as best as she could while remaining hidden. The indigo-hooded robe would give away little of whomever laid underneath, but she appeared to be truly alone at least, and likely not too much trouble to disable if it came to that. Conversely, however, it also meant that she was unlikely to be much help should a fight break out. Regardless, making enemies in the middle of nowhere was something Ambika would much prefer to avoid, though she also harboured no interest with interacting with this figure. So for the time being, she opted to move ahead while also keeping an eye out for whatever the other person might do.

After more uneventful trudging, Ambika would finally come upon the eponymous Ooze that seemed to be all the rage this season. She personally couldn't care less about most creatures aside from the threat they might pose to her and others, a trait Cordelia, and to a lesser extent, Florentio regularly frowned upon (the former out of empathy, and the latter out of pragmatism). It would irk her immensely that she found herself having to defend the Ooze from what seemed to be an archer with their bow and arrow trained on it. And archers rarely acted alone, especially not against something as dangerous as an Ooze.

The gelatinous surface of the Ooze formed a visible bump that swelled and undulated that gradually turned into a sphere as it slowly began to separate from the main body. Ambika surmised that was likely how it reproduced, based on her lack of experience in such a phenomenon. There was likely a word for it, but she hadn't cared enough to have that in her lexicon. That was not her priority, however. The archer would obviously have a vested interest in preventing this, given the sheer killing intent they were exuding even from the distance.

Nothing personal, Ambika uttered coldly in her mind as she trained her crossbow and fired at the archer's arrow hand, causing the arrow to veer off-course and strike a tree instead.

---

[1]Pass without a trace
The shadow dancer has learned to completely conceal themselves while hidden, becoming one with the very shadows. While under the effects of a hiding spell or ability, or while concealed in a shadow, you can no longer be detected by any some of the mortal senses. You cannot be smelled or heard, preventing people with increased senses to detect you. For as long as you are concealed they can only find you by physically detecting you or removing you from the shadow. Your tracks also no longer exist, leaving no foot prints or indentations in the ground.

Inmo carefully followed the sticky goo trail, meticulously noting every detail as she tracked it to the source of the ooze. The trail wound through the underbrush, weaving between gnarled roots and moss-covered rocks. She paused to examine the texture of the goo, noticing its iridescent sheen and the occasional small bubble that popped with a faint sizzle.

She arrived just in time to witness a portion of it breaking off from the main body, a fascinating sight that piqued her curiosity even further.

Her mind raced with questions about oozes and their reproductive methods. How did they generate enough cells to accomplish fragmentation? She pondered the intricacies of their biology, trying to piece together the puzzle of their reproduction, drawing on her knowledge of natural phenomena.

As she delved into her contemplation, a sudden yelp of pain shattered the tranquillity of the forest, followed by the thud of an arrow striking the tree beside her. Inmo's instincts kicked in, and she swiftly identified the source of the disturbance. She deduced the sequence of events from Ambika's freshly discharged crossbow and the injured archer.

With a deep sigh, she shifted her focus to the injured archer, extending her hand and preparing to cast a firebolt if necessary. "It seems I can never enjoy an expedition without someone blocking the way," she muttered, a mix of frustration and determination in her voice.

"Quite the nerve ya got there, granny, getting in the way of our hunt like that." A tall, well-toned Grem with scars and burns everywhere and visible bone running along parts of his skin appeared from the bushes, glaring at Ambika with a mix of excitement and irritation, his arms tightly gripped on a greatsword. The sounds of shifting foliage could be heard from three other directions, revealing what appeared to be the rest of the group. That made five people. She hazarded a guess that this was the infamous group providing fodder for the rumour mill as of late. But of course. She did her best to observe the rest of her enemies before she would be forced to take action, catching a glimpse of a magician's robes, a somewhat ornate staff regularly used by the faithful, and the distinctive luster of a throwing knife rapidly flying towards her head. All in all, a pretty standard party composition.

When in doubt, shoot the medic first. Ambika raised her crossbow to block the dagger which stabbed deeply onto it, gave the brute a healthy serving of irritants delivered by way of a glass sphere[1] shattering against his armour, and did a high somersault[2] towards the one with that religious staff, landing behind the figure and finally getting a full view of them - a Human about the same height as her who hasn't noticed Ambika was now right behind her. And they would never get an opportunity to grace their eyes on her, as Ambika quickly introduced the blunt, weighted end of a kusarigama to their spine, knocking them unconscious.

In the meantime, the Oozes were now agitated by the hostile presences in their vicinity and launched two separate attacks - one towards the indigo-cloaked figure, and the other towards the direction the knife came from.

---

[1]Improvisation Engineer: Glass Sphere + Powdered Capsaicin + Powdered Glass

[2]Long Stride

SPOILER: Click to show

This spell can only be activated and used by the owner of the spell, only affecting their own person. The next time the owner would jump, they can instead jump three times their normal distance. This allows them to jump over gaps or obstacles, or even scale high walls. This spell only effects the next jump and must be used again to gain the effect an additional time.

Inmo instinctively shed her cloak, flinging it aside with an almost reckless abandon. The fabric hissed as it came into contact with the corrosive slime, small holes forming in the layer of clothing below, revealing glimpses of her shimmering silver skin—an otherworldly sheen that caught the dim light. She managed to discard the cloak just in time, sparing herself from more serious damage.

Her emerald eyes glinted with a mix of frustration and despair as she gazed at the remnants of her cloak, now a smoldering pile on the ground. With a resigned sigh, she murmured, “I can never manage to keep that on…” Yet, this fleeting moment of brooding quickly transformed into steely resolve. Inmo's heart raced as her attention sharpened on the looming threat around her.

With a swift motion, she aimed her outstretched hand toward the group’s mage, intent on ensuring she held the upper hand in this magical skirmish. Flames flickered and curled around her fingers, gathering vitality in her palm until they erupted outward in a searing blaze.[1]

She winced as the mage let out a piercing scream, the flames voraciously consuming his robes, crackling with an insatiable hunger for more. A pang of regret coursed through her; she wished it hadn’t come to this, that she didn’t have to bring harm upon anyone. But, as the tension in the air made clear, they had ignited this conflict first.

---

1. fire bolt

The indigo-cloaked removed and corroded, Ambika could finally lay her eyes on the unrelated stranger and impromptu battle companion. An Astralblood. That explains the cloak, not that there was time to care about that in this ongoing melee. The party's powerhouse was covering his eyes and coughing madly, trying to expel the spicy and sharp contents out of his orifices. Either way, he was not an immediate concern and she doubted she could keep him bound even if she tried. That one called for other measures.

Redirecting her attention to the knife-thrower, Ambika saw a female Gnome deftly avoiding the Ooze's downwards deluge and throwing an explosive cask[1] at it, causing a significant amount of damage to the Ooze and it began to slink away. Before the Gnome could throw a second cask, Ambika would return the dagger to the former by sending it flying straight towards her cask arm, causing the cask to slip out of the her hand and spin backwards before falling on a rock and exploding, sending her flying forward and landing face-first to the ground.

A gooey punch would then nearly catch Ambika off-guard, with her only managing to avoid the worst of it thanks to her uncanny reflexes. Her clothes, however, would begin to singe and melt away from the corrosive acid, emitting a smell akin to burning cloth. Sigh. This entire affair was really starting to grate at her patience. It really was for the best that she'd nicked all these scrolls from those dangerous Lunar Rebels previously. Unfurling one of them[2], light would begin to bend and distort as her colors disappeared from view, leaving nothing but the marks of flattened grass the only indication that she still stood there. Charging another of her scrolls with mana while circling around the Ooze in the direction away from where everyone else was, she would then shout "Over here, you blasted menace!" while hurling the scroll a feasible distance away in a diagonal angle and activating it, causing an illusion of Ambika aiming her crossbow[3] at the creature to appear. Luckily, it was convincing enough and soon the Ooze was moving away from the impromptu battlefield.

That left the monster hunters, with the brute finally recovering from the sheer irritation Ambika laid upon him, and it seemed the mage and the archer were also starting to get some funny ideas about how best to retaliate, the latter forcibly yanking the bolt out and bandaging their arm.

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[1]Gnome: Explosive Cask

SPOILER: Click to show

A wooden bottle lined with metal bearings and a rubber cork. The bottle is filled with charged energy, a swirling bottle of fire and flame. This bottle can be smashed or broken to create a small explosion centered on the bottle. Flame and heat explode outwards, igniting things on fire or dealing a large amount of damage to anyone caught inside the blast. Comes in a set of two bottles.

[2]Concealment Scroll

SPOILER: Click to show

This scroll or seal tag can be placed and used remotely or used directly by the Oniwanban Shadow. When used or activated it makes whatever it is attached too or a medium sized space completely invisible and undetectable for the next two post, unless the tag is exposed to fire to which the invisibility ends early.

[3]Clone Scroll

SPOILER: Click to show

This scroll or seal tag can be placed and used remotely or used directly by the Oniwanban Shadow. When used or activated a cloud of smoke will rise from the tag, taking the exact form and image of yourself. This clone will look exactly like you, but can not move or interact, remaining in a single spot. It can mimic minor movements like lifting a leg, to appear real, but stays stationary for two post.

Inmo stood at the edge of the clearing, the dense forest looming around her, engulfed in an eerie silence. A sense of unease crept over her as she realized that her usual go-to tactic of unleashing a fire bolt wouldn't be effective against this problem. As she pondered her next move, she muttered, "If I manage to survive this ordeal, I need to dedicate more time to honing my skills in the earth domain."

Turning to seek support from her impromptu ally, she was astonished to discover they had mysteriously vanished into thin air. The hairs on her neck stood on end as a chill ran down her spine. "Great," she muttered under her breath, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

Reluctant to resort to what she considered the coward's way out, Inmo found no other viable option. Determined to find a temporary refuge, she scanned the surroundings for the tallest tree. The rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl filled the air as she spotted her target, a towering oak. With a deep breath, she resolved to climb it. Although she felt embarrassed and ashamed, at least she would be out of harm's way for now.

Ambika caught a glimpse of the Astralblood climbing up a tree. She reserved no judgment for the young one - one does what they need to for survival, and someone who understood their limits was infinitely preferable to those who did not.

Back to the matter at hand, the brute was swinging his greatsword angrily, yelling at his two conscious allies to find 'that sodding granny', while the mage was glaring all over trying to find the girl who chucked a fire bolt at him, and the archer airing various expletives unfit for inscription. Ambika carefully skulked towards the side opposite of where civilization stood and fired a Fear Tip[1] at the brute's face and having it draw blood as it flew past him, causing a palpable sense of dread to wash over him.
"Take your allies and leave." Ambika's voice was cold and clear as water. The mage and archer tried to find her, but their senses did not provide them the answer they needed.[2]
"No, no. W-what is a-an, old granny like you, gonna do?" The brute was still trying to cling on to his false bravado, then a chained sickle would fly in an arc his neck, just barely scraping the skin and leaving a cut.
"I will go deeper if you do not leave this instant." She had no intention of actually killing the brute, of course, but she was entirely ready to do so if it came to that.
"Retreat, retreat!" The brute's fear and ingrained instincts were screaming that the old granny could absolutely kill him, and likely everyone else given enough opportunity. He rushed over to pick up his fallen allies and the group would collectively run in the opposite direction of the voice.

"You can come down now. They are gone." Ambika walked towards the oak she saw the Astralblood climbed towards, maintaining a healthy enough distance for her to react should there be hostility directed at her, even if she were invisible and her steps silent.

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[1]Fear Tip x1

SPOILER: Click to show

A set of metal arrow heads or bolt tips that can be fastened to arrows or bolts. When this bladed tip injures someone, for the next post that person will become terrified of the person who shot the projectile. They can not move towards the shooter and can not take any offensive actions against the shooter.

[2]Pass without a trace

SPOILER: Click to show

The shadow dancer has learned to completely conceal themselves while hidden, becoming one with the very shadows. While under the effects of a hiding spell or ability, or while concealed in a shadow, you can no longer be detected by any some of the mortal senses. You cannot be smelled or heard, preventing people with increased senses to detect you. For as long as you are concealed they can only find you by physically detecting you or removing you from the shadow. Your tracks also no longer exist, leaving no foot prints or indentations in the ground.

Inmo found herself unable to tear her gaze away from Ambika, utterly astounded by the way she effortlessly instilled fear in their assailant. Inmo couldn't help but wonder if the arrow had something to do with it. She observed Ambika's poised stance and the unwavering determination in her eyes, creating an air of confidence that demanded respect.

A wave of relief washed over Inmo as she watched the group retreat and heard her ally's call for safety, and a deep sense of calm settled over her. She descended carefully, ensuring each step was firm as she reached the ground. The adrenaline rush began to ebb, replaced by a profound gratitude towards Ambika for her timely intervention.

Once on solid ground, she turned her attention to her unexpected ally and tilted her head slightly, examining Ambika curiously. Her inquisitiveness drove her to learn more about the person who had fought by her side. Ambika's enigmatic aura and undeniable skill intrigued Inmo, leaving her eager to understand the woman behind the formidable facade.

"Your skill was truly extraordinary," she said, her voice filled with admiration. Blushing slightly, she nervously toyed with a strand of her blonde hair. "I wish I could have been more helpful." Inmo's genuine humility and appreciation were evident as she expressed her thoughts to Ambika, acknowledging the stark contrast in their abilities.

With a respectful nod, she introduced herself. "I'm Inmo. Could I ask for your name?"

"There are people more skillful than I," Ambika brushed off the praise she was given, having had a lifetime of humbling experiences as well as being on the receiving end of her son's sneak-ups on a semi-regular basis.
"Sometimes even just getting out of the way is enough help." A crude way about it, perhaps, but having situational awareness was a merit on its own in her eyes.
"Ambika." She answered plainly, refraining from giving her full name as Inmo did not give hers. Then, she would present an emergency cloak[1] she had on her person to Inmo. "Here. This should cover you on our way back." It would not do well for her to leave Inmo alone at the moment in case those monster hunters decide to retaliate. That arrow's effects were temporary, and while she was loathe to deign her newfound acquaintance as a possible meat shield, her long-ingrained pragmatism would never allow her to not consider that an option.

Luckily for the two, though, it appears they had returned just in time for the group to be tied up and gagged by a bunch of other bounty hunters who were all scrambling to secure a windfall. The mood seemed to suggest that the tenuous allies were about to break into another fight, however.
"We should head for another entrance." Ambika sighed.

Inmo stands resolutely, her eyes gleaming with determination as she addresses her new companion. "You have also demonstrated that you possess skills surpassing those of some others," she asserts, her tone firm yet encouraging, gently nudging Ambika to acknowledge her impressive capabilities in combat. Her voice has an underlying warmth, a camaraderie forged in the heat of battle.

As Inmo shifts slightly, a sheepish shrug escapes her, her cheeks betraying her with a soft flush of color that hints at her modesty. Deep down, she wrestles with a flicker of disappointment; she had only managed to cast a single spell before retreating to the familiar safety of a nearby tree, a sanctuary from the chaos around her. "Fair enough," she concedes, her voice almost sheepish, but a spark of quiet strength is lingering.

When Ambika extends the emergency cloak, Inmo's heart swells with gratitude. With its muted hues and comforting texture, the fabric holds whispers of protection and warmth. She eagerly accepts the cloak and wraps it around her shoulders, finding solace as the material envelops her as if embracing an old, cherished friend. Her silver skin, a unique hallmark of her identity, vanishes from view under the protective embrace of the cloak. "Oh, thank you kindly," she exclaims, her tone brightening with genuine appreciation, the shadows of doubt momentarily lifted.

Casting a cautious glance at the small group, Inmo feels the rising tension in the air—a palpable, electric charge that thickens like fog, sending a shiver down her spine. The atmosphere is heavy with unspoken worries and the weight of their precarious situation. "I certainly agree," she comments, her voice steadying as she nods in solidarity with Ambika.