Sprig-gone...

With the spriggan dead, the tower was now free real estate. The group hobble inside and are greeted by a larger tree that'd sprouted from the center of the dilapidated tower, probably what the spriggan was attempting to protect. Regardless if they'd killed the previous owner, they'd stay here tonight. The tower would provide enough cover to keep predators and the elements away.

Michael sets up two tents, one for Charlotte, her mother, and Illococoo, and one for him and Tiffania. With everything said and done, the group entered their respective tents, Michael laying Tiffania down before covering both him and her with blankets and furs.

Before he allows himself any sleep however, he pulls out the Book of Heroes to see his progress.

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Name : Michael Hunt

Rank : Hero

Stats :

Strength : 19 > 21

Agility : 36.6 > 39

Intelligence : 19 > 23

Abilities :

[Gandalfr] : Enables user to utilise any weapon at two ranks above their current proficiency while granting them the knowledge necessary to use them. While wielding a weapon, temporarily gain +100% in all stats.

[Language Comprehension] : Enables user to understand all spoken tongues, and increase the rate of which they learn reading and writing.

[Basic Mana Manipulation] : Allows user more control over his magic, spells, and some abilities. Mana efficiency and control of power is increased.

[Pain Tolerence] : Allows user to endure great amounts of pain with little to no negative effects as a result.

[Novice basic Swordsmanship(Two handed swords/One handed swords)] : Determines how skilful the user is when handling swords.

[Novice basic Dagger techniques(Single edge, curved, straight, double edge.)] : Determines how skilful the user is when handling daggers.

Affinities :

[Lesser Water Affinity], [Lesser Fire Affinity], [Lesser Lightning Afffinity], [Lesser Darkness Affinity]

Spirits :

Commoner Tier :

Shadow Shaman : MAX

Slark : Lvl MAX

Riki : Lvl MAX

Hero Tier :

Anti-Mage : Lvl 5 > 8

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He'd gotten a good amount of training in during the week they were leading Loutiel around by his nose. Seems like the threat of discovery had pushed him to get stronger faster. His quick increase could be due to the ambush however...

On that subject, his Anti-Mage had finally reached level six! Allowing him to acquire Mana Void!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spirit : Anti-Mage

Level : 5 > 8

Abilities :

Mental Fortitude (Rank 1) : Grants resistance to mental attacks that gets stronger when against magic.

Mana Break (Rank 2) : Burns the mana of any target struck, dealing damage to them based on how much mana is burned.

Blink (Rank 1) : Short Range but fast teleportation. Less range when unable to see location.

Counter Spell (Rank 3) : Provides passive magic resistance, can be activated to form a shield for a short time that blocks and reflects any single target spells cast towards the user.

Mana Void (Rank 1) : Attacks an enemy and deals damage to them and their surroundings based on how much mana they are missing.

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He hadn't had a chance to use Mana Void yet, but if it was as powerful as it was in the game, it'd be a serious game changer if he was facing any kind of mage or magical user. Depending on the situation, he could just insta-kill the opponent straight up.

He grins to himself, flipping the pages and entering his Spirit's worlds and informing them of the dimension hop. Both Rhasta and Riki were intrigued to hear about the method of travel, as well as about Tamriel itself.

Indeed, Michael had even gotten Rhasta a gift. He holds out his hand to the Shadow Shaman, the glowing heart of the spriggan pulsing with green light, as if it were still alive.

Rhasta's milky eyes widen as they behold it. He tentatively grasps the object, holding it to his face as if he were looking through it. "This... It's a magic siphon! How, strange! Hhahahhouuihhohi!"

...

"Magic siphon?" Michael questions, getting the general gist by its name but wanting a detailed explanation.

...

"Master?"

Rhasta looks up from the Taproot, "What?"

"What's a magic siphon? Are you alright? Or has your age finally caught up with you-*Bonk*" Michael starts but gets hit over the head by Rhasta's stick.

"Stupid student! Its use is in the name! It draws in, absorbs and condensed magical energy. Naturally formed ones are quite rare from what I heard, but it sounds as if these 'Spriggan's are common in that new world of yours." he squints his eyes as he frowns, "However. Do not hunt for them. There's a reason for Nature Spirits to exist, if you hunt for them you will start destroying the lands they protect. Kill enough, and you will find yourself an enemy of nature itself!... Student, hear my words, you do not want such a fate."

Michael raises a brow, "Why, what happens?"

"Nature will be against you... The water you drink will turn to mud, fruits you bite into will rot as you try to eat them. Wooden handles you use with grow thorns, animals will attack you whenever they see you, predator or not. Storms will be your enemy, lightning only striking at and around you, wind attempting to destroy whatever shelter you've found. It will not only be nature itself that will wish to harm you, even those with an affinity to it will find your presence sickening... Something I doubt you desire, considering that Half-Elf girl of yours." the Shadow Shaman remark, though, despite his jesting tone, does not change the severe frown on his face.

"You have been warned. I do not know if things will be the same in the world you currently inhabit, but those who harm nature will only be harming themselves..." Rhasta flips the taproot in his hand a couple times, "I'll be keeping this for now. I'm interested to see what uses I can find out of it..." he says, turning around and heading towards the makeshift hut Rhasta had built for himself during his stay here.

Michael is left there with an unsure look on his face. He'd never heard about any of what Rhasta just said before. In Skyrim he'd have his character destroy hundreds if not thousands of spirggans as he did quests. The fact that his character was also a vampire should've brought the wrath of nature down upon him... But, maybe Bethesda didn't want to integrate a Nature's Curse into the game, as it'd soft-lock anyone's game if they activated it... You wouldn't be able to do much if even the grass wanted to trip you up...

He shakes his head, deciding to leave spriggans alone unless they attacked him first. While their taproots could be used for experiments, alchemy, and maybe even improving his own magic, the risk was not worth the reward... He'd have to remember to relay this new knowledge to the others.

Michael exits Rhasta's world and snaps his book closed, allowing it to dissipate as he buries himself in his covers, cuddling up to Tiffania to warm one another with their body heat. He hoped she'd be up by tomorrow, otherwise he'd have to start feeding and bathing her... No, he'd let Charlotte handle that, she already did so with her mother, so she probably wouldn't be averse to it...?