A'sshaka stands over the lip of the cave entrance as the great fire rises over endless water. Even in her spirit form she feels the warmth against her. The creator saw fit to still allow all sensations of life to follow into death. She supposed that could be bad as well as pain was rarely a welcome feeling. “It is worth it though” she thinks with a throaty chitter to welcome the warmth and a new day. Her eyes scan the tree line. In their former home trees were rare and only in certain chambers, usually only the ones with crystal fire and water within. Here they were everywhere. A'sshaka never imagined that so many trees existed, nor the variety of them. Her people had no names for different trees, but she could see some are very different from others. Exploration could wait, for a little bit at least. “We need to secure the passageways back below. Don't need any monsters biting our tail. The entrance is too large. We know not of the creatures or monsters roaming these lands, but no defense is asking for trouble…” She chitters to herself as she floats down the side of the mountain. This form grants her pseudo flight as she is unbothered by obstacles on the ground, but she can only go so high off the ground before the magic keeping her aloft fails and she floats back down. As A'sshaka descends, people bow as she passes them. Her new form is seen as a holy symbol for their god. She appeared much like she did in life. Though her legs and tail are now gone, ethereal smoke flowing from below her upper half remains. Her spirit arms now disconnected and an extra pair accompanying float behind her, completing a look her people will call angelic. She stops at the cave opening and lifts her head high letting out a gathering call. When they have gathered around her she floats a little higher off the ground so all can see her. “My family, this is the first full day under the warmth of the great fire and we have much to do. Our new home needs defenses, the trees and their secrets must be found, as well as any threats in their midst. Cluster leaders come to the front. We will discuss what each group will do. The rest finish your waking and camp duties.” She floats back down and several Zōin̈ make their way through the dispersing crowd. Without preamble A'sshaka begins, “How many made the journey and are healed?” A grizzled Zōin̈ missing part of its horn and plumage speaks up, “If we include those who can assist but have not quickened One thousand five hundred and twenty five. Unfortunately many of the youngest couldn't make it and we only have three hundred and seventy eight young. Two hundred thirty three are approaching their quickening, half of them before the end of the year. All the elders are fit for at least camp duty besides Ho'jaka. Him and Tó can not be healed.” He ended the report with a somber shake of the head. “The spell given to us only heals what can naturally be healed. We may yet gain a spell through the creator or one of our classes to heal them. Though I fear they will not survive that long.” Tel’oma spoke up, she oversaw the young and midwifed with elder Al'aleen. A'sshaka agreed with her assessment, “We can only hope. For now we press on. Tel'oma your cluster and Sha’ha's cluster will begin making a permanent camp. Uh'te's cluster will bring materials for it. Mu’lee’ann take your cluster and 4 others to scout the surrounding area. Mo'hog you will lead your cluster and the remaining to plug the passage way up and make the entrance defensible. Work with Uh'te to get your materials.” With a nod the leaders broke up and prepared for their assignments. A ding in her mind told her she had leveled. A'sshaka pulled up her status screen.

[NAME: A'SSHAKA

RACE: ZŌIN̈

CLASS: FIRST ANCESTRAL FAITHFUL

LEVEL: 3

GRADE: F

SPIRIT COALESCENCE REMAINING: 120 YEARS

HEALTH: 360

MANA: 80

WILLPOWER: 80

STATS:

STRENGTH: 4

DEXTERITY: 7

AGILITY: 8

SPIRIT: 12

INTELLIGENCE: 10

WISDOM: 10

WILL: 8

MAGIC: 8

ABILITIES:

SENSE OF THE WATCHFUL EYE - You know roughly what your god's attention is focused on and general attitude on a given subject.

VOICE OF THE FAITH - When speaking in the role of a leader or spiritual advisor you are more persuasive.

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WRAITH STEP - Leaning into your spiritual side you may become incorporeal for a number of seconds equal to your MAGIC stat. COST: 5 MANA and 5 WILLPOWER. COOLDOWN: NONE

WARP MENTAL TIME I - You accelerate your personal timeline. You can not act or activate abilities, spells, or skills that require a physical action. Any ability, spell, or skill used will not be activated until this ability ends. WILL × MAGIC = number of seconds ability can be activated. COST: 20 MANA and 30 WILLPOWER. COOLDOWN: 6 HOURS

RACIAL ABILITIES:

EARTH BOUND SPIRIT: WHEN YOU DIE YOUR SPIRIT LINGERS IN THIS WORLD. FOR A DURATION OF YEARS (LEVEL UPON DEATH × 10) YOUR SOUL WILL GAIN A SPIRITUAL FORM IN WHICH YOU CAN USE TO INTERACT WITH THIS REALITY. ALL ABILITIES COMPATIBLE WITH NEW FORM ARE RETAINED AND ANY ABILITIES THAT RELYS ON A STAT THAT ISN'T PRESENT IN NEW FORM WILL BE CHANGED. YOUR CLASS WILL BE UPGRADED TO FIT SPIRIT FORM OR A NEW CLASS ALLOWED TO BE PICKED IF OLD CLASS CAN NOT BE UPGRADED. YOU MAY INCREASE THE YEARS ALLOWED TO REMAIN BY LEVELING IN NEW CLASS AND NORMAL CULTIVATION METHODS, OR BY HAVING MEMBERS OF YOUR SPECIES DONATE MANA TO YOU. THIS METHOD MAY ALSO COME WITH ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

SKILLS:

LEADER: 7

BLESS: 2

MANA MANIPULATION: 1

GUIDANCE: 5

SPELLS:

SPIRIT BOLT I - Launch a weak mana bolt at target. If struck, damage will be half physical and half spiritual. Spiritual damage done restores half that amount in MANA. DAMAGE: MAGIC + INTELLIGENCE. COST: 10 MANA AND 1 WILLPOWER.

BASIC MANA SHIELD I - Form a shield of condensed mana around you it will absorb damage until depleted. COST: INITIAL 10 MANA AND 5 WILLPOWER. 5 MANA PER 1 DAMAGE DONE.

RACIAL SPELLS:

SIMPLE NATURAL HEALING - As long as the caster focuses on a wound and the target has natural healing capabilities then they will heal at an accelerated rate. COST: 1 MANA AND 1 WILLPOWER A SECOND.

ACHIEVEMENTS: PENDING]

She smiled at her growth. Two levels in only one day and her skill levels surely meant she was doing what the creator wanted. After talking with some of her people the previous day A'sshaka knew her stats were indeed a little different then the rest of her people. They didn't have a SPIRIT stat, but did have an ENDURANCE and VITALITY stat as well as a STAMINA pool. As her people began their task she set out for her own. To climb the top of the mountain and view the world. She didn't need many supplies as her spirit form didn't require food or water. Sleep was still needed but not as much as her living counterparts. Leaving Elder Al'aleen in charge of her people as she floated up the mountain. As she left the rumble of the camp the sounds of the trees became clear. While she heard the call of a few predators amidst the symphony of prey, the terrible roar of monsters had yet to reach her. A'sshaka prayed it was a good sign. Hopefully they were lucky and monsters either didn't reside near here or above ground they were less populous. Soon she was above even the tallest of the nearby trees and the world opened to her eyes. She was on the side facing the sea of trees. They seemed to stretch as far as the water on the other side of the mountain did. She saw animals flying above the canopy and rustling right below it. The sight of all the green and abundance of hunting targets overwhelmed her. They could grow here. This place could become what she felt in her now metaphorical heart, a home for the Zōin̈. As she climbed ever higher, the treacherous ground and step incline barely a hindrance to her floating form, the forest spread out more and more. Small patches of open ground dotted the green sea. She saw the curve of the land go in on either side and the large area free of trees was a long way off. At first she thought it was maybe another camp and she worried, but soon relaxed when she saw that it looked to be water. A lake miles inland partially cutting her island off. This was her island. Even if the animals and even monsters of this place didn't know it yet, this whole area will be under the rule of the Zōin̈ soon enough. Before her dreams of grandeur could overtake her even more, a challenging call filled the empty air. A'sshaka turned to view the meal that interrupted her. The creature wasn't a monster, but it seemed that maybe it was sired from one. The creature's long face was tipped by an even longer beak, a glistening point catching the rays of the great fire. It was hairless, its skin leathery and taut against the muscle just below the surface. The great flaps from its wings could be heard by her even at the distance they were at. A'sshaka used IDENTIFY, bared her teeth and her arms began their dance.

[NAME:THO’TERRA

LEVEL: 5]

She cast SPIRIT BOLT and launched the pale blue lance at the Tho'terra. Striking a glancing blow on its torso. A thin cut and some returned mana all she had so show from the effort. As the creature closed the distance she cast BASIC MANA SHIELD in preparation for the attack coming. Its beak opened revealing rows of sharp proto-teeth designed to rip chunks off of their target. They closed around A'sshaka and cracked the mana shield. Her mana dropped quickly till she only had enough to cast SPIRIT BOLT one more time. She lunged for its throat before the creature could recover, clamping down and holding it in place. She cast SPIRIT BOLT aiming for its eye. Her WILLPOWER dropped a little more then it should have to cast the spell due to her split focus. The bolt pierced the eye with a squelching pop. It redoubled its efforts on breaking A'sshaka's grip around its neck. She pulls down hard, purposely floating a little off the side so that her floating magic would fail, the extra weight helping rip a chunk off. The torn meat slides down her spiritual throat, eliciting a pleased throat rumble from her. The frantic screeching and beating of the Tho'terra's wings brought her back to focus. Using all six of her hands she gripped the mountain side and launched herself at the creature. Her strength may not be that high, but it is enough to bring her right next to the flailing creature. Hovering over it she pinned its wings down and ducked under a hasty snap at her face. It brought her in range of another bite and she gladly did. The blood quickly filled her mouth as she severed an artery and the creature went limp soon after. While she doesn't need to eat anymore the sensation and pleasure is still there and the warm blood trickles down her throat. Her mana was the only resource that took a big hit during the fight so A'sshaka presses on, wanting to try and reach the summits still far off peak. Her wish for a peaceful climb is shattered again only thirty minutes later as she hears the same call again, but this time there is more than one screech. A grim shadow falls on A'sshaka face as she follows the call to see three more Tho'terra's closing in on her.