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04-25-24 12:00 PM |
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| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127    
Posts: 4581/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
Aren is visibly red from embarrassment.
"I'm sure it did get sorted out eventually. Haven't heard anything about it since." Zarik says. "As for the books, I swear I told you they were part of the security put in place by the Archons." Zissou says. -Some time passes- The party comes up on a large quarry-like area filled as far as they eye can see with a veritable rainbow of towering crystals. Near the center of the area are a dozen or so distinctly larger crystals in a familiar shade of amethyst. Zarik points to the large crystals and says, "those must be the ones. Judging from the size, they've stolen way more aether than should have been naturally possible." Caionna seems to be reacting in a curious manner to being so close to her own energy in such high capacity. "What if I told you, they pretty much were..." She says, with a nauseous tone to her voice. "I'm not feeling too good being so close, even though we're easily a few thousand feet away still... I can't tell if it's the crystals trying to eke more off of me, my soul trying to reclaim what's rightfully hers, or if it's a clash of the two happening in quick succession..." Her eyes begin to bulge slightly and dart around. "Put me down, Zar... before I get sick all over your armor." She seems to be disregarding the fact that she's wearing Bel's coat. Zarik backs away to a distance before he noticed Cai start to have a reaction, then sets her down. Her head reels and she asks, "What is going on?" Zissou pulls out the device, walks over to her and states, "Please do not be alarmed, I must examine the rune Aesalth inscribed on your chest. It is upon your breast." Caionna nods and allows the inverted robe to hang loose at her shoulders. Zissou gently pulls the robe down her front and holds it to allow her to keep her modesty as he attempts to examine the brightly glowing rd rune. Cai merely shakes her shoulders and pulls the robe down, completely exposing her chest. "Modesty was out the window when you found me this morning, naked. Just don't be weird about my lack of nipples." "Wasn't gonna bring it up," Zarik says, "But now that you mention it, why even keep the shape shift up? Just go back to natural." "Because even though I'm safe, I want to leave at least something to the imagination of the perverts among us!" Cai counters, rather snidely. Zissou shakes his head and says, as calmly as possibly, "Would you two please stop bickering? I am finding this difficult to concentrate on." Cai nods to her mentor, but shoots a glare at Aren and Bel from beneath a furrowed brow. Zissou takes time to study the effects of moving the scale on the device, but never to any further than it was on when he found it, to see how it changed the rune. All that seemed to happen would be the symbol changing color, but not a change in Caionna's current state. "If I had to guess..." He begins to posit. ".. The rune is specifically for sapping her power." Zarik picks up where the old man left off. "Precisely." Zissou affirms. "If that's the case, can't we just dispel the rune and destroy the remote?" Zarik questions. Zissou scratches his chin and says, "If only it were so simple. We know not what something like that would do to her." Cai chimes in and says, "Hello? Please don't talk about me as if I can't hear you talking a few inches away from my face!" "Alright, Little Miss Sass..." Zarik quips back, "What do you suggest we do? If it were so simple to dispel, what's stopping you from having done it?" "In case you hadn't noticed, brother dearest, in order to dispel a rune like this, you need to be able to overpower it. Do you think I'm in any shape to try that myself?" Cai snips. Zarik throws up his hands defensively and says, "Hey, you're the wizard here. Not me! If you're gonna suggest a dispelling, I would suggest trying it soon." Zissou beckons to Bel and says, "Belgarion, I am unsure if I am powerful enough to do this on my own. May I request assistance of you?" |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4582/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
Zarik perks his brow at Bel and motions a flat hand below his chin and points at Caionna when he begins making fairness accusations.
"Bel," Caionna begins, "With the way I've been treated the past few days, modesty is basically shot for me right now, and I don't have the energy to be shy about it. Do what needs done so I can feel normal agai--"she gets cut off by the rune on her chest violently giving off magical energy in an attempt to resist being removed. The blast knocks all of the party members back several feet, and sends Cai sprawling back as well. The sky glows all of the colors of the rainbow in quick succession as the power erupts forth. When the dust settles, Cai is splayed out similarly to when she had been discovered just hours before. Zissou and Zarik are flat on their back near the purple crystals, Arendal is hunched forward a few feet back from where he was standing, it appears as if he had mind enough to brace and protect the harpy girl. Caionna lay in the dirt momentarily before her body begins to glow and levitate from the energy of the crystals flowing back to her. Several minutes pass while the conflux of aether continues to make Caionna glow ever brighter. All of a sudden, a large burst of energy emits from Caionna and every crystal in the quarry, except for those containing her power, begin to audibly splinter and crack. An absolute cacophony erupts as the crystals shatter, and the aether contained within well up into a veritable star above the purple crystals. A familiar voice echoes from the source of the first ball of light. A powerful, confident feminine voice booms, "If she thinks she can just take my aether as if it was hers, then I'm sure it's fair game for me to claim all of it for myself as comeuppance!" Just as suddenly as the ball of concentrated energy appear, did it cause the existing crystals to glow and hum loudly and cause several more to sprout from the ground and grow to an immense size each. When the light dies, the number of purple crystals appears to have tripled in the least, all glowing with a brilliant amethystine luster. Caionna stands proudly where she previously lay, au natural, everything in its place as it should be. The sunlight at her back giving her a glamorous silhouette. She puts a hand up to her head and comes to realize the disarray of her once-gorgeous locks of chestnut hair. Looking down, she notices her distinct nudity and motions quickly to redress the situation. Given the expediency required, all that appears to cover her is a plain loincloth and chest wrap. Tapping her feet, she yells, "Nap time is over! Let's go! We have a great wyrm to put back where she belongs!" |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4583/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
Granted, but now your face is maimed by chemical burns.
I wish standing at work wasn't excruciatingly painful. |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4584/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
Caionna stands proudly, arms pumped and her arms flexed. A visible aura it emitting from her as a haze of purple surrounding her like a halo. Setting her jaw as she looks over herself and says, "Nah... I think this rugged look fits me right now. Can't describe why. Something about it just feels right."
Putting a hand on her head, she becomes visibly angry. "I have enough rage in myself left over from what I did to Zerilisk's cronies for what they did to my hair to obliterate any dragon that comes anywhere close to me!" She yells. The ambient noise, aside from the wind blowing through the peaks, is completely silent. Zarik audibly coughs and says, "I don't think that's much of an issue. You vaporized damn near everything that wasn't us with your light show." "Let that be a lesson to them, then!" She shouts defiantly, then turns her attention to Zarik because he spoke up, "Do me a favor, please Zarik. I want you to shave the rest of this mattered horror story off of my head. I'll finish this quest as a cue ball for all I care because I would sooner be bald than disgraced like this!" "Uh..." Zarik begins, "I don't think I can do that, I don't have any razors, only my knife, and it's not a straight edge. I could potentially scalp you on accident." "I don't care! If you cut me, Aren can fix it!" Cai growls. "Okay, fine! Chill out, you Ayla wannabe!" He beckons to her to come closer and sit with her back to him. "What's next? 'DACTYL! GIVE CAIONNA DACTYL!'?" then he laughs. Cai prissily obliges her brother and sits as he requested, but not before ramming her elbow into his shin as penance for his joke. Zarik jumps and smarts at the sudden, uncharacteristically strong, jab at his leg, and says, "Okay, you're gonna need to sit still while I do this, or you're gonna get hurt." Snapping the switchblade out, he carefully begins to scrape the matted and thinned hair off of his sister's head. Arendal stands and looks the harpy over carefully, she appears unharmed, but she is distinctly wide-eyed. Whether it be from the sudden blow back, the light show, or being able to sense Caionna's incensed fury. Aren thinks aloud, "Wow, she's full of piss and vinegar right now. Almost blind in rage. Is it because she's fueled up and wants retribution, or is this just a side of her we've never seen before?" Zissou mere nods and says, "It may well be a mixture of the two. I cannot claim to blame her for any of this." Turning to Zarik, he muses, "We must not leave these crystals here to be stolen by the dragons when our backs are turned. I have the capability to transport them in their current state with my magic, however, we have nowhere in range to send them short of your friend's establishment in Bruon. How likely is it that he would be amenable to storing these due to the risk involved with them?" Busy with thinning out the few thick tufts of hair on Cai's head, Zarik says, "If I know Roff the way I think I remember him, he'd go to the depths of hell and back to help me. That's just how thick we were as kids. Try contacting him with a Sending spell or something, let him know what's going on." "Understood." Zissou responds, and begins to prepare a message to be sent to the foot of the mountain. Between protests at Zarik's roughness with her hair, Caionna says, "Bel, I mean MY nap time is over. We need to set the record straight and show these bastard dragons who the real queen bitch is!" All three of Zarik, Aren, and Zissou stop for a moment and stare in wonder at this strange, new, uninhibited Caionna. She continues, "This is my fight. It's likely Aesalth will insist on it, too. Help if you can, but store that rage and channel it to something greater if you can't. I know that if I don't unleash this fury, it's gonna end up eating me up. I implore you to let me lead, regardless of what happens." She cracks her knuckles in anticipation. |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4585/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
The Rose Lanner from Ravana was always a favorite of mine, if that COUNTS. |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4586/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
Favorite new Pokemon in Sword and Shield?
I'm in the "Unhappy with GameFreak" camp, so I'm waiting to play either until I can find it secondhand. Just going off of images, I think Galarian Weezing is hilarious. |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4587/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
Caionna notices Bel's reaction to her demanding a haircut, and says, "My hair was my pride, those barbarians destroyed it by ripping out out, cutting it short, and just generally being disrespectful of it. The way I'm feeling right now is that I should just start from the beginning. I know a bald woman doesn't look good, but my old hair is a memory I feel I should leave here."
As he works, Zarik makes an offhand comment, "Y'know, guys... I think this is how Cai really is with some unresolved anger issues right now. I remember she was pretty fiery before we got separated." "Now that you mention it..." Zissou begins, "Before Caionna was given to me for my mentoring, I do remember there being an over rambunctious girl that the guild administration had to go to extreme measures to get under control. Not mind control, mind you, just to settle her down. I had not heard anything more about the wild child after I took her under my wing..." "What are you saying?" Caionna asks with a snap of her head, causing Zarik to nick her head, "Ow! Watch it!" "You're the dumbass that jerked your noggin with a knife pressed against it. It's not my fault!" Zarik snips back, "Talk if you must, but sit the fuck still!" and he continues to work around the fresh wound in her scalp. "Okay, fine..." Cai says, unwilling to admit she's wrong, then goes back to Zissou, "Are you saying the admins did something to me to calm me down?" "In a word, yes." Zissou answers, "I believe they may have inscribed a rune onto your body to ameliorate your tumultuous attitude. It was not intended in a malicious manner. But since Belgarion and I cleansed you of your unnatural magical affects; it removed not just the baleful target, but also your personal affects, and the calming one." "That... Makes sense." She says, "That explains why even in times where I should have been positively livid, I felt overly calm and collected, despite my mind wanting to let me fly off the handle..." with a gruff exhalation, she says, "Add that to the laundry list of things I feel like I'm going to need to work through..." Having finished with the front of Cai's head, Zarik continues to the back. He asks, "How about that Sending? Don't you magic-y guys send a verbal message?" "Not in this case, I had to send a visual representation so that our friend would know what we are dealing with." Zissou responds, "I await his response as we speak." |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4588/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
"I appreciate the offer. But I have so much to come to terms with, and so much of it I have to reconcile on my own..." Caionna begins, "Part of it involves, and revolves on, you... And now doesn't seem like the kind of time to really elaborate on any of it." She then tilts her head forward, conveniently as Zarik needs it to reach what's left on the back of her head.
After a pregnant silence, Zissou calls out, "I just received word from Roff. He said he can make arrangements for the crystals to be stored in Bruon as a favor to you. Let us make haste to transport them quickly. More than enough time has passed that if retaliation were to be coming, it will be well on its way." Before Cai can stand, Arendal walks over to her and places a hand on her head, the familiar glow signals that he has healed any cuts received from Zarik's improvised shave. Getting up, she meets gaze with the giant and says, "Thank you." Turning to Zarik, she says, "Thanks to you, too. I figure the degenerate male dragons won't try calling out to me if I'm not as pretty, so this goes twofold." The last part seems to be aimed at Bel as an explanation, but she doesn't turn to face him. Walking over to the crystals, she says, "Let me take some of the smaller ones as an insurance policy if something fishy gets attempted." bending over to grab several small crystals just barely small enough to be picked up in her bare hands. She then walks over to a larger one that is as tall as she is from hip to shoulder with a diameter similar to that of Zarik's forearm. Touching the large crystal, it flickers and glows, then proceeds to float behind her, causing the smaller ones she claimed to orbit her like Aren's cards on his sphere. Clutching one of the crystals, she focuses a bit on it and causes it to glow brightly momentarily before returning to its resting state. Walking to the harpy, she touches the younger girl and says in a relatively calmer tone, "Here... take my energy as your own. Take as much as you need to regain your strength." As if in response, the crystal begins emitting a soft glow as it begins to spread its power over the harpy. A few seconds later, the glowing stops suddenly. The harpy shows some signs of rekindling, her hair and feathers show very faintly of a reddish color, but little more. Shaking her head, she says, "Thank you Caionna, but I don't think I deserve your power." Opening her eyes, the cloudiness to them is gone, and their natural blue shows through, albeit still fairly dull. "Hang on..." Zarik starts, "How does she suddenly know your name?" "I simply imparted some of my knowledge into the crystal I imbued her with to give her a fast-forward lesson on important details. Our names, our mission... A touch of etiquette..." Cai says. At the comment on etiquette, the harpy begins blushing profusely, and she stammers, "I'm sorry guys... She helped me grasp what you meant by my inappropriate behavior. Please forgive me for making you uncomfortable." "Water under the bridge, kid." Zarik says, "I hope she told you that that kind of stuff is only good in private, with the right person." The girl's eyes dark back and forth as Zarik finishes his statement, and she blushes harder. Zarik happened to be watching her, and his ex "That leaves us with giving you a name..." Caionna says to the harpy. While this conversation is happening, Zissou has been marking locations on the ground around the crystal farm and drawing a perimeter in the loose dirt. Taking a moment to double check his work, he calls out, "Arendal! Belgarion! Caionna! I am in need of your assistance! I need each of you to take point at the markers on the corners and assist me in focusing for the teleportation spell to begin!" "But that will have to wait a while longer." She says before taking her position on a nearby corner of Zissou's marked area. Aren puts the girl down and follows Cai's lead. The girl runs to the best of her ability to Zarik's side and nestles up to him shyly to watch the magic happen. She pulls the blanket snug around herself and leans her head into Zarik's side. Zarik lets out a nervous sigh and rests his hand on the girl's head. Muttering quietly to himself. |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4589/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
With the four magic users all focused on their points at the corners, the ground within the boundary in the dirt begins to glow with a bright, white light for several minutes. The light eventually fades, and the field is now devoid of crystals, and the aetheric atmosphere.
Caionna walks over to Zarik and beckons to him to lean in. When he does so, she begins to whisper something into his ear. Zarik listens to his sister's words with a thoughtful look on his face. He nods and says quietly to her, "I like it." Putting a finger to her lips she says in an equally hushed tone, "Remember, it has to sound like it was your idea." Zarik clears his throat and says, "I think I may have just the name for you, kiddo!" The harpy perks up and stares Zarik intently in the face, eyes wide. "How does..." Zarik says, trying to drum up her excitement a bit more, "'Neristhana' sound?" The girl mulls it over a bit, then beams happily, chirping, "I love it!" Giving him a hug, much stronger than it looked like she is capable of in her current state, "Thank you Zarik!" Arendal rolls his eyes and mutters, "If I heard Cai say that over here, how did she not hear it?" Caionna smiles, then says, "Alright. Before we try to figure out where to go next, I think it's high time we do something that three other wizards didn't think to do and get us cleaned up a bit. Let go of Zarik and stand away from him, please." Neris nods and obliges, awaiting Cai's action. Cai focuses and runs a hand over Neris' body, canting, "A little cleanliness goes a long way! Prestidigitation!!" Almost instantly, the heavy buildup of filth on the exposed parts of the small girl's body - and the blanket - disappears, this allows her hair and feathers to show a modicum more coloration. The masked odor under Aren's scent masking vanishes as well, allowing the scent to come through more cleanly. She then quietly repeats the spell over herself, needing to take slightly longer to cover the difference in height, and making sure she reached her entire body. "One more thing!" Cai states, "Let's do something about your lack of clothing while we're at it. I'll use the blanket as the spell's materials so we'll have something a bit more dignified for you." She then touches the blanket in the center of Neris' chest and it begins to glow softly before transposing into a jerkin and knee-length shorts. In this new outfit, Neris' wings come through the back of the top, and her feathers on display show that there is some orange and yellow to them as well. Neris looks over her new clothes in awe. She is too amazed to come up with words. She just beams happily. Looking Neris over, Zarik nods with approval. Putting two fingers into his mouth, he lets out a shrill whistle, then yells, "Alright! I know it's been long enough for cunt face to mobilize more grunts to spy on us. Come out and tell us what we want to know if you know what's good for you!" Silence. |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4590/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
"Good! If Roff could hear it, then there should be no excuse to not get a response!" Zarik exclaims.
Aren narrows his eyes and says, "Yeah, I guess you're right..." Suddenly, the sunlight directly overhead becomes eclipsed by a large shadow. A moment later, a large green dragon lands in the midst of the party's spaced out formation. "Sending an adult green to convene with us this time? Awful ballsy landing where you're surrounded. Wouldn't you say?" Zarik says, his voice so thick with contemptuous sarcasm, it was palpable. "Please, Zarik." say the dragon in a deep male voice, "I placed myself in a vulnerable situation to try to prove our intentions of extending the olive branch. We are serious about having a cordial exchange. Aesalth is wishing to speak to you, and I will lead you to the Dais of Fire to meet with her." Caionna butts in and she yells, "Oh! Now she wants to talk to us? Go figure! She kidnaps me, attempts to kill me by stealing my power, shoves me off to her highest ranking piece of shit to be his sex toy in hopes of totally breaking my will to steal more power, then backpedals so hard she nearly falls over backward when we, no I, undo her work! Give me a fucking break!" Her ferocity equally as palpable as Zarik's sarcasm. The aura from earlier reappears and spikes slightly, the crystals in her orbit flicker slightly. "As is to be expected," the Green begins, "You are both wont to be wary of her, and she is aware. Which is why she hath opted to send me as a possible sacrifice to your fury if you so desire." "WAIT! WHOA!" both siblings shout in unison. "She has the nerve to send an envoy with express intent of having him be killed thinking we're nothing but bloodthirsty savages?" Caionna screams. "I only killed Zerilisk because he had it coming for doing what he did to Cai and Neris!" Zarik adds in measure. The Green shrugs and says, "Did you not just do that upon unleashing your energy?" "I find it difficult for you to pin the blame on Caionna for the lives lost from your ranks due to the deliverance of the baleful rune." Zissou interjects. "I feel as if that is naught but collateral damage at the fault of Aesalth's actions to begin with!" "Fair enough." replies the Green, "Now, do you wish to follow me to the dais, or do you wish to continue slinging abuse?" Caionna shakes her head and rolls her eyes, "Sure, but not everyone in the party has the luxury of flight, and we refuse to go without all six of us there." "I'm willing to die, but can't accept the slings and arrows of those my mistress has gravely wronged!" Zarik says in a mocking tone, "Are all of the dragons on the Reach fucking pussies? Why is anyone even afraid of you worthless sacks of shit? Your roar is clearly worse than your bite." "I will cede yet another point to you, my Lord." says the dragon, now audibly irritated, "I will show you the path, then you may lead them upon your return." he then takes to the air and flies toward the north. "Keep an eye out for anything that tries to attack while I'm gone, guys... I'll be back as soon as I can." He says to the group before taking a flying leap into the air, calling out, "Cut the 'my Lord' shit! I want as little to do with your nobility as you fuckers wanted us to begin with!" His rant continues, but he is too far away to be heard. Neris tries to run after him, but only loses balance and falls on her face. Pushing herself up, she tries to dust off, and says, "I hope he'll be back safely... I trust them about as much as you two do... I'm scared." |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4591/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
"Yeah I am, Bel." Neris says while crossing her arms on her chest. "I can't shake the feeling they're going to do something since he's technically unarmed right now."
"Zarik is far from unarmed, young lady." Zissou remarks. "That man harbors many secrets, and an arsenal of weapons is one of them. Add in his skill, and the only way they would overcome him is by overwhelming numbers" Neris walks over to Caionna and huddles down at her feet to wait for Zarik to return. Cai sits down next to Neris and pulls her down to sit beside her. Running her fingers through her hair to calm her. A moderate amount of time passes before Zarik reappears on the horizon from the northwest. Neris is the first to her feet as Zarik comes into view, she waves her arms excitedly and calls out, "Zarik! You're safe! I - we - were so worried about you!" Zarik makes a hard landing out of exhaustion from the flight. Dropping his shoulders and rolling his neck lets all of his joints in the upper part of his body snap, crackle, and pop as he lets out a sigh of relief. "Gotta get used to flying, I guess. Haven't done so much for quite a while..." He says to himself. Neris rushes to him and accidentally gives his chest plate a hard enough headbutt to bounce off of it. Zarik helps her off of the ground and she clutches him in a hug. Her forehead turning bright red from the impact. While Zarik tries to escape the diminutive girl's gras, Aren steps toward him and asks, "So was it? Given your time away, it must be pretty far." Giving in to Neris' iron grip, Zarik sighs and says to her, "You're way too clingy, you know that?" Looking at Aren, he says, "Yeah, it's far enough away that if we beat feet, we can get within a decent walking distance by sundown. I could use a bit of a rest, but I'm not opposed to pressing on if you guys want to." Neris lets go of Zarik and lets him sit, while saying, "I want to let you rest! You're tired!" then clings to him again, causing them to begin quietly bickering. Cai springs to her feet and says, "I want to go deliver justice as soon as possible, and being fresh in the morning will let us have peak energy for a fight!" Aren nods and says, "We've sat around enough, we need to keep moving! I'm with Cai." Zissou shakes his head and says, "You two fail to keep in mind that Zarik has done the majority of the work today, I feel it is unfair to him to exert himself in saving Neris from her cell, doing the legwork whilst fighting Zerilisk, locating the path to where we are now, then scouting the path forward. I vote with the young one that we rest for the night and allow the hero to rest." Zarik's ears begin to burn at the hero comment, and says, "I'm no hero! I'm just doing what needs done." Neris bops him in the chest with her nub of a hand and says defiantly, "You're my hero!" Zarik gives her a stern look and says, "No. Chill out!" turning his head to look at Bel, he says, "We have two votes to stay and rest, two votes to keep moving, and my vote of neutrality. Your vote calls it." |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4592/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
"What do you mean by 'what happened'?" Zarik questions, "They're either sincere or playing a long con. Jolly Green showed me where we're going, extended the offer to go in alone, slinked off when I threatened him on reiterating our plan, and turned around. Judging from how you guys are all safe, I'm gonna assume they left you guys alone too."
Aren starts pulling out his pack, and says, "Well, the motion passed to set up camp. We should start getting set up." "Why waste the effort of pitching the tents? Di you guys not bring spell components with you?" Cai chimes in. "Just put up a Secure Shelter and we can stay in safer shelter than tents." Neris looks at Cai with a confused ex "She means to use our magic to create shelter instead of using basic camping gear." Zissou says in Cai's place. "Of course I have the materials. Enough for two shelters to give the women some privacy since Belgarion seems insistent on chivalry despite Caionna's protestations." "Or!" Zarik quickly chimes in, "To give me some space from the ankle biter. I don't want her getting any ideas if we're sleeping in common space. I'm motioning to cordon her off with Cai so she behaves the night." Aren shrugs, and says, "Whatever you guys want to do. We need to eat, too, but I think Cai accidentally nuked all of the game in the area during the light show, so we're gonna have to do with conjured food." Roughly an hour later, two shelters were conjured in a combined effort of Caionna and Zissou. Aren had conjured a rather large spread of food from roasted fowl and cervine to bread and fruit in plentiful amounts to satiate the potentially ravenous hunger of the whole party. Zarik went to gather wood for a bonfire to keep everyone warm as the sun began to set. When the time came to finally get to eating, Zarik filled his plate with a variety of everything for himself, but he ended up getting less than half of it due to Neris insisting on sitting next to him and hoovering up the majority of it. Caionna fills her share with just enough to get her fill, then sits alone to contemplate the coming day. Aren and Zissou take a meager share and sit together to discuss the events of the quest, and their role in the whole ordeal. As the night grows deeper, Zarik and Aren pull out a drum and a lute and begin entertainment with simple music and songs. When the fire dies down, the group breaks off and heads into the shelters. Caionna and Neristhana in one, while the men go into the other. |
| Trelior |
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Normal User
Level: 127
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"I do not feel that is necessary." Zissou responds. "I made sure we cast the shelters with the alarm component. Anything bold enough to cross the threshold that doesn't belong in the shelter will set it off and alert us."
Zarik stops taking off his armor for a moment and says, "Funny you should say 'doesn't belong in the shelter' as if one of us getting up and end up wandering into the wrong one." then continues to get undressed. "I think that's on purpose..."Aren says, getting comfortable on his bedding. Zissou mere chuckles and settles in as well. A few hours pass... The peaceful silence of the night is suddenly broken by a loud siren, not unlike a fire station's horn, going off in the men's shelter. The sudden noise not only shoots everyone inside awake, but it also startles Neris, whom is inside the threshold of the door, and she lets out a shriek even louder than the alarm out of startled fear. Aren and Zarik cover their ears to block out the sound, as Zissou attempts to do the same while snapping his fingers to disable the alarm. The alarm ceasing does not take the shrieking with it, however. Zarik bites the bullet and takes one of his pillows and throws it at the screaming girl hard enough to knock her off-kilter, but not enough to hurt her. The pillow smacks her in the face with a comical 'poff' sound, she clutches the pillow and rushes back out of the men's shelter and back to her own. She is still screaming, but it is muffled by the pillow. Zarik gets up and says, "I want me damn pillow back!" and heads outside in his shorts. Knocking on the door of the other shelter, he calls out, "I know you're both awake in there! Could I get my pillow back from the banshee?" The screaming stopped by now. "Come inside and get it!" Cai shouts from the other side. "And set off the alarm on your side too? No thanks!" He exclaims, "She took my pillow when I threw it at her to shut her up, and she ran off with it." Cai opens the door, wrapped in her blanket, and throws a pillow at Zarik. "Take that one! She won't give up the one you threw her. Just let me go back to sleep, Mister I-Wanna-Rest-Instead-of-Pressing-On!" "Hey! I'm not the one who woke everyone up!" Zarik protests, "How is it my fault that I want what she took back?!" "Just shut up and let her have the damn thing. She must have wanted to go cuddle with you to feel safe." Cai says in a sleepy anger. A tiny "Yeah." comes from inside. "Fine! Whatever!" Zarik grumbles, "But I doubt it would have stopped at that, given what we just saved her from. Even if you've been teaching her more 'dos and don'ts'." Pointing a finger into the darkness in the direction he heard the feeble affirmation from, he goes on, "And don't do that again, do you hear me? We need sleep." Then he turns and returns to his bed, Neris' pillow in hand. But not before a sad, "Okay." follows him. Laying back down, Zarik lets out a slightly exasperated sigh with his hands over his eyes, "What am I getting pushed into?" Then he quickly begins snoring again. Aren and Zissou glance at each other, then at Bel, then back at each other while the whole exchange happens. With a shrug, they settle back in and fall back to sleep. |
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Normal User
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Morning comes without any further interruptions.
Zarik is the first to get out of bed as the sun peeks through the slats of the window blind. Stretching and yawning, he gets into his bag to get his clothes for the day. He dons a pair of denim leggings with lacing up the legs and a rope drawstring, a pair of unassuming black leather boots, a gray long sleeve tunic with bellowing sleeves, a brown leather vest, a red sash, and a burnt orange neckerchief, each with some tattering at the tails. He places a tan feathered cap on his head, and brings a longbow made of ebony wood with a large white and blue plumage on its lower limb. Its handle riser has a large rose on the underside of the grip and the arrow rest and sight window glows with a faint blue light as he holds it ready. Having gotten dressed, he begins going through the cupboards to scrounge through the leftovers from the night before's feast to get a breakfast that isn't contested by Neris. Grabbing a slice of venison, a chicken breast, and an apple, he sits on the foot of his cot and eats. Aren is the next to rise, he simply gets dressed as he was the days prior and follows suit with Zarik for breakfast. Zissou wakes moments later and does the same. On the girls' side, Caionna is the first to rise. She digs through her bag to get some actual clothes to wear. She puts on a halter top that is tie-dye of white and her signature purple, a belt on her midriff, elbow pads, white hand wraps, and a short apron with pouches. She wears a pair of black, form-fitting shorts, white thigh-high socks, and black knee-high boots. She covers her head with a bandanna that matches her top, tied tightly to her skull with a large knot situated behind her left ear. At her left hip is strapped the scabbard for a decorated rapier with an ornate gold-inlaid sweeping. The guard and pommel are furnished with a large purple gems, not unlike that of the crystals orbiting her the day before. The handle and knuckle guard have a similar golden inlay. On her right, floats one of the crystals of her essence. She grabs an apple and takes a bite out of it as she goes to rouse Neris from her sleep. Neris is fast asleep still, clutching Zarik's pillow and burying her face in it to block the sunlight from the window. She grunts defiantly at Cai's shakes to wake her. "Come on!" Cai says, "You don't get to sleep later because you woke everyone up last night trying to sneak in to do Author knows what with Zarik in the middle of the night! We need to get you dressed and ready for a hike!" Neris peeks a wide open eye from behind the pillow, and says, "Alright..." Kicking her legs out and over the edge of the bed, she sheepishly says with her mouth partially muffled by the pillow, "Am I in trouble because of that?" "Kind of..." Cai responds, as nicely as she can muster, "I can't speak for the guys, but I can tell you that I'm not exactly happy about it." Digging through her bag for more clothes, she pulls out a cute outfit that consists of black slacks, a white shirt, and a sleeveless denim overcoat that buttons on the chest and hangs open from the clasp. She orders Neris to undress out of the quick-fix outfit of the previous day and instructs her to put each piece of the new outfit one at a time so that magical adjustments could be made to fit her smaller stature and allow her wings to fit comfortably through the back. Neris stands and inspects the clothes Cai gave her. She frowns and says, "I think it's cute, but it's not very comfortable..." Cai shakes her head and gently scolds, "I'm sorry for the discomfort, but I can't allow you to go out gallivanting naked anymore. You'll get used to it." Walking over to the cupboard, she pulls out another apple. Taking her knife out, she begins cutting it into slices that Neris is able to hold and manipulate. Setting the sliced apple on the table in front of the younger woman, and watches her eat. Cai thinks to herself, 'There's gotta be something we can do for her to make her life easier... I'll have to ask Zarik when this is done and over with...' After they've finished their meager breakfast, Cai shoos Neris out the door to wait for the others before he makes sure all of her belongings are in order, then makes her way out as well. By this point, Zairk, Aren, and Zissou have done the same and meet the girls outside of the shelters. Zarik nods, and says, "Good morning, girls!" Looking Cai up and down, he remarks, "Very nice outfit, sis. Suits you better than the Cavewoman getup you had yesterday." Caionna draws the rapier at points it at Zarik, lightly jabbing the tip of the intricate, golden debole in his face, "I had time this morning, so I decided to actually get dressed. Surely everyone will be happier with me not being nude." She shoots a glance at Bel and winks. Turning her attention back to Zarik, she adds, 'You look good too. Nice to see you genuinely out of heavy armor for once." Zarik looks over Neris and lets out a whistle, "You're looking very cute today, Neris, much more fitting than having you run around naked today! Did you thank Cai for picking something nice out for you?" Neris turns bright red and tries to cover her face. Cai shakes her head and says, "No, she didn't. Instead she started whining that it wasn't very comfortable." Zarik shakes his head and says in a clearly jesting tone, "Let's add that to the list of things we'll punish you for after this, after the debacle last night!" Neris hangs her head and she quietly starts to cry. Sobbing, she wails, distinctly quieter than her reaction to the alarm, "I knew he was still mad abut that! I'm so sorry! I just wanted to feel safer!" Zarik rushes over to Neris and tries to calm her, "Hey, I was only kidding... I wasn't being serious!" He picks her up, bracing her legs with his right hand and her back with his left at the base of the underside of her wings. Neris wraps her arms around his neck and sobs into his shoulder. The look on Zarik's face just scream, 'Now I feel like an asshole'. He says, "Once we're ready to go, let's hit the road. |
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Normal User
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Zarik tries to put Neris down, but she doesn't want to let go of his neck. With a sigh, he picks her back up and says, "Aren, please carry my bow so Neris can piggyback. Little shithead won't let go of me."
Aren nods and takes Zarik's bow and its harness off of him and situates it on his belt and hangs the bow behind him. "Seems if you're not fighting something, you're carrying one of the girls." he laughs. Situating Neris on his back; her arms around his neck, and his hands under her knees. He says, "Yeah, well, at least she's clean today." Neris nuzzles into the nape of Zarik's neck closes her eyes. She coos, "Thank you Zarik." Shaking his head, "Sure... You manipulative little brat!" to giggles from her. Caionna clears her throat and says, "If you're done flirting, you two, I would like to get this show on the road!" tapping her foot impatiently, she says, "Be glad you don't have to carry me anymore!" Zarik laughs, "Yeah. You're about twice her size, and since she's an avian race, she's kinda built to be lighter." Taking the lead, she says, "We're heading dean near due northwest, so I guess we lucked out by resting so the setting sun isn't gonna be in our faces all day. It's pretty far, though, we're looking at two to three hours of walking." Cai wants to react to Zarik's comment about weight, but can't since he justified himself. She just huffs instead. Zissou shakes his head and puts his paw on his mentee's shoulder. "We are very thankful you are up and able to walk among us with p[ride, for what it is worth, my dear. You know Zarik meant nothing by it." "I know." Cai replies, "But he should know that commenting on a woman's size isn't usually good for a man's health." "Three hours?" Neris chirps. "I'm with her, Zar." Aren comments, "That doesn't seem right given all the longer you were gone yesterday." "Well; considering our walking speed, the topography, and calculating for them deciding to turn hostile, I want to make sure we're prepared to take until at least late morning to get close." Zarik replies, "If we're lucky, we'll get there quickly. If I'm lucky, I won't get choked out by the nearly sixty pounds of down on my back." Neris headbutts him for the comment. "Or, she could just try to knock one of us out with percussive force." He says, "I don't want either, but I'm clearly not in control here." |
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Normal User
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"Yeah, no kidding!" Zarik says to Bel, "I don't know where she got all this strength from, but she's got more of it than she did yesterday!"
"Oh I'm not that strong, and you know it!" Neris squawks defiantly, "You just don't want to risk hurting me!" "A little of column A, a little of B." Zarik retorts, "Your strength is still unnatural for your frailty. A little bit - wait, no, a lot - of meat in one meal shouldn't have rebuilt your muscles that much." "Perhaps it may be the key to how she's even still alive, Zarik." Zissou remarks. "You're probably not wrong, old man." Zarik laughs. "Her disposition is as fiery as ever, though..." "And noticeably not fearful of being in trouble anymore..." Aren adds, "I think your comment about manipulation was right on the money." "Speaking of the whole thing with her sneaking over..." Zarik starts, "Why didn't she want to snuggle close to you, Cai? You're close enough to being me since you're a silver dragon too! She seems to have a thing for dragons." "Male dragons, Zarik." Cai says, "You may have been onto something when you implied she wanted a different cuddling." "May have?" Zarik blurts, "She's been pretty damn overt about it from the moment I broke the chain in that damn cell!" "Let's not forget that she was trying to get at me when Zarik was out of reach dealing with Zerilisk!" Aren chips in. Each point being made makes Neris' face turn a deeper shade of red, her body heat also increases ever so slightly. Zarik is the first to notice, for obvious reasons, and remarks, "Have we sussed your secret?" Neris buries her face in his shirt and lets out a muffled, "Shut up!" "Yup!" Zarik laughs. The hike passes effortlessly as the group breaks into songs and verbal games to pass the time. Suddenly, the forested canyon gives way to a large dark area under a large overhang. It is pitch black underneath except for a wreath of flaming braziers on the perimeter of the bowl. Zarik stops his singing and brisk hiking suddenly enough to send the inattentive and relaxed Neris shooting forward. Her harmonizing with his singing is abruptly interrupted by her slamming her head into the back of his with a distinct thud. He quickly lets go of her right leg and cups his hand over her mouth before she can start verbalizing her crying. He shushes her and says, "I'm sorry, but we got here way faster than I thought we would, and the sudden stop surprised me too!" As Zarik situates his hand to hold her leg again, she wipes her face on his shoulder to dry the tears. "It still would have been nice to get a warning! your head is hard!" "And so is the beak you call a nose!" Zarik quips back. "Enough bickering, you two!" Cai interrupts, "Are you sure this is where we need to go?" "I mean, I'm no expert," Zarik snarks, "But this seems to fit the description of a Dais of Fire. Wouldn't you say?" "Fair enough." Caionna concedes, "What are we waiting for? Let's go!" "That seems unwise." Zissou states with a paw on her shoulder again, "I feel that it may be in our best interest to rest for a short while before we rush headlong into our final conflict upon this mount." "Yeah, I think we should get something on our stomachs..." Aren adds, preparing to cast another Create Food and Water spell, "At least take the load off for a bit!" As he finishes talking, a picnic area appears in a nearby flat area with a spread similar to the makeshift feast of the evening prior. Zarik wastes no time in kneeling down and dropping Neris' legs and waiting for her to let go of his neck before he walks over and starts digging in. Between bites, he says, "And this time, I plan on actually eating my fill!" As he climbs up onto a high rock that Neris can't reach him. "How am I supposed to eat if you won't feed me, you jerk!?" Neris whines. "You stuffed your face well enough on your own last time!" Zarik exclaims. "Come here and I'll help you." Cai says, Sitting on the blanket, to which Neris bolts over and cranes her head back with an open mouth. "What a little brat you are..." Aren grunts as he gets a plateful of food. "What are we going to do with you?" "Love me?" Neris chirps playfully. "If only it was our love you yearned for, little one." Zissou muses, shooting an accusatory glance at Zarik. "WHAT?!" Zarik shouts, accidentally spewing out chunks of venison. "Precisely." Zissou laughs. |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4597/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
^ Who doesn't?
< Thinks a lot of new slang sounds stupid, but has ended up using some of it unironically due to using it ironically v Is likely a pink name. |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4598/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
Aren's eyes bug out a little bit when Bel tells Cai to calm down, "Not a good idea to have said that. Never tell an angry woman to calm down..."
Cai cuts Aren off and adds, "Well, when you've been used as a battery against your knowledge... When you're in spitting distance of the ones responsible, it's kinda hard to not want to rush in and rearrange faces!" she speaks between bites of meat and feeding Neris. "When you're as pissed off as I am, reck and tact kinda fall by the wayside." "It would be wise to demand parley in the open air." Zissou interjects, "If an audience is as valuable to them as they say, they will recognize the concern and acquiesce." "Laugh it up, jerk!" Zarik retorts, "At least I'm actually able to eat!" Turning to Zissou, he says, "I told Mister Viridescence about that concern, and he ignored me. Don't suppose that bitch face doesn't want to be out in the sunlight due to vampirism or something stupid like that!" "Well, Zerilisk, showed signs of vampirism." Cai adds, "Despite the healing she got from Aren, Neris still has bite scars on her body at locations of major blood flow centers. You taunted it, yourself. And let's not forget the artificial night he wanted to put in place for your battle." "Well then." Zarik concludes, "Gonna need another Sending from one of you guys to deliver our demands straight to the source. I'm not going under that overhang without proper guarantee we're not gonna stumble into a trap." "The message would be better sent with the voice of either of you." Zissou replies, "Come hither and dictate your message. No more than twenty five words." Zarik gets down from his rocky perch and walks to Zissou, whom has already gotten the spell components ready. Clearing his throat, he says in a stern voice, "We are here. We do not trust you. Come outside and speak or we do not speak at all. This is not negotiable." "That is twenty three." Zissou notes. "Fuck you!" Zarik shouts, "Perfect!" |
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Normal User
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Posts: 4599/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
"Believe me, Bel." Cai replies, "It's taking every fiber of my being to not bound into there with complete abandon."
Neris headbutts Cai's breasts with the back of her head and grunts then opens her mouth, expecting to be fed more. Cai responds in turn with a cross ex Neris puts a clubbed hand up to the cheek that got slapped and fights back another crying fit with a whiny, "Yes, ma'am..." Aren, Zarik, and Zissou turn at the sound of Cai's palm slapping across Neris' face. An ex "Wow... Cai just went full Mama Bear on Neris." Aren murmurs. "Damn straight I did!" Cai says, her face still tensed and angry, glaring Neris down. "We're going to have to teach you manners yet, little girl!" Neris avoids eye contact with everyone while she stammers, "I'm s-sorry.. Please don't hurt me!" "We're not going to hurt you, kid." Zarik states in a sympathetic, yet stern tone. "Cai just isn't going to be as patient about your shenanigans as we are. Especially given how she tends to react to that kind of physical contact. Be glad she pulled the hit, or you would be bawling... if you were still conscious." "Eep!" Neris chirps, "I'm sorry..." 'Zarik's right, if you weren't already frail and weak... Or if you were any of these men... it would have been far worse." Cai growls with a glower. Suddenly, the party hears a booming voice of a female dragon responding to Zarik's message, "However inappropriate that message was, we will accept your terms. We will meet on the summit above the dais after dusk. Be punctual, petulant child!" "You heard the cunt." Zarik says, "We have a few hours until sundown, and I'm not going to bake in the sun all day. Let's stay down here in the shade of the trees before making our way up there." |
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Normal User
Level: 127
Posts: 4600/4986 EXP: 23609414 Next: 117152 Since: 01-02-12 Last post: 1261 days Last view: 1261 days |
"I don't know," Zarik laughs, "My whole message seemed pretty on point for the moment."
Cai eyes Bel suspiciously, as if she somewhat misunderstood what he means. Zissou picks up on her suspicion and says, "He means in terms of pugilism." Narrowing her eyes, she says, "I certainly hope so." Aren shrugs and says, "I really don't think we'd be able to stop her if she was truly determined to go in, guns blazing." While everyone is chattering, Neris sits with her head down. She having scooted a few inches away from Cai, hugs her knees to her chest. Zarik sits down beside her and sits quietly, watching her. |
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