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Villa sat up and breathed in whispering night air, sucking the chilling substance into his lungs and sighing out. The storm had stopped, and in the calm that followed the air was still and rain washed. His mother had always insisted he stay inside, so as to save his clothes from teh mud just after a storm, so the air was still heavy in ways he had never really known. Oh how he hated those long, monontonus days stuck inside, tapping the cord from the drapes against the stainglass window. It drove his mother mad, and after little more then 15 minutes, tap-tap-tap-tap, she would explode, and lock him in the cellar.
Villa loved the cellar more then anywhere else. On either side, of the small underground room where 6 metal doors. Hid dad used them frequently, but never left the keys leiing around.
After little more then a day locked in teh cellar Villa had opened two of the doors, revealing little more then dried meats and cheeses; the remaining four doors wre more intriuging, purple golden locks glowed and pulsated with mysterious light.
Nixus shifted and murmered, bringing Villa back from his reminiscing, he enjoyed the night air for a bit longer, then fell asleep, waking in the morning just a few minutes before the others.
'Sleep well Villa?" Asked Yunaleska, rubbing sleep from teh corner of her eyes. Villa rolled his eyes and motioned the floor "How could you sleep well on that?" he exclaimed, muttering something about stupid questions deserving stupid answers.
Yunaleska was miffed, and ignored Villa's rude comments, turning her attention to the other, more caring members of the party.
The group packed what little possessions they had removed from their pack and started back towards the Titans who had been left behind by Joe and Villa, they're long green necks craning above the treetops that lay mostly broekn and flattened, beat and damaged by rain.
The moogle and two ladies of the group rode the Titan's, Joe sitting behind Nixus and D'ak Taan behind Yunaleska, Villa began walking, but after llittle more then 50 metres, he whinged to ride with the moogle. And so teh team made back for the camp, where the others were waiting.
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Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
[This message has been edited by dusk (edited 10-06-2003).]
The Alliance of Living Things (Team Story)
MultiQuote
#52
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Posted 15 October 2003 - 04:17 PM
Pyrus looked out to the horizon. It was still raining, but the storm had stopped. On rainy days like this, he and his master would train in the indoor training room, with floors padded to resemble the soft ground on which they usually trained. Over and over again, they would practice the basics, for as the cottage was small, so was the training room, so they didn't have the space for a proper sparring session. They would go over the simplest patterns of swordplay over and over again until he could do it in his sleep, and he was not so sure that he didn't do so on some nights. Presently, it was getting darker. Pyrus, being bored out of even wanting to keep track of time, was unsure whether it was a new storm gathering, or just evening.
A pattern had developed in the monotony of the days they spent waiting for Joe and the others. Pyrus would ask questions to the point of driving Ferazel mad, and Ferazel would then cast a spell to make him temporarily lose his voice. It would start all over again when it wore off.
The spell had worn off long ago, but Pyrus was too tired even to ask questions. I suppose it would be a good idea to get some sleep, storm or no storm. The storm had usually kept him awake at night. Not out of fear, but because of the noise. Pyrus never could sleep unless it was relatively quiet, which was why his room was so far away from his master's. However, this night, he slept soundly, dreaming that same dream he did every night. And in the morning...
Pyrus looked out the tent flap, having finished his breakfast. It was a beautifully clear day, but the ground was still wet and muddy from the storm. There, past where the titans were tethered, several figures could be seen in the distance, trudging in the mud toward the camp.
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--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Will the real God please stand up?
A pattern had developed in the monotony of the days they spent waiting for Joe and the others. Pyrus would ask questions to the point of driving Ferazel mad, and Ferazel would then cast a spell to make him temporarily lose his voice. It would start all over again when it wore off.
The spell had worn off long ago, but Pyrus was too tired even to ask questions. I suppose it would be a good idea to get some sleep, storm or no storm. The storm had usually kept him awake at night. Not out of fear, but because of the noise. Pyrus never could sleep unless it was relatively quiet, which was why his room was so far away from his master's. However, this night, he slept soundly, dreaming that same dream he did every night. And in the morning...
Pyrus looked out the tent flap, having finished his breakfast. It was a beautifully clear day, but the ground was still wet and muddy from the storm. There, past where the titans were tethered, several figures could be seen in the distance, trudging in the mud toward the camp.
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--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Will the real God please stand up?
#53
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Posted 17 October 2003 - 01:47 AM
(ooc) Thanks so much Dusk. Sorry, I should have realised that already. I’ve been feeling rather vague lately. (bic)
The sun had begun to climb its way to mid-sky by the time the six venturers returned to the camp. There were many welcoming greetings and the alliance took much of the afternoon talking of the adventures that both groups had had, and of the goings on while the camp waited for Joe and Villa to return with their lost companions. By the time the alliance had packed away their tents and readied themselves for the journey ahead, the sun had begun to sink close to the far horizon, and it was not long before they were riding far below a quilt of navy sky dotted with burning silver.
Though there were no spare titans, D’ak Taan was able to ride Elessar behind Moogle, the smallest of the travellers. There was now talk and laughter along the road. The night sky after the rain was beautiful and seemed to lighten the moods of all. The boy Pyrus and the elf D’ak Taan were properly introduced to the entirety of the group and much of the conversation was of their backgrounds.
It was not until deep into the night that they stopped again. They came to a wide clearing and set up camp in a circle around a large fire, which burnt fiercely and brought great warmth to the party. Food and drink were had and the atmosphere became very relaxed. ‘How about a song?’ Joe suggested.
Surprisingly it was Villa who nominated himself to entertain the group. Without warning he jumped straight into a long, ridiculous song about pirates and giant sea creatures, and other things of the sort. His song had everyone, especially the younger members of the alliance, laughing and singing along with him.
With their stomachs content and their spirits very much raised, the travellers curled up around the fire’s warmth and one by one fell into deep sleep.
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When doubts arise, the game begins
[This message has been edited by Nixus (edited 10-19-2003).]
The sun had begun to climb its way to mid-sky by the time the six venturers returned to the camp. There were many welcoming greetings and the alliance took much of the afternoon talking of the adventures that both groups had had, and of the goings on while the camp waited for Joe and Villa to return with their lost companions. By the time the alliance had packed away their tents and readied themselves for the journey ahead, the sun had begun to sink close to the far horizon, and it was not long before they were riding far below a quilt of navy sky dotted with burning silver.
Though there were no spare titans, D’ak Taan was able to ride Elessar behind Moogle, the smallest of the travellers. There was now talk and laughter along the road. The night sky after the rain was beautiful and seemed to lighten the moods of all. The boy Pyrus and the elf D’ak Taan were properly introduced to the entirety of the group and much of the conversation was of their backgrounds.
It was not until deep into the night that they stopped again. They came to a wide clearing and set up camp in a circle around a large fire, which burnt fiercely and brought great warmth to the party. Food and drink were had and the atmosphere became very relaxed. ‘How about a song?’ Joe suggested.
Surprisingly it was Villa who nominated himself to entertain the group. Without warning he jumped straight into a long, ridiculous song about pirates and giant sea creatures, and other things of the sort. His song had everyone, especially the younger members of the alliance, laughing and singing along with him.
With their stomachs content and their spirits very much raised, the travellers curled up around the fire’s warmth and one by one fell into deep sleep.
------------------
When doubts arise, the game begins
[This message has been edited by Nixus (edited 10-19-2003).]
#54
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Posted 19 October 2003 - 12:16 AM
Quote
Originally posted by dusk:
started back towards the Titans who had been left behind by Joe and Villa, they're long green necks craning above the treetops
started back towards the Titans who had been left behind by Joe and Villa, they're long green necks craning above the treetops
In other words, yes
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Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
“Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth..."
#55
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Posted 20 October 2003 - 04:11 PM
[OOC] Sorry I haven't been posting as much lately, even though I've been posting useless stuff on Ares Trash Talk. I've been burned out with school lately, and most of any creative juices I had have been sucked out by an evil monster named "Calculus". Oh, and I'm currently working on a Warcraft III custom campaign that's based on Cythera. It should have about five levels in the end. Of course, it won't contain any names of people from the game, and none of the quests in the levels will be based on quests in the real game. This is because, though Ambrosia is a great company, I don't want to give them any reason to sue me, even if I don't think that's likely. The quests are quests out of Team Stories here on the webboard. And I don't have Frozen Throne, so the Alraeician Tavern will not be a "tavern". I'm still trying to figure out how to make Frost Wolves green so that they can be wolflizards. If you're good with the WC3 world editor, email [url="http://"mailto:bigjoe_512@yahoo.com"]mailto:bigjoe_512@yahoo.com[/url]bigjoe_512@yahoo.com if you want to help.[/OOC]
The group continued down the road towards Pnyx, planning to turn towards the south just outside of the city. Now that the storm had cleared out, the sun had come out, and there were no real dangers on the road aside from mud-holes. That, and poor Pyrus's untrained titan. The former plow beast had still never been properly trained to be ridden, and despite Joe's best efforts, it still misbehaved. As a result, Pyrus ended up having to ride very close to Joe and his titan Green Giant. The influence of the older, larger titan seemed to calm Pyrus's Striver enough that Pyrus could just manage him.
Joe was always available to give good advice. "All right, you're doing well, just keep a tight grip on those reigns. Sooner or later, he'll break, and then he'll be loyal to you for life. And if I judge his personality right, once that happens, he won't let anyone else ride him."
"While you guys were lost in the caves, Thomas said that you can charm these beasts with your lyre. Why don't you charm Striver?" Pyrus asked.
"Well, I can calm animals down, but it all depends on what an animal is willing to do. If I were to play and successfully calm him down, he might behave himself for a little while. But it wouldn't last long, because it's not something that's in his nature to do. He does not want anyone on his back, and he'll continue to want to misbehave as long as he has a rider. He's doing pretty well right now, anyway, and I say that if something can be done without charms or tricks, it ought to be done that way. Besides, he'll build up more respect for you if he's not sedated while you ride him."
Just then, Striver gave Pyrus a vicious buck, which would have thrown the boy, had he not been holding tightly to the harness. "Yeah, he has a whole lot of respect for me right now," Pyrus replied as he regained his balance.
Joe laughed. "Well, just so you know, you're doing just as well as I or anyone else could do with him. He's just that sort of titan."
*************************
As soon as they saw the spire of Pnyx in the distance, Joe led the group down a smaller road to the south. "This is the road to the coast, which we'll follow down to the volcano," Joe told Pyrus. After the group had been riding south for some time, Yunaleska rode up beside Joe and Pyrus, who were in the front. She had a very upset look on her face. "The moogle is getting sicker," she reported to Joe. "His nose is still blue, and he's shivering and coughing like you wouldn't believe. D'ak Taan is at a loss with what to do with him."
"Alright. Stay here with Pyrus. His titan likes company," Joe replied as he turned Green Giant around and headed toward the back of the group where D'ak Taan, with the moogle K'reec'renetch'oorom in his lap, was riding the titan Elessar. Ferazel was riding alongside them on Dory and was attempting to mix up some sort of healing salve while riding.
"How's he doing?" Joe asked, as he approached.
"Not too well," D'ak Taan responded. "He seems to have caught some sort of flu, but he doesn't respond to any of our medicines or charms. At least he's telepathic, and can communicate whenever he's concious. Unfortunately, he doesn't know much more about his people's medical practices than we do."
"Mr. Moogle, can you hear me?" Joe asked the very ill-looking bear-man.
<Yes, I can hear you just fine. Damn I hate colds. I feel like I could die> the Moogle replied.
"Honestly, you look like it, too," Joe said. "It must be a heck of a cold for you to be laid up like this. I don't think it's a good idea for you to keep travelling in this condition. We need to get you some real medical help."
<I'snt there a town or city or something up ahead? Do you think I could stop off there?>
"Actually, it's a school for mages in training. I can still see the tip of the pyramid just over that hill," Joe replied.
"That would be the best option, Joe. The mages at Pnyx would take good care of him," Ferazel said. "Of course, they'd want to research every part of him, and study every aspect of his unique magic, but they'd take care of him," he added with a smirk.
"Yeah, all right. It's not too far out of the way. If we change course now, we'll be there by sundown. I'll tell the others," Joe said, as he rode off to the rest of the group. They were soon back on the road to Pnyx.
[OOC] This turn of events is brought to you by the letter W. And an email from Hamster2 saying that he'd like K'reec'renetch'oorom to drop out of the story for a while. He may be back, but right now, he says he's too busy with school and life and homework. The plan is that K'reec'renetch'oorom is left at Pnyx to recover. [/OOC]
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"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Inventor of the "Analytical Engine", the first computer.
[This message has been edited by Big Joe (edited 10-22-2003).]
The group continued down the road towards Pnyx, planning to turn towards the south just outside of the city. Now that the storm had cleared out, the sun had come out, and there were no real dangers on the road aside from mud-holes. That, and poor Pyrus's untrained titan. The former plow beast had still never been properly trained to be ridden, and despite Joe's best efforts, it still misbehaved. As a result, Pyrus ended up having to ride very close to Joe and his titan Green Giant. The influence of the older, larger titan seemed to calm Pyrus's Striver enough that Pyrus could just manage him.
Joe was always available to give good advice. "All right, you're doing well, just keep a tight grip on those reigns. Sooner or later, he'll break, and then he'll be loyal to you for life. And if I judge his personality right, once that happens, he won't let anyone else ride him."
"While you guys were lost in the caves, Thomas said that you can charm these beasts with your lyre. Why don't you charm Striver?" Pyrus asked.
"Well, I can calm animals down, but it all depends on what an animal is willing to do. If I were to play and successfully calm him down, he might behave himself for a little while. But it wouldn't last long, because it's not something that's in his nature to do. He does not want anyone on his back, and he'll continue to want to misbehave as long as he has a rider. He's doing pretty well right now, anyway, and I say that if something can be done without charms or tricks, it ought to be done that way. Besides, he'll build up more respect for you if he's not sedated while you ride him."
Just then, Striver gave Pyrus a vicious buck, which would have thrown the boy, had he not been holding tightly to the harness. "Yeah, he has a whole lot of respect for me right now," Pyrus replied as he regained his balance.
Joe laughed. "Well, just so you know, you're doing just as well as I or anyone else could do with him. He's just that sort of titan."
*************************
As soon as they saw the spire of Pnyx in the distance, Joe led the group down a smaller road to the south. "This is the road to the coast, which we'll follow down to the volcano," Joe told Pyrus. After the group had been riding south for some time, Yunaleska rode up beside Joe and Pyrus, who were in the front. She had a very upset look on her face. "The moogle is getting sicker," she reported to Joe. "His nose is still blue, and he's shivering and coughing like you wouldn't believe. D'ak Taan is at a loss with what to do with him."
"Alright. Stay here with Pyrus. His titan likes company," Joe replied as he turned Green Giant around and headed toward the back of the group where D'ak Taan, with the moogle K'reec'renetch'oorom in his lap, was riding the titan Elessar. Ferazel was riding alongside them on Dory and was attempting to mix up some sort of healing salve while riding.
"How's he doing?" Joe asked, as he approached.
"Not too well," D'ak Taan responded. "He seems to have caught some sort of flu, but he doesn't respond to any of our medicines or charms. At least he's telepathic, and can communicate whenever he's concious. Unfortunately, he doesn't know much more about his people's medical practices than we do."
"Mr. Moogle, can you hear me?" Joe asked the very ill-looking bear-man.
<Yes, I can hear you just fine. Damn I hate colds. I feel like I could die> the Moogle replied.
"Honestly, you look like it, too," Joe said. "It must be a heck of a cold for you to be laid up like this. I don't think it's a good idea for you to keep travelling in this condition. We need to get you some real medical help."
<I'snt there a town or city or something up ahead? Do you think I could stop off there?>
"Actually, it's a school for mages in training. I can still see the tip of the pyramid just over that hill," Joe replied.
"That would be the best option, Joe. The mages at Pnyx would take good care of him," Ferazel said. "Of course, they'd want to research every part of him, and study every aspect of his unique magic, but they'd take care of him," he added with a smirk.
"Yeah, all right. It's not too far out of the way. If we change course now, we'll be there by sundown. I'll tell the others," Joe said, as he rode off to the rest of the group. They were soon back on the road to Pnyx.
[OOC] This turn of events is brought to you by the letter W. And an email from Hamster2 saying that he'd like K'reec'renetch'oorom to drop out of the story for a while. He may be back, but right now, he says he's too busy with school and life and homework. The plan is that K'reec'renetch'oorom is left at Pnyx to recover. [/OOC]
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"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Inventor of the "Analytical Engine", the first computer.
[This message has been edited by Big Joe (edited 10-22-2003).]
"The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.'" - George Carlin
#56
- War Prince Son Goku
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Posted 22 October 2003 - 09:14 PM
[OOC]Joe, can i join you making the warcraft 3 maps, i wanted to make a map but i could never get some of the stuff to work, i may not be good but i could use something to do around here. I am really good at making new characters in the WC3 editor so...(wink wink)[/OOC]
[This message has been edited by Dark Jet (edited 10-22-2003).]
I took out what i said because well, I could have written better.
[This message has been edited by Dark Jet (edited 10-23-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Dark Jet (edited 10-22-2003).]
I took out what i said because well, I could have written better.
[This message has been edited by Dark Jet (edited 10-23-2003).]
#57
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Posted 01 November 2003 - 09:08 AM
(ooc)Yuna is a friend of mine from school, but for some reason both of the accounts 'Yunaleska' and 'Yuna' won't let her post. Something about the accounts not existing. So the following post is by her. Sorry for any inconvenience.(bic)
Yunaleska woke. Her sleep had been particularly hard, and the floor was not the only cause. She had been disturbed by the dreams she had been having for as long as she could remember. Flashes where her only recollection of theses dreams. Her Mother screaming, the raiders, the fires and the loss of her animal tribe. Yuna awoke with tears in her eyes and she found herself sniffing aloud as she wiped her eyes. These weren’t dreams she could get used to but she had learnt too deal with them alone. This trip would be no exception. Even with the close friendships that were forming in the group she still didn’t feel she belonged.
She sat up, knowing now that she could not sleep again. She stared around the camp, at her new friends, and was brought into deep thought. She looked to her left. Nixus slept soundly, or as soundly as one could in this environment. Yuna smiled. She cared greatly for the older girl and secretly thought of her as a sister. A small chuckle escaped her as Nixus mumble something in her sleep and rolled over slightly.
Next she surveyed her companions one by one, smiling as she thought of the journey they had been having so far. As hard as it had been she was happy, happier than she had been in many years.
At last her thoughts reached the person farthest away from her. Villa, a finely built man with a smug and almost distasteful temperament. Yuna knew Nixus wasn’t to fond of him, even if she would never so openly tell the girl, but Yuna found a quality in him she liked. One she could identify with. She loathed the smug look always upon his face, but a feeling she had allowed her to ignore it.
For now however she could only admire and was determined not to think of him too much. For now she decided to sleep and to contemplate her thoughts when she awoke...
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When doubts arise, the game begins
Yunaleska woke. Her sleep had been particularly hard, and the floor was not the only cause. She had been disturbed by the dreams she had been having for as long as she could remember. Flashes where her only recollection of theses dreams. Her Mother screaming, the raiders, the fires and the loss of her animal tribe. Yuna awoke with tears in her eyes and she found herself sniffing aloud as she wiped her eyes. These weren’t dreams she could get used to but she had learnt too deal with them alone. This trip would be no exception. Even with the close friendships that were forming in the group she still didn’t feel she belonged.
She sat up, knowing now that she could not sleep again. She stared around the camp, at her new friends, and was brought into deep thought. She looked to her left. Nixus slept soundly, or as soundly as one could in this environment. Yuna smiled. She cared greatly for the older girl and secretly thought of her as a sister. A small chuckle escaped her as Nixus mumble something in her sleep and rolled over slightly.
Next she surveyed her companions one by one, smiling as she thought of the journey they had been having so far. As hard as it had been she was happy, happier than she had been in many years.
At last her thoughts reached the person farthest away from her. Villa, a finely built man with a smug and almost distasteful temperament. Yuna knew Nixus wasn’t to fond of him, even if she would never so openly tell the girl, but Yuna found a quality in him she liked. One she could identify with. She loathed the smug look always upon his face, but a feeling she had allowed her to ignore it.
For now however she could only admire and was determined not to think of him too much. For now she decided to sleep and to contemplate her thoughts when she awoke...
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When doubts arise, the game begins
#58
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Posted 03 November 2003 - 07:29 PM
And wake she did, as the group prepared for the next days journey. They were packed soon, and upon the road they tarried for just a little, riding atop the large green titans, bread by Joe for this exact purpose.
Villa was indeed as Yunaleska had pictured him, smug and contented currently. His beard had grown just a little, giving him a miniscule goaty and generous 5 o'clock shadow which added to his general appearance of ruffianism.
He chuckled to himself, recalling the times he had spent stealing from his parents over flowing supply of obols. He loved the confusion on his mothers face when she searched her skirt inside out for the money she had put in there just the day before. He smirked more and then, feeling that eyes were on him, forced himself into a sober face again.
Joe rode back towards Villa handing the lead to Pyrus and Ferazel, who shared one of the tamer titans.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
Villa shook his head and suppressed another giggle "Just thinking about things at home."
"Where is home for you then, Villa?" Joe looked across at the scoundrel who avoided eye contact.
"Oh, a little town off the coast, to the east of Cythera." He lied.
"What made you leave?"
Mindful that the group saw him somewhat as a theif he kept his story short, not caring the eleborate on the fact he had been caught drinking the Captains finest vintage wines "I scuttled ship at sea, and was forced to swim to shore." Villa shuddered at the memories, encrusted with sand, water logged and incapable of moving due to a splitting head ache.
"What about you Joe, what is this whole expedition really about anyways? I mean, you could've thought up a better story. That whole 'save the world' thing is just so pathetic, what's in it for you?"
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Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
Villa was indeed as Yunaleska had pictured him, smug and contented currently. His beard had grown just a little, giving him a miniscule goaty and generous 5 o'clock shadow which added to his general appearance of ruffianism.
He chuckled to himself, recalling the times he had spent stealing from his parents over flowing supply of obols. He loved the confusion on his mothers face when she searched her skirt inside out for the money she had put in there just the day before. He smirked more and then, feeling that eyes were on him, forced himself into a sober face again.
Joe rode back towards Villa handing the lead to Pyrus and Ferazel, who shared one of the tamer titans.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
Villa shook his head and suppressed another giggle "Just thinking about things at home."
"Where is home for you then, Villa?" Joe looked across at the scoundrel who avoided eye contact.
"Oh, a little town off the coast, to the east of Cythera." He lied.
"What made you leave?"
Mindful that the group saw him somewhat as a theif he kept his story short, not caring the eleborate on the fact he had been caught drinking the Captains finest vintage wines "I scuttled ship at sea, and was forced to swim to shore." Villa shuddered at the memories, encrusted with sand, water logged and incapable of moving due to a splitting head ache.
"What about you Joe, what is this whole expedition really about anyways? I mean, you could've thought up a better story. That whole 'save the world' thing is just so pathetic, what's in it for you?"
------------------
Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
“Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth..."
#59
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Posted 04 November 2003 - 12:33 PM
"Oy, then," Pyrus piped up. He had been so silent that they had forgotten he was there. "What do you mean, 'What's in it for you?' I mean, if not saving the world meant being doomed to die in some dead and charred wasteland, or worse, being killed, (And I'm far too young to die anyway!) wouldn't you want to save the world? I mean, I know I would! And besides, this is an adventure! We could find all sorts of treasure and stuff!"
Pyrus looked around, surprised that he had that much to say. Everyone was looking at him, which meant that he must have "piped up" quite loudly. He began to blush. "Er, I mean, wouldn't you, Joe?"
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--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Will the real God please stand up?
Pyrus looked around, surprised that he had that much to say. Everyone was looking at him, which meant that he must have "piped up" quite loudly. He began to blush. "Er, I mean, wouldn't you, Joe?"
------------------
--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Will the real God please stand up?
#60
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Posted 04 November 2003 - 09:15 PM
"You know, I really hadn't thought about it much," Joe replied honestly. "I mean, it's not as if we're the only group out there who can go on this quest. In fact, the spirits who gave me this job as well as told me that there were others who could do the job just as well, they just hadn't been recruited yet. I don't really have any reason in particular to be out here. I mean, yeah, saving our little island is nice and everything, but we could just as easily evacuate. I guess I'm doing this because I figure that in some way it will make up for my not being able to protect my fiancŽ Charis a few months ago. Not much is left for me on this rock now that she's gone, but I know that she would have signed on for this quest in a heartbeat."
Both Villa and Pyrus gave Joe the same confused look. "Oh, that's right, you guys don't know what happened at my ranch." Joe proceeded to explain that a suspicious character wanted to buy away all of his titans (more than a hundred at the time), and Joe refused. The man came back with a small army of ruffians and tore apart the ranch, stole almost all of the titans, and killed Charis in the process. [OOC] [url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/webboard/Forum5/HTML/000506-3.html#BigJoe04-24-200303:03PM"]Full (or mostly full) back story here.[/url] [/OOC] "Funny thing was, I taught her to play music, and it ended up that she could do the same thing with the pipes that I can do with my lyre - charm animals into being docile. She was much more adventurous than I'll ever be, and she would have volunteered for this quest for fun, even though there's no real reward of any kind that I know of. I guess I'm out here in honor of her."
Joe looked around, and realized that not only were Villa and Pyrus listening, but some of the others in the group had come up behind and were listening in. Joe noted a tear in the eye of one of the girls. He quickly decided to change the subject.
"But I'm still in this thing because I've got great people riding beside me," he announced. Joe noted the large, white pyramid of the mage-city of Pnyx towering over the horizon, slowly increasing in size as they approached. "We'll be at the Magesterium in a couple of hours, where we can drop off our sick Moogle friend and stay the night. In the meantime, y'all have heard enough about me, anyone else want to share?"
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"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Inventor of the "Analytical Engine", the first computer.
[This message has been edited by Big Joe (edited 11-04-2003).]
Both Villa and Pyrus gave Joe the same confused look. "Oh, that's right, you guys don't know what happened at my ranch." Joe proceeded to explain that a suspicious character wanted to buy away all of his titans (more than a hundred at the time), and Joe refused. The man came back with a small army of ruffians and tore apart the ranch, stole almost all of the titans, and killed Charis in the process. [OOC] [url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/webboard/Forum5/HTML/000506-3.html#BigJoe04-24-200303:03PM"]Full (or mostly full) back story here.[/url] [/OOC] "Funny thing was, I taught her to play music, and it ended up that she could do the same thing with the pipes that I can do with my lyre - charm animals into being docile. She was much more adventurous than I'll ever be, and she would have volunteered for this quest for fun, even though there's no real reward of any kind that I know of. I guess I'm out here in honor of her."
Joe looked around, and realized that not only were Villa and Pyrus listening, but some of the others in the group had come up behind and were listening in. Joe noted a tear in the eye of one of the girls. He quickly decided to change the subject.
"But I'm still in this thing because I've got great people riding beside me," he announced. Joe noted the large, white pyramid of the mage-city of Pnyx towering over the horizon, slowly increasing in size as they approached. "We'll be at the Magesterium in a couple of hours, where we can drop off our sick Moogle friend and stay the night. In the meantime, y'all have heard enough about me, anyone else want to share?"
------------------
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Inventor of the "Analytical Engine", the first computer.
[This message has been edited by Big Joe (edited 11-04-2003).]
"The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.'" - George Carlin
#61
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- Joined: 07-April 03
Posted 14 November 2003 - 11:15 PM
Nixus looked up toward the canvas of treetops, then back down to face Pnyx growing ever closer. ‘I’m not exactly sure why I came along,’ she said. ‘I suppose I thought it about time I stopped running and did all I could to help other beings. My childhood was built so strongly on destruction and war and hate…I do not regret my past, but I will do all I can to bring such darkness to an end.’
‘You know, Nixus,’ Joe said, ‘you never did get around to telling me why you ran away, or what went on that first night I met you in the tavern.’
‘What happened, Nixie?’ asked Yuna who’d become very interested in the conversation.
‘Nothing, Yuna,’ Nixus replied. ‘I just ran into…an old friend of sorts. But now is not the time to be talking of such things.’
‘It didn’t sound like a very friendly conversation,’ Joe said, feeling himself becoming irritated at Nixus’ typical evasion of the topic.
‘He was a friend of my brothers before Salem died,’ Nixus replied stronger than she’d meant. ‘He had his reasons for following me, but I am not going to get into that right now.’
For the remaining few hours before they reached the Magisterium Nixus hardly spoke and rode with a bitter expression on her face.
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When doubts arise, the game begins
[This message has been edited by Nixus (edited 11-14-2003).]
‘You know, Nixus,’ Joe said, ‘you never did get around to telling me why you ran away, or what went on that first night I met you in the tavern.’
‘What happened, Nixie?’ asked Yuna who’d become very interested in the conversation.
‘Nothing, Yuna,’ Nixus replied. ‘I just ran into…an old friend of sorts. But now is not the time to be talking of such things.’
‘It didn’t sound like a very friendly conversation,’ Joe said, feeling himself becoming irritated at Nixus’ typical evasion of the topic.
‘He was a friend of my brothers before Salem died,’ Nixus replied stronger than she’d meant. ‘He had his reasons for following me, but I am not going to get into that right now.’
For the remaining few hours before they reached the Magisterium Nixus hardly spoke and rode with a bitter expression on her face.
------------------
When doubts arise, the game begins
[This message has been edited by Nixus (edited 11-14-2003).]
#62
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Posted 16 November 2003 - 10:57 AM
bellerophon sees some guys talking.bellerophon gos over there.he asks what is your name?joe and nixus the say.here have this key.its from an special spell book.
bellerophon rides away.see ya!joe puts the key in his pocket.
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bellerophon rides away.see ya!joe puts the key in his pocket.
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#63
- lazy harp seal
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- Gender:Female
- Location:down under
Posted 16 November 2003 - 04:17 PM
[OoC] wow, I miss this place...nice to see a TS is still going strong. Anyone mind if I join in?
For now, consider my other characters' lives truncated, at least till further notice. I may or may not use them again. We'll see how things turn out. [BiC]
Nixus stared unseeingly at her hands, which gripped the reins fiercely. She wished Joe had been less inquisitive. Friendly as he was, she didn't feel like sharing some things right then...
Her musings were interrupted by a rush of air directly in front of her. The startled titan she rode shied away, bucking its six legs. Something small and feathery thudded into the ground where titan hooves had been split seconds before, splattering mud everywhere.
Joe dismounted in a flash and dashed to Nixus' side, trying to calm Elanor down before the frightened titan trampled the feathery object or bucked its rider off. He was succesful, and held Elanor's reins while Nixus dismounted.
"What was that?" D'ak Taan said, wheeling his titan around to look. "Are we being bombarded by falling birds?"
"Something like that." Nixus bent down to examine. She found herself looking at a bird of prey, its reddish feathers covered in dirt. The first thing she noticed was the wicked-looking curved beak, followed by the lethal talons. The bird lay motionless, an arrow shot straight through its left wing.
"Is it dead?" Pyrus asked, eyes wide. "There must be someone else around here. I saw it; it fell out of nowhere, like it got shot down."
"No, I don't think it's dead," Nixus said. She looked up and beckoned Ferazel over. "What do you think? I don't know how to check for a pulse on a bird."
"Alive," Ferazel confirmed. "Just stunned, probably from the fall. We'll have to remove the arrow though."
"No time for that." D'ak said, scanning their surroundings. "Pyrus is right. Someone's about, but this close to Pnyx, I don't know who. Most ruffians aren't even that stupid, but who else would shoot down a bird like this?"
Yuna pointed to the woods by the path. "Look," she whispered breathlessly. "That's who."
Joe nodded grimly. "Definitely ruffians."
<edit> I was going to post in the char info, but it seems I don't have the time today. The hawk's name is Këtaw, and she speaks telepathically. Also, if the time delay of fighting ruffians is a concern, I can edit my post. </edit>
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Support the Movement: Ban Propaganda!
[This message has been edited by iKaterei (edited 11-16-2003).]
For now, consider my other characters' lives truncated, at least till further notice. I may or may not use them again. We'll see how things turn out. [BiC]
Nixus stared unseeingly at her hands, which gripped the reins fiercely. She wished Joe had been less inquisitive. Friendly as he was, she didn't feel like sharing some things right then...
Her musings were interrupted by a rush of air directly in front of her. The startled titan she rode shied away, bucking its six legs. Something small and feathery thudded into the ground where titan hooves had been split seconds before, splattering mud everywhere.
Joe dismounted in a flash and dashed to Nixus' side, trying to calm Elanor down before the frightened titan trampled the feathery object or bucked its rider off. He was succesful, and held Elanor's reins while Nixus dismounted.
"What was that?" D'ak Taan said, wheeling his titan around to look. "Are we being bombarded by falling birds?"
"Something like that." Nixus bent down to examine. She found herself looking at a bird of prey, its reddish feathers covered in dirt. The first thing she noticed was the wicked-looking curved beak, followed by the lethal talons. The bird lay motionless, an arrow shot straight through its left wing.
"Is it dead?" Pyrus asked, eyes wide. "There must be someone else around here. I saw it; it fell out of nowhere, like it got shot down."
"No, I don't think it's dead," Nixus said. She looked up and beckoned Ferazel over. "What do you think? I don't know how to check for a pulse on a bird."
"Alive," Ferazel confirmed. "Just stunned, probably from the fall. We'll have to remove the arrow though."
"No time for that." D'ak said, scanning their surroundings. "Pyrus is right. Someone's about, but this close to Pnyx, I don't know who. Most ruffians aren't even that stupid, but who else would shoot down a bird like this?"
Yuna pointed to the woods by the path. "Look," she whispered breathlessly. "That's who."
Joe nodded grimly. "Definitely ruffians."
<edit> I was going to post in the char info, but it seems I don't have the time today. The hawk's name is Këtaw, and she speaks telepathically. Also, if the time delay of fighting ruffians is a concern, I can edit my post. </edit>
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Support the Movement: Ban Propaganda!
[This message has been edited by iKaterei (edited 11-16-2003).]
#64
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- Group: Members
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- Joined: 05-October 02
Posted 22 November 2003 - 07:09 AM
[ooc] Nice to have you back, we used to post together a lot, pity you left for so long... Tell Moonshadow to come back aswell 
[bic]
Villa looked at the ruffians. There was a band, twelve in sight, and god knows how many more in the bushes. The man in the front, with a bow still in hand, arrow nocked. He laughed, amd yelled "Fair you well travelers? My friends are in need of some obols, and perhaps-" with this he motioned the woman of the group "a little relaxation and fun, care to help us out?"
Various members of the group drew swords, others put arrow to bow string. Villa drew his sling and loaded one of his disks, swinging it quitely above his head, around one finger; he looked calm and collected, ready to face battle fearlessly and full of wrath.
Inside Villa was quaking with fear, he hated fights, he knew his sling flung disks were deadly in a single hit most of the time, their flat sides finding targets seemingly without effort. He still hated fighting in any but the most tipped and unfair circumstances.
He whispered to Joe, who gripped the hilt of his sword with white knuckles "I'm going to go off and attack from the bushes Joe, I'm not much good in an open fight."
Joe sighed internally and waved his consent.
Villa slipped off to the right, practicing an art he enjoyed little, but was non the less good at- being unoticable. As soon as he was out of sight of the others he crept forward deflty to teh edge of the bush about 20 metres or so forward, glancing out at the ruffians, who sat jeering the group. Villa readied his sling again, lining up a shot; but before he could fire, a thought entered his head
No one would know either. He could just go right past them. They'd never realise, and he woulnd't be stuck on this lousy quest for greatness anymore. He liked this idea.
The ruffian leader let another arrow fly, landing it deliberatly at the feet of Joe. He grinned and asked again "Would you care to help us?"
No one spoke, and the ruffians took this as a yes. They charged.
------------------
Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
[bic]Villa looked at the ruffians. There was a band, twelve in sight, and god knows how many more in the bushes. The man in the front, with a bow still in hand, arrow nocked. He laughed, amd yelled "Fair you well travelers? My friends are in need of some obols, and perhaps-" with this he motioned the woman of the group "a little relaxation and fun, care to help us out?"
Various members of the group drew swords, others put arrow to bow string. Villa drew his sling and loaded one of his disks, swinging it quitely above his head, around one finger; he looked calm and collected, ready to face battle fearlessly and full of wrath.
Inside Villa was quaking with fear, he hated fights, he knew his sling flung disks were deadly in a single hit most of the time, their flat sides finding targets seemingly without effort. He still hated fighting in any but the most tipped and unfair circumstances.
He whispered to Joe, who gripped the hilt of his sword with white knuckles "I'm going to go off and attack from the bushes Joe, I'm not much good in an open fight."
Joe sighed internally and waved his consent.
Villa slipped off to the right, practicing an art he enjoyed little, but was non the less good at- being unoticable. As soon as he was out of sight of the others he crept forward deflty to teh edge of the bush about 20 metres or so forward, glancing out at the ruffians, who sat jeering the group. Villa readied his sling again, lining up a shot; but before he could fire, a thought entered his head
No one would know either. He could just go right past them. They'd never realise, and he woulnd't be stuck on this lousy quest for greatness anymore. He liked this idea.
The ruffian leader let another arrow fly, landing it deliberatly at the feet of Joe. He grinned and asked again "Would you care to help us?"
No one spoke, and the ruffians took this as a yes. They charged.
------------------
Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
“Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth..."
#65
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Posted 22 November 2003 - 10:11 AM
"I just remembered another reason why I loved my dad," Joe whispered to his companions.
He heard someone behind him go "Huh?" as they waited with drawn swords on the backs of their titans. "Let go of your reigns, hold on with your knees, and be ready to strike," he replied, not actually answering the query.
Joe leaned in and whispered to Green Giant "All right, Giant. You know what to do. Get the herd ready."
The huge green titan started moaning and rythmically stomping his feet as the ruffians continued to charge. The moaning grew to a rumble, and the rumble grew to a roar, and the foot stomps grew louder, too. Joe looked around at the rest of the group. The other titans had picked up the stomping and roaring, too. As the first of the ruffians reached the group, with speed that no one (except Joe) expected of such a large animal, Green Giant swung his great neck low to the ground and head-butted the man in the chest, knocking him into the air with a bone-crunching sound. The other titans took this as their cue, kicking, swinging their tails, head-butting, and crushing ruffians who got too close, their poor riders doing their level best to hang on to the crazed beasts.
"If you can get in a hit, go ahead and strike," Joe announced to his rather shocked group as he slammed the pommel of his sword into the top of a ruffian's skull. "They can't do all the work, not with this many."
The others, finally getting over the shock of seeing their mounts' more destructive side, began striking out with their various weapons, getting a few kills a piece, but not nearly as many as the titans themselves. More than a score of ruffians had been "dispatched" in a matter of minutes. Joe smirked as he heard the leader of the ruffians, who had stayed back with his archers, give the order to "get yourselves the hell away from those animals, you idiots!" The ruffians on foot ran away from the titans as fast as they could, but not before Green Giant managed to grab a big mace-wielding brute by the leg with his mouth and bodily swing him head-first into a large boulder.
"Good job, Giant. Stand down," Joe said to his titan, who immediately grunted twice to the others. All of the titans stopped in their tracks, and a few of the tired ones laid down. "My dad was an officer in the old Tyrant's army," Joe began to explain to his group. "He was put in charge of developing and training a special unit of mounted warriors, he dubbed the 'titanry', which is how he got into the business of raising and training titans. Green Giant here was his personal mount. The rest have not been war trained, but Giant here knows how to get them worked up into their natural 'herd defence' mode." They watched as the remaining ruffians climbed the hill to rejoin their leader.
"Bows and slings," Joe shouted, as the group of travellers noticed the ruffian archers preparing to fire. The group readied whatever ranged weapon they possessed.
[OOC] Anybody want to take the next round?
[/OOC]
------------------
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Inventor of the "Analytical Engine", the first computer.
[This message has been edited by Big Joe (edited 11-22-2003).]
He heard someone behind him go "Huh?" as they waited with drawn swords on the backs of their titans. "Let go of your reigns, hold on with your knees, and be ready to strike," he replied, not actually answering the query.
Joe leaned in and whispered to Green Giant "All right, Giant. You know what to do. Get the herd ready."
The huge green titan started moaning and rythmically stomping his feet as the ruffians continued to charge. The moaning grew to a rumble, and the rumble grew to a roar, and the foot stomps grew louder, too. Joe looked around at the rest of the group. The other titans had picked up the stomping and roaring, too. As the first of the ruffians reached the group, with speed that no one (except Joe) expected of such a large animal, Green Giant swung his great neck low to the ground and head-butted the man in the chest, knocking him into the air with a bone-crunching sound. The other titans took this as their cue, kicking, swinging their tails, head-butting, and crushing ruffians who got too close, their poor riders doing their level best to hang on to the crazed beasts.
"If you can get in a hit, go ahead and strike," Joe announced to his rather shocked group as he slammed the pommel of his sword into the top of a ruffian's skull. "They can't do all the work, not with this many."
The others, finally getting over the shock of seeing their mounts' more destructive side, began striking out with their various weapons, getting a few kills a piece, but not nearly as many as the titans themselves. More than a score of ruffians had been "dispatched" in a matter of minutes. Joe smirked as he heard the leader of the ruffians, who had stayed back with his archers, give the order to "get yourselves the hell away from those animals, you idiots!" The ruffians on foot ran away from the titans as fast as they could, but not before Green Giant managed to grab a big mace-wielding brute by the leg with his mouth and bodily swing him head-first into a large boulder.
"Good job, Giant. Stand down," Joe said to his titan, who immediately grunted twice to the others. All of the titans stopped in their tracks, and a few of the tired ones laid down. "My dad was an officer in the old Tyrant's army," Joe began to explain to his group. "He was put in charge of developing and training a special unit of mounted warriors, he dubbed the 'titanry', which is how he got into the business of raising and training titans. Green Giant here was his personal mount. The rest have not been war trained, but Giant here knows how to get them worked up into their natural 'herd defence' mode." They watched as the remaining ruffians climbed the hill to rejoin their leader.
"Bows and slings," Joe shouted, as the group of travellers noticed the ruffian archers preparing to fire. The group readied whatever ranged weapon they possessed.
[OOC] Anybody want to take the next round?
[/OOC]------------------
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Inventor of the "Analytical Engine", the first computer.
[This message has been edited by Big Joe (edited 11-22-2003).]
"The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.'" - George Carlin
#66
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- Joined: 05-October 02
Posted 22 November 2003 - 06:17 PM
[ooc] I've forgotten how much I love posting [bic]
An arrow from the ruffians let fly again, this time missing Green Giant by a whisker. It would have done virtually nothing to the enourmus beast, but it was a sign of what was to come. Another ruffian nocked his arrow, this time the tip could be seen dripping with venom. These ruffians seemed a bit more then wayward bullies. They were well trained. and it showed.
Just as the fingers of the venom tipped wielding ruffian left the bow string, a single obol like disk shot from the bushes kicking the back of the arrow. It skewed voilently, powered in half by the disk and half by the string. It dug itself with a resonant thud into the next ruffian in line, who had a sling ready to let fly. He toppled over and spat blood, crying out. But this was just the begenning.
The archers of the group had wasted no time, and the arrows were thick in the air, at least half a dozen expertly aimed at the ruffian defence line. Two struck home, killing their targets instantly, the rest either missed or caused minor wounds. The ruffians, seeing they were at the advantage of numbers stood their ground, lobbing more arrows and stones at their attackers. Shielding themselves with the titans bulk, the group advanced slowly.
The ruffians let loose another volley, and the group returned fire. Another 3 ruffians fell, diminishing their numbers. D'ak Taan let loose a stream of what sounded like deadly insults. The two ruffians foremost in the pack put down their weapons and stood, slightly dumb founded. Their eyes became glazed over and rolled back into their sockets, one fell over, still breathing but well and truly asleep. The leader gave the dazed ruffian a whack over the head who snapped back to life and lifted his bow again, firing at the elf.
D'ak Taan narrowly dodged an incoming arrow and swore "They've got some sort of protective helmet on! My spells are almost useless!"
Joe looked wildly at the mages of the group, who were all trying their luck. Those who didn't have ranged weapons had stolen some of the ruffians corpse, and were inexpertly firing. Arrows chinked off the boulders that protected the ruffians and the battle was becoming even more heated.
Yunaleska with her ruffian bow was trying her best to hit the ruffians, but she was no Robin Hood. She carried the injured bird on her lap, where it lay delicating, breathing gently. She almost fell off in fright when she heard a voice in her head, much like the moogle had done. It was the bird! She craned her neck closer to the dust covered feathers in attempt to hear the weak voice more clearly.
The bird stammered mentally "The one in the bushes, he's... he's...".
Yuna remembered where Villa had gone "He's where? What's happening? Tell me!" but it was no use, the strange bird had lapsed into unconciousness again.
Yuna yelled at Joe "I think Villa's in trouble!"
Joe swore loudly as arrows flew over head and told the girl to keep her head down "That scoundrel can get an arrow to the heart for all I care! He can deal with it himself!"
Villa was now in a position of decision. He could either turn his tail and flee, running back in the scrub towards Cademia, or better still, Catamarca. Or he could stay and fight.
Now in a situation like this, a hero's better will, his extreme courage, determination and love for his companions would naturally overide all survival instincts, lending him to stay on and fight bravely. But Villa was no hero, quite the opposite; right now all he could think about was the cheap wine he had last tasted. Imagine dieing with nothing more then ale on his lips!
He whirred another disk at a ruffian who had spotted his hiding place, hitting him square on the temple, dowing him in a shot. Two more ruffians turned around. Villa tried too, to dispatch them, killing one more with a disk to the neck. The third ruffian shouted, calling a half dozen more of his companions to Villa. They beared shields which (and Villa hated to admit it) did a good job protecting themselves.
In the heat of the moment, as those 7 ruffians advanced towards Villa with swords and clubs beared, Villa ran. He ran past the motley gang and further towards the magisterium. Over a pile of bouldurs and onto the mountain side he ran. He glanced backwards to see if the ruffians still persued, and caught a glimpse of the scene of combat.
One of the girls, Nixus, had recieved an arrow though her left arm, and lay barely concious atop her titan, blood spouting out at every jolt of the massive beast. Joe shouted orders at the top of his voice, and the mages huddled together rather uselessly trying to put the ruffians asleep. He felt a pang of pity and fear sweep through him. From here he could be pretty much safe from the ruffians, out of sight with a perfect angle of fire.
Villa loaded another obol like disk and slung it off, knocking off the leader of a second group of ruffians advancing towards the group from the left.
I'll just stay here untill they're all safe, then I'm gone, he convinced himself. But joe, it would seem, had different plans for his handy botanical theif. Plans that defiantly didn't involve his absence.
------------------
Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
[bic]An arrow from the ruffians let fly again, this time missing Green Giant by a whisker. It would have done virtually nothing to the enourmus beast, but it was a sign of what was to come. Another ruffian nocked his arrow, this time the tip could be seen dripping with venom. These ruffians seemed a bit more then wayward bullies. They were well trained. and it showed.
Just as the fingers of the venom tipped wielding ruffian left the bow string, a single obol like disk shot from the bushes kicking the back of the arrow. It skewed voilently, powered in half by the disk and half by the string. It dug itself with a resonant thud into the next ruffian in line, who had a sling ready to let fly. He toppled over and spat blood, crying out. But this was just the begenning.
The archers of the group had wasted no time, and the arrows were thick in the air, at least half a dozen expertly aimed at the ruffian defence line. Two struck home, killing their targets instantly, the rest either missed or caused minor wounds. The ruffians, seeing they were at the advantage of numbers stood their ground, lobbing more arrows and stones at their attackers. Shielding themselves with the titans bulk, the group advanced slowly.
The ruffians let loose another volley, and the group returned fire. Another 3 ruffians fell, diminishing their numbers. D'ak Taan let loose a stream of what sounded like deadly insults. The two ruffians foremost in the pack put down their weapons and stood, slightly dumb founded. Their eyes became glazed over and rolled back into their sockets, one fell over, still breathing but well and truly asleep. The leader gave the dazed ruffian a whack over the head who snapped back to life and lifted his bow again, firing at the elf.
D'ak Taan narrowly dodged an incoming arrow and swore "They've got some sort of protective helmet on! My spells are almost useless!"
Joe looked wildly at the mages of the group, who were all trying their luck. Those who didn't have ranged weapons had stolen some of the ruffians corpse, and were inexpertly firing. Arrows chinked off the boulders that protected the ruffians and the battle was becoming even more heated.
Yunaleska with her ruffian bow was trying her best to hit the ruffians, but she was no Robin Hood. She carried the injured bird on her lap, where it lay delicating, breathing gently. She almost fell off in fright when she heard a voice in her head, much like the moogle had done. It was the bird! She craned her neck closer to the dust covered feathers in attempt to hear the weak voice more clearly.
The bird stammered mentally "The one in the bushes, he's... he's...".
Yuna remembered where Villa had gone "He's where? What's happening? Tell me!" but it was no use, the strange bird had lapsed into unconciousness again.
Yuna yelled at Joe "I think Villa's in trouble!"
Joe swore loudly as arrows flew over head and told the girl to keep her head down "That scoundrel can get an arrow to the heart for all I care! He can deal with it himself!"
Villa was now in a position of decision. He could either turn his tail and flee, running back in the scrub towards Cademia, or better still, Catamarca. Or he could stay and fight.
Now in a situation like this, a hero's better will, his extreme courage, determination and love for his companions would naturally overide all survival instincts, lending him to stay on and fight bravely. But Villa was no hero, quite the opposite; right now all he could think about was the cheap wine he had last tasted. Imagine dieing with nothing more then ale on his lips!
He whirred another disk at a ruffian who had spotted his hiding place, hitting him square on the temple, dowing him in a shot. Two more ruffians turned around. Villa tried too, to dispatch them, killing one more with a disk to the neck. The third ruffian shouted, calling a half dozen more of his companions to Villa. They beared shields which (and Villa hated to admit it) did a good job protecting themselves.
In the heat of the moment, as those 7 ruffians advanced towards Villa with swords and clubs beared, Villa ran. He ran past the motley gang and further towards the magisterium. Over a pile of bouldurs and onto the mountain side he ran. He glanced backwards to see if the ruffians still persued, and caught a glimpse of the scene of combat.
One of the girls, Nixus, had recieved an arrow though her left arm, and lay barely concious atop her titan, blood spouting out at every jolt of the massive beast. Joe shouted orders at the top of his voice, and the mages huddled together rather uselessly trying to put the ruffians asleep. He felt a pang of pity and fear sweep through him. From here he could be pretty much safe from the ruffians, out of sight with a perfect angle of fire.
Villa loaded another obol like disk and slung it off, knocking off the leader of a second group of ruffians advancing towards the group from the left.
I'll just stay here untill they're all safe, then I'm gone, he convinced himself. But joe, it would seem, had different plans for his handy botanical theif. Plans that defiantly didn't involve his absence.
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Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
“Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth..."
#67
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Posted 25 November 2003 - 05:08 PM
Pyrus sat atop his titan, fending off any enemy that came near him. He never really did any real damage other than to the attackers' weapons, leaving a few nicks; his shortsword that he recieved from his master what surprisingly sturdy. An arrow whizzed past his head, and he turned to see an archer. Strange, to be sitting while waving a sword about. All his training had dealt with combat on foot. He had no experience with mounted fighting before this. So, pausing to consider for a moment, he got both his legs on one side, and using the left stirrup for a platform, jumped off. At the same time, he brought his sword up behind and above him, having aimed for the archer who was nocking another arrow to his bow, and pointing straight at him.
The archer scowled at Pyrus' warcry, and due to years of combat expirience, calculated the way his enemy was attacking instantly, and brought his bow up above his head with both hands to sheild himself from Pyrus' attack. Pyrus was still high in the air when this happened, having jumped from the titan. (which, I presume, is quite tall, if it is to be compated to a horse.) He saw this, and knew (somehow, perhaps by instinct) that he would not be able to disable his enemy if the bow held together, and he did not want to take that chance. So, without any reilization of the consequences, brought his sword in front of him, pointing down. Directly at the archer's chest.
Everything then seemed to happen in slow motion then. He drifted down toward the ground and the archer, who now had an expression of surprise on his face. Only, in Pyrus' subconscieous, he saw this archer not as a man, but as the enemy who must be dispatched before he retaliated. The muscles in Pyrus' sword arm tensed. The archer tried to bring his bow down to sheild himself, but it was too late. Mechanically, unbidden, he thrust his sword into the chest of his attacker, the enemy's grizzled face staring in a now eternal expression of surprise and anger.
Then, the moment was over. Time sped back up, and the sounds of battle filled Pyrus' ears once again as he realized what he had just done. By the Land King, I've killed him! He had never killed before. He had dealt sharp blows, but he had never killed. A feeling of icy horror and nausea rose within him. His knees buckled, and he was sick upon the road.
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--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Will the real God please stand up?
The archer scowled at Pyrus' warcry, and due to years of combat expirience, calculated the way his enemy was attacking instantly, and brought his bow up above his head with both hands to sheild himself from Pyrus' attack. Pyrus was still high in the air when this happened, having jumped from the titan. (which, I presume, is quite tall, if it is to be compated to a horse.) He saw this, and knew (somehow, perhaps by instinct) that he would not be able to disable his enemy if the bow held together, and he did not want to take that chance. So, without any reilization of the consequences, brought his sword in front of him, pointing down. Directly at the archer's chest.
Everything then seemed to happen in slow motion then. He drifted down toward the ground and the archer, who now had an expression of surprise on his face. Only, in Pyrus' subconscieous, he saw this archer not as a man, but as the enemy who must be dispatched before he retaliated. The muscles in Pyrus' sword arm tensed. The archer tried to bring his bow down to sheild himself, but it was too late. Mechanically, unbidden, he thrust his sword into the chest of his attacker, the enemy's grizzled face staring in a now eternal expression of surprise and anger.
Then, the moment was over. Time sped back up, and the sounds of battle filled Pyrus' ears once again as he realized what he had just done. By the Land King, I've killed him! He had never killed before. He had dealt sharp blows, but he had never killed. A feeling of icy horror and nausea rose within him. His knees buckled, and he was sick upon the road.
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--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Will the real God please stand up?
#68
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Posted 25 November 2003 - 08:07 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Fanatic72802:
(which, I presume, is quite tall, if it is to be compated to a horse.)
(which, I presume, is quite tall, if it is to be compated to a horse.)
[OOC] Yeah. In my mind, I picture something roughly the size of an Indian elephant, with a horse-like neck and head. Think six-legged baby brontosaurus, and you've got my idea of a titan. The game never did have really good pictures of the things.[/OOC]
Joe sat upon green giant, riding back and forth, making a moving target for the ruffian archers, as he pulled his father's bow from his pack. Joe watched as the ruffians were slowly separating his group. The ruffians made no effort to hide the fact that they were splitting them up in order to kill the group members individually.
"Smart move," thought Joe as he loosed an arrow at a stray ruffian. "The titans fight best as a herd." He saw Ferazel with the sick Moogle in his lap riding off to a boulder outcropping, a more easily defendable position. The others were also riding for cover, except the young Pyrus, who appeared to be charging a group of enemy archers off to the left. "This should be interesting." Joe fired two more arrows at a group of archers positioned in the middle of the road behind an overturned haycart before turning after Pyrus. The small group of ruffians scattered as Pyrus and his titan approached, with the exception of one, who appeared determined to make a stand. Joe watched as Pyrus hung from the stirrups and harness of his titan, then made a flying leap with his short sword, skewering the surprised ruffian archer through the chest. "Excellent move," Joe said to himself. "Just like a hardened veteran - uh oh." Pyrus knelt beside the corpse of his enemy, retching violently. The three or four ruffians who had run away a minute ago now saw their opportunity. "Hey, Kid! Snap out of it! Kid!" Joe shouted as he fired an arrow into the chest of one of the returning ruffians. The ruffians noticed Joe, and knocked their arrows while Joe knocked one of his own. "Come on Pyrus! Help me out here!" Joe shouted again as he fired his arrow, which caught one of the archers in the shoulder. The injured ruffian accidentally released his arrow, which flew past Green Giant's head. Joe swung off the titan's back and down to the side, like Pyrus had done earlier, placing the titan's body between himself and the archers. He shoved the bow back in his pack, and drew his sword. Green Giant groaned as two arrows lodged in his thick hide. The now enraged titan truned and charged at one of the ruffians, exposing Joe he turned. "Pyrus please!" Joe was holding on to Giant with one hand, and held his sword in the other. The ruffian managed to dodge to the side of the angry titan, escaping the massive feet, but not escaping Joe's outheld sword, which sliced the ruffian's head clean off. Jarred by the impact, Joe released his grip on the titan. Green Giant wheeled around after the remaining ruffian. The last was either slightly smarter or slightly more cowardly than his companions, and he ran off to the trees, the rampaging titan after him. Joe crawled over to Pyrus, keeping his head low to avoid giving the other archers a target.
"What the heck is going on here? Are you sick? Or deaf? I could have used your help just then!" Joe shouted. Pyrus turned his tear-streaked face toward Joe, unable to respond. Joe immediately felt guilty. "Come on kid, what's wrong?" he asked in a much softer voice.
"I - He - I've never - He was my first," Pyrus finally managed to say. Joe was confused for a second, but he realized what Pyrus was talking about.
"I understand. But I saw the whole thing, and if you hadn't killed him, he would have knocked another arrow in his bow. And I guarantee you he would have had no qualms about killing you," Joe said.
"But I killed him! He's dead, and I did it! With this sword!" Pyrus shouted as he stabbed the tip of his short sword in the dirt. "Adventures aren't supposed to be like this," he sobbed.
"And just what are they supposed to be like, Pyrus? Are they supposed to be all gold and glory and fair maidens? Most adventures are survival, lad, and those other things belong in legends and stories. Didn't you train for most of your life to be a warrior?"
"Yes, my master was Fanatic of Kosha. He's the best swordfighter in the land."
"Then you should already know what your chosen career entails. A warrior is a trained killer, nothing more, nothing less. It is his lot in life to fight and kill. A good warrior tries to find alternatives to taking a life, but if he must do so, it is what he was trained to do. You pulled a brilliantly skilled maneuver, leaping from the titan like that. You did a good job. If your master was here, he would probably say the same thing."
[OOC] And I have a sudden case of writer's block, so take it from there, Fanatic. [/OOC]
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"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Inventor of the "Analytical Engine", the first computer.
"The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.'" - George Carlin
#69
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Posted 26 November 2003 - 05:49 AM
In the heat of the battle the air was thickened by war cries, arrows and the blood of both the ruffians and the alliance. It seemed quite surreal to Villa, who was quite safe looking on from his far off sanctuary. ‘Looks like I might be here a while…’ he thought gloomily. He was alone again, against the cruel unfair world. And what if his “companions” didn’t come out of their feud alive? How he would be blamed for not staying and fighting alongside them until his inevitable fall.
All of a sudden, as though someone had been listening in on his thoughts, a voice began to speak them aloud. ‘If any one of them die, or are seriously wounded, who of them will care if you stayed around to watch? If they come looking for you which one of them will care of any sort of decent act you carried out?’
It was a woman’s voice, somewhat misty and proud. Curiosity finally got the better of Villa, and he began to search around himself for the source of the voice. He hadn’t needed to look far. There, standing strongly behind him, was a jet black unicorn, its golden horn and hoofs glinting in the slight sun light that dappled through onto them, its completely white eyes seeming to stare straight through him. And mounted gracefully atop the horse-like beast’s bare back was a woman – the owner of the strange voice. Without realising he was doing it, Villa stood staring at the woman. Her long golden hair fell delicately around her beautiful face and over her pale skin, her soft grey eyes stared straight back at Villa, and a completely innocent smile played across her blood red lips.
‘What is the use of staying around to see how it ends? Whether they live or die someone will come looking for you, at least if you ran now you would have a decent head start,’ said she.
Villa didn’t answer; he was quite taken aback by the woman’s sudden appearance. The unicorn exhaled loudly through its nose and pawed the floor impatiently. This seemed to bring Villa back. ‘Er, who’re you?’ he asked sort of dumbly.
The woman wrinkled her nose playfully. ‘That is of no importance, master Villa,’ she replied. ‘Now go, before one of those ruffians spots you (with that the woman nodded her head toward the bloodshed in the distance).’
Villa turned to face the rest of the alliance, thinking hard about his position, but when he turned to speak to the woman, she and the unicorn had completely vanished.
(ooc)Introducing Tyronoe (her unicorn being Sephiria). I’m still working on her bio, but I’ll have it posted as soon as possible. Pretty much, she's a wicked, tricksy sorceress placed here to make our lives a living hell. Sorry that this post wasn't so much based around the battle, but this was a great opportunity to introduce Ty.(bic)
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When doubts arise, the game begins
All of a sudden, as though someone had been listening in on his thoughts, a voice began to speak them aloud. ‘If any one of them die, or are seriously wounded, who of them will care if you stayed around to watch? If they come looking for you which one of them will care of any sort of decent act you carried out?’
It was a woman’s voice, somewhat misty and proud. Curiosity finally got the better of Villa, and he began to search around himself for the source of the voice. He hadn’t needed to look far. There, standing strongly behind him, was a jet black unicorn, its golden horn and hoofs glinting in the slight sun light that dappled through onto them, its completely white eyes seeming to stare straight through him. And mounted gracefully atop the horse-like beast’s bare back was a woman – the owner of the strange voice. Without realising he was doing it, Villa stood staring at the woman. Her long golden hair fell delicately around her beautiful face and over her pale skin, her soft grey eyes stared straight back at Villa, and a completely innocent smile played across her blood red lips.
‘What is the use of staying around to see how it ends? Whether they live or die someone will come looking for you, at least if you ran now you would have a decent head start,’ said she.
Villa didn’t answer; he was quite taken aback by the woman’s sudden appearance. The unicorn exhaled loudly through its nose and pawed the floor impatiently. This seemed to bring Villa back. ‘Er, who’re you?’ he asked sort of dumbly.
The woman wrinkled her nose playfully. ‘That is of no importance, master Villa,’ she replied. ‘Now go, before one of those ruffians spots you (with that the woman nodded her head toward the bloodshed in the distance).’
Villa turned to face the rest of the alliance, thinking hard about his position, but when he turned to speak to the woman, she and the unicorn had completely vanished.
(ooc)Introducing Tyronoe (her unicorn being Sephiria). I’m still working on her bio, but I’ll have it posted as soon as possible. Pretty much, she's a wicked, tricksy sorceress placed here to make our lives a living hell. Sorry that this post wasn't so much based around the battle, but this was a great opportunity to introduce Ty.(bic)
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When doubts arise, the game begins
#70
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Posted 26 November 2003 - 10:42 AM
Fan stared at Joe, then at the man he had just killed. It wasn't right to kill; that had been ingrained in him not as an apprentice, but as a small child. Not right to kill. He looked back at Joe. What he had said was right, too. Sometimes you have to kill or be killed. Conflicting emothins rose within him, but he forced them down with a renewed and steely resolve. Kill or be killed was the law of fighing. He would obey that law. Btu he didn't have to like it. Not one bit.
Seeing the stubborn look come over Pyrus' face, Joe said, "Are you ready to join the battle again?"
Pyrus paused a moment, looking back once again at the dead archer. Then he replied, "Ye...yes. I am ready."
Wiping his sword on the grass, he rose, fighting back a small wave of nausea, and assumed a ready position, an arrow striking his buckler. He remembered that feeling that had come, that his enemies were nothing more than enemies, that calm, calculative feeling, and tried to bring it back. He would probably need it if he was to keep from retching after a kill.
Joe saw once more the look on Pyrus' face before rejoining the battle, and wondered if this calm, steely expression was a state of mind his master had taught him, or whether he had developed it on his own.
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--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Will the real God please stand up?
Seeing the stubborn look come over Pyrus' face, Joe said, "Are you ready to join the battle again?"
Pyrus paused a moment, looking back once again at the dead archer. Then he replied, "Ye...yes. I am ready."
Wiping his sword on the grass, he rose, fighting back a small wave of nausea, and assumed a ready position, an arrow striking his buckler. He remembered that feeling that had come, that his enemies were nothing more than enemies, that calm, calculative feeling, and tried to bring it back. He would probably need it if he was to keep from retching after a kill.
Joe saw once more the look on Pyrus' face before rejoining the battle, and wondered if this calm, steely expression was a state of mind his master had taught him, or whether he had developed it on his own.
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--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Will the real God please stand up?
#71
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Posted 26 November 2003 - 09:09 PM
The hawk shuddered where it lay, wingtips twitching violently. A change had woken it, just the faintest trace of a difference. Its mind was clouded by the pain, throbbing distantly in the left wing, but it knew still the change. A flood of thoughts, feelings, from one of the young ones. The ever-shifting pattern of psyche.
Pyrus gave a start as turned back towards the battle. Two quiet words echoed in his head. 'Well done.' Looking for the direction of the voice, he saw a flash of reddish-brown as Yunaleska's titan dodged a stray arrow.
'Human... like anyone else. Undeserved death, but... neccessary. Fight ever on.'
A sudden warmth surged through Pyrus' blood. As he ran towards a ruffian, sword brandished, out of the corner of his eye he saw a rush of feathers. The hawk rose into the air, left wing trailing, weighed down by the arrow still lodged in it.
Yunaleska cried out and tried to grab the hawk, but she couldn't get at it without being slashed by the talons. This time, everyone heard the words- 'Tides turn.'
The bird struggled to gain height with its injured wing. Something in its yellow eyes was wrong. A bloodcurdling screech erupted from the hawk as it dove towards a ruffian, a cry unique to one thing- an angry bird of prey. At the bottom of the dive, it reached out and raked across the dumbfounded man's face with its talons. Këtaw wheeled and flapped painfully, going at the man again. Again and again she struck with the wicked curved beak, the light of insanity driven by pain unmistakable in her eyes.
[OoC] short post, not much my char can do right now. Fight's turning out longer than I had originally expected; someone should get Villa out of there and wrap this up, maybe. Këtaw's just gone temporarily neurotic, by the way; she'll become lucid after the battle, probably. [BiC]
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Support the Movement: Ban Propaganda!
Pyrus gave a start as turned back towards the battle. Two quiet words echoed in his head. 'Well done.' Looking for the direction of the voice, he saw a flash of reddish-brown as Yunaleska's titan dodged a stray arrow.
'Human... like anyone else. Undeserved death, but... neccessary. Fight ever on.'
A sudden warmth surged through Pyrus' blood. As he ran towards a ruffian, sword brandished, out of the corner of his eye he saw a rush of feathers. The hawk rose into the air, left wing trailing, weighed down by the arrow still lodged in it.
Yunaleska cried out and tried to grab the hawk, but she couldn't get at it without being slashed by the talons. This time, everyone heard the words- 'Tides turn.'
The bird struggled to gain height with its injured wing. Something in its yellow eyes was wrong. A bloodcurdling screech erupted from the hawk as it dove towards a ruffian, a cry unique to one thing- an angry bird of prey. At the bottom of the dive, it reached out and raked across the dumbfounded man's face with its talons. Këtaw wheeled and flapped painfully, going at the man again. Again and again she struck with the wicked curved beak, the light of insanity driven by pain unmistakable in her eyes.
[OoC] short post, not much my char can do right now. Fight's turning out longer than I had originally expected; someone should get Villa out of there and wrap this up, maybe. Këtaw's just gone temporarily neurotic, by the way; she'll become lucid after the battle, probably. [BiC]
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Support the Movement: Ban Propaganda!
#72
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Posted 28 November 2003 - 07:44 AM
(ooc)Sorry, but I don't have time to post right at this moment. I just wanted to say, if anyone ever feels like ending this battle, please don't leave the scene all together. There's a tradition of Nixus' people that I'd like her to carry out. You know, typical burning of the corpses, singing a final sending etc. Thanks. (bic)
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When doubts arise, the game begins
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When doubts arise, the game begins
#73
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Posted 29 November 2003 - 08:06 AM
Villa decided to go with the strange womans urgings, now was the time, now or never. He ran, covered by the line of boulders back the way they had come.
But, as short as Villa was, he was not quite as small as a mouse, and a hawks eyes are sharp, almost as sharp as a hawks beak.
The remaining ruffians had staged a pityful charge at the still strong line of brutal titans, their last swords smashes to bits. The ruffian commander, who had been the first and only ruffian to speak during the encounter, was now bound head and foot in a bundle behind Joe. The others lay dead, covered in the mud of blood and mountain dirt, others were propped against rocks, protruding arrows soaked in deep red arteriel blood, still pumping from their live victims.
Këtaw's eyes were glossed over, tempered rage gone out of control surveyed the battlefield with glee. The ruffian she had attacked was a gorey mess spread over about 12 feet of forest, but the bird of prey still searched, and her prying eyes reached Villa's fleeing form.
The bird lunged, and Villa cried out, his single disk missing by a titan neck and a half, sialing into the air uselessly.
The cries of the unlucky thief reached Joe on teh cool breeze thick with the smell of death. In her weakened state the Hawk succumbed quickly to a sleep spell cast from the almost depleted mana of D'ak Taan, leaving Villa free of slashing talons, but once again with his beloved companions. He cursed and swore, kicking and screaming with fervour.
"Welcome back Villa." muttered Joe, as the group began the gory process of cleaning up their wounded, and dragging the dead into a pyre.
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Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
But, as short as Villa was, he was not quite as small as a mouse, and a hawks eyes are sharp, almost as sharp as a hawks beak.
The remaining ruffians had staged a pityful charge at the still strong line of brutal titans, their last swords smashes to bits. The ruffian commander, who had been the first and only ruffian to speak during the encounter, was now bound head and foot in a bundle behind Joe. The others lay dead, covered in the mud of blood and mountain dirt, others were propped against rocks, protruding arrows soaked in deep red arteriel blood, still pumping from their live victims.
Këtaw's eyes were glossed over, tempered rage gone out of control surveyed the battlefield with glee. The ruffian she had attacked was a gorey mess spread over about 12 feet of forest, but the bird of prey still searched, and her prying eyes reached Villa's fleeing form.
The bird lunged, and Villa cried out, his single disk missing by a titan neck and a half, sialing into the air uselessly.
The cries of the unlucky thief reached Joe on teh cool breeze thick with the smell of death. In her weakened state the Hawk succumbed quickly to a sleep spell cast from the almost depleted mana of D'ak Taan, leaving Villa free of slashing talons, but once again with his beloved companions. He cursed and swore, kicking and screaming with fervour.
"Welcome back Villa." muttered Joe, as the group began the gory process of cleaning up their wounded, and dragging the dead into a pyre.
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Better to die on your feet then live on your knees.
“Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth..."
#74
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Posted 30 November 2003 - 08:55 AM
The battle was over and won. So many ruffian carcases lay scattered across the blood soaked road, so many lives lost.
Nixus had climbed down from her titan and now stood alone, her head turned down surveying with saddened eyes the carnage that lay beneath her feet, some of which was by her own hands. Such a waste of life… She felt cold…so cold.
The mage noticed Pyrus standing not too far away, the same look upon his blood-spattered face. ‘His first experience of this sort of killing,’ she thought to herself, and found herself feeling a great sympathy toward the boy. It was then that she realised that she’d never spoken to Pyrus properly before. She crossed the battlefield to where he stood and place a comforting hand upon his shoulder. She opened her mouth to speak, but the right words wouldn’t come to her.
‘Come Pyrus,’ she said at last, ‘help us pile the dead. It will all be over soon.’ If Pyrus wanted to express what he was feeling then he would, there was no point in making him.
Pyrus nodded and wandered blindly away.
Joe approached Nixus, his eyes on Pyrus. ‘You know, he’s actually handling this fairly well considering his position.’
‘I guess we should all know what he’s going through.’
‘It was a good experience for him. A warning of what’s still to come.’
‘Yes, but so soon into our “adventure”, it just doesn’t seem right, even to me.’
‘Even to you?’
Nixus turned to face Joe, looking straight into his eyes. ‘Yes, even for me.’
Joe had intended his last comment more as a question of “why even for you”, but could see that Nixus wasn’t going to open up and tell him why. So he said instead, ‘You know, that arrow is going to have to come out.’
The young woman nodded. ‘Yes. Nasty business removing arrows. At least it’s not bleeding anymore.’
‘Strange, it should be, or at least more than it has.’
‘Oh it will when you pull it out. It’s my people; being born a mage rather than training to be one means that you’re born with certain, I suppose, properties. Something common in the Esperian mages is the ability to heal fairly quickly.’
Joe nodded. ‘Well come on, we best help the others.’
- - - - - - - - - -
At last the bodies had been piled. The travellers all stood around the mound forming a vast circle, and watched as the dead ruffians began to set fire. Yunaleska stood with her tear-streaked face buried in Ferazel’s cloak, Ferazel having placed his arm around the girl in comfort.
By now the sun had fallen, and night was upon the world once more. For a long time no one spoke, and the silence was only broken by the soft sound of the fire.
Finally, Nixus removed her pipe from her cloak and began to play a deep and saddened melody. The song did not last long before the girl lowered her pipe, and began to sing in a tongue strange to anyone else standing by.
‘Gothir yer’an lor uiar hord
Eer’an em rennen orir seltu
Lor esper phara’an utor
Sor nevet Orran un’nevet
Eth nu’ovmar ten em’un’goth
Etch doth om’ovmar
Er lor tether lor lovendill ovmar
Lor esper un’goth nu’ovmar’
Nixus raised her pipe and ended the song, and once the final notes had died out she turned to Joe.
‘We should leave this place,’ said she. ‘Their spirits need to rest.’
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When doubts arise, the game begins
Nixus had climbed down from her titan and now stood alone, her head turned down surveying with saddened eyes the carnage that lay beneath her feet, some of which was by her own hands. Such a waste of life… She felt cold…so cold.
The mage noticed Pyrus standing not too far away, the same look upon his blood-spattered face. ‘His first experience of this sort of killing,’ she thought to herself, and found herself feeling a great sympathy toward the boy. It was then that she realised that she’d never spoken to Pyrus properly before. She crossed the battlefield to where he stood and place a comforting hand upon his shoulder. She opened her mouth to speak, but the right words wouldn’t come to her.
‘Come Pyrus,’ she said at last, ‘help us pile the dead. It will all be over soon.’ If Pyrus wanted to express what he was feeling then he would, there was no point in making him.
Pyrus nodded and wandered blindly away.
Joe approached Nixus, his eyes on Pyrus. ‘You know, he’s actually handling this fairly well considering his position.’
‘I guess we should all know what he’s going through.’
‘It was a good experience for him. A warning of what’s still to come.’
‘Yes, but so soon into our “adventure”, it just doesn’t seem right, even to me.’
‘Even to you?’
Nixus turned to face Joe, looking straight into his eyes. ‘Yes, even for me.’
Joe had intended his last comment more as a question of “why even for you”, but could see that Nixus wasn’t going to open up and tell him why. So he said instead, ‘You know, that arrow is going to have to come out.’
The young woman nodded. ‘Yes. Nasty business removing arrows. At least it’s not bleeding anymore.’
‘Strange, it should be, or at least more than it has.’
‘Oh it will when you pull it out. It’s my people; being born a mage rather than training to be one means that you’re born with certain, I suppose, properties. Something common in the Esperian mages is the ability to heal fairly quickly.’
Joe nodded. ‘Well come on, we best help the others.’
- - - - - - - - - -
At last the bodies had been piled. The travellers all stood around the mound forming a vast circle, and watched as the dead ruffians began to set fire. Yunaleska stood with her tear-streaked face buried in Ferazel’s cloak, Ferazel having placed his arm around the girl in comfort.
By now the sun had fallen, and night was upon the world once more. For a long time no one spoke, and the silence was only broken by the soft sound of the fire.
Finally, Nixus removed her pipe from her cloak and began to play a deep and saddened melody. The song did not last long before the girl lowered her pipe, and began to sing in a tongue strange to anyone else standing by.
‘Gothir yer’an lor uiar hord
Eer’an em rennen orir seltu
Lor esper phara’an utor
Sor nevet Orran un’nevet
Eth nu’ovmar ten em’un’goth
Etch doth om’ovmar
Er lor tether lor lovendill ovmar
Lor esper un’goth nu’ovmar’
Nixus raised her pipe and ended the song, and once the final notes had died out she turned to Joe.
‘We should leave this place,’ said she. ‘Their spirits need to rest.’
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When doubts arise, the game begins
#75
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- Group: Members
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- Joined: 27-April 03
Posted 02 December 2003 - 06:16 PM
Pyrus slept in fits that night. In those brief periods of sleep, the battle they had fought earlier that day replayed itself in his mind, over and over. Except this time, there was no end to the men that attacked him. Men kept coming, and he kept killing them. For every two he killed, there were three more. They all seemed to have the face of that first archer. The dark, nameless fear, the blackness from his previous repetitive dreams had manifested itself in this dream too. Each time he killed a bandit, the darkness would such in and consume the poor man, swallowing him into the earth. The darkness was slowly approaching him, too. Each time he killed, the darkness would retreat a little, but he was only delaying the inevitable. Just as it was about to consume him, he awoke with a start.
Pyrus sat up in his cot, more than a little nauseous. Slowly, he brought himself back to reality by recalling the events after the battle. They had burned the bodies of the soldiers, and, wearied by the battle, went to set up camp a ways away, a little more than ten miles from Pnyx by Joe's estimation. They had eaten a larger dinner than they normally would have, because they expected to arrive at Pnyx the next day. They had, with less difficulty than with a normal person, removed the arrow from Nixus, and Pyrus would be surprised if it wasn't almost completely healed by sundown the next day. They never could figure out what was wrong with the bird, though it shuddered whenever it's left wing was disturbed. Perhaps this Lindus character Joe spoke of could figure out what was troubling it. Presently, the queasiness threatened to overwhelm Pyrus, and he got out of bed. Having slept in his day clothes as always, minus his armor, he made as quickly and silently as he could for the tent flap, and raced to the edge of the clearing. He walked back to camp, having lost his rather large dinner, and met Joe circling on night rounds.
"Hey, there. Trouble sleeping?" Joe asked.
"More like trouble keeping my food in." Pyrus said.
"Whoa. You okay?"
"Define 'okay,'" Pyrus retorted, the bitterness in his voice surprising him. He still felt a bit light-headed.
"Hey, only trying to help."
Pyrus didn't have any reply for this, so he sat down and studied the ground in front of him.
Joe sat down beside him. "So, what was it? Still on about yesterday? Too much dinner? Bad dreams?" All three of these were true, but Pyrus perked up then Joe mentioned bad dreams. He shifted his attention from the ground to off in the distance, but not actually seeing anything of this world.
"I keep killing them." Pyrus said.
"Ah."
"They keep coming, and I keep killing them." No need to mention the blackness.
Joe paused a moment, thinking, then said, "Well, you shouldn't worry about dreams. They'll only worry you needlessly, and in the end, drive you mad. Ignore them." Joe clapped Pyrus on the shoulder, and got up to resume his rounds.
Pyrus walked back to the tent, feeling a little better. He slept, and dreamed not of battle, but of what Pnyx might be like. It could be a grand fortress with forbidding walls, or maybe a tall tower with endless stairwells, or a domed palace with magnificent fountains, or perhaps...
Pyrus slept soundly.
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--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Soon comes the day when all shall die.
Surely you, but never I.
[This message has been edited by Fanatic72802 (edited 12-02-2003).]
Pyrus sat up in his cot, more than a little nauseous. Slowly, he brought himself back to reality by recalling the events after the battle. They had burned the bodies of the soldiers, and, wearied by the battle, went to set up camp a ways away, a little more than ten miles from Pnyx by Joe's estimation. They had eaten a larger dinner than they normally would have, because they expected to arrive at Pnyx the next day. They had, with less difficulty than with a normal person, removed the arrow from Nixus, and Pyrus would be surprised if it wasn't almost completely healed by sundown the next day. They never could figure out what was wrong with the bird, though it shuddered whenever it's left wing was disturbed. Perhaps this Lindus character Joe spoke of could figure out what was troubling it. Presently, the queasiness threatened to overwhelm Pyrus, and he got out of bed. Having slept in his day clothes as always, minus his armor, he made as quickly and silently as he could for the tent flap, and raced to the edge of the clearing. He walked back to camp, having lost his rather large dinner, and met Joe circling on night rounds.
"Hey, there. Trouble sleeping?" Joe asked.
"More like trouble keeping my food in." Pyrus said.
"Whoa. You okay?"
"Define 'okay,'" Pyrus retorted, the bitterness in his voice surprising him. He still felt a bit light-headed.
"Hey, only trying to help."
Pyrus didn't have any reply for this, so he sat down and studied the ground in front of him.
Joe sat down beside him. "So, what was it? Still on about yesterday? Too much dinner? Bad dreams?" All three of these were true, but Pyrus perked up then Joe mentioned bad dreams. He shifted his attention from the ground to off in the distance, but not actually seeing anything of this world.
"I keep killing them." Pyrus said.
"Ah."
"They keep coming, and I keep killing them." No need to mention the blackness.
Joe paused a moment, thinking, then said, "Well, you shouldn't worry about dreams. They'll only worry you needlessly, and in the end, drive you mad. Ignore them." Joe clapped Pyrus on the shoulder, and got up to resume his rounds.
Pyrus walked back to the tent, feeling a little better. He slept, and dreamed not of battle, but of what Pnyx might be like. It could be a grand fortress with forbidding walls, or maybe a tall tower with endless stairwells, or a domed palace with magnificent fountains, or perhaps...
Pyrus slept soundly.
------------------
--Fanatic72802 (GameFanatic)
Soon comes the day when all shall die.
Surely you, but never I.
[This message has been edited by Fanatic72802 (edited 12-02-2003).]
