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Post by NPC on Oct 16, 2023 1:13:05 GMT -6
Welcome to the Vai Min Mur Show Ring!Please remember to include the following: - A copy of your application from the registration thread in your first post - A list of every item, move, ability, trick, and skill your creature used in a each post Keep in mind that everything you intend to use in the show ring will have to be officially trained. Check the tutorial for any extra information you might need! The following are allowed to show in this thread: The registration deadline is Midnight, October 31st, US Central Time: Countdown
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Oct 16, 2023 11:03:52 GMT -6
This was always Fiera's favorite contest of the year- if just because she and her pets got to get a little fancy about it. Fiera chuckled with excitement as she pulled the brush through Arethusa's mane- in the wrong direction. The equillion hissed slightly every time Fiera did it, and she knew it would be hell to get all of the tangles out afterwards, but it was worth it for the sake of fashion. Fiera also took the opportunity to weave some seaweed from the river into Arethusa's mane as well. The overall effect was that the equillion now had a bedraggled, seaweed filled mane, which combined with her thick scales and dragonlike head made her look like some sort of lake monster. "Perfect." Fiera said, holding up her hands in a picture frame gesture over her miserable equillion. She herself was dressed up in a form fitting mermaid dress- albeit a mermaid that had been dragged up from the ocean in a fishing net, with the whole ensemble having a decrepit nautical theme. With her equillion ready, Fiera flounced out onto the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, introducing a beast from the depths of the lake itself- Arethusa, the mystical kelpie!" Fiera said, gesturing off stage. "Arethusa, follow me!" She said, and the equillion finally stepped out. She followed Fiera regardless, but her embarrassment over her appearance made her keep her head low and her steps slow. As a result her mane covered her eyes and her footsteps had a slow, creeping pace, adding to the spooky atmosphere of the performance. (Fiera uses brush and knobleaf, Arethusa uses Follow)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Oct 16, 2023 11:06:28 GMT -6
Fiera waited until Arethusa had come to the front of the arena, letting the tension between her and the audience build up as she traveled between the sparse spots of the spotlights. The arena was kept quite dim for the Vai Min Mur contest to encourage the use of shadow moves, so Arethusa had the benefit of staying half hidden in shadow, keeping her appearance mysterious. "Ready, and- cackle!" Fiera said, throwing out another command. In a moment Arethusa threw her head back, clearing her face of her mane and revealing her draconic appearance- the pale white eyes, the forked tongue, the jagged teeth, and to drive the shattering of the horse-like illusion home, she let out a peal of horrifying "laughter", a screech that rose and fell across the audience. Arethusa had approached so quietly that many people had leaned in to see her, and Fiera saw them jump up in their seats in surprise.
(Arethusa uses Demoralizing Cackle)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Oct 16, 2023 11:22:40 GMT -6
"Indeed, isn't she beautiful?" Fiera said, gesturing broadly to her. "But kelpies can't just LOOK pretty, oh no- they have to be carefully adapted to the darkness of the waters in which they dwell. Something I'll now demonstrate with this shadow potion!" Fiera said, whipping out a strange flask. With dramatic fluorish, Fiera uncorked the top of it, and the contents immediately began to sublimate. Pure black mist poured from the mouth of the flask, and the audience murmured with interest. In truth, Fiera wasn't exactly sure what was in there, but she DID know it was a cheap little magic doodad that absorbed light, sold as a Vai Min Mur decoration. While Arethusa did have Shadow Immunity, there was nothing in here that could actually hurt her- the audience just needed to think it could.
Without further ado, Fiera poured it over Arethusa's flank. The liquid hissed dramatically, the black wisps fluttering away, but overall it dripped off leaving Arethusa no worse for wear. "Behold- complete and utter resistance to shadows!" Fiera said, throwing her arms wide.
(Fiera uses the Strange Black Potion, displaying Arethusa's Shadow Immunity.)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Oct 16, 2023 11:28:15 GMT -6
And now, the grand finale. Fiera reached up her sleeve, and grabbed the pokey little creature that had been bothering her this whole time. "I'm sure a few of you recognize this!" She said, pulling out a potatohead pocketpet.
Their origins were obscure, but they were pretty harmless- if spooky- little mutants that could be found in the gardens. Despite having eyes and legs, they had just about as many nerve endings as a normal potato, which was to say- none at all. Fiera had accidentally put a trowel through one of them once and it just wandered off with the thing embedded in its head- and then healed up perfectly after the fact. To put it simply, anything Arethusa did to it would be both harmless and temporary. Fiera set the creature on the ground, where it bobbled around aimlessly as Arethusa watched it, carefully circling around it.
"All kelpies hunt living prey after all- but first they have to subdue them. Arethusa- venom!" She said, pointing at the potatohead, and Arethusa lunged forward, gripping it with her fangs. She let go after a brief gesture from Fiera, but the venom was already at work, seeping into it. The potatohead swayed around for a moment as if drunk before its eyelids fluttered closed and its stalk drooped. Fiera picked up the creature to the judges and gestured at its eyelids, which still fluttered slightly as it dreamed. "Fast asleep, everyone! The perfect crime."
She tucked the potatohead back into her sash and walked away from the audience, calling for Arethusa to follow her. "So just remember everyone- make sure you look twice at your local lake before going for a swim! And happy Vai Min Mur!"
(Fiera uses the Potatohead, Arethusa uses Sleeping Venom. Done!)
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Post by Emery on Oct 17, 2023 9:30:26 GMT -6
Emery had shown up to the contest hall bright and early for this one. For once, she actually had something close to a "routine" in mind. She wasn't much for fun or entertainment, but she realized its value in a place like this. She only had to hope that Orpheus would cooperate. She did bring the good treats today though, so she wasn't expecting much of a fuss on his part. She quietly dug her fingers into his ruff, her other hand on a mysterious looking (but functionally nonmagical) book that she clutched to her side, with a flashlight digging into her leg in her pocket. The arena was dark and rather ominous looking- perfect for creatures that used the shadows for their own techniques. Emery would be utilizing it as well, but she had to admit it was intimidating. Still, she and Orpheus were as ready as they were ever going to be- it was time to begin.
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Post by Emery on Oct 17, 2023 9:40:29 GMT -6
Emery stepped out onto the show floor. "Orpheus- cloak." She said, snapping her fingers at her estharne. He obliged, and the smoke around his head and tail grew dark and black, billowing around him and covering him in a single moving shadow. "Now follow." She said, and walked out onto the stage. They had practiced this, but Emery had to hope it would impress. As she walked out, she began her speech. "Ladies and gentlemen, I may appear to be a humble citizen of the labs. But in fact, I am a summoner- a summoner of dark spirits." She said, holding up her book for everyone to see. It was certainly impressive- a cracked old bone stood out as a bookmark, and the whole object had pulsing darkness from it. All a parlor trick. "The veil between worlds is thin this time of year, and I have the ability to bring out dark creatures from beyond."
(Orpheus uses Follow and Cloak of Shadows.)
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Post by Emery on Oct 17, 2023 9:43:51 GMT -6
"As you can see, there is nothing here right now." She said, pulling out the flashlight from her pocket. She clicked it on and dragged it across the stage. Because of Orpheus's cloak, when it passed over him he simply appeared to be another part of the gloom, his outline concealed. "But when I say the magic words-" She said, opening the book and reading out the notes she wrote for herself. The "magic words" were all nonsense, of course, but they were suitably foreboding sounding, especially with the gestures and ominous atmosphere. As she chanted, Orpheus crept to the front of the stage towards the judges, using her as a distraction, just as they had practiced. Emery knew what to look for of course, and she kept an eye on the estharne as he stalked his 'prey'. "The beast of night shall now APPEAR!" She said, and threw a pointing finger at where Orpheus was, giving him the command.
(Emery uses the Flashlight and Book of Shadows.)
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Post by Emery on Oct 17, 2023 9:47:45 GMT -6
In a flash, Orpheus's cloak burst away from him, and he leapt up close to the judges' table. A few of them leaned back with surprise- not at seeing the estharne, they knew it was his turn- but that he had managed to sneak so close to them without them noticing. The audience applauded at the trick, and Emery took the opportunity to lead him around the room so they could get a better look at him. He stalked low to the ground, giving them his best stink eye, and whenever Emery saw someone who looked like they weren't impressed, she gave him a quick order to bite at thin air in front of them or to growl to ensure they were intimidated. With the size of his teeth, it worked quite well. Soon Emery circled back into the center of the stage. "However, with this beast summoned to live by my side, thus you are all safe from his wrath. I hope that means you can walk home with a feeling of safety. But... Do be sure to keep an eye on the shadows." She said, and took Orpheus offstage.
(Orpheus uses Spook, Growl, Bite, and displays Intimidation. Done!)
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 17, 2023 14:20:55 GMT -6
Sixty seconds. Their time in front of the crowd would not last longer than that. The satyr’s eyes lingered on the second hand of an analog clock backstage. They could almost swear every tick lasted a little longer than the one before. Sighing, Zenjesi closed their eyes in an attempt to clear their mind. They were dressed all in black today. That had partially been an attempt to look more sophisticated, but now they realized it may mean they would disappear from view out on the shadowy stage. Well, perhaps that was for the best. Though if there was ever a contest they would thrive in, it was this one. Lywren was standing with her head high but ears flat, staring down the competition. While Zenjesi was not exactly comfortable with her drawing attention to them, at least it meant she was distracted. They set about their final preparations: arranging the snake band carefully around the Rakai’s neck to cover the mundane-looking collar and settling the green ghoulish mask over their own face. Zenjesi: 0.05 Lywren: 3.4 (Zenjesi uses Ghoul Mask, Snake Choker)
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 17, 2023 14:21:38 GMT -6
The mask featured green flame-like patterning that looked not unlike Lywren’s. “We are a match,” they whispered in an attempt to build morale. The Rakai ignored them completely. But it was no matter. The prior two contestants had finished their acts, Zenjesi could tell from the distant applause. Now it was their turn. Sixty seconds. Clutching the microphone they had been provided with white knuckles, Zenjesi tugged gently on the lead. “Come, Lywren.” And so the two of them stepped onto the stage. Zenjesi tapped their way across first, posture stooped. Each hoofstep echoed in the hall. Behind them, Lywren tossed her head, snorting, her flickering green fire throwing wild light. In reality, she was hardly leash-broken, but perhaps to an audience looking for fright, that would give her the thrilling air of a wild, untamed monster. Finally, Zenjesi paused on the edge of the spotlight, half swallowed by shadows and allowing the Rakai to take center stage. “Lywren,” Zenjesi whispered into the microphone, and their voice filled the arena with a breathy hiss. The Rakai, even, seemed startled by this sound for a moment, but turned her head to face the satyr. Zenjesi: 0.1 Lywren: 3.6
(Demonstrating: Name)
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 17, 2023 14:22:06 GMT -6
They licked their lips behind the mask, feeling uncountable eyes on them. “A Fel beast.” They drew forth the large vial and uncorked it. All was silent. Lywren was restlessly pacing back and forth. Zenjesi held the bottle out into the light where the purple liquid and the strange, curling, purple mist it was wafting could be seen by all. It was grape juice. Zenjesi was fairly certain of that by the smell, though they had not quite dared taste it to confirm. Regardless of the contents, the Rakai’s constitution was designed for this. Upon seeing the object offered to her, Lywren approached. She raised her nose to the purple trail for a skeptical moment before accepting the scent and opening her jaws. Zenjesi tipped the vial, pouring the liquid into her mouth. “Immune to poisons,” the satyr whispered to the audience. They slowly retracted the vial into the darkness once again, leaving Lywren to lick her lips and flash her fangs in the spotlight.
Zenjesi: 0.15 Lywren: 3.8
(Demonstrating: Natural Antivenom with "Poison" Grape Juice)
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 17, 2023 14:22:36 GMT -6
And now for their final piece. Zenjesi let the last trick hang in the air for a moment; it allowed them time to gather themselves. But they imagined the second hand had almost finished its round. “... with lungs full of death.” They lowered the microphone, turning their head to the Rakai. In a whisper now inaudible to anyone else, they directed her, “Lywren, breathe.” And so she did. Throwing her head back, Lywren’s jaws opened again, but this time two things spilled forth. The first was a long, haunting howl. The second was a plume of green vapor that rose with the sound, billowing out into a cloud above their heads. It swirled under the stage lights, slowly dispersing as her howl faded into silence once again. Despite everything, Zenjesi found a smile on their lips. They had done it. A short, but proper performance. Zenjesi bowed, and together, they exited.
Zenjesi: 0.2 Lywren: 4.0
(Demonstrating: Polluted Breath) (DONE)
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Post by Silver on Oct 30, 2023 7:16:31 GMT -6
A light elemental seemed very out of place in a contest that celebrated everything darkness, yet there they were. The contrast between their own shimmering fur and the inky black flames from their Malii companion was certainly striking. Perhaps it would turn out in their favor after all. Just as it was about to be their turn to take the stage, Silver slipped the mask over her face. Ruiko didn’t love having something tied to her face, but she trusted them enough to put up with it. Comparatively, the scarf they tied around her neck was less bothersome, though she would definitely tear both off as soon as she was allowed. The humanoid mask on the feline creature was very creepy indeed. Silver slipped a matching one onto their own face and stepped out into the show ring. Ruiko watched them as carefully as she could with her obstructed view, and waited for the signal they had practiced together. [153.35, 10.4] [using the Theatre Mask and Mosca Scarf]
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Post by Silver on Oct 30, 2023 7:16:48 GMT -6
Silver was covered by a hooded cloak that was clearly too big for them. It trailed dramatically behind them as they carefully strode out onto the stage. They looked to the ground for a silent moment, counting the beats until they dramatically flung their arm out, opening their cloak and pointing toward the entrance to the stage at the same time.
Seeing the signal she had been waiting for, Ruiko flew into view. Her tails and the scarf alike streamed behind her as she leaped high into the air, fluttered with her wings for a moment, and finally landed deftly on her paws next to Silver. She stared out into the crowd with her pupiless eyes hidden behind the mask and flicked her multiple tails.
“Greetings Ruiko,” Silver said. They used their magic to help them throw their voice, making it sound as if it wasn’t coming from them, hopefully adding to the mystery. They bowed in an exaggerated way and said, “Please, enchant us with your mastery over shadows.”
[153.4, 10.6]
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