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Sub Dio
Aug 20, 2023 18:09:33 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2023 18:09:33 GMT -6
The impact was solid and reverberated through the trunk, rattling the leaves and felling a twigs. That was much better than the previous attempts. "Yes, good strike Basa!", Xentus cheered aloud and in their mental link, letting the serpent know it did well. A deep, content rumble sounded from the beast's throat as it soaked in the attention and praise. (Good strike), it repeated back to the man, seeming to praise itself more than anything.
"Again, Basa, strike!"
The command came after a moment to reset. Basantai seemed to know what he should be doing now - the concept was simple enough. This time, its master wanted it to add even more force behind the tail-swing. And to use 'the scaly part'. Xentus was aiming to send a good crack into the tree. Or maybe even fell it. As long as park management wasn't watching, of course. He'd hate to be fined.
(He was likely going to get fined)
Tail Strike - 4
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Sub Dio
Aug 20, 2023 18:19:07 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2023 18:19:07 GMT -6
Basantai squared up against the tree, then twisted his long body around to add additional momentum to the tail swing. Watching the whole mass of glittering scales and fluff in motion was rather inspiring. The part of the tail right before the fur overtook scales struck against the tree, with a sharp crack, shaking it violently. Xentus's fur stood on end - even though this was exactly what he wanted to happen, he wasn't ready for just how loud the impact was. The tree still stood after this most recent assault, though it was looking exceptionally ragged with numerous leaves and branches now littering the ground beneath it.
"Yes, well done Basa! Good strike!", the leopard praised loudly, once again finding himself running up to the beast to pet its leg. The positive reinforcement worked well with the serpent. It lowered its head to the ground and rumbled deeply in happiness.
(Good strike Basa), it repeated to itself, seeming pleased.
Tail Strike - 5
[Break! Intermission to the Gym]
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Sub Dio
Jan 1, 2024 18:36:08 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Jan 1, 2024 18:36:08 GMT -6
> Resumed
Winter had crept upon the land, prompting the leopard to sport a jacket for once. He hated the cramped feeling of cloth against his fur, but he hated the cold far more. The cold was pushed out of his mind so he could focus on other things - namely resuming training with his sky serpent. Basantai wasn't yet fit to serve as a proper guardian, even if he had the heft and grit to. No, he needed direction still. Xentus trusted that the pile of scales and fur could defend him fine, but only in the case of his life being threatened. If he wanted to direct the beast in battle, he'd need to get started on training.
It took only a word to summon the beast before him. Basantai was surprisingly awake this time, seeming to have anticipated being yanked from his comfortable spot in the garden.
'Hey there big fella'
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Sub Dio
Jan 1, 2024 18:51:08 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Jan 1, 2024 18:51:08 GMT -6
His exceptionally casual tone provoked a rumble of acknowledgement from the serpent. A pair of big blue eyes descended from the air down to ground level to meet his own. A hearty chuckle escaped, partnered with vigorous rubbing of a scaly nose. Basantai's eyes softened and closed at the man's touch, soaking in the affection readily. "What shall we do today Basa, hm? Xentus was thinking about perhaps enhancing your endurance", the leopard mused aloud to the beast as he stroked along its face. Their recent venture to the gym strengthened the beast, but that meant nothing for its stamina. And while the serpent didn't scare, it likely would falter to sapping effects fairly easily. The man hummed, trying to figure out the beast means of approaching the ordeal. Poisoning his beloved Basantai on purpose wasn't exactly what he was looking forward to doing, yet it might just be what it takes to build up the kind of endurance he wanted the beast to have.
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Sub Dio
Jan 1, 2024 18:58:50 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Jan 1, 2024 18:58:50 GMT -6
A shake of the beas cleared that thought away. No, there had to be a better way. He formed an ember at his fingertips, musing on the idea of using magic. He himself wasn't trained to use magic to, say, sap strength away from a beast. But he did peruse the arcane arts enough to know such spells existed. It was possible for him to delve into such a realm - even if only for training purposes. It would be useful beyond Basantai as well - draining sarane of their strength was a favored means of breaking them. As well as feeding them fireballs. Not that he'd ever done such a thing or planned to, no, just heard rumors. Right. Xentus cleared his throat and dispelled any guilt before it set in. That was a line of thought best saved for another day anyway. When he'd actually mustered up the time and will to tackle taming his drakes...
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Sub Dio
Jan 1, 2024 19:03:40 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Jan 1, 2024 19:03:40 GMT -6
Now was not the time. He had Basantai to contend with, who was content with being rubbed and loved on. Deep breath in, long breath out. He wasn't sure whether or not he'd settle on using magic but... It seemed like the best choice. And one he'd need to do himself. Despite having a great repertoire of animals that could use magics, none were trained for it. Well, almost none. Mashiik was the only breakthrough in his attempts. And his only attempt this far. He had grand plans to enact between malii, seryn, and even a yumenokei. Then there were those half-blood wyvern-birds is his making. As much as he adored them, they were going to be a handful, and he'd need to be careful on how he'd approach both taming and teaching them. But once again, the man found himself thinking about matters which mattered not now. His eyes refocused on the white scales he'd been rubbing for the past few minutes, reminding him of what he wanted to do.
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Sub Dio
Jan 1, 2024 19:12:18 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Jan 1, 2024 19:12:18 GMT -6
He'd need some time to study up on the arcane arts, so until then, tackling the endurance idea would wait. He'd settle on bolstering reflexes instead. Basantai was a remarkably agile creature... When it wanted to be. Which was rarely ever. It was a slow and steady wins the race kind of serpent. One that would much rather spend its time curled up into a coiled mass of fur and scales than run about the place.
'Alright Basa, up on your feet', Xentus mentally commanded the beast, 'Let us resume your training' A long, drawn inhale was the beast's response as it began lifting itself up from the ground. Winds wreathed its form, keeping it from being crushed under its own weight. 'Atta boy, Basa'
Now, to get the beast moving with any form of haste... The plan was to get it to dodge an incoming attack - the age old tradition of throwing things at one's pet.
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Post by Xentus on Jan 3, 2024 1:22:15 GMT -6
There was precious little that could threaten to harm the pliathor enough to spur it to act; given its rock hard scales and thick fur, the serpent was well insulated from true damage. That was in part a good thing for Xentus - he could throw anything he wished without fear hurting the beast. And that was also the bad thing - he really could throw anything he wished at it and it likely would accept its fate of being abused instead of move out of the way. He'd really need to push the 'dodge the incoming thing' aspect of this feat.
Xentus spent a moment musing on his instruments of choice - a set of hacky sacks. They were hopefully hefty enough that the serpent could feel them if they impacted its pelt, but nothing Xentus couldn't manage to throw. 'Basa, look here', he called to the beast through their mental link, garnering its attention, 'Xentus will throw these, you move away from them'
A sack was tossed up and down, giving a moment for Basantai to register its master's words. Then, thrown toward its snout.
Smack.
Danger Sense - 1
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Post by Xentus on Jan 3, 2024 1:29:24 GMT -6
Basantai lazily blinked a few seconds after impact. Then, it moved a few steps away from where the hacky sack landed on the ground. Large blue eyes looked first at the sack on the ground, then toward the mammalian man expectantly.
(Basa... Did good?), Basantai asked, slightly tilting his head. This was usually when its master would be all smiles and happy and praising him profusely. Something was amiss. Xentus wasn't sure whether to smile and laugh or frown and shake his head. After a pause, he decided on the former.
'Yes... Good start dear Basa. But make haste next time!', the man finally replied and tossed another sack up and down in his hand. (Okay, make haste...)
Xentus stalked on the ground for a moment, making sure the pliathor had its eyes on him. Then the bag was thrown at the serpent's foot, hitting it with a resounding thwack.
Danger Sense - 2
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Post by Xentus on Jan 3, 2024 1:39:45 GMT -6
The hacky sack unceremoniously fell to the grass after impact. Basantai looked at it for a second before sidestepping away from the sack's grounded location. Xentus would hardly call that 'with haste', but it was faster than the big lug usually moved, so he counted that as a victory. This was going to take a while. But, starting with moving away from the bag after it hit him was as good a starting place as any. Xentus planned to work on footwork speed, then getting that reaction time down afterward.
'That's it, Basa. Keep at it, let us get you moving', the man told the serpent, acknowledging its attempts. A deep, pleased hum rumbled within the pliathor's throat. This was a strange and fun little game with its master. A tossed sack plinked off its scales and landed in the grass, and it moved away. And then another. A shuffle to the left to move from that one. The white scaled serpent didn't move very far nor very fast. But at least it moved.
Danger Sense - 3
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Post by Xentus on Jan 3, 2024 1:46:37 GMT -6
'More, Basa! Faster!', Xentus ordered playfully while scurrying about to collect his hacky sacks. Basantai mimicked his words and gave short a prance of anticipation for the next bag. It was getting into this whole move-from-the-sack game. Xentus chuckled with a grin on his face, then threw the next bag. He aimed for the back feet this time, to do something a little different than just assaulting the beast's front half. An attack could come from anywhere, and there was a lot of 'where' to the long mass of serpent.
Basantai's toe was hit. The assaulted limb was lifted up and skirted away from the offending bag, trailing the long length of tail after it. Then while everything was still in motion, a sack was tossed at the fluffy maned neck of the behemoth. Basantai didn't even feel it, but managed to hear the soft sound of beads settling on the ground. Slightly alerted, the nearest front leg was also lifted and moved away, leaving the beast balancing on two limbs.
Danger Sense - 4
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Post by Xentus on Jan 3, 2024 1:54:58 GMT -6
The balancing act wasn't a huge deal for the massive beast. The winds it controlled cushioned its body and made the task surprisingly effortless for such a large animal. Xentus laughed aloud at the sight. That wasn't something he thought he'd see, but it was something to behold! 'Good, Basa, keep moving away from the bags, yes?', the man praised and affirmed the exercise. Then, tossed another sack at the beast mid-balancing act. Toward the other front foot this time. Basantai watched the brightly colored bag sail toward its limb, and it decided to plant its feet and shuffle its entire length away from the assortment of bags littered on the ground. After it was hit, of course. The shuffle was fluid and faster still than the other attempts of 'move away from the bag'. Good, it was progress. But there was plenty yet to be made still. More bean bags must be thrown, Xentus decided. And so he began to throw the remaining bags in his possession - all four of them - at the beast.
Danger Sense - 5
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Sub Dio
Jan 3, 2024 23:58:14 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Jan 3, 2024 23:58:14 GMT -6
One bag fell short of pelting the pliathor whilst the other three made contact. The soft sound of beads rustling against scales then ground accompanied low rumbling by Basantai. The serpent was alarmed by the assault, stammering backward from the offending hacky sacks, tripping over his own long tail, and then came tumbling to the ground in a twisted pile. The earth shook beneath the leopard's feet as the gigantic mass of scales and fur flailed about to find footing. Xentus couldn't help but laugh more despite trying to stay composed. He swore the beast could be the embodiment of grace if it so desired. And this was far from grace. But, perhaps it only fumbled about to amuse him. Yes, that must be it. His own joy was the serpent's joy, after all. 'Basa come on now, on your feet!', the beast's master commanded through laughter, 'There is much work to be done!'
Danger Sense - 6
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Post by Xentus on Jan 4, 2024 0:06:47 GMT -6
The guttural sounds turned to a low whine as a large white foot found steady ground. The pliathor's length eventually followed suit and unfurled from the tangled knot of its own body, heeding its master's word. A great amount of detritus and debris was now collected within the thick red mane and was thusly expelled by vigorous shaking. It rained dirt and twigs upon the leopard and surrounding grasses. Xentus grimaced as he shielded himself, and also at the thought of getting the beast properly groomed at some point. There was no telling what lived within that flowing sea of fur..
The thought was shook away (as with some rained dirt) and the task refocused on. After taking a moment to collect his hacky sacks, Xentus decided it was time to take to the air and launch his assault from more angles. With his powered wings donned, he launched up to the sky and fired upon the poor pliathor from above.
'Move, Basa!'
Danger Sense - 7
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Post by Xentus on Jan 4, 2024 0:13:45 GMT -6
(...Move!), the beast's voice echoed in his mind as it affirmed his word. Large blue eyes peered up at him, seeming a bit more lively than before. Not lively enough to avoid taking a bean bag to the snout, but enough to shake it off and shuffle away as an afterthought. Another sack was thrown down at one of the beast's fin-wing, which recoiled back and out of the way after being struck. One more sack was lost into the waves of gold-tipped fur somewhere along the spine. That one prompted a shudder to dislodge it and whatever else had been collecting in the fur. He could've sworn he saw something small and fuzzy hit the ground and scamper off.. Xentus loomed overhead, seeking out his next spot on the beast to strike. Overall, its responses were good, but still not there yet. Basasntai wasn't avoiding getting hit, just moving as a reaction to it. And that wouldn't do.
Danger Sense - 8
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