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Sub Dio
Mar 24, 2021 20:27:35 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Mar 24, 2021 20:27:35 GMT -6
The leopard was on the cusp of wielding magical power himself. Weaponry was readily available as well, though that option was somehow less desirable. Literally fighting a dragon to get it to respect him wasn't an idea he liked much. Using magic to subdue a dragon, however.. Much more his style. Even if it was, say, a fireball. A chuckle actually escaped him for such convoluted thoughts. He was thinking he'd go back to Eterra and see if Akinai would be willing to teach him when he was ready. Draconics were naturally magical in nature, if he remembered right. He wasn't sure if she even knew how to use much of her own magical prowess herself. Perhaps they could learn something new together. It sounded like a good plan. The idea was set aside as something to do later. Now, he had to figure out what to do with the large brown sarane hen before him.
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Sub Dio
Apr 23, 2021 8:10:24 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Apr 23, 2021 8:10:24 GMT -6
En'Lian wasn't exactly what he would call friendly.. The hen had spunk, but with some time and temperance, he was certain he could break the ice between them. With a bit of food on her, it seemed like she was a little more willing to watch him though - for the off chance that he had more crunchy and meaty treats to offer. While he did want to win his way to the sarane's heart through its stomach, he didn't want to fill her up on snacks all at once. It was an animal for battle, and he'd need plenty of food motivation to train her as such. The leopard sighed. He was only interested enough in these dragons to battle and breed them with hopes of attaining the 'perfect' one. What perfect meant exactly was.. Something he was still trying to figure out. But it did mean that he wasn't all too attached to any particular stock hen.
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Sub Dio
Apr 23, 2021 8:19:15 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Apr 23, 2021 8:19:15 GMT -6
That was almost a terrible way to think of his current gathering of sarane, but he was being honest with himself. The longer he lived in this city, the pickier he became with the creatures he'd kept in his personal menagerie. And there was nothing wrong with treating a breeding stock of animals as just that. Perhaps they might worm their way into his heart, and he'd let that happen should it. But he wasn't going to actively try to make friends with every single one of them. The leopard sighed as he eyed the brown hen. This was going to be a long process, he knew that much. It would likely take just as long as the golem escapade he journeyed through! Thinking of which, that particular venture still wasn't completed. Sure, he'd gotten Astraea, but he had yet to cultivate the rest of the seeds in his collection.
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Sub Dio
Apr 23, 2021 8:25:01 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Apr 23, 2021 8:25:01 GMT -6
He'd need to take things one step at a time, otherwise he'd get overwhelmed. And thinking of it all was already quite whelming. But at the same time.. It was nice to have goals. Things to achieve, things to keep him busy. That was the nature of this city. An infectious nature that he fully immersed himself into - and it suited him well. That was a comforting thought. He'd been doing well to reach his goals for once. The leopard dusted himself off and wandered about the sarane he kept as company. He watched as the dragon stared him down, tracking his every movement. While he didn't want to provoke her, it would probably do them both well if he got some of that aggression out of her. The relatively docile hen looked ready to lash out at any moment should he dare stray too close or leave his tail in the wrong spot.
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Sub Dio
Apr 23, 2021 9:39:54 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Apr 23, 2021 9:39:54 GMT -6
En'Lian loosed a seething hiss as her yellow eyes tracked the pacing leopard. She still didn't like being out here, and certainly didn't care for the man. Unless he had food. "Easy now, En'Lian..", the leopard hushed gently, "This one means you no harm, calm down now." His words meant little to the dragon, but she did seem to quiet down slightly at the sound of her name. Perhaps out of anticipation for food. The leopard smiled loosely at the beast, giving in against his better judgement and tossed a chunk of chicken at it. He supposed that if he was going to stretch out their lessons anyway that he could afford to feed her like this. He wasn't expecting to make fast progress, after all. Xentus watched as the treat was hastily chomped and swallowed within the span of seconds. En'Lian wasn't a fussy eater, that was for sure.
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Sub Dio
Apr 23, 2021 9:46:16 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Apr 23, 2021 9:46:16 GMT -6
His planned training course would only span a couple of lessons and some gym work. Getting the beast used to him was going to be the toughest part of the operation overall. Even if he wasn't vouching for the sarane to be his favorite or something special in particular, he was hopeful that they'd come to be more comfortable with the other's company. A dragon raised for fighting needed to be able to listen to him and heed his command. And with such a naturally stubborn species, he needed to grow such a quality sooner than later. But, it would take time and patience, he reminded himself again. And before long, he'd certainly achieve whatever he'd set out to do! But even with that fresh in mind, he felt this was a good place to wrap things up for the day. "Good, good, En'Lian", Xentus praised, "This will be a long journey ahead, but this one is looking forward to it".
> Exeunt Xentus and En'Lian (15)
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Sub Dio
Sept 2, 2021 14:34:18 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 2, 2021 14:34:18 GMT -6
> Xentus, accompanied by... This.. Was going to get hectic. See, the idea of toughening up the animals he'd intended to send into battle against powerful beasts was a good one. The execution he had in mind, however.. He could only hope this would bode well. There wouldn't be anything reckless here, though he wasn't entirely certain how things might turn out. Part of him was excited. Part of him felt this was a terrible idea. So, there he was. Him, his pet giant owl and tiny dragon, sitting in a pleasant dirt plot in the park. Then suddenly, a gigantic, furred, monstrous reptile out of nowhere! A smirk rested on the leopard's face as he ran this through in his mind. Yeah, this was going to be great. Both Mashiik and Sequinn had settled down from their venture here, unsuspecting of any mischievous schemes the leopard had in mind. Both creatures seemed to trust him fairly well, enjoying his presence and company. Hopefully enough to where they would rather come to him for comfort in peril, rather than abandoning him to save themselves.. Time to find out! "Come, Mashi, Quinn", the man called, leading the two to a more open area, away from the shade of trees. The grassy field nearby was the perfect spot to summon the pliathor. "Yawë" The word was spoken under his breath as he rubbed the bracelet which bound him to the coils of scales and fur which appeared before them. Immediately, frightened calls sounded from the owl and dragon, spooked by the surprise appearance of the mass.
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 1
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Sub Dio
Sept 2, 2021 16:24:56 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 2, 2021 16:24:56 GMT -6
The sudden appearance of the coiled lump of scales and fur was more than enough for a fright, but it didn't seem to quite sink in as to what exactly they were beholding here. "It's ok, Mashiik, Sequinn", the leopard cooed to his two companions, trying to soothe them, "Calm down, it's ok" But his words seemed lost to them in the moment. Mashiik's golden plumage fluffed up defensively, wings flaring out to make her seem even larger. Her unsteady feet stammered her backward. Sequinn found it best to do the opposite, tucking her already small form into an even smaller shape, coiled tightly into a ball. The faeron, having already witnessed a giant pliathor before, seemed to catch on about what lay coiled before her. If this was another fight, it meant she was bait.. The focus of the beast's enmity. The tiny dragon was ready, if this what she was getting thrown into again.. But she didn't like it! Her tiny form trembled, dreading what would come next. Looking between the two frightened creatures, Xentus came to conclude that the alurook was the more likely to try to flee. She did have the power of flight behind those wings, should things become too much for her to bear. The defensive stance of hers was somewhat assuring against that though, it even seemed like the bird was looking to protect him. Even in her fright, Mashiik pulled her form close to the leopard, shielding him behind a broad wing as she tried to back away.
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 2
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Sub Dio
Sept 2, 2021 17:26:35 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 2, 2021 17:26:35 GMT -6
"Easy now, Mashi", the man gently said, "Calm yourself". A clawed hand pressed into the fluffy side of the alurook, feeling the trembling of the bird beneath the plumage. Getting her to relax in the face of danger was going to take some time. A low, scratchy tone sounded from Mashiik's throat; the owl's attempted warning to this sudden lump. But the coils did not respond. They remained steadfast before them, unmoving aside from the wind rustling its fur. So far, this was actually looking good. Having two animals spooked by a large lump of scales and fur couldn't have gone much better than this, really. Neither ran away, and both were keeping their eyes on the mysterious mass of coils. The trembling for either would subside once they grew more confident in themselves. And, he could use some of what he learned to his advantage. If Mashiik would rather stand her ground and defend him, he could prompt the serpent to make its approach to test her limits.. And in the case of Sequinn, he could take it a step further and prompt an attack. Nothing that would hurt the faeron, of course. But the little dragon was indestructible as far as any physical form of assault went, as he'd learned in their fights. With that plan in mind, the only thing to do now until the next step was wait. Let the scare die down, let some bravery build up. It was only a little unfortunate that Basantai has little to gain from this exercise, aside from the interruption of his slumber.
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 3
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Sub Dio
Sept 2, 2021 17:51:12 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 2, 2021 17:51:12 GMT -6
For now, Xentus would let the serpent continue to rest. That mass of coils probably didn't even realize it wasn't in its cozy den anymore anyways. The leopard kept his attention on the alurook, doing his best to calm her trembling. She was a predator, one that could likely stand her ground against a sarane even. But even those at the top could fall victim to bigger fish. Though.. There probably weren't fish bigger than Basantai. Especially after he fed the beast that potion to make it even larger. Having the largest guardian beast one could possibly imagine was definitely something that brought him joy. Even in a time like this, seeing his pets frightened by its presence. It hopefully meant that there was little that would take aim to harm him or his own. In the minutes after the appearance of the giant mass of coils, things eventually came down from fright to caution. Mashiik was far from relaxed, but seeing that the lump before her didn't move, her heart steadied. Sequinn grew complacent much quicker in comparison, seeing that the pliathor wasn't making any attack against it thus far. By this point in a battle situation, there would be an attack against it, roaring probably, and fire. There was always fire.. A shudder rocked the faeron's body as it seemed to recount the first battle it had.. But the beast here seemed like it wasn't going to be as bloodthirsty as the opponents it had faced in the past.
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 4
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Sub Dio
Sept 2, 2021 18:12:15 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 2, 2021 18:12:15 GMT -6
"That's it, Mashi, Quinn", the leopard chimed once the two seemed to settle down from the initial spook, "See, this is not so bad." The alurook was hesitant to let her keeper stray too far away from her side, keeping close beside him as he stepped over to the faeron. It was a little funny to think that Quinn was completely fine with the giant alurook at their first meeting. Something about those shimmery feathers made the owl seem far less of a threat than she could actually be. Basantai, though somewhat shiny as well, was just too big to ignore the potential threat of though. Xentus offered the two of his companions some treats for their bravery thus far. Pellet snacks for the dragon, and a hunk of meat for the owl. But neither seemed too willing to take their eyes off the pliathor just yet, even with the temptation of food. Eating meant they had to let their guard down. Which was what Xentus wanted, to an extent. If they could stand their own to eat while in the presence of a massive serpent, he'd say that was a success. It wasn't too long before Sequinn became the first to give in and take her reward. She gave the lump of coils a hard stare as if to make sure it wasn't going for anything sneaky, then turned away to snap up her treat from the leopard's hand. Mashiik, meanwhile, seemed unconvinced that she should let her guard down just yet..
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 5
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Sub Dio
Sept 3, 2021 15:36:22 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 3, 2021 15:36:22 GMT -6
It took the alurook a few more moments before plucking up her reward, holding the chunk of meat in her beak while watching the coiled lump. Her feathers were still puffed up, but she had tucked in her wings and wasn't so shaky anymore. Standing firm against the massive lump was no easy feat. But next would come standing up against a moving lump. Xentus waited for Mashiik to down her tear before moving onto the next step. Waking the serpent. He still wanted to be discrete about it, pondering whether or not their ribbon-link would be enough to rouse the creature through slumber. Might as well try.
[Basa!], he called in thought, [Basantai! Awaken!] The serpent stirred. Even the slight movement of its coils beginning to unfurl was enough to send both the alurook and faeron back to an alarmed state. Not entirely fearful, but certainly wary. Mashiik pressed herself against the leopard's side, head hung low. Sequinn found herself nestled near the man's foot, seeing that even the big owl was looking for comfort near him. Xentus could hardly maintain calmness. A giddiness swelled within; he was always happy to see the giant serpent rising from its coils as it woke from its rest. After a moment of shifting, a massive arm appeared, followed by a sea of red and gold fur. The coils unfurled and revealed more of the serpents body, its length spanning across the field. And finally a drowsy head lifted into the air, jaws opening into a big yawn.
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 6
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Sub Dio
Sept 3, 2021 16:33:18 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 3, 2021 16:33:18 GMT -6
"Steady now, Mashiik, Quinn", the leopard spoke to the two creatures beside him, trying to quell their nervousness at the sight of the monster's teeth, "Stay calm, it's okay." The two animals weren't as spooked as they were when the lump of scales and fur suddenly appeared before them, but neither felt at ease either. Who could with a gigantic serpentine dragon faced before them? (Aside.. from Xentus) They stood and watched as the pliathor lazily blinked a few times, seeming to try to figure out where it was. Its thoughts that leaked into the leopard's mind were fuzzy, almost like radio static. Its big blue eyes finally caught sight of its bonded one, pupils widening as it focused on the man.. And inadvertently seeming to bare its eyes down upon the two creatures beside him. Xentus could feel the alruook beside him stiffen. Mashiik seemed to do her best to remain steadfast beside her keeper, trying not to falter with this giant's piercing gaze. Even with the alurook's own large size, it barely could stand eye-to-eye with the serpent. A low croak sounded from the owl's throat, as if to warn the beast to stay away. "That's it, Mashi, stand your ground!", the leopard praised, proud of the bird's resolve. His attention shifted to the faeron, who seemed to be anticipating the serpent to make its move so that it could retaliate. The tiny dragon's wings spread out in an attempt to display as much of her body as she could - to give that giant thing a flash to the eyes.
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 7
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Sub Dio
Sept 3, 2021 17:44:18 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 3, 2021 17:44:18 GMT -6
It was almost endearing to see that the faeron was ready to scrap against the pliathor. Now that it reared its head, it only confirmed that this was going to be a tussle in her mind. Not one that she was looking forward to being bait exactly, but there was no backing down.. She waited for the leopard's command - just like all the times she'd been pitted up against those beasts before. Sure, this one was way bigger, but the bigger they were, the harder the fall! Though still nervous, the faeron peeked up at the leopard for a moment to gauge when he might give the word. For a moment, Xentus considered having a mock battle here. Basantai wouldn't hurt a fly should the leopard make such a demand. And the serpent was a fortress in comparison to the alurook and faeron - there was likely little either could do to truly hurt it. As tempting as the idea sounded, he decided against it. Today's lesson was only aimed to strengthen the resolve of the bird and dragon, so that in the future they could face up against a giant beast and remain strong. "Steady, Quinn", the leopard told the tiny dragon, subverting her expectation. She seemed confused at first, but soon got the gist to wait at the ready. For just the right moment. Probably. It was starting feel more like there wasn't going to be something happening, despite the anticipation for it.. [Boop, Basa], the leopard asked through the ribbon-link, deciding to make some potential chaos.
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 8
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Sub Dio
Sept 3, 2021 18:01:46 GMT -6
Post by Xentus on Sept 3, 2021 18:01:46 GMT -6
The pliathor's eyes seemed to light up at hearing the command. That was one of its favorites! The leopard pointed to his own forehead, giving a target for this boop. The serpent's massive head began to descend, homing in on the man's head with the tip of its snout. An action which roused great deal alarm from both the alurook and faeron. The two stood firmly against their keeper, tensing, with sounds of warning rising from both. The alurook puffed her feathers up and the faeron's natural glow seemed to intensify. "Stay calm, Mashi, Quinn", the leopard told them firmly, "It's ok" He did his best to lead by example, showing no fear as the serpent's head made its approach. There was no danger here, but only he knew that. Yet.. Neither creature fled or backed away. Resisting that natural instinct to yield to a larger beast was one that was difficult to overcome, but it seemed the will to stand with their keeper was stronger. The creatures could only stare intensely, watching as the gold-tipped snout of the pliathor descended to gently press against the leopard's head. "Good boy, Basantai!", the man praised aloud, finally acknowledging the serpent as friendly. The revelation was not one that strongly struck either the bird or dragon, but seeing their keeper warmly greet the great serpent before them seemed to make something click. Showing by example that there was not only nothing to fear, but that they faced something familiar to at least their keeper. Not that this made the gigantic beast any less imposing..
Mashiik, Sequinn: Hardy - 9
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