Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 9:55:14 GMT -6
MearStamina: 5 (+2 Gym)Strength: 7Resistance: 6 (+4 Armour)Dexterity: 7Mentality: 5Special Abilities: Swim, FlyMoves: Dodge, Bite, Summon Wooden Spear- Character Profile -
Belts were buckled tight, each piece and layer of the armour slid on in consecutive turn. It took some time and a fair amount of effort, given the size of some of the pieces, but more so because, well.. They hadn’t really had a reason to don the barding all that many times before. Eventually, after all the hassle, the tat-lung shifted and stretched shoulders slowly as the leather barding settled into place around him.
So, how’s it fit?
Tighter than I remember, he remarked, still shifting to let things settle more comfortable.
Well, I suppose that’s just the winter stores still sticking around, Darky smirked, jabbing one of the plates at the side, But we can get that adjusted later.
The agate pulled at some of the ropes around the chest and smirked, Or, perhaps I have simply grown since then. I do remind you the armour has been sitting vacant for.. Quite some time. It was a jab in turn, but with none of the intended accusations. The real reason it hadn’t been used much had simply been because there had been no reason to - every time something went wrong, it went wrong in the moment, and it wasn’t as if the Labs were preparing for war any time soon.
(1) Mear: 149 (3/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 9:56:25 GMT -6
But now they had to potentially do so anyway, because it seemed an old settled score had become a new kind of problem. The sphinx’s own armour took considerably less time to don, out of practise and habit (and familiarity), before she grabbed the scabbard on the way out. There wasn’t all too much time to waste, as the old nyssa of the woods was, quite literally, laying waste to plots in the garden district.
There was a very burning question on the forefront of both their minds as they took the street roads towards the familiar garden. Many saw this as the nyssa retaliating for something of its being retaken, since it had last rampaged in the gardens in order to steal the crystals there. But that’s not how the story went, in truth.. The sphinx and tat-lung had recovered the lost cluster, true, but they had not left the nyssa empty-handed.
A shrine in the middle of the forest, in the deep and dark of the woods, to loved ones long since perished - and a single cluster sitting in front of a picture frame tarnished by weather and age. They left things as they had found it, more or less.
(2) Mear: 149 (4/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 9:57:26 GMT -6
So what went wrong? If the nyssa had stolen the cluster in order to decorate the shrine, there should have been no issue. Experiences with Ehrata had shown most nyssa weren’t very perceptive to begin with. They were smart enough to understand humanoids, sure, but beyond that their intelligence was rather limited. Somehow she doubted the creature had enough ability to discern the cluster wasn’t completely exactly the same, even with the colour matching.
The agate had raised the point initially, but with the rush of time there hadn’t been a chance to dissect it. So, the two sent some back and forth theories on their way to the gardens, mulling each over and either suspecting it to be valid or disproving it.
None of them quite got close enough to be something which rang completely true in their minds. And that was largely the problem - Without knowing the situation, they were running into it blind. There wasn’t time to investigate, only seek to stop the creature before it wrecks all too much damage.
(3) Mear: 150 (0/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 9:57:55 GMT -6
The run ground to a halt on the very edge of the garden district. They hadn’t even reached the old grandmother’s garden and already the path of destruction could be seen from afar - smashed fences, upturned trees, broken sheds, dismantled garden bridges, and a plethora of creatures frightened and confused running back and forth, seeking cover and safety where they can. A few owners could be seen here and there as well, trying to corral their creatures to somewhere safer, or to avoid letting them run off somewhere unknown in their fright. Decidedly, this had turned out to be far more worse than the two had anticipated. Darky stared around, walking as she caught her breath, pausing long enough to inquire from any of the witnesses whether they had any idea which direction the nyssa had gone. Most answers were much the same - the people were far too busy trying to salvage their plots and others were too confused to give proper directions.
(4) Mear: 150 (1/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 9:58:28 GMT -6
In the end, there wasn’t much help to hope for there. You’ll have better luck from the skies, see if you can track the nyssa down, I’ll try to head off ahead and warn anyone else to avoid the area. The tat-lung nodded and turned, jumping into the air to serpentine higher into the skies. What that basically came down to mean was this: avoid the area, because there was a very real chance this nyssa could only be stopped through battle, and if it came down to it, unsuspecting spectators could get in the way of things.
The two ran and flew off to their respective tasks, with the sphinx following what seemed the most recent (or biggest) trail of destruction, calling for people to grab their pets and move further off, and the tat-lung climbing higher to get a broader overview.
Once high enough, he stopped to hover and observe the landscape. What he saw wasn’t exactly filling him with confidence..
(5) Mear: 150 (2/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 9:59:00 GMT -6
A plain regular nyssa was generally trouble enough. They weren’t fast, but they were hardy, and tended to hit with all the force of a tree trunk (in this instance a rather straightforward meaning, rather than descriptive metaphor - the weight of a nyssa’s punch had all the tonnage of its body behind it, especially when it came to the thicker Oaks). Now add on top a good decade or two of unchecked growth, perhaps deduct a bit for age, but compensate by the sheer size, and you get something that can turn things into paste quite easily.
The sphinx passed a shed that previously looked to be made of logs, but now looked more like a very large box of matchsticks. The small shiver down her spine was natural considering the circumstances. She had to remember to be faster than the punches.. At least the tat-lung likely didn’t have to be concerned about that, flying and all. (One of these days she really should get over that particular fear).
(6) Mear: 150 (3/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 9:59:29 GMT -6
I have some good news.. And some bad news. And, perhaps, some peculiar news, the agate announced, snaking closer towards the ground as he tracked the mammalian’s path.
Darky sighed, I guess let’s start with the ‘good’ news..
The good news is, I have managed to locate the nyssa. It’s just up a head a few more plots, so you’re on the right track.
And the bad news?
Pretty much everything else between you and it is a pile of rubble and it doesn’t seem like it’s entirely interested in the bonsai garden. Rather it seems to just indistinctly smash whatever is currently in its path and the path keeps changing.
The information settled in the sphinx’s mind slowly, beginning to form patterns, Oh this keeps getting better. As she leapt a broken fence, continuing to run, there was a pensive frown, Wait, you mentioned peculiar news?
(7) Mear: 150 (4/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 10:00:07 GMT -6
The tat-lung’s head turned behind him, The destruction begin from within its forest. Do you recall the deep, dark untouched woods around its grove? It has carved a path through those. Not just walking, like the paths we saw, but all-out destruction.
Darky skid to a stop, bumping into a lone fence post, Wait, what? The frown on her face deepened. That.. didn’t make any sense. Retribution for an item stolen, certainly. Nyssa weren’t particularly clever so once they had an idea of something, it was mighty difficult to get them to drop it. But this went beyond that, even a nyssa in anger wouldn’t trash what it would consider it’s own home. Something was at work where that they weren’t yet aware of.
The sphinx took off running again, Follow the path, get eyes on it and tell me what you see. Don’t engage if you don’t have to, but be careful.
(8) Mear: 151 (0/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 10:00:50 GMT -6
The tat-lung snaked through the air ahead, a mostly vibrant green streak from the armour as the mammalian continued to jump over and through various debris towards an ever increasing low cascade of noises ahead. In the back of her mind she really should have brought the equillion along for a ride, but Nightmare was as likely to get caught up in the problem as it would have taken too much time to retrieve her.
Mear eventually came up to the fresher parts of the destruction, paved through a couple different gardens surrounding the already shattered bonsai planters. The more he tracked it, the more he was beginning to understand there was a confusion of purpose to the pattern of this destruction - the nyssa hadn’t gone at the bonsai garden first. It almost seemed as though it had merely happened to pass through it, already having left a wake of destruction behind it, and continuing to leave one long after it had walked through.
And then, the gargantuan treefolk towered before him, dark of bark and old leaves.
(9) Mear: 151 (1/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 10:01:24 GMT -6
The last time he had seen it was when it was slumbering in the grove, half-propped up with boulders and old trunks. Now, at standing height, it seemed easily two-three times the height of a normal nyssa. The colouration, too, seemed strangely different here in the broad daylight than it had been in the gloomy grove, though he supposed that made sense. It was walking through a small pond, breaking the stone sides and swiping at a garden placement in front of it, sending chairs and tables flying as creaks and snaps sounded through the air in deep reverberations.
Some of those sounds he knew from Ehrata - the nyssa wasn’t generally a vocal sort, but once she had an opinion, she would display it quite soundly. These sounds.. There was a mixture of anger and pain, the leaves rustling incessantly, almost like a roaring ocean onto themselves.
The tat-lung looped around the nyssa from above, keeping his distance, taking in everything he could. Well.. You were correct about one thing, whatever is bothering this one, it must be big.
(10) Mear: 151 (2/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 10:02:07 GMT -6
Really starting to wish I wasn’t, the sphinx puffed in between thought and breath as she was starting to come up to the distant dark silhouette. As much destruction as it was sowing, the nyssa wasn’t moving very fast. But it was certainly looking undeterred by anything, as the occasional flashes of attacks was visible in the distance. Local residents, with or without owner, weren’t necessarily taking things sitting down. Some creatures were trying to attack the colossus out of fear, opting for the immediate reaction of ‘fight’ rather than ‘flight’ (But even those creatures quickly switched tactics after a while).
Scattered leaves smashed into the nyssa’s side, puffs of wind rustled its leaves, pebbles and rocks summoned and thrown at its hands - none of it seemed to so much as scratch it. The odd puff of small flame managed to draw its attention, but no sooner had it’s deep purple eyes focused on the assailant that it fled from the gaze.
And then, the nyssa’s branches reached outward, rustling intently as they flattened, and Darky didn’t need to see it up close to know the sun was undoing anything others tried to throw at it.
(11) Mear: 151 (3/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 10:02:54 GMT -6
The agate hovered, noticing the same aspects and realizing quite quickly that direct opposition here wasn’t likely to work - his wooden palisade could give the nyssa’s feet a prick, but it would likely feel nothing more than a small itch. Bashing or clawing into the thick bark hide was more likely to hurt him than the nyssa, especially as some of the shorter and smaller branches seemed sharper at the tip than normal.
What’s our game here? Divert? Distract?
Darky climbed through the rubble of a broken bridge, stepping from stone to stone as the nyssa was closer to towering before her now. I’m not sure, she admitted, not stopping to catch her breath. I keep seeing flashes. How does the area look? Is it clear?
In parts, the tat-lung swept low and wide of the colossus, But there’s some garden residents showing resistance. It doesn’t seem to be working.
(12) Mear: 151 (4/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 10:03:45 GMT -6
Get them as clear from the nyssa’s path as you can, I’m almost there. It was a good thing she was a fleet-footed runner, but even so, she would have to leave energy for the fight itself as well.
The tat-lung confirmed and dipped down in a sudden looped turn, dashing across a patch-land of garden where pachee, lotine, branchaeopters and others were restlessly trying to both intimidate and run away from the encroaching nyssa. A deadwood palisade swept up as he passed, covering gaps in fences and yards, stopping the creatures from escape, before he swept back around with a resounding roar, finally sending most of them running towards the safer corners of the garden.
A shadow fell over his vision then and it was the instinct of battle that caused the agate to suddenly spin off from his path, throwing himself aside in time for the great barken hand to slowly sweep past him as the nyssa now regarded him angrily.
(13) Mear: 151 (0/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 10:04:21 GMT -6
In hindsight, being the only bright colourful thing in immediate view, making fast motions and loud sounds, probably invited the intention far more than he had anticipated.. But now that he inadvertently had it, he could make use of it. In ring of taunting bells, the agate circled the nyssa, moving too fast for it to swipe again, but likewise giving it all the more reason to be annoyed by him, much like a fly buzzing around one’s face.
Bit of an update, I have managed to obtain the nyssa’s attention, he reported, swooping past below the colossus’ jaw where its hand could reach, annoying it further.
Well.. That’s good, right? Darky saw the silhouette grow closer, I’m almost there.
Don’t worry, the agate suddenly banked around in a full circle, shooting back towards the nyssa and smashing into the face with a resonating crack of wood, bashing into the forehead, before rebounding back, shaking his head clear from the ringing and quickly making an exit behind the nyssa, We’re now coming to you.
(14) Mear: 152 (1/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on May 31, 2020 10:05:04 GMT -6
What? she managed to ask just as the resounding crack echoed past her and the mammalian skid to a stop, staring as the colossus came to a stop, groaned loudly and thudded in place as it turned around, chasing after a vibrant green arrow with swinging arms. That wasn’t the plan!
Old plan wasn’t going to work, I had to improvise, the tat-lung stared behind him, quickly dipping lower as the long reach of the nyssa scraped the skies just above him. If anything, we walk it back along the way it came.
The mammalian stared as the colossus approached with steady footprints and quickly search around herself. While the tat-lung made a good point, they only had so much path to track it back on, most of which didn’t exactly provide a lot of cover for hiding. Plus, they technically didn’t have a Plan B to go with it..
(15) Mear: 152 (2/5)
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