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Post by Xentus on Aug 15, 2020 5:39:07 GMT -6
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 4:09:46 GMT -6
Fishing Trip #1 > Xentus, accompanied by...
A new venture awaited. After making his recent purchase of fishing paraphernalia, the next logical step was to use it! The river was open to the public finally, and he'd been meaning to come out here for some casual sport out in nature. Out away from the busy city and into the company of the flowing waters. Xentus was not shy about getting his feet wet if it came down to it. He could swim fairly well, and if he somehow got swept away, he had his amulet always on his person. It was awkward, the first time 'breathing' water. Still not an enjoyable experience, but at least he didn't need to fear drowning.
Joining him for the outing were two of his collection of golem walkers. Wind and fire. Was it wise bringing a creature of fire out by the water..? Ah, it mattered not. Unlike the original series of elemental golems, he didn't need to fear for his walker extinguishing itself should it come into contact with a bit of liquid. It probably wouldn't like getting wet, but it didn't need to come any closer to the waters that it needed it. Which, considering the behavior of these creatures, would mean it would stay directly in his company.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 4:17:13 GMT -6
And he had no intention of going in for a swim. As tempting as it was.. The hot summer sun made it an awfully refreshing idea. Maybe if he got too hot and needed reprieve from the scorching rays, he'd consider it. But until he gave in to the heat, he would merrily stand upon shore, casting his line in hopes of a bite. Yes, that sounded ideal.
But first, he still had to find himself a nice spot. The leopard walked along the dirt trail that traced the outline of the river, taking the occasional glance between the trees and vegetation to check the rapids. Behind him, his two walker companions waddled along on their three limbs, like living tripods. They were good about staying near naturally, lured to him by the bond they shared. He hardly needed to pay them any mind. But out of habit, he did cast the occasional glance behind himself to ensure they were still nearby. It wasn't the usual for him; normally he'd keep whatever animal company he had on a leash to prevent them from wandering off or bothering anyone else. Considering that wiurns and other large beasts were his preferred choice, it also let others know he had them under control.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 4:27:49 GMT -6
Whenever he had his creatures freely roaming, it usually ended with them darting off and crashing into someone, invading their personal space and making him look like an awful keeper.. But he felt confident in having the golems walk on their own. It was a relieving chance of pace from needing to carry them around when they were seedlings.. They were nearly immobile, helpless little things that needed a good amount of attention to encourage their development. And now look at them! Seeing them walking on their own made him proud.
They still had plenty of growing to do, however. Which meant they needed more care. Which meant spending quality time with them as he did now. He wasn't sure how much help they'd provide, but he didn't expect much from them anyway. They were here to keep him company; he couldn't ask anything more from them.
Now, where to settle in..? Xentus wanted to find some place secluded, with deeper waters that might contain bigger fish. Perhaps decorated with rocky outcroppings that he could perch atop for a good vantage point. The trio continued to walk along the trail for a little while longer, in search of that perfect spot.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 4:39:11 GMT -6
A gentle him emitted from the leopard's throat as he perused the riverbank. Most of what he would consider to be good spots were already occupied. It was nearly afternoon, but there were already quite a handful of people established in their respective fishing spots. He didn't mind too much, it simply meant more walking. It was like wandering, but with a purpose! And he often did a lot of purposeless wandering in his days. There was always this itch to explore, move, find something different and new.. Lately, given all of the different new ventures he'd taken since coming to the city, that wanderlust calmed down. It was nice, admittedly.
Before long, the mammalian found himself what seemed to be a decent place to settle in and get a line cast out there. He diverged from the path, walkers waddling closely behind him as he cut through the tall grasses and undergrowth that sprouted along the riverbank. This section of the river flowed steadily against a rocky embankment, the waters shaded in a deep blue. Looked good enough for him. No other people crowded this spot, there were some nice, lush trees that provided shade, and hopefully, the water would be host to a good variety of fish.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 4:49:16 GMT -6
Time to settle in. Xentus laid claim to a boulder to host his belongings - his pack and the portable cooler to contain anything he managed to catch. He was sure to pack himself a lunch tin, water, and fire starter, just in case he decided a particular fish was looking tasty. There was no better feeling than to catch one's own meal. After traveling on his own for the longest time, he considered himself a decent survivalist. He once caught fish with nothing more than his own two hands. Part of him did want to go into the water and give a go at noodling again.. But considering that the walkers would likely tumble in after him, he suppressed the idea in favor of using the proper tools.
The two golems came waddling down from the forested trail and lined up behind him. The knee-high creatures seemed to have a bit of trouble overcoming the bushes and ferns. Xentus hardly noticed their struggle, heart set on casting that first line. He gave the walkers an apologetic smile, but was still proud of them for keeping up. The mammalian's hands were busy tying on a lure, setting the drag.. And finally, it was ready. The line was flicked out into the water. Now, to wait for a bite..
 Using Rubber Lure5
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Post by Jack on Aug 20, 2020 12:01:42 GMT -6
A creature of some kind seems to have taken a liking to the bait, judging from that little blurry form in the water. It sneaks up very slowly, then suddenly jumps out of the water, snatching the bait and darting off like a rocket.
Well, that sucked. The tricky little thing moved so fast it was impossible to catch, then it was gone. At least it was gone now, so it should be alright to try again.
[Your bait is eaten (deleted) with no reward.]
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 13:55:56 GMT -6
One of the fun things about fishing was that either nothing decided to bite for a solid hour, or something immediately takes the bait. Xentus, ever patient as he is, was expecting the former to happen. Just stand here leisurely until maybe something goes for a nibble. But as it would seem, the waters held something daunting within their depths. Whatever it was that was lurking around, he didn't notice until his line went wild. The reel whined as thread was pulled away faster than he could react. The leopard blinked in surprise to the sudden bite and pull, gripping the rod and preparing to fight this catch.
Unfortunately, the fish was a little too strong and ahead of the game, snapping the line as soon as he tried to stop it. A snarl curled on the mammalian's snout, mostly for his own ineptitude. He had to pay attention.. The golems picked up on the leopard's sudden shifts in mood, from surprised to determined to disappointed all in a fleeting moment. The wind walker gingerly clicked its shell, as if to ask what was wrong. The fire walker clapped and snapped, mimicking the waves that it felt. A disappointed, but assured gaze fell upon the two.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 14:16:33 GMT -6
"Ah, missed one", the leopard sighed, "Caught this one off guard. He may need more time to grow more accustomed to this.."
Talking to the golems was stress relieving. They always listened so intently, offering understanding without judgement. Perhaps any creature that couldn't converse with him would do the same, but the golems in particular seem to excel in this regard. Perhaps a quality of their shared bond; if it was what he wanted of the creatures, surely that was what they would grant him, after all. With the shake of the head, the mammalian resolved himself. One getting away now meant he'd have a better chance of reeling one in later.
Right?
Plus, it was experience. The worst case scenario would be that he went home with no fish. Not an issue, this was more for sport than anything. The reward did make the time spent out here worth it, but so did the lessons learned and the enrichment he garnered as a result. And he had the golems to consider. Spending time with them, no matter the activity, let them feed on his waves, bettering their bond and hopefully leading to their continued development. They had come a long way from being seedlings, yet they still had a long way to grow.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 14:25:04 GMT -6
Now, to try this again. He had to tie on a new line, put on a new hook, set the bait.. Then hope for the best. Perhaps some weights would help sink the lure down to the depths where some larger fish dwelled. Or maybe staying close to the surface would be a better call? He wasn't the most experienced with using a pole yet. He'd hate to waste good tackle on missed bites and broken lines. He also needed to learn where to even cast his line. The general rule of thumb was to aim at the darker waters, but he could see the outlines of fish if he stopped and stared hard enough. The dark shapes flittering about in the water were hard to tell apart. Some shaped didn't move, most likely sunken logs. Other shapes were shadows cast from something far above the water's surface - something like a bird or waving tree branch. And other shapes still were fish, turtles, algae, plant matter.. It took a patient, discerning eye to tell everything apart. Xentus felt that he had what it took.
"Have any advice for this one, little walkers?", the leopard asked while fiddling with the line, "He would appreciate some guidance."
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 14:38:38 GMT -6
Gentle clacking and clatters sounded between the two golems, as if they were discussing proper technique on fishing. He enjoyed seeing how animate they could be sometimes. The fire one was crouching down on its tentacle-like limbs, swaying its head gently. What it was trying to achieve, he wasn't certain. But it was amusing to watch. Like some sort of odd serenade. The wind golem scooted itself closer to his legs, shifting from a tripod stance to a dino-walking one. With each step it took, it thumped its shell.
They seemed to understand that his empty questions were not to be truly answered, but their answers were amusing all the same. A gentle smile lifted his face, the odd display by the creatures went well appreciated. Their company made the prospect of standing there fishing a little less boorish. He figured that if he got tired of this spot, he could migrate elsewhere. A new vantage point, a refreshed shot at reeling in something noteworthy. But he felt that he could linger at this spot for a little while. It would take either incredibly bad luck or an obvious sign that he ought to leave. For all he knew, this spot was empty for a good reason.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 14:46:15 GMT -6
The line was ready to be cast again. There were some adjustments, if only to figure out how certain features of the rod worked. There was something about the tension that he eased up on to help prevent it from snapping again.. That would make it overall less sensitive to the occasional nibbles of fish, but a trade off that would be worth it, with hope. As far as bait went, he was using worms, but he also had the option of using the fuzzy fly hook. Fish ate whatever they could get their mouths on. One would hardly notice the difference between a squirming worm and a fluffy look-alike fly. If it fits in the mouth, it attempts to eat.
The leopard set his sights on the deeper blues in the center of the flowing river, flinging his line out.. And landing further out than he had intended. Knowing how much power to put into this thing was something he'd need to learn over time. He reeled the line back in slowly to get it where he wanted. And now, he waited. The two golem walkers in his company stopped their playful charade and straightened back out into stoic little watchdogs, guarding their one intently.
Using Fuzzy Lure 10
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Post by Nadia on Aug 20, 2020 18:29:58 GMT -6
  Tug, tug, tug! What's that, on your line? |
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Post by Xentus on Aug 21, 2020 6:49:39 GMT -6
For a while, nothing happened. Just the leopard standing out on the rocky outcropping, line in the water, golems at his feet. The calls of the surrounding forest was all he had to listen to. The song of birds calling out to their mates (or calling out looking for mates), the gentle rush of the river.. It was relaxing. Fishing was one of those ventures that wasn't thrilling until it was. The unending patience of the mammalian was a trait that allowed him to enjoy both the calm and quiet as well as the splendor of reeling in a catch.
The golems present with him stood dutifully on either side of their master. The creatures weren't the most interactive. Not curious, not stubborn, not much of anything. They watched over the river, seeming to scan for any movement aside from the waters itself. Xentus often wondered what they were thinking. How they even thought. Sometimes, when he was investigating something, they would adopt his interest and become curious. If he was worried, they clattered. When he was alarmed, they were on guard. Strange companions, but ones that he sought to understand better. He cast them an interested glance, wondering what they might do if he actually reeled in a fish.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 21, 2020 6:54:59 GMT -6
And before long, a tug played on his line. Perhaps he would get to test them if he passed this test of his own: bringing in whatever it was on his line from the water. It wasn't the return of whatever strong, quick creature that he encountered before. This time the other end of the thread had something much more manageable for him. Xentus yanked on the rod to set the hook, succeeding! The fish was hooked, now trying to fight for its life against the leopard.
He pulled back carefully in short bursts, then let the fish fight back. Let it fight, let it tire. Easy catch. Or so was the plan. This would be the first fish he'd ever caught with a pole before, with luck. The sputtering reel whined with every pull and tug. The golems at his feet stirred, alerted to the commotion and his increasing heartbeats. A clatter added to the noise that cut through the air, as if to cheer their master on. It was a little distracting for the man, but he tried to focus solely on reeling, carefully bringing the fish closer to his clutches. A trickle of fear for the line snapping beaded in the back of his mind..
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(collected)
(collected)
