Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Oct 21, 2020 15:58:42 GMT -6
Just remember to keep it tame, we want to spook them, but not make it look like we're actually dangerous.
The equillion stopped near her, and to her motion, opened the jaw to reveal bare, sharpened teeth. "As you can see, even though her form is partly skeletal, she still has enough of a bite to deal damage as needed. To demonstrate, please observe," and the sphinx took out a short bit of branch, about an inch thick. Throwing it into the air, "Nightmare, bite!" the equillion quickly snatched it from there and bit down until the wood crackled beneath. Bits of dark flame seemed to ebb from the mouth as she did, almost like smoke at first, but their twirled and swirled weirdly, curling around the branch like tendrils, rather than being affected by gravity. Finally the branch snapped in half and the equillion spat out the remaining pieces.
"While some might look at her and think her frail, she's actually very sturdy, despite her appearance. Observe," and the sphinx set up a post into a holder in the middle of the arena, with smaller pegs closer to the floor. "Nightmare, leg!" There was a hiss and the equillion took off running, dashing past the make-shift target as her jaws snatched and ripped the peg out from the larger post, tossing it aside. "She might be a bit slow on her footwork, but she's well able to even the playing field, where needed. And if it's a more direct fight.. Nightmare, bash!"
The equillion ran into the post with the bulk of her body, causing it to crash to the ground with a loud din. "The body is still solid enough to pack a punch. In addition to this, she can run tirelessly, to evade attackers or to pursue any wayward prey, and has been trained to carry a rider into battle, even into war, if needed."
( Bite, Shadow Bite (not on command), Bash, Shred, explaining Endurance, Carry Rider, Calavry, War-Trained )
(4) Nightmare: 93 (4/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Oct 21, 2020 15:59:47 GMT -6
"While I do not have her saddle with me today, these commands are well ingrained, as befitting any mount that would know how to survive the chaos of battle. Observe," As the equillion rounded back to her, the sphinx walked beside her, in step, hand on her shoulderblade. To the slight push of the hand, the equillion veered left, then right. As she picked up the pace, the equillion followed in turn, and as she slowed down, the equillion fell in step with her. Finally, the two stopped and mammalian began to back up, still hand on the shoulderblade. Nightmare awkwardly began to pace backwards, made slightly less so due to the half-visible appearance of her feet.
Finally, Darky let go and motioned for her to start running, "While true that the undead raised at the Temple of Shadows are known to be more sluggish and tend to trip on their feet a little more, Nightmare has had specialized training to allow her to still keep up with her equillion kind. Observe," and the sphinx motioned in a circle around them. "Dash!" Immediately the equillion picked up the pace, going into a gallop as she circled the arena, blue-green smog trailing her for additional effect. She might not have moved fast before, but she was really picking up the pace now.. and hardly seemed to change her breathing in the process.
The sphinx pushed a log closer to the edge of the arena, and as the equillion came back around, called, "Jump!"
The equillion soared over the log with ease, going for another lap.
You ready for the main event?
Better question is, are THEY?
Nightmare rounded the arena, completing the lap as she approached the log. "Fall!" The equillion jumped far too late, clipped the log and stumbled into the floor of the arena, rolling over and over until finally laying silently in the middle.
( Turn Left/Right, Back, Faster/Slow Down, Dash, Jump Over, Play Dead )
(5) Nightmare: 94 (0/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
|
Post by Darky on Oct 21, 2020 16:01:21 GMT -6
The fall was effective enough to produce a gasp from the crowd, almost causing the sphinx herself to take a step towards the fallen tainted.. if it wasn't all part of the show. Nightmare had really thrown her weight into it, going the full mile on making it look realistic. So much so that as she lay still on the ground, the only sense of motion was her bones slowly shifting and clicking back into place, from where the fall had dislodged them.
Darky stared a moment, not recalling that being something they covered, but then, remembering the crowd, turned to them with a reassuring smile, "Certainly a shocking turn of events, but rest assured, she is quite alright. For the best creature to play dead would be one who already is. Observe.." And as the mammalian motioned towards the equillion, she stage whispered, "Aura.." The blue-green smoke spluttered, fluttering and swooshing to life as it engulfed the still form. Then, motion, as the creature moved and slowly began to rise to her feet, all the while the ghastly red eyes staring back from the flicker of blue-green flames, both dreadful and warmth-draining. "Loud.." another stage whisper, as the sphinx raised the hands to cover her own ears. The equillion's blood-red eyes and imposing form scanned the crowd, as a hiss began in her throat. As she raised her head and throw it back, it escalated into a sudden bone-chilling shriek, echoing back from the ceiling above.
And finally.. Breathe.
With the head still thrown back, the equillion kicked herself onto hinglegs, jaws extending to exhale a sprout of blue-white flames into the air above the crowd, as cold and dismal as the aura that surrounded her. When she landed, the image of a truly horrifying creature of undeath was complete, sure to scare the weaker-hearted of the audience (And hopefully impress the judges).
Darky walked up beside Nightmare, giving a soft sush and the flames slowly died down, returning to their previous flicker. She petted the equillion's side, Very good job.
There was amusement in return. The equillion wouldn't outright admit it, but she had rather enjoyed this, especially the more she saw the frightened faces of the crowd staring back. Darky finally addressed the crowd again, "And this has been Nightmare, the Undead Tainted Equillion. Thank you," she took a bow, the equillion keeping her head high and haughty, before the two took their leave.
( Bone Shift (not on command), Chilling Aura, Screech, Breath of the Dead, Intimidation, then exit~ )
(6) - (added) Nightmare: 94 (1/5)
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:07:45 GMT -6
As if one, no, two contests around the same time weren't enough, there was also a third that Kadin had entered into. This was the one that he was least looking forward to performing in, to be honest. Not because he thought it would be challenging or anything like that. No, the reason was simply that the pet who'd insisted on entering... She, uh. Intimidated him, a little bit.
And it wasn't different to see why.
A normal tainted equillion was off putting already. They were thin, nearly skeletal, and covered in flames. Those reasons, alone, made them a sight to behold. But this one? Velkar? For some reason, through some twist of fate, her flames were green, her body was blue, and she had wings that looked like they were literally melting off her back.
Kadin walked with her into the show ring, trying not to think about the other reasons why this equillion in particular intimidated him.
[Female skully orbaru plz <3]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:11:49 GMT -6
"Ready, Velkar?" He asked, stupidly, in his equillion's opinion. He knew this because she told him. Loudly. In his head. Kadin tried not to flinch, fingers already itching at the ribbon around his wrist, more than ready to take it off already. "Fine, fine, jesus. Let's start with something easy. Stay." He gave a command, but Velkar told him exactly where he could shove it. Kadin rolled his eyes at her foul language that only he could hear, resisting them temptation to respond in kind.
Of course, she lovingly reminded him that she could hear his projected thoughts with the ribbon so he could still respond in kind mentally if he was so inclined.
Kadin tried to keep the scowl off his face while he walked to the opposite end of the arena. "Come." He said, flatly, watching as Velkar trotted easily towards him, acting perfectly innocent all the while. Even tossing her head and fanning her wings for the crowd.
[Name, Stay, Come]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:18:02 GMT -6
Right. If that was how it was going to be. Kadin walked to her side, patting it in a gesture of fondness that didn't quite reflect on his face. He planted his hands on her back and, with some effort, swung himself up onto it. It wasn't as easy without a saddle and her spine sure wasn't the most comfortable seat, but she'd insisted that she'd refuse to wear tack for this part, so he didn't have much of a choice.
"Go on." He encouraged, pressing his legs to her sides to get her to move forward. Velkar snorted, but did so all the same, starting forward at a trot that Kadin had to grit his teeth through. Bouncing up and down did NOT improve the comfort of sitting on a tainted equillion's back. If you could recall, they had little back to speak of and most of it was just bone sticking out through their thin skin.
[Carry Rider, Go]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:28:00 GMT -6
Kadin tolerated it for a little while, riding Velkar to the opposite end of the arena before asking her to stop, a few feet shy of hitting the wall. "Stop, there you go." She did so with another snort, but stopped smoothly enough, even if she did flick him with her tail while doing so. Kadin tried not to roll his eyes and ignore the slight and, instead, asked her to back up for the audience. "Come on, back up." Velkar arched her neck, pawing at the ground before backing up several feet before Kadin called her to a stop again, once they were about in the center of the arena. Once there, he asked her to turn in place, turning in a full circle first one way and then the other. Then, he asked her to go again and she immediately broke off into another trot, as if to spite him, making her way towards the side of the arena.
[Stop, Back, Turn Right/Left Repeat: Go]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:31:31 GMT -6
This time, when they hit the wall, Kadin asked her to turn rather than stopping. He had her trot around the arena once before easing her up from a trot into a canter. This was a much smoother ride, thankfully for him, and Velkar picked up the pace begrudgingly. She knew the importance of showing off all that she knew, after all. After they'd cantered around the arena once, he asked her to slow back down first into a trot and then to a walk. He walked her a few paces, letting her cool down a bit even though she'd hardly even begun yet, before asking her once more to stop. The next step? He didn't really want to do it while he was on her back with no tack. He didn't really trust this mount, in particular, not to drop him the first chance she got, claiming that it had been an accident at the time.
[Faster/Slow Down Repeat: Turn Right/Left, Stop]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:47:19 GMT -6
Kadin even backed away a bit before giving her the command, also not trusting her not to "accidentally" hit him in the head with her wings or something while she was taking off. "Fly!"
Velkar snorted and tossed her head, raising her wings high. She beat them a few times before growling, low in her chest, and taking off at a run, flapping them hard before jumping to get airborne. She circled around the arena once, twice, before Kadin decided she better show off something other than just some flying skills if she wanted to impress anyone. He pointed to one of the dummies set up in the arena for showing off her attack, calling up into the air, "Velkar, breathe fire!"
The equillion wheeled around, swooping down to rain green flames down on the hapless training dummy, effortlessly swooping back up into the air once her destruction was done. But that wasn't all that he could get her to do from up there.
[Fly, Breathe Fire]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:52:01 GMT -6
As she circled around again, Kadin pointed to another dummy who's time had just run out. "Velkar, goop!" He called out, watching as she quickly adjusted her course. As she neared the dummy, she angled her wings so that she was swooping down towards it, quickly. Midair, she threw her wings into a particularly powerful downstroke, shedding green, smoldering feathers that rained down onto the target, hissing as they burned and melted through its body. She flapped her wings again to regain altitude and continued circling, one eye on the human below at all times to listen to whatever commands he might call up.
But the next thing he did wasn't a command at all. Instead, he grabbed a sling and some rocks. He took careful aim and threw a rock up at Velkar as hard as she could. With a hiss she dove and weaved away from the projectile, easily dodging it as her instincts activated.
[Smoldering Goop, Danger Sense]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:55:32 GMT -6
"Good!" He called up, pleased to praise her for a job well done. He grabbed another rock, but instead of just chucking this one at her, he gave her a warning instead. "Dodge!" He called out, throwing the rock and watching as Velkar picked up speed, displaying an increase in dexterity as she nimbly dodged out of the way of this second rock, too. He let her fly for a little longer after that before calling her to land, ready to move on to more moves and tricks that would be better show in the ground rather than in the air.
It was time to destroy more dummies.
Kadin pointed one out to her and gave a simple command. "Bite!" With what looked to be a grin, the equillion charged at the dummy, chomping down on it with glee. She ripped off one of its arms and paraded around with it, showing anyone who'd look her new trophy.
[Dodge, Bite]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 19:59:09 GMT -6
"Show off." Kadin accused, although he sounded amused. He let Velkar show off for a bit before pointing again at the same dummy, likely to best show the contrast in what he was just about to ask her as opposed to the attack she'd just performed. "Now crunch."
This time, Velkar charged the dummy, but instead of only biting an arm and ripping it off, when she bit down she crunched right through the arm entirely, severing it right from the body. She tossed her head in pride, spinning around to lash out at the dummy with her hoofs next, as to underline her point on just how pointless and weak the object was in her eyes. The dummy feel over in a pitiful display. Kadin resisted rolling his eyes, knowing all too well how something like that could hardly measure up to what would have happened to an actual living, breathing opponent.
[Crunch, Buck (not on command)]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 20:02:09 GMT -6
Regardless, he moved them on. He pointed to another dummy since that one was now out of commission, ordering her next attack. "Shadow bite!"
Velkar reared up before charging this one, still clearly showing off. Darkness gathered at her mouth, coating her teeth and tongue and throat, and when she bit down on the neck of the dummy the shadows seemed to spread to the target, too, sapping into it. She shook her head, once, just because she could, before releasing it, leaving the dummy with its head hanging half off.
"Good, Velkar. Come." Kadin asked. She snorted, eyeing him warily as she approached, but really. She should have knew better. Once she came to him, all he did was point back at the same dummy and order her to "Bash!"
That was more like it.
With an inhuman scream, Velkar charged at the dummy, bashing into it with her shoulder and sending it flying.
[Shadow Bite, Bash Repeat: Come]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 20:06:39 GMT -6
There had to be little doubt in anyone's mind just what she'd be able to do to an actual opponent with a display like that one. Now, all that was left was to show off some of the other qualities Velkar naturally possessed. Kadin had requested that an old tainted equillion be brought to the show ring to show off some such qualities. The natural creature, even untrained, was an intimidating sight to behold. But as Velkar approached it, she showed no sign of having any worries about its presence. The tainted on the other hand, growled, for all an equillion could growl, and threatened, becoming more and more agitated the closer Velkar came. Something about her, something about her presence, off put the other equillion so greatly that it tried to break free from its bonds and flee, clearly intimidated by her and fearing for its life while she was there. Velkar simply snorted, amused by its reactions, and drew closer.
[Hardy, Intimidation, Commanding Presence]
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Post by Kadin on Oct 21, 2020 20:11:00 GMT -6
Some might have called that a mistake. Once she was close enough, the tainted breathed fire at her, tried to get her to go away. But Velkar came from the same stock that it did and fire had no effect on her. Desperate, the creature bit at her, the same shadows gathering around its attack as her's, but shadows couldn't touch her, either. She was wholly immune to attack from both fire and shadows. Once demonstrated, Kadin had the tainted taken away. The last thing he wanted to show everyone was something Velkar would be... less open to. But rather than having something attack her, he simply chose to prove his point by using some natural light.
He had a flashlight that simulated natural sunlight pointed at the equillion. Velkar hissed and trotted away, ears flicking back and some choice words shot to him in displeasure at the trick. Kadin apologized and put it away, figuring that'd be good enough to show off her aversion to light. This was the freak show, after all, and anything that made her up might help. But with those last few demonstrations, they were finished, and it was time to leave the arena.
[Flame Body, Shadow Immunity, Light Weakness
Done]
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