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Post by Xentus on Sept 6, 2021 15:04:59 GMT -6
His warning seemed ominous.. Mashiik had a worried looking gaze about her as she seemed to process what she'd been told. Her feathers smoothened out as she turned away to repeat the journey through the poles. Her pace was faster, hardly a jog for a giant owl, but it was a noteworthy difference from her first solo run. The alurook did well to maintain accuracy, though Xentus could tell when she seemed a little unsure of herself, slowing down and faltering for but a fraction of a second to correct her course. (That's it, Mashi! Now, come back more quickly!), the leopard urged upon seeing her reach the far end of the poles. Mashiik seemed surprised to hear this, pausing for a moment as she turned around to face him again. (Worry not, we can always take a break should you get too tired), the man assured, then beckoned for his companion's return.
Mashiik: Dex Training 5
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Post by Xentus on Sept 6, 2021 15:14:43 GMT -6
That comment seemed to strike a nerve. Her, getting tired by something like this so soon? It was almost an insult. She could fly for hours without wearing out, what was a little running? Though.. Flying was far easier than anything on the ground. Mashiik did her best to not let any kind of weakness or uncertainty show through her guise. The bird sped up a notch as she weaved through the poles again, wings lifting from her body just enough to help maintain balance as her gait turned into a sprint. It looked a little silly seeing the alurook rushing at him like that. Even if he were prey, he wasn't sure if he should be intimidated or laugh. Doing his best to be respectful, Xentus's entertainment at the sight was hidden behind a giddy grin. Soon enough, Mashiik made it back to him with a definitive harrumph, showing that this was still an easy task for her.
Mashiik: Dex Training 6
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Post by Xentus on Sept 6, 2021 15:44:18 GMT -6
"Alright, take a small break then we shall resume", the leopard said both aloud and in mind. To make things progressively more difficult, he supposed now was a good time to mount up. He was looking forward to this part the most. There was a certain excitement about being up on the back of a giant, fluffy owl.. But first, a moment to rest and hydrate. Even if Mashiik promised she wasn't getting tired, the pole course was long and her attempts to keep a good face every run was definitely wearing her down. Even if she didn't voice it, Xentus had a sneaking suspicion that the bird appreciated his concern. (Now, Xentus will climb on, but stay on the ground, Mashiik), the man told her explicitly. Normally whenever he'd mount up, they'd fly off immediately. The notion struck the alurook as odd, but she acknowledged his word and stayed firmly grounded as he clambered onto her back.
Mashiik: Dex Training 7
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Post by Xentus on Sept 6, 2021 15:49:58 GMT -6
(Through the poles again, Mashiik), he instructed, (And make as fast a pace as you can muster. Think you can do it?). Xentus felt the alurook's body shifting beneath him, trying to adjust to his added weight. It wasn't uncomfortable for her, but the idea of running around with a person on her back was still so strange. Why run when they could fly? But.. If her keeper wanted her to do something, there was usually good purpose and intent behind it. {Yes, Mashiik is fine}, the bird finally responded after getting used to the heft on her back. "Go, Mashiik!", the leopard ordered, holding on tightly as the alurook lurched forward into a sprint. He definitely wasn't used to how rocky the alurook's gait was, but did his best to not bounce too much on her shoulders. His weight made her stride even more awkward - her footfalls were heavy and almost clumsy.
Mashiik: Dex Training 8
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Post by Xentus on Sept 6, 2021 15:58:56 GMT -6
The first mounted run-through of the pole course was.. Definitely a rough one. There were a couple pauses to steady footing, and at one point, the leopard nearly fell off as the owl stumbled in her stride. (Easy, Mashiik, it's ok to slow down), he told her as he clung to her back. But the bird was defiant, trying her best to prove she could do this. This just.. Needed a little getting used to. Being nimble in the air was easy. Nimble on foot? More practice was definitely needed.. Once the pair looped back to their starting point, another small pause was in order. Mashiik was a little flustered, but after having a breather, she seemed good to go. (Alright, Mashi. Focus on a steady stride while keeping good pace), the leopard instructed as they went in for round two. The alurook was growing more sure-footed as time went on, adjusting and adapting with every step.
Mashiik: Dex Training 9
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Post by Xentus on Sept 6, 2021 23:18:25 GMT -6
It was actually fairly impressive. The alurook wasn't known to be the most lithe species, yet Mashiik did what she could to push forward with swiftness and grace. He did notice that the owl had to drop her pompous façade in order to maintain proper balance with him on her back. All of that preening and maintaining good looks went to waste. Xentus wanted to laugh at the idea, but he was the one to blame here. Hah, he'd need to make it up to her with a nice grooming. Word on the street was that there was a new pet salon.. But giant owls likely wasn't on their service list. (Keep at it, Mashi! You do well), Xentus praised through their mental link. His words were met with silence; it seemed this exercise was taking a good deal of concentration by the owl. That was fine. Xentus snugged into the golden plumage beneath him, doing his best to be best balanced on her back.
Mashiik: Dex Training 10
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Post by Xentus on Sept 7, 2021 0:46:11 GMT -6
Mashiik weaved through the last few poles and came to a stop with a flourish, feeling good (and a little exhausted) about this little exercise. With nothing new but the leopard's weight, it grew easier to perform every time. Xentus could feel her breathing heavily, even though she was doing her best to disguise it. "Ah you do so well, Mashiik", the man cooed, stroking the plumage on the owl's back, "This one is proud, such good runs!" Even in her growing exhaustion, Mashiik seemed to swell with pride. Stroking that ego of hers could be a little dangerous, but the leopard wasn't afraid to indulge her. (Let's do that one more time, alright Mashi? To the end and back), he instructed, hoping the alurook had it in her to go through the pole-course once again. The alurook seemed to hesitate, still collecting herself, then turned to face the series of poles again. With precision, speed, and grace. The alurook sprinted forward, her footfalls still heavy with the extra weight on her back, but it was evident that she'd definitely gotten used to it now. Back and forth, her body snaked as well as a bird's could between the poles. Her pace was fast, pushing through the tiredness. She was not built for so much running around on land.. But, she prevailed through her keeper's strange trial. The creature's stride began to falter as she reached the end, coming to a stumbling stop. (Well done, Mashi!), the leopard praised through their link, (Take a rest now, dear. This one thinks you've done enough).
> Exeunt Xentus and Mashiik (11)
Maahiik: Dex Training 11 - Checkpoint! 1831 Words, Loyalty 34 - (Success)
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Post by Xentus on Nov 22, 2023 22:07:30 GMT -6
> Xentus, accompanied by... | Items;
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“Good morning, Xentus is checking in with Basantai”
A blue card was flashed to the receptionist, though their face told there was something apparently missing. Xentus seemed confused, his brow furrowing for a moment. Then, his expression softened. “Ah, pardon. Basantai is a pliathor. Xentus will be summoning him”
A nod, a click, and he was let through the doors into the gymnasium proper. Down the hall he went, and through the large doors that opened into one of the equipment rooms. The man browsed the various tools, then pondered about the room itself. Though it was spacious, it was far too small to suit the pliathor properly. Outside it was then. The garage door at the back end of the room opened out to a spacious arena with a field, track, and pools nearby. Xentus went to the center of the field and whispered, ‘Yawe’. In an instant, the coiled mass of fur and scales appeared. The serpent was awake for once, seeming to be anticipating its summoning. Its head snaked forward, large blue eyes examining its master. A low, deep rumble sounded from its throat.
“Hey there, Basa”, the man cooed, reaching out to rub the serpent’s nose, “Let us begin, yes?”
Basantai: Str Training 1
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Post by Xentus on Nov 22, 2023 22:08:28 GMT -6
“Up, up”
The man motioned for the beast to raise itself from the ground. The winding mass unfurled, revealing a gigantic length which threatened to span the entire field - he was nearly 200 feet long. Xentus’s idea to make a giant pliathor even larger with the power of an embiggening potion proved grand indeed. With such size came a peculiar problem. How did one train the physical attributes of such a massive beast…? Any feats to bolster its strength would need to be scaled up to its size, and none of the equipment available quite matched. He would just need to get creative. A moment was taken to set the stage.
‘Basa’, the man mentally roused the serpent, ‘Take this in your teeth’ Xentus motioned to the punching bag he’d acquired and brought out (with no small amount of effort). It was the largest, heaviest one the gym had in stock , weighing in at about one ton. It was a trivial weight for the pliathor, but it would have to do. Basantai took the heavy bag between his teeth and lifted it from the cart with ease. It was like lifting a quarter of a thundergug - a trivial feat considering the serpent chowed down on entire ‘gugs for meals..
‘Now, toss it - as far as you can!’
Basantai: Str Training 2
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Post by Xentus on Nov 22, 2023 22:09:09 GMT -6
Throwing punching bags across a field was an unusual method of training, but it was the best thing the man could think of. It was much like shot put or weight throw. Except the weight in this case was a one ton punching bag. Xentus was dutiful and ensured the danger zone was clear of any bystanders (an easy enough task, given the near complete vacancy of the gym), and kept himself well out of the way.
As his master commanded, the serpent gripped the bag in his teeth and jerked his neck out, loosing the bag into the air. It sailed a short distance before plummeting hard into the earth with a resounding thud and mild tremor. Xentus frowned. It didn’t travel nearly as far as he would’ve liked. The pliathor immediately picked up on the displeasure of its master, rumbling a sorrowful apology.
(Did Basa do bad?), it asked into his mind.
Basantai: Str Training 3
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Post by Xentus on Nov 22, 2023 22:09:41 GMT -6
‘Not bad, dear Basa. But… Not good either’, his reply came, ‘This is fine, however, it gives much to progress with. Now then, retrieve the bag and bring it back here’
This was now a game of self-fetch. And whilst the serpent was distracted, the leopard took the liberty of chaining a weight cart to the serpent’s rear. It was loaded with as many sandbags as the gym offered, enough for the serpent to register the extra load on its legs. It blinked slowly in surprise, turning its head to see the cart attached to it. Then, its gaze shifted to its master. No concern showed on the man’s face and so the pliathor went on about performing its instructions, trudging the heavy cart along after it. This did seem to dampen the serpent’s movement, which was good. Even though its tail threatened to knock the whole affair to the side.
Basantai: Str Training 4
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Post by Xentus on Nov 22, 2023 22:10:24 GMT -6
‘Take care to not disturb the cart, Basa’, Xentus warned, leery of the length of scales, fur, and muscle that trailed after the beast. It passed acknowledgement and carried its tail higher to accommodate.
It didn’t take long for the serpent to grab the punching bag once more, taking it into his teeth and returning to his master. It was a wonder that the thing didn’t rupture with this rough treatment. It wasn’t quite designed for such a task, but it seemed the leather binding was made exceptionally tough for creature use. Basantai positioned himself beside his keeper and waited for the man’s signal.
‘Ready then? Toss it!’ The serpent craned his neck, gave a swing, and thrust it out while loosing the bag from his maw. It sailed through the air longer this time, but the pull of gravity was a difficult one to overcome. The bag landed a bit further out onto the field than before. While the man didn’t consider marking the distance traveled, the giant impact marks in the ground served as a natural indicator.
Basantai: Str Training 5
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Post by Xentus on Nov 22, 2023 22:11:08 GMT -6
‘Getting better, Basa!’, Xentus praised cheerily. Praise was always something that spurred the serpent’s latent vigor. A happy rumble reverberated through the air. ‘There is still much work to be done, however. Again, fetch the bag to try again’ The celebration was short-lived. Basantai took the small victory and sauntered off after the punching bag, snaking his body across the field. The pull of the cart slowed him down, but he managed to trudge through and claim his weighty prize.
(Fun game), the pliathor happily commented while on his way back to his keeper. This made Xentus chuckle, cracking a grin across the man’s muzzle. If this beast thought this more of a game than a workout, he was doing something both right and wrong. Right in that it was an engaging activity. Wrong in that it didn’t seem to be tiring the beast just yet. For only two tosses, however, that was to be expected. Xentus hoped he’d get the serpent exhausted by the end of their training session.
Basantai: Str Training 6
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Post by Xentus on Nov 22, 2023 22:11:48 GMT -6
Basantai prepared himself for the next toss, gripping the bag between his teeth once more. On his master’s call, he reared back and gave a good lunge to throw the bag. Harder, further. He was urged to clear more of the field’s length.
Thud.
It sailed out, reaching further than before, but not far enough for the leopard’s liking. Again - haul, grab, return, and position. Then, throw. Xentus pushed the pliathor for more. To see better from him. To do better! Basantai loathed the idea of letting the man down in any capacity. It was starting to grow physically tired, but it pushed on. The encouragement empowered the beast; he let out a snort and loosed the heavy punching bag once again.
Thud.
Further again still, but not far enough for the mammalian’s satisfaction. Truly, he wouldn’t be satisfied until he saw the pliathor’s limit. To push the beast to the limit was a risky move, he could end up straining himself. But, the man had confidence.
Basantai: Str Training 7
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Post by Xentus on Nov 22, 2023 22:13:16 GMT -6
‘Come on, Basantai! Again!’, Xentus cheered directly into the giant beast’s mind, ‘Put more heft into it!’
It was bold of him, coaching another on something he could never do from the sidelines. Yet he wagered that if he gave a try at an appropriately weight toss, he’d fail miserably. Strength wasn’t the man’s strong suit. Litheness of the body, however, was more his forte. In the case of the pliathor, it surpassed his own physical attributes in all regards. And thus he felt comfortable pushing it for all it could give!
As per his master’s demand, the pliathor used more of its body to put strength into the throw. Its hind legs dug into the ground and its long body tensed up to propel forward like a spring. A craned neck pushed this momentum forward into a swing, snapping out at one concentrated point at the mouth. Release and let sail.
Basantai: Str Training 8
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