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Post by Bharune on Aug 21, 2011 21:08:53 GMT -5
“Now that just ain’t—“ the brunette fighter lunged between a broad-shouldered mercenary and a fallen garif, jerking up the wide blade of his black falchion to collide with the hunter’s military-grade shortsword. “—right!”Rook slammed his knee into the mercenary’s gut, shoving him back with a forceful push against the locked weapons. Ophelia gleamed in the reddish glow of the twilight sky as she bit flesh and steel and swiped through the shimmering flutter of dust, kicked up by the violent skirmish. Two garif ambushed by this raiding part of at least seven well-armed combatants! Hardly fair at all. Somewhere in his gut, Rook had known this would happen. These…skulled men, these monstrous humanoids, were still too different for the neighboring cities and lacked the proper weaponry to defend against any kind of clever assault. These garif were a quick ticket for seizing new territory, and remained oblivious to it. But Rook had pursued a particularly dangerous fiend far from Deling one hot day several months ago, and when a few buddies of said fiend joined in the fray it had been a wandering garif that had lent him a hand. The beast had said nothing, accepted neither thanks nor reward, yet wasn’t entirely cold to Rook’s gratitude. They were benevolent creatures, that much Rook could tell. This persecution was entirely unwarranted and entirely for selfish gain, and Rook couldn’t turn a blind eye to it. “Why don’t you just crawl back into the gutter you slithered out of?” Rook demanded, getting in close enough to slam the hilt of his sword into the staggered mercenary’s skull. The man crumbled instantly, alive but incapacitated, and Rook turned on one of the others. He couldn’t tell their country of origin, but they didn’t seem to be equipped with any firearms, luckily for Rook. Ophelia was a queen beastslayer, but she didn’t fare so well when it came to guns and explosives. A rightside glance revealed that one of the garif wasn’t likely to rise again – his stomach was split, emptying blood and entrails to mix with the sand. The other horned creature struggled to fend off four of the mercenaries in a wounded state, and Rook knew if they didn’t turn this around quickly it wouldn’t end well. His current adversary’s spear was too quick to be matched by the heavier falchion, though, and Rook spent every movement parrying attacks without any hope of landing a blow. Suddenly, pain and moisture erupted in a diagonal slash against his back, and Rook buckled for half a second before regaining enough balance to pivot and dodge both the spear and a second swing from another shortsword, reddened with his blood. “You fuckers are really starting to piss me off,” Rook spat, his back now towards an large, upward stretch of rock and earth so he could face his two opponents. “This is your last chance to turn tail before I go all commando on your asses, Galbadian-style.”The two glanced at each other, then laughed from behind their protective sand visors. Well, Rook could hope, couldn’t he? ”Alright, then, just remember I gave you a chance to leave with your balls still attached!”The brunette swung forward towards the swordsman, praying he could strike quickly enough to also parry the spear that would undoubtedly lash out next.
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zeekayl
Tonberry
Happiness depends on a leisurley breakfast.
Posts: 42
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Post by zeekayl on Aug 21, 2011 22:20:01 GMT -5
She could have heard the sounds of the fight from a mile away. Those sounds were all too familiar to her—the sound of steel biting into flesh, the hiss of a blade through the air. Though the sounds were unmistakable, they were still harsh on her sensitive ears. Luckily enough, Akira wasn’t quite that far off, and when her nose picked up the smell of a large amount of blood, she took off at a run.
She had been traveling through the Feywood, towards Rabanastre, and needed to stop to restock on supplies. The closest mark on her map was Jahara—the garif there were friendly enough, and she and Kaleo had both managed to make several close friends through one of their treks through the small village. However, in the years since Kaleo’s death she had not revisited, and it was probably high time she did so anyway, to spread the saddening news.
The thought was depressing, but it was a necessary thing to do.
The Viera stopped when she arrived at the battle, just barely visible from behind the hunters through the dust. Her face twisted in anger when she saw the garif split open on the dusty ground, and her hand tightened around the pole of her halberd. She knew there were people invading, and there was no doubt that Jahara would be a target, but she did not expect this to be so soon. Then again—time to her flowed differently than it did to most races. How long had it been since these strange people arrived?
It was then that her mismatched eyes fell upon the swordsman battling against the two offending hunters; one with a spear and the other a sword. And the man was wounded—she could smell his blood as well. Would these hunters stop at nothing…?
It was when the solitary man struck the hunter with the sword that she made her own move. Charging the hunter with the spear from behind, in a swift movement she thrust her halberd forward connected with his spine. This resulted in her jagged blade piercing through to the other side, severing the spinal cord and spraying the rock face with blood.
With a disgusted snort, Akira moved so that the man fell to the ground, planting her foot in the small of his back and yanking her blade from his corpse. She flicked the blood from her weapon once, twice, and then swiveled her ears a bit before turning to aid the other garif in the dispatch of the remaining hunters.
She handled herself well, beheading one of the attacking men with a clean strike that swirled around into an upwards swipe to sever another man’s sword-bearing hand.
…Akira would be damned before she let these men take over Jahara…
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Post by mattsukun on Aug 22, 2011 23:57:07 GMT -5
The large man raised an eyebrow as he could hear the heavy footsteps and the loud clash of weapons nearby as he walked through the slightly rocky paths. He had given up on his mission in the town when he realized he had no chance of getting into the library of the large city. However, he had learned that there was one race that knew quite a bit about the Mist of this world. A race with long, tall ears named the Viera. Still, it didn't change the fact that he would have to go back empty handed. He knew that was a death wish.
Kyoujaku's feet stopped as a scream filled the skies around him, echoing lightly off the tall rocks surrounding the area. His curiousity got the best of him as he slowly moved forward towards the origin of the scream. Once more he came to a stop as he saw the scene in front of him. A brunette man was cornered against a rockface and swinging out to strike one of the two hunters that had cornered him as another weapon came from a blindspot to stab through the other's spine.
A slight smirk curved across his lips as he saw the beautiful spear covered in the enemy's blade. Such a finely crafted weapon, and such a precise owner of the weapon as well. And what...long ears the owner had. His eyes widened for a split second as he came to realize the obvious fact that stood in front of him only a short distance away.
At the same time, he saw a one of the hunters standing on top of the rock pile above the once lone man. The large hunter was readying a bow and aiming it down as the brunette was distracted by the others.
Reaching back Kyoujaku grabbed one of his spears strapped across his back and held it firmly in his grasp. Keeping a close eye on the hunter standing upon the rock well the bald man threw his black shafted spear swiftly through the air, the long tip lodging itself in the barbarian's chest.
The hunter's eyes widened as it dropped it's bow and arrow to the rough surface at it's feet before tumbling forward and crashing down to the dirt ground near the brunette. His blood slowly leaked from his body as it stained the earth under it.
By the time the lifeless body had hit the ground the large man was all ready in the fray, his second spear held in his left hand. Charging forward he stabbed his spear into another of the unexpecting hunter's bodies, the spear stabbing through with such force that it fully impaled him.
Using his monstrous strength Kyoujaku rose the spear at an angle and continued his charge in one solid motion, impaling a second hunter he finally stabbed the end of his blood-stained spear into the ground, pinning the two struggling bodies onto the ground as their life slowly drained out of them, the monstrous man standing over them as he slowly reached back to grab his last weapon, his beautiful trident with serated ends.
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Post by Bharune on Aug 25, 2011 17:49:05 GMT -5
Oh dear Hyne, he was being saved by a bunny-girl. That was the only thought that struck Rook’s mind before he was forced to meet his blade to his opponent’s. His darling Ophelia had the advantage of length and width, easily making her the stronger weapon even at a small sacrifice of agility. Similar to the last mercenary Rook had killed, this one couldn’t hold his footing against the pressure of the Galbadian’s strength, and since Rook no longer had to worry about the spearman impaling him at the slightest delay he could take all the time he needed to off this guy. Not that he needed much. A well-timed strike of Ophelia knocked away the sellsword’s blade, and Rook slammed a heavy blow against the mercenary’s head with the blunt side of his blade, staggering the man instantly. The Galbadian delivered a forceful kick to the man’s gut that doubled him over, causing him to fall chest-first against a large boulder, cracked visor clattering to the ground. Taking the attack of opportunity, Rook lashed out, slicing a deep gash in the man’s calf. He wouldn’t be walking much anytime soon. Satisfied, the ex-soldier turned and stepped over the spearman’s corpse to rejoin the combat. “No need to kill ‘em!” he shouted towards the battle bunny, but the directive was intended for both of his unlikely comrades. It didn’t matter; four of the mercenaries lay dead, two incapacitated, and the remaining men scrambled to flee as soon as they were able. Rook lowered Ophelia, several long strides carrying him to the wounded garif. “Let them go,” he told his allies, but his attention was on the horned creature as he endeavored to help the hunter stand. The garif was obviously distrustful of him and reluctant to accept the aid, but seemed to realize that he probably wouldn’t make it back to Jahara alone. With a mournful glance at his murdered companion, the large creature relented and leaned heavily against the smaller human, causing Rook to buckle slightly before strengthening his stance. “Easy there, big guy,” the Galbadian remarked, keeping the garif on his feet with some difficulty. His other hand was still occupied with Ophelia and the bleeding injury on his back wasn’t helping matters any, but he managed fairly well. “Hey, darlin’, could ya grab my sheath real quick?” Rook paused for half a beat, then a small, impish grin blossomed over his lips before he gave a quick nod of his head in the direction of Ophelia’s embroidered scabbard, which rested near the fallen body of the archer. “Thanks for havin’ me and the big guy’s asses covered,” he said gratefully. “I ‘preciate it. Now to get ‘im home…”
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zeekayl
Tonberry
Happiness depends on a leisurley breakfast.
Posts: 42
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Post by zeekayl on Aug 25, 2011 18:56:44 GMT -5
“We let them go and they will return full force to slaughter the Garif.” Akira stated, but she allowed the other men to scramble off as she flicked the blood from her halberd again. Her ears swiveled, listening for more men, but there were none, and she eased her stance a bit.
She gave the large, muscled man a strange glance—she had never seen a man so large…absently she wondered if he could be just like the hunters. But no, he had done an excellent job in slaying them…if he were a hunter; he wouldn’t slay his own ilk. Would he? Well, the same suspicion could be directed towards the brunette—had he done something to provoke them? But then again, she had seen hunters of that type before—they were out for power, and did not care who stood in their way. So…perhaps she could trust both of these men for now.
The Viera turned her mismatched eyes upon the man supporting the Garif, and when she caught the faint implication she gave a snort of amusement before moving to grab said sheath. Turning back to him, she paused. Oh…she had completely forgotten during the battle that the man was wounded. It would probably be easier on him AND the Garif warrior he was helping if she patched them both up a bit.
“At least let me heal the both of you somewhat before we make the trek to Jahara.”
Without waiting for consent, the woman circled around, setting her weapon aside. She placed her hands over Rook’s injury and willed her Cure spell to do its best. A faint blue light emitted from her fingertips, and soon the wound began to stitch itself shut a bit. It wasn’t fully healed, as it was best for the rest to happen naturally, but it would do until he could rest in Jahara. As for the Garif, she moved over to him and placed her hands over his injury as well, watching as the wound closed a bit.
Akira didn’t think she recognized this Garif, but she knew that the entirety of Jahara had known Kaleo. Surely this one would recognize his name. However, this was not the time—it was best to leave before the Hunters returned and had more men at their disposal.
“There. Jahara is not too far off.” She nodded, then knelt to pick up her weapon.
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Post by Bharune on Oct 30, 2011 13:23:15 GMT -5
“We let them go and they will return full force to slaughter the Garif.”Rook switched his eyes to Akira, then gave a firm shake of his head. “Nah, these’uns are just takin’ orders. They ain’t decision-makers, they’re jus’ tryin to make a livin’ like everybody else. Whoever’s trying to off these guys’ll be back with more regardless of how many peons die.”Rook was a military man, and being a military man his views were definitely different than the average fighter. He had been a subordinate over the years, taught to follow orders without question even when death was the probable outcome, and he had been a squad leader, fighting to both fulfill the assignment and keep his men alive. He was so fucking glad he had given up that lifestyle. “Jus’ trying to feed their old lady and kids, most like,” he mumbled, his focus switching to the wounded garif. It was a rough life regardless, and he didn’t feel inclined towards making it that much more worse. They were retreating, that was enough. Having been on the losing side of the last war, Rook owed his life to more than one merciful enemy. “Thank ya, doll,” Rook said appreciatively when she approached with his sheath, the thoughts of the military darkening his demeanor somewhat. He slid Ophelia into her case while the rabbit-girl still held it, then took it in his free hand, the other still circled around the garif hunter. Man, the big guy was heavy as all hell, even still standing on his own two feet… “Yeah, guess I forgot to grab pots on the way out of Deling,” he remarked as the female moved around to his back. “What with the merge and all, everyone’s paranoia is through the roof; price of a good potion’s practically robbery.”After the woman had cast her cures, Rook felt the majority of the sting fade away, and he tossed her an appreciative, though subdued, grin. Jahara, huh? “Alright, I got this guy; you just lead the way, my fluffy-eared compadre~”
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zeekayl
Tonberry
Happiness depends on a leisurley breakfast.
Posts: 42
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Post by zeekayl on Oct 30, 2011 16:27:29 GMT -5
Akira felt a pang of sympathy at the man’s words, but it wasn’t for the lives she had taken. No, it was indeed for the now fatherless children that she had left behind. Still, she did not regret her actions. All things--all lives-- came to an end. These men had just chosen a profession that had ensured an early grave. And Akira knew that there were risks involved in anything, and every risk taken was one step closer to death. For her, the risk had been in stepping in to the fight. Who knew how strong they were, or if there were more of them. Or, in the long run, if they would come for her.
Still, for these men the risk had been in messing with the Garif in the first place. It didn’t matter to Akira what their orders were, only that her friends were safe for now.
When he spoke again, telling her to lead the way, she gave a grin and a swish of her long ear in his direction, then began walking. She was slow about it, so as to not tire out the other two. The walk was not a long one, but it surely would be for a wounded man supporting a Garif. Sure, she could help, but she knew the Garif were proud and having one hume help him walk was probably more than his pride could bear.
“Deling…” the Viera echoed, glancing over her tan shoulder at him, mismatched eyes sparking with interest. That was the name of the new city near Jahara? Well…she didn’t know how new it was--she was still very confused about the Merge and how it changed her own map. She did not trust the maps of the humes, relying solely on her own, but perhaps it was time she bought one for knowledge’s sake. Knowing the lay of the land always proved useful.
“I have not been there. Is that where you’re from?”
It’s what she assumed, at least. She would like to know more about it--cities fascinated her, though more often than not they clouded her sense of smell and hearing, and she could not see the sky. Still, she liked them because of all the interesting people and sights. Akira knew Kaleo would have wanted to see it, too. He would have been thrilled by the Merge…
‘New people means new business!’ He would have said, and he would have had that gleam in his eyes as he began to figure numbers.
…All the more reason for her to see it for him.
Slowing down a bit more to walk along the man’s side, the Viera tilted her head and slowly ran her long fingers through her ponytail. The dust here was tangling the light locks, and hopefully later on she could bathe. As much as she loved traveling, she liked hot baths even more.
“What is your name, hume?"
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Post by Bharune on Nov 5, 2011 1:09:05 GMT -5
Rook wasn’t unaccustomed to the unsympathetic views of most loner-types, many of whom shared the same perspective as the white-haired female. But it was different on the other side. People were so quick to say ’but they’re wrong for attacking first’ without stopping to consider the repercussions of insubordination and treason. He himself was a military deserter and, sure, he had chosen not to be on the side that struck first and infiltrated and was generally oppressive, but…his reward? His reward was years of imprisonment if the Galbadian legal system ever caught up with him. Barred doors and concrete walls…definitely not Draith Rook’s natural habitat, no sir. But none of that changed the one simple fact Rook knew with absolute certainly; he loved being alive. The potential for everything extraordinary existed while a person was alive. And Rook loved it so much that he wasn’t willing to take that from someone else except in an extreme situation – to preserve his own or someone else’s life. Even though his own life had the tendency to kick him in the balls. Repeatedly. But he ex-soldier just chuckled, and even though he could tell she didn’t exactly sympathize he figured it was a start. Besides, he was too distracted by those long, leporine ears to think about much else. “That’s where I live, sure,” Rook answered, managing to keep a fairly decent pace behind the female despite the daunting task of supporting the garif. “I’m kinda likin’ this Jahara place, though. It’s got one hell of a view.”With a small smirk, his eyes drifted down her backside. Damn. This world – whatever world it was – sure did know how to make ‘em. That woman had damn fine curves and looked better in that armor than the hottest of the nerds’ pin-up collection. Whoa, there. He better derail this train before he needed a cold dip. “My hometown’s been kicked a continent over, so that’s the best I got. I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout traveling, but…right after the merge the Galbadian military cracked down in Deling, IDing every Joe coming in and headin’ out right down to the asscrack, ‘mnot lyin’. But since the president’s been moved over to G-Garden security’s eased up, so it’s been easier to move around.”Not that she was likely to know – or care – a thing about Galbadian politics. But hey~ it’s been awhile since he’s had a mind-numbingly hot chick to chat with. Granted, that brunette he had met at the hotel had been pretty fine, but she had clearly been taken and bunny ears. What other logic was needed? “Most people call me ‘Rook’,” he answered with what would’ve been a shrug, had the garif not been weighing on his shoulder. “Works for me.”Though not his first name, he had grown used to being referred by his surname in the military and it just kind of stuck with him. “How ‘bout you? What’re you, exactly?”Man, this terrain was rough. Even the paths were unstable, the rocky ground uneven and treacherous and strewn with all kinds of natural traps. The garif, sure-footed as he was, tripped and stumbled, nearly dragging the hume along with him. Rook winced but managed to catch himself and the bigger creature, pulling him back up; he was stronger than he looked and no stranger to heavy lifting. Once again proceeding, he murmured an ‘almost there’ even though he had no idea how much further this ‘Jahara’ place was. The ex-soldier continued the conversation as if he had never been interrupted. “Cuz the closet thing we got to bunny-girls where I come from are Moombas and, trust me, that ain’t close.”
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zeekayl
Tonberry
Happiness depends on a leisurley breakfast.
Posts: 42
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Post by zeekayl on Nov 5, 2011 13:42:40 GMT -5
No...Akira had no idea what he was going on about...IDing Joe's asscrack in the garden. What? Well, she was sure that if she ever visited she would get to learn what all these terms meant. She liked to think she was a quick learner, though sometimes some things were hard for her to completely accept. For a few months she had refused to admit she abandoned the Wood, refused to acknowledge the fact that she was no longer considered a Viera. She was an outcast.
But she was at peace with that now.
"Rook..." she repeated, and a small smile touched her lips. An simple name, but it seemed to fit him rather well. "You can call me Akira."
Though her name wasn't nearly as interesting as his, it was her name, her only little piece of herself that she had been given in the Wood. They were all the same there...walking, thinking, making salves, patroling the Wood for strangers. Not a single one of them had been interesting in the least. And so, as for what she was...
"Well, you humes call me a Viera, a Daughter of the Wood. But I shed that title long ago. I like to think of myself as just...me."
That was all.
She paused then, her nose twitching a little, and for a second her ears stood up straight and at attention. She could smell campfire and people, but they couldn't be so close to Jahara yet, could they? It was a bit soon, but then her sense of smell and hearing had been messing with her as of late...
Falling back, she moved the Garif's arm to drape around her own shoulders and she hefted his weight so he wasn't completely hanging on Rook. She figured even if it wounded his pride a little more, it'd be eased a little when he was able to rest. The Viera was surprisingly strong too, easing the load of the Garif considerably.
"It won't be much longer, friend."
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Aschen Windseer
Moogle
Equanimity - Screw it, try it all, I say!
Posts: 119
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Post by Aschen Windseer on Nov 6, 2011 18:49:07 GMT -5
Meanwhile, a bit down the path to Jahara, a small gypsy girl with auburn hair and age-and-era-inappropriate clothes watched the battle from a safe distance, through a pair of binoculars. Tapping a shoulder with his foot, one of his guards-women steepened the angle of her giant wall of a shield to make it from a watchtower into a slide. Landing into a walk, Aschen Windseer folded and passed away the binoculars, as he reviewed the result of the battle with some satisfaction. Having regrouped with the personal guard he had lost upon the merge, he found himself with a small entourage of 20 lightly armed women-at-arms, and all the equipment needed to finish his search for his carnival. As for now, the three lilac and light cyan tents and chocobo-pulled cart served as his temporary carnival, the arabesque shelters and diverse dressage seeming to meld quite well with the desert.
<Dear, some warriors from outside of this town are coming close, and seem injured. Can you fetch some supplies?> the "girl" asked one of the heavily-robed women, dressed more appropriately to travel in the desert.
As the woman rushed off for the supplies, Aschen bit the corner of his mouth as he thought, with a minimal sense of guilt. Tactically speaking, he would have had all the advantages had he pushed his unit into countering the attackers. Of course, though, this would have meant spending some resources, and possibly risking a life or two of his own daughters. So, as said, minimal sense of guilt. Just enough that, when blended in with a mite of curiosity, the alchemist felt that it might be entertaining to help with the aftermath. The locals might appreciate the free help anyhow, even though the Windseer caravan had already made most of their provision shopping. Giving out a few more polite orders to his girls, a comfortably padded tent was prepared as a makeshift infirmary, and Aschen passed his hands around his belts before tracing an interception path to the wounded. Two guards-women, exasperated, rushed off to follow their matriarch.
<Mother, are you sure this is a good idea?> <Well, it sounds fun. And speak their language. They might've seen someone or something, right?> he said, pulling out one of his fans and signaling the approaching group. The two young women quickly rushed over to help carry the garif, and like clockwork, were immediately replaced by two others in the lilac garb of the Windseer clan.
The girl in the front seemed odd in her urban clothing from Rook's world, when compared to the others in their native garb. They had tried, but Aschen insisted on using the more distinctive (and revealing) set. But still, it was quite clear who was the boss, although he (she) acted in a pleasantly polite manner, and with a simple common accent he had learned in Balamb. "Thank you for your hard work. I am Aschen H. Windseer, a travelling entertainer, courtesan and alchemist of some renown. Please come this way, I should have a look at your wounds as soon as possible. Our tents are closer than their physician."
With a gesture towards the camp with a folded fan, he changed pace to follow aside the viera, instantly recognizing her race. Aschen successfully contained some more personal interest in her, and looked over her for weapons, although still giving the others similar attention. Walking closer to the woman in the group, although partially out of personal attraction, seemed more natural for him, who came from what they would soon discover to be a predominantly female group.
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Post by Bharune on Jan 19, 2012 19:31:45 GMT -5
‘Akira’, huh? It was an interesting name, he liked it. Rook watched her curiously, his hazel eyes trailing her shapely form and swaying hair before, again, lifting to her ears, but this time his thoughts were more… practical. A viera…she seemed to know some things about the garif race -- had they belonged to the same world originally? They seemed to be similarly themed, for lack of a better word, far more wild and attached to the earth in a way that would seem mystical to the average human. Rook had heard about exotic races and cultures whispered in the back of bars, but he supposed it had never really struck him how close to home it really was. He had met one of the garif before, but… After finally being free to travel from Deling for the first time since the merge, he realized he didn’t recognize his homeland anymore. “Thanks for that,” Rook murmured gratefully when Akira moved to the garif’s other side, helping to ease the load of the heavy creature. The skull-adorned individual himself was beyond complaint at this point, having considerable trouble just managing steady footing much less mustering the energy for indignation. After clearing a few more oddly-shaped rock landmarks, Rook felt his muscles tense with instinctive unease, his eyes darting to the surroundings though no perceivable anomaly triggered his senses. Were they drawing close to Jahara? Were those…tents…in the distance a ways? Rook squinted and lifted a hand to his eyes, but the distance rippled in and out of focus, encouraging an increasingly uncomfortable gnaw of motion sickness. “Hang on a sec,” he said in a low tone to the viera, pausing in his own steps as his arm tightened around the incapacitated garif. “I think someone else is out there. D’you hear anyth—“Before the sentence’s completion left his lips, a trio of women appeared from the dust and winding trail, quickly approaching. Since they seemed neither armed nor threatening it didn’t occur to Rook to draw his weapon, and he didn’t get enough time to think about it before they were suddenly closing in, two of the women gently taking the garif. Exhausted though he made an effort to conceal it, Rook relented easily and allowed them to remove the weight of the wounded creature from his shoulders. Two more ladies flanked the one was apparently in charge, and the boss in question addressed the viera and the Galbadian. But Rook’s head swam and his stomach tightened and churned sickly, causing him to miss the majority of the stranger’s words. He tried to shake the feeling off, brushing his sweat-slicked brow with the back of his hand, but when the ground started to waver he felt his spirit dip. Oh, man… This felt a lot like… It made him think of…that one time…outside of Dollet, those venomous Anacondaurs… “Uhh…I think I need to…” he mumbled, his other hand curling against his stomach as he folded slightly. Poison…? How had he not noticed before? He could see it now, the immediate fatigue that he had blamed on the exertion of the battle, but the sickness had been slow to hit him. Was that what afflicted the garif as well? Was the wound on his back its point of entry? Venom could’ve been on the enemy’s blade or an elemental spell attached to the sword, or… Rook’s body tightened and doubled, and the Galbadian heaved but fought to keep his lunch in his belly. Weakly, he decided spilling his stomach in front of so many pretty gals wouldn’t at all be an attractive sight, but his body insisted on ridding itself of the two bottles of water he’d consumed during his hike. He heaved and vomited the liquid on the desert floor, coughing and spitting once his body decided the purge was complete, attempting in vain to expel the lingering bite of bile from his mouth. Okay…that was sexy… After a pause to make sure there was nothing else, Rook straightened a little, shakily, and lifted a hand to his lips. “Better…get that guy checked out fast…” he mumbled again with difficulty, his tongue thick in his mouth and his breathing heavy in his chest.
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zeekayl
Tonberry
Happiness depends on a leisurley breakfast.
Posts: 42
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Post by zeekayl on Jan 23, 2012 3:07:11 GMT -5
Automatically, Akira was wary of the newcomers--what were they doing out here in this wasteland? They looked like they could be from the Nomad Village that had been near Rabanastre, but where did that go after the Merge? The Viera was still rediscovering all the places that had been shifted, since she didn't trust the maps of the Humes. They often left places out.
The leader spoke then, and the woman lifted a brow. This one didn't smell female, but...at the same time did? What was this? The confusion made Akira scowl inwardly--she hated that her senses were so dulled, even though she'd only been away from the Wood for a few short years. What would her sight and hearing be in the next two? Or three? Would she be as blind and deaf as these humes before her?
....
When the leader--'Aschen'--spoke, Akira snorted a bit in her bitterness, ears flicking in long, irritated sweeps. "I'm not hurt," she said curtly, watching as the strangers took the Garif away. And then she could feel Aschen looking her over for weapons; she clutched Kaleo tightly to herself in a possessive display of slight aggression that could only be interpreted as distrust. However, she froze then, and she sniffed the air for a moment before her mismatched eyes turned to Rook.
"Uh...I think I need to..."
Oh dear lord.
When the man expelled the contents of his stomach, at once Akira wrinkled her nose as the acrid scent of sick hit her, but then had flashes back to that dayin Nabudis. Kaleo; cold, poisoned, probably just as sick as Rook as she fought off that beast. Her heart did an angry and fearful flip in her chest before she felt it nearly come to a halt.
"The Gods aren't on your side today, are they?" she sighed and moved to slide one of her arms around him to support him, holding her weapon with her other hand. Her mood had faded to that of bitter regret rather than indignance, and she felt like such an idiot for not having seen the signs earlier. Rook was a strong man, there was no way that he could be so exhausted so early. True, it had no doubt been a difficult battle, but she had helped dispatch the hunters. So the sweat, the weakness...it had all been poison. Again, she cursed her dulled senses and grit her teeth.
...This was her fault.
"If you can't help him, Ash--Ash---whatever your name is, I won't hesitate to carry them both to Jahara myself."
It was a gross exaggeration of her strength, but it was true nonetheless. She wouldn't have another man die of poison due to her neglegence.
"And Rook--you can't let a bit of poison get to you. If you do, I won't ever get to see that handsome face again."
Though they'd only known eachother for a little bit, she liked the bit of conversation and banter they had shared. Maybe a bit of teasing would boost his will...
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Aschen Windseer
Moogle
Equanimity - Screw it, try it all, I say!
Posts: 119
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Post by Aschen Windseer on Jan 23, 2012 19:05:42 GMT -5
Aschens nose curled a bit, as he stopped necking around Akira's back to look at her rear, and instead at her face. So resentful, so displeased. So (s)he looked back at Akira with the expression of a puppy getting scolded. What was up with giorgios not giving their names, anyhow. And then, upsy and outsy, Rookie spilt his gutsies. The alchemist stared at it, bemused for a moment, with a "Oh hey, vomit. How'd ya like that." A look between Akira, the offending puddle and it's origin, though, made Aschen's personality flip turn suddenly, with a girlish shriek of disgust. After calming back down to a mildly entertained manner, he tip-toed slightly over, making a few gestures at his guards, as he leaned slightly over the rejected bodily fluids. And sampled some with the tip of his finger. For a moment, a flicker of extreme attention and deep thought passed through his face. And then, another shiver and squeak of disgust. Of course, not that much disgust as he had shown, to be certain, since he quickly went over to Rook, took a few sniffs, and then licked one of his wounds (much to the guard's distress). After another split second of contemplation, he gestured again, and the two guardswomen hurriedly scooped up the gentleman, rushing to the tent.
"No need for gods." Aschen begun, as he rushed behind the guards. Noticing he had forgotten something, he runned back to Akira, grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her along. Seemingly, the "girl" was fast. And thinking, since his eyes kept trying to read a book in the back of his skull a few times. "Ah'm a goddess of poisons, myself. Not that ah know this one, but still. Optimism~!"
In the brief instant it took them to reach the tents, the central one was just being finished up to receive the guests. Inside, several piles of pillows, over a simple carpet, had been covered with some bedsheets, where the wounded were carefully laid. "Ah dunno what 'es been poisoned with." Ashcen stated briefly, as he begun sorting through a few vials on his waist, and another few inside an open basket. Although his gypsy accent transpired through, it was still understandable. Even if relaxed, maybe even entertained, it was time for business. "Ah'm partially immune to it, tho, s'let's try seein' if 'e can weather it wi' help."
This said, a fan was drawn, as Aschen kneeled into a sitting position next to the two casualties, his back to the rest. "Human." in a suddenly frigid, quiet tone that contrasted highly to the exuberance from before. And a sniff. "Garif." And another sniff. A few vials were shuffled, and with a few wavings of a fan, a sparkling perfume was spread. Another potion was removed from the basket, and the cork unceremoniously bitten and spat aside, the contents of the small bottle being applied to the Garif. "Scents of similar to Nightshade. Other fungal type, unknown. Notes of acrid wooden component. Unknown. Common poison." Mental notes taken, partially, vocally to be heard, so that an apprentice of his, now down to a belly-dancer like dress, could quickly assist. Some short discussion was had, in alchemical terms, and some potions were combined and administered, as well as a few perfumes. The apprentice girl, not much older than 14, panicked for a moment when wounds regenerating were followed by a worsening of the obvious symptoms. But a flick of the apparently younger masters fan stopped the problems, and the regeneration. After some time, they had stabilized the progress, even though the gariff fainted mid-way, and was now sleeping deeply.
From his work, Aschen turned his head and gave Akira a bright smile. "So, we don't know exactly what kind of poison this is, but since it's simple enough, we've figured out how to treat it." said the smaller "girl", as he browsed through his apothecary with his hands, picking out another few vials. Administering Rook a few drops, to keep him up and aware, even though slightly in pain, Aschen begun petting the Galbadian. "Now we keep handsome here stable, an' ah'll 'ave my devotchkas sen' big-un 'ere back to the village. Ah'm better wi' humans."
"As fer now, y'two have a few questions, no? Ah need a smoke. None fer you, ashtray breath."
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Post by Bharune on Jan 25, 2012 22:44:01 GMT -5
The wounded Galbadian cast the viera a half-hearted, forced grin when she moved to his side to help support him, but the playful retort slipped from his lips and mind as the oppressive assault of the poison caused his consciousness to buckle. He fell into that blackness, his sudden, dead weight undoubtedly heavy for the female despite her strength. The next hour or so was a blur to the afflicted brunette, who drifted close to and far from consciousness, his mind struggling to wake while his body insisted that sleep was the better option. He was distantly aware of movement, then softness, of voices and complicated scents, of people moving around him and the dull ache of his body compounded with the sharp sickness. Eventually he returned to the physical world, though he felt like shit. It was pretty clear to him that whatever poison he’d been smacked with hadn’t originated from his world, as he was quite accustomed to the venoms and magical toxins of local fiends and many distant ones -- being a military man and all – so his body was at least moderately adapted to handle those ailments. Welcome to the merged world… With a groan, the brunette rolled onto his stomach and crossed his arms under his head, his back displaying the worst of his wounds by far. Even with the spells and regeneration, it was sore, and he wasn’t keen on laying on it. He caught sight of Akira, the gypsy girl who’d approached them, and a few others. His brow furrowed slightly, but his hazel eyes were still a bit distant as if his thoughts were on the sluggish side – which they were. Whatever Aschen (hey, he remembered this time) gave him, though, was slowly kicking his brain back into gear. “M’quittin’…” he mumbled when Aschen remarked about smoking, still not feeling up to moving much. Was this Jahara…? Strange, he hadn’t been expecting so many humans…. Or so many women. Young women. Unmoving, Rook’s brow knitted faintly again, regarding the leader who was caressing him lightly. He wondered absently if she was even of age...hopefully she didn’t flirt with him – that’d be awkward since he wasn’t into minors – but he was grateful for her quick care. He wondered if he’d be charged…he brought a little gil with him from Deling, but some people didn’t accept foreign currency especially if the place wasn’t a large city… “Thanks, darlin’,” he managed out, his voice a little gruff. “I’ll be fine. Whatta ‘bout the big guy?”He’d made it too, right? The ex-soldier tilted his head slightly to glance in Akira’s direction, though he didn’t lift it from his crossed arms. He offered her another grin, weakened yet somehow still spirited. “Hey, look who waited for me,” he teased quietly, his throat and tongue dry though he didn’t feel like shifting enough to find his bottle. “Were you worried ‘bout lil’ ole me?”He was surprised, a bit. With the viera’s cold reaction to the hunters and then the gypsies, he hadn’t thought her soft-hearted enough to have concern for someone she had just met. He was grateful, either way – at least there was someone with a familiar face. After his words, his attention strayed from Akira to survey as much of the inside of the tent as he could without actually moving. “This Jahara…?”
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zeekayl
Tonberry
Happiness depends on a leisurley breakfast.
Posts: 42
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Post by zeekayl on Jan 30, 2012 16:29:46 GMT -5
Akira watched in both interest and concern, having leaned against a neraby piece of furniture with her one long leg crossed over the other. Every now and again she would sneeze due to the perfume, or her ears would flick to pick up some sort of noise, but other than that she was silent. She was concerned for Rook, yes, but part of it was fed by her own guilt. She'd been unable to save a poisoned man once, and she wouldn't have another death caused by her neglegence scar her conscience. She looked to the entrance of the tent, one ear swivelled in the direction of the gypsy woman and Rook. One could tell from her mismatched eyes that her thoughts were far off, replaying a memory that would best be left to the sands of time. But when Aschen spoke again and the injured hume took a moment to say a few words, she glanced back over. Rook's smile suceeded in disarming her for a moment--he really was okay, and that was relieving. But then the Viera tossed him a crooked grin of her own and tapped one long nailed finger against the armor on her arm, making a little 'clink' noise as she did so. "I wouldn't say worried," she teased, grin still in place, "maybe mildly concerned." Aschen spoke then, about having questions, and the Viera paused a moment before turning her eyes in the young woman's direction. She contemplated for a moment, absently chewing her lip with the little 'clink clink clink' of her nail tapping her armor. There were several questions she had, but for now... "There are only two I can call to mind. Why are you camped so close to Jahara, and do you have anything to do with the hunters who slaughtered a group of the Garif?"That was her main concern--the safety of her Garif friends and finding those responsible for their deaths. Rook's safety mattered too, of course, as she could certainly respect and admire a warrior of his prowess. She'd seen how he took care of a few of those hunters, and it would be a shame to see him die. What had he been doing out all alone anyway...? "And I will be more than willing to go with the Garif--I have business to attend to in the village."
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