[Meta-Insp BATT] Only You Can Start Wildfires [Athenefax]

[thyPOPE]

The intended title for this RP was 'Sweet Forest Lusus Smokey the Bear Says Only You Can Start Wildfires'.  

[thyPOPE]

Alifax had slowed to a walk.

Wasn't that nice? With the pinkblood - Byakko, apparently - handled and Sarcel having apparently squared away a second treasonous troll (was there a better word for it?), Alifax felt it was long past time to relax. Of course, that didn't mean his work was done. The nature of life was such that work, no matter what it was, couldn't be completed. But it meant the task ahead was easier. Besides, he was fairly certain Kursha and Lorata had a handle on the kid and adult they'd spent the better part of the past couple days tracking.

So Alifax had opted to head back to the main group of trolls on his own, for now. He'd probably travel with them for a few days, seeking the subset of the rebellion that had the captured mother grub in their hands. But he didn't feel the need to hurry. He knew where to find them, and besides...wasn't it a bit more likely that they'd find the rebels if they spread out a little? At least this way he could do a little reconnaissance.

So he was walking through the swamp: which wasn't to say he was oblivious. He was certainly keeping an eye out. That was just what Alifax did. But he couldn't see anything approaching the size of a mother grub nearby.

PeanutButterPies doesn't need to be requoted

 

[grayseasons]

The swamp was still disgusting and Athene was starting to regret not taking off her boots. The fur was gross and the water was starting to get in them and she just wanted to get to drier land.

Which is why she had strayed from the main group to go see if there was any higher land to get on, maybe make this journey easier for the mother grub. And, ok, herself too. It wasn't like anyone actually liked the swamp though so honestly, she was doing everyone a favor by looking.

She was keeping her eyes open as she looked though, still aware of the dangers. Already she felt unnerved by the eyes that she knew were around, had seen before. It was a small wonder this place was uninhabited. Already ahead it looked like there was another troll but she couldn't see if it was someone friendly or just another bush playing tricks on her again.

thyPOPE does not need a quote for a tag fix kthx

saving the trees

 

[thyPOPE]

Movement was surprisingly easy to spot in the swamp.

Most things seemed to enjoy staying below the surface of the water, and if not, they tended to be buzzing insects that moved slowly. The swamp was accustomed to a sluggish pace, except for when there was danger afoot. Then everything fled. Up ahead, though, there was a shape that wasn't fleeing. As Alifax approached he began to recognize it - those strangely-shaped horns, the coiffed hair, the clothing, which was utterly out of place for the middle of the swamp during the dry season.

Then again, Alifax could concede that the traitors hadn't seen Kursha coming. They weren't dressed for practicality. That, and the memory of the face itself - Athene, from Vrykol's shop, who'd he'd later glimpsed striking Kursha during that long chase through the caves...how long ago had that been?

Not very long. But so much had happened.

Well, he couldn't think on it for very long. All he had to do was run for it, while she wasn't quite focused on him. And so he did, but unfortunately the converse of the swamp was that it was hazy, and hard to see in. And there was a vine in his way, which he'd done great at downing. He just hadn't managed to, er, touch Athene. Whoops.

PeanutButterpies

HP: 20/20
novice agility b trinket
novice defense b trinket
military grade meteor hammers  

[grayseasons]

The bush-maybe-a-troll, in fact, turning out to not be a bush as Athene was coming to find out. Mostly from the fact that she had been charged straight at, which was something that bushes very distinctly could not do. Unless this swamp had somehow mutated them.

But no, it was just a troll, and a redblood at that. Very faintly she recognized him from somewhere, mind reeling to place him. Ali.. Alibax? Something like that, he was from the shop she faintly remembered.

Not that it mattered much now when it seemed like he was coming at her with the intent to kill. She stumbled back several steps, nearly tripping over something as she flailed and tried to get back. She didn't even manage to get her weapon out, some defense this was going to be.

thyPOPE i keep forgetting stuff

HP: 20/20
 

[thyPOPE]

Gritting his teeth, Alifax set his meteors alight with just a thought. If he didn't hit her, he'd at least hit her environment, right? And that would prevent her from getting away?

The problem was, the environment was nothing like the one he'd captured Byakko in. Well, okay: it was still a swamp. But Alifax had selected that area carefully for the ambush, and he'd prepped it by moving the flora in their vicinity to border them. It'd been easy, then, to light everything on fire. Now the distant meteor, which he'd just tossed at Athene, just fell limply into the swampwater with a splash. A splash that, unfortunately, put the fire out.

Damnit. Alifax was too worn out to reliably produce more flame.

PeanutButterpies

HP: 20/20
novice agility b trinket
novice defense b trinket
military grade meteor hammers  

[grayseasons]

Just when everything could not possibly get worse, Athene watched as he set his weapon on fire. Her eyes widened as she scrambled backwards, hands fumbling to get her own weapon out. What was it with trolls with powers trying to kill her today? Did she have a giant target drawn on her?

Through a combination of luck and possibly her ability to step out of danger, the fire things missed her. She only had barely managed to get her garrote out though, with not enough time to attack. Not that it would matter as she kept on backing away from him, Athene wasn't close enough to anyways.

thyPOPE

HP: 20/20
 

[thyPOPE]

********, ********, ********. She'd taken out her weapon, too, which meant that she wouldn't be fumbling for much longer. Alifax hadn't pressed the advantage of surprise as much as he'd have liked to.

Did it matter? No, he reminded himself. He was a capable troll, and he had the upper hand, here. All he need to do was keep her engaged...right? Maybe he could slowly direct her toward the main body of royalists as they fought...

Actually, the thing was: in real fights, there wasn't much time for that kind of strategic planning. With Byakko (he kept thinking back to her) he'd had time to think ahead. Now he just struck out with his meteors, as quickly as he dared. He just needed to hit her, or keep her here, at least.

not actually PeanutButterpies

HP: 20/20
novice agility b trinket
novice defense b trinket
military grade meteor hammers
2 damage done  

[grayseasons]

s**t, it seemed that whatever luck she had was gone as she felt his weapon bite into her arm. It was only a graze though, one that stung, but it was still something. She muttered a curse as she shifted, moving forward to attack Alicax.

Her garrote didn't have the range that his weapon did, but she still had a cutting force with it and she flicked it out, hoping the wire would hit him somewhere and cut deep. If anything, the handle stung horrendously, something she knew from personal experience.

But if there was anything else that was more important than surviving this battle it was keeping him away from the grub. He probably hadn't realized where she had come from and that was an advantage, but she had to keep that up.

thyPOPE

HP: 18/20
6 dmg

[thyPOPE]

That thing more than stung: it smarted, and in its wake was an exposed line of red blood. Alifax glanced down at it. Now, exposed blood he didn't mind so much, normally. And it was true that he was within reach of the remainder of the royal forces, where Frossa waited with her medkit. But the problem was: walking distance while generally healthy was very different from walking distance with a wound exposed to open air. It could get infected, he remembered from the classes he'd taken, and he wasn't sure whether he'd have time to cauterize it before...

Wait, wait. He should be backing away, for a bit, not standing around thinking about his stupid wound when he'd just personally engaged another troll in a real, actual fight. He did so hastily, glancing up at Athene to see what she was going to do next.

PeanutButterpies

HP: 14/20
novice agility b trinket
novice defense b trinket
military grade meteor hammers  

[grayseasons]

Blood, she had drawn blood, that was something. A glance down at her weapon reminded her that Kursha's was on there too, the green staining the handles more than anything else. Or well, was staining one handle as far as she could see. She hadn't quite managed to grab it when it came back, it slipping out of her grip. Her hand were jittering too, making getting it back harder. It wasn't required to hold both but she got more impact with both and it was just better overall.

Then she looked up with fear as she realized she had been messing with trying to get her handle far too long and had missed a chance to attack. What a mess this was.

thyPOPE I CANT CLOSE MY TAGS APPARENTLY ALRIGHT

HP: 18/20
0 dmg
 

[thyPOPE]

And what she was doing was...looking at her handle. Great. Alifax smiled slightly and spun his meteors in his hands. He was waiting for her to turn just so -

Yes! There was the opening. He darted forward, aiming his meteor at her shoulders. Sure, the swampwater had taken care of the burn already, but that didn't mean he couldn't make this hurt.

"Hey - is the rest of your group near?" he panted as he watched the hammer head fly toward its target. It was obvious what he meant by the question, although he didn't really expect her to even pretend to answer it.

PeanutButterpies

HP: 14/20
novice agility b trinket
novice defense b trinket
military grade meteor hammers
5 damage done  

[grayseasons]

Obviously he was going to take that wide opening she had left him, what with fumbling with her weapon. It was almost slow motion as the thing hit her shoulder, Athene almost dropping back as the force hit her. s**t, did that hurt. Already she could feel the bruise and blood that was going to come from it.

She geared up to take her opportunity though, this time aiming for his hand. It'd be helpful if she could get him to drop the weapon he had. "Would it just be me fighting you if they were?" She bit back, realizing now that she really had to keep him from where the group was.

thyPOPE erp

HP: 13/20
6 dmg
 

[thyPOPE]

If Alifax respected anything, it was metal. It was harder to melt than most substances, and tended to be sturdy and firm. Still, he didn't usually give thin wires much thought at all. What could they do against blunt force? What of fire, which could melt down a strand that thin easy? But the swamp's heavy humidity was already quashing his flames, and the other thing about wire was that it was hard to see, and thus hard to aim for. He couldn't have melted her little thing down unless they were in a controlled setting, and it wasn't moving.

The sharpness of the wire's edge was painful, even though the garrote clearly had a different purpose. But as hard as Alifax was finding dealing with the weapon, there was no way he'd stay still long enough for Athene to be able to get that thing around his neck.

As if to emphasize the thought, he swung out with his meteors again. He left her question unanswered: he'd have thought on it, but that was a mistake in the midst of battle. Maybe he'd look around in the area when this was all over, and she was in his grasp. There had to be some sort of tracks, at least, right?

PeanutButterpies doesn't need an extra quote

HP: 8/20
novice agility b trinket
novice defense b trinket
military grade meteor hammers
3 damage done  

[grayseasons]

There was no reply to her question, but it didn't really need one. Athene's intent was clear, as was his, and now it was just who would get to their objective first.

If it was by weapons though, he would be the clear winner. Whatever he had was sturdy, durable, and ******** horrible to get hit by. If she wasn't getting hit by it, she'd admire it. Maybe even compliment it. As it was, she was trying to stay out of it but his aim was good and she grit her teeth as it hit her again, green blood welling up. Too many injuries in one day, she though to herself, as she lashed out again.

She definitely had to keep him away, he was too smart for his own good. While she didn't think too poorly of the rebellion, in this swamp, he would definitely be a menace to them.

thyPOPE

HP: 10/20
6 dmg