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 Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:07 am
This Quest is for Oulixes who is striving to become a Knight.
OOC
||. You may not control any NPCs or other characters; Oulixes must face his trials alone.
||. Respond to the prompts given as you would any other RP.
||. Your responses may be as long or short as you feel necessary.
IC
Something wasn't quite right this morning, everything was too still. Too quiet. Where were the normal sounds of the forest? The birds had gone silent, the bugs holding their own voices. There was only the sound of the wind groaning ominously through the trees, the creak of branches bending to it. The sun had barely risen and it was surprisingly cool for the balmy forest. So what could have caused this patch of the world to grow so still? It was as if the forest was holding its breath for something to happen… waiting...
A sudden explosion of noise, the flap of wings, the protesting screeches of birds as they launched themselves desperately into the air. What was coming? Flocks of birds fled and ground animals ran away from something and they didn't stop to rest or pay any mind to earthlings as they ran past. In the distance there was the sound of something cracking. Like branches being snapped in two… if one was to be at the top of a tree they would see the something causing trees to shudder and shake in a haphazardly path that still lead undoubtedly in Oulixes direction.
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 9:26 pm
Oulixes opened his eyes slowly, finding himself starring up through the branches of the tree he was laying in, and it took a while for his mind to really seem to wrap around where it was that he was at. Jauhar...? When was the last time that he'd been here? He really couldn't say, not really. The tournament, perhaps? Though he wasn't sure if that counted since it wasn't as though he had wandered around the forest then, he'd just stayed until the end before he'd vanished into the wilds of Tale again. Before that then, the last time he'd really talked with Yaholo? He nodded slowly as he pushed himself to sitting up, recalling that time with the other halfbreed, the time that they had gotten close and then Oulixes had done what he often did when things got too serious, he'd fled.
Here he was again though, within the wilds of Jauhar, and he really couldn't recall how he'd gotten here. Last he could really recall he was in Zena, under lock and key, his father not wanting his little indiscretion running around wild any longer. How had he gotten here? Had Hesutu gotten him out? Had Bergchi answered his prayers? Or was it something else entirely? A dream perhaps? How he'd ended up in Jauhar was completely beyond him and there was a moment that he was sitting there that he found himself wondering what he should do with this sudden freedom... that was until he realized that it all seemed rather quiet, didn't it? Was it ever this quiet? Normally there were so many animals that were going on and on to the point that they were rather grating but now, now it was painfully quiet.
It didn't last though. The silence was ripped apart and soon enough it was as though everything was moving at once, the birds fleeing from something rather large coming toward where he was standing. He wasn't high up enough that he could see where it was but given the sounds of trees snapping in the distance, a sound that was getting closer to where he was standing, he felt that maybe he aught to get higher to try to get a good look at what was coming toward him, "Feh, so much for a moment of peace." He muttered to himself, dodging a few fleeing birds, as he tried to get a higher perch.
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:42 pm
Creatures fled past, whether in the air, the ground or through the branches of the trees. More than once an animal was startled by the stillness which was Oulixes and had to veer off drastically around the young warrior. It seemed in their flight confronting Oulixes was not in their agenda. Even larger creatures that would normally jump at the chance to pick a fight with an earthling seemed to know better and only gave him a passing glance before moving past.
The sound... was getting closer and as it approached fewer and fewer animals were to be seen. They were smart enough to get their distance from whatever was coming. Suddenly from the trees a creature unlike ever seen before emerged. A slender head attached to a long and lean body. At the ends of its hands long claws helped it for climbing, a tail for keeping it balance. A shaggy coat revealed it was not from around these parts... for such a fur coat would become a burden in the humidity. A long snout and a strange looking nose... as if little tentacles had been stuck there to look like a star. Upon closer inspection it had no eyes, or at least only slits where eyes should have been. Lifting its muzzle into the air it sniffed and giving a hiss it suddenly turned it head in Oulixes' direction.
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 5:57 pm
It was an almost chilling thing, to have large, dangerous beasts go racing passed him, only bothering to spare him a glance. It was as though something like him wasn't even worth their time, time that was better spent fleeing. That meant that whatever they were running away from was something pretty well awful, huh? He gave a slight shiver despite the warmth of Jauhar's forest before he turned his attention toward where the various beasts were running away from, then starred at what it was that came forth.
"What in the ffff..." He trailed off, his yellow eyes going quite wide, before he swallowed hard. What in the world...? He'd never see anything like it before, something with an odd, shaggy coat, a weird tentacle adorned face, and... no eyes? Just looking at the thing made it easy to see why the other creatures were running from it. It was a rather disturbing creature for sure, and it had to be something dangerous as well. He could only hope that the fact that it didn't have eyes would allow him to get away in the same way that the hordes of beasts had done. The moment he thought that though the creature gave a hissing sound, turning toward where he was standing.
There was a moment where Oulixes froze in place, as though hoping it might not notice him if he stayed still... but then he realized how stupid that sounded. It had no eyes so it wasn't looking for movement... but could it hear it? Or was it smelling him with that weird nose of its? Damn it, how did the weird looking thing track? Did it know he was here? Should he go for a weapon? His gaze lowered to his side and he realized he was currently without his swords... meaning he needed a makeshift weapon. Damn it all he thought to himself as he flicked his eyes from side to side, spotting a hefty branch not that far off. Maybe... maybe that would help?
He could only hope so he thought as he started to move slowly and carefully toward the branch, needing a weapon of some sort if the weird tentacle beast came after him.
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:41 am
Another hiss emitted from the strange and scary looking creature, it cocked its head as if trying to listen for Oulixes but its hearing wasn't nearly as sensitive as its sense of smell. Without another sound it moved forward, it wasn't exactly the most graceful of creatures. It lumbered its way through the tree branches, its claws leaving deep scars into the bark showing how heavy the creature must be.
It only paused to sniff the air before realigning itself to continue its rather hurried and murderous rampage in Oulixes' direction. It cared for nothing else, and strangely seemed intent on the earthling hybrid. Why though? Why would a creature like this be after an earthling? As it got closer a strange looking harness could be seen under the shaggy fur of the beast. A harness? What in the world would have this thing as a pet?
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:50 pm
Oulixes grabbed up his tree branch, pointing it at the weird creature, then blinked as he saw the harness that it wore as the weird thing came closer to him. He blinked a couple times then cursed to himself. It was a pet? A hunting beast, perhaps? What if his father had sent it? What if it was tracking him to catch him again? The idea of it sent a shiver through him. He wasn't quite sure how he'd gotten to Jauhar in the first place but if he was really here, if he wasn't having some strange fever dream, then he wasn't going back. He was going to have to retreat, to get away from this beast, and hope that whoever had harnessed it would give up after a while.
He took a couple steps back, considering his options. He could go up, higher into the trees or he could head down to the ground. He found himself wondering which the better option was. He'd guess that, given the sheer weight of the creature, that up was the best idea. If he got to the smaller branches maybe they would snap under the creature's weight and send it plummeting to the forest floor? The problem being that he wasn't as graceful as the Shifters in this area, he might very well fall as well. It was a risk that he would have to take though, if he dropped to the ground the creature would have a far easier time running him down and making short work of him... at least if it was an attack beast. If not it would have little trouble pinning him down before its handlers appeared and dealt with Oulixes.
While neither option really sat well with him he felt that at least he knew which one might benefit him more. As such he threw his stick at the creature, hoping to distract it, before he started to climb, "I'd like to say the morning started out well." He muttered to himself, wishing that was so, but he couldn't even say that. Damn it!
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Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:04 am
The creature rushed forward, blindly although eerily agile for being up in the trees. Though still not suited for the tree tops as its claws dug into branches and more often than not stripped the bark right off of it as if lumbering forward. It gave a chilling hissing shriek as it neared, pausing only moments to reorient itself as Oulixes climbed higher into the branches. Snapping its sharp teeth together as if agitated, it apparently wasn't so stupid to move upwards, but something was compelling it.
After a few halted seconds it began to climb looking rather irritated (if that was possible) as it went higher into the tree after Oulixes. Soon enough the branches began to creak and protest under the thing's weight, it gave another hissing growl tossing its head as if trying to resist some force telling it to move. Suddenly the branch gave away, a startled yelp and the thing plummeted to the forest floor. It landed with a solid thud and was still a moment before it rose up onto its feet and shook his head.
It snapped and snarled as it turned it head to face something else, and a figure emerged from the shadows raising a hand a spark of magic zipping forward to land on the beasts muzzle. A chittering started as another of these figure came up from behind the beast muzzle in hand as well a thick rope. Soon enough the creature was subdued; calmed by some strange herbs rubbed into its muzzle. The chattering and clacking continued as if both of the new comers were having an argument before a portal opened and three more figures emerged.
Attention drawn to the three, one...was a young lad struggling in the grasp of their kidnappers. A ...young boy...Oulixes would recall meeting once before.
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 4:36 am
The fact that the beast was continuing to follow him up the tree was something a bit shocking to him. It was something that caused him to scramble up that much faster, almost certain that the thing wasn't going to give up until it was able to get his claws and teeth on him. His heart was thudding almost painfully in his chest as he continued his climb up, checking over his shoulder from time to time, then gave a shaky breath when the tree seemed to give in before the beast did and the weird looking beast suddenly fell out of the tree and to the ground. Much to his growing surprise the creature actually got back up despite it's loud, painful decent to the ground.
"What the hell is with that thing." He muttered to himself, watching as the creature it seemed to react to something else that was in the forest along with them. He could only hope that whatever it was it would caught the weird creature's interest and allow him to escape. It was a nice thought and one that he was about to act on when a figure appeared and muzzled the creature that had been after him. It was something that he hadn't expecting, that such a weird monster would have an owner. He almost felt bad that he'd nearly gotten it killed... that was until he realized what was in charge of the beast. Was that... one of those odd men that he'd met some time ago? Squatting down on his perch he watched the bug man as he set to taking the weird beast with some herbs, "Useful trick." He told himself, wishing he'd had some of those on hand.
A short while later more of them joined the ones with the beast, putting him on edge. He'd tussled with a single one of them in the past but this many of them, this was different. He should just fall back... or at least that was what he was thinking until he spotted someone else with them, someone he knew, and it made his eyes go rather wide, "Ahhh...? What?!" It was that kid again, the one he'd met some time ago though he was looking a bit older since it had been a little while since he'd last seen him. A part of him wanted to yell at the kid, to demand to know why he kept getting into trouble... but he figured yelling would be a bad idea. Instead he would need to see about getting down and retrieving the kid from those strange men. He wasn't sure what was going on with them but he was starting to think those odd men didn't much like that kid's family.
Moving closer to the base of the tree Oulixes pressed closer to it and started to make his way down the tree as slowly, carefully, and quietly as he could since he didn't want to let them know exactly where he was. He wanted to be sneaky after all, to see if there was an opening for him to snatch the kid back from them. Once he'd saved him then he'd demand to know what was going on with him.
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Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:13 am
The bug people seemed to be arguing with each other, the hissing and clicking was mimicked by violent hand gestures announcing that they were not pleased at all. The one holding the little boy looked irritated to be the one in charge of keeping him in check. Another angry gesture at the beast and then up at the tree that it fell from and all heads then turned to look up at that tree as if hoping to catch a glimpse of the one they were pursuing. They hadn't noticed that he had moved down the tree and that was probably for the best.
One snapped its weird claw like fingers and a spark of flame lit the tips, it gestured at the tree as if suggesting they just burn it down. Another argument ensued, obviously the other two had different ideas on how to proceed. The beast was gestured at again by its handler, it was still calmly inhaling the herb mixture applied to its nostrils. The third holding the boy named Ikamos, reached for a short sword and indicated killing their hostage.
Another hissing click of noise. The other two didn't want the boy killed, or the use of the unpredictable creature, but neither could they agree on what to do next. As if playing the blame game on each other for the failed recapture of Oulixes, first with transporting him to the wrong spot, then the beast not being able to grab him efficiently, it was a mess of hot words and anger.
The boy was gagged but struggling, though if he struggled too much the one keeping him captive would tighten its grip and threaten him with the tip of its blade.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:17 am
The moment his feet touched the ground Oulixes was lowering himself down into a squatting position, trying to get a better feel for what to do next. The three men weren't the biggest of his problems here, no, that would that big beast. Though that was tied with the fact that they were holding that boy hostage, threatening him with a weapon. There was a moment in which hand hand went to his side where his twins swords had once hung. Now they were the property of his b*****d of a father and here he was out numbered and out classed... but he couldn't very well run even if a voice in his head told him that was the smart thing to do. Running had helped him to stay ahead of all of the dangers that he'd faced in the past after all. At the same time he knew that when he actually stood with his eyes forward, not running but instead taking some initiative, he'd actually been able to land a blow on his father. He had paid for it, sure, but it had been worth it.
He couldn't run, which meant that he had to... fight? Looking at the men, at what they were, a part of him couldn't help but to be angry at himself. This was all his fault, the fact that the boy was caught up in this mess a second time, the fact that these men were scurrying around the area, had he killed the other one last time there would have been no one left that could bring the information back to the rest of his people. He should have been more dececive, more brutal, more... well, his father. Instead he'd allowed the bug man to live, something that he was starting to think was a bit of a mistake. It was one that he had to rectify no matter the cost, not to mention that he had to save that boy from these men, to make sure that they didn't hurt him.
If only he could understand what they were chattering about then at least he might understand better what they were after. It was a language that was lost on him though, leaving him in the dark as his amber eyes flickered from side to side, seeking out a weapon that might aid him in his quest to save the boy. It took a moment of searching but he found something that he could only hope would help, that being a long, thick stick, one about as big around as his forearm. It had some heft to it so maybe he could use it to knock them out? Though even if he were lucky enough to do so the beast would likely get him... but it would be worth it provided that he could free the boy. He had a long life ahead of him, a mother that loved him, a father that had loved him too and died too early, Oulixes had nothing.
Sure, out there somewhere, was Yaholo, but given how they had parted ways last he doubted the guy still thought about him, he'd probably moved on, and that was for the best. He wouldn't have him dragged into any of his problems and this was yet another one of those problems that seemed to be piling up around him, threatening to bury him. Tightening his hands on his makeshift weapon he dragged in a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment, giving himself a moment to try to collect himself, before he moved through the underbrush as carefully as he could toward the closest of them, the one holding the boy. If he could just deck him hard enough, now while the other two were yelling at each other, perhaps at least he could get away from here? He just had to look for his opening and then strike...
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:20 pm
Time was a wasting the bug men knew this and though they couldn't come to any concrete decision one thing for certain was one of them seemed to be preparing some sort of spell on the ground. Using a stick to roughly make circles and other strange markings. What were they doing? Were they summoning more friends? This could be very bad if completed, for who knew what could happen once the spell was finished.
The one man with the beast shook his head, looking up into the branches above curiously as if wondering... why their prey hadn't moved in awhile. The beast shifted under its handlers hand seemingly disinterested in what was going on as long as it had the herbs to smell. It did however tilt its head slightly and in the direction it heard something indicating that though pacified it still could sense where Oulixes was. Good thing its handler was looking up at this moment.
The third holding Ikamos was getting antsy and sheathing his blade at the adamant clicks and hiss from its comrades reached into its satchel and pulled out some thick rope. Going to tie the boys hands and ankles, it managed the hands before it was roughly kicked in the face by the young boy. Ikamos tried to flee, the spell was interrupted if only a moment as the Beast Handler kept his creature under check (though it seemed hardly interested in perusing anyone at this point) whilst the magic user had to stop drawing its pattern in the dirt to roughly grab ahold of the boy's arm. Ikamos didn't get far, but perhaps he had caused enough of a distraction....
[The summoning spell must be prevented from being completed, write out how Oulixes manages to go about to do this. Whether he takes out the bug men or makes alterations to the pattern write up until he manages to succeed in stopping the spell. It can be as short or as long as you feel to complete the task.]
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:53 am
Oulixes crouched down low to the ground, tightening his hand on the stick he was carrying, watching as the bug men set to work doing... something. It seemed as though they were drawing something strange on the ground, symbols of some sort, stuff that was pretty lost on him but he had a feeling that it wasn't a good thing. What were they up to? Magic of some sort he assumed and he felt that nothing good could come of it, not given the way that they were going about it. There was just something about the air around those men that just put him on edge. He didn't know a thing about magic, it wasn't something that he was able to do himself, but it wasn't smething that he should allowed them to do. He'd already allowed that other one to get away when he'd first met up with that race and it had only led to the kid getting caught.
Alright, so he had to do something to stop this, to make up for what he'd done, Oulixes thought to himself, creeping forward a little more toward the bug men. He had to get the child free of them, stop this magical ceremony, and deal with these bug men, as well as their pet. Well, maybe not the creature, it was only following orders and he would feel bad killing the thing, but what about their owners? Should he kill them? He couldn't really say what his plan was but he supposed that he'd just have to play it by ear. First thing was first, he had to get the boy out of their grasp he told himself, watching the way that one of them seemed to be struggling to try to tie the boy, getting a kick to the face for his efforts. He gave a slight nod of his head, pleased to see that the kid wasn't just lying down and just letting the bugs push him around, Ikamos was a lot stronger then Oulixes had been at that age he thought to himself. A good sign, it meant that he wouldn't hesitate once Oulixes saw an opening to free him from the clutches of those dangerous bug men. That opening came in the form of Ikamos trying to flee.
As he came forward toward Oulixes's hiding place the scarred up halfbreed dragged in a deep breath, preparing himself for what was to come. The moment he made himself know the battle would be on after all. When one of the bug men went after the boy, something that brought the drawing the of the magic circles to a halt. He wondered, was that one the only one that knew how to draw those circles? He had no idea, but it really would be convienient if that were the case. For the moment he felt that he should treat it as such. Taking in another breath he lunged forward, bringing the heavy stick up in a wide, upward arch, cracking it against the lower jaw of the bug man, causing him to actually lift up off the ground before falling to the ground on his back. From there Oulixes grabbed hold of Ikamos, dragging the boy behind him with one hand while he used the other to whip the stick through the air and down onto the one sedate beast.
The stick flew end over end through the air and came down with a loud 'THUNK' sound on the strange looking beast's head... and all hell seemed to break loose as the effects of the herbs seemed to get negated with pain and the creature whirled around to face where Oulixes was standing, "That worked a little too well." He muttered to himself before he gave Ikamos a shove into the closest patch of under brush before he raced toward the magic circle and then over it, the beast following along in hot pursuit. He had no idea how long he'd be able to out run the creature but he did his best to get the creature to following after him, hoping that it would tear up the circle under its clawed feet. Oulixes duck and weaved best that he could, continuing to lead the creature across those strange markings as much as he could.
How long he'd be able to keep the pace that kept him out of the creature's reach was the question, but he meant to do all that he could... and maybe if he were lucky he might be able to get back to where his makeshift weapon had landed? Better some sort of weapon then no weapon at all he felt given that there was still the beast to deal with as well as the bug men, only one of which might be out of commission. At least he hoped that he'd taken one of them out because otherwise he would be even more severely out numbered then he already was. Bad enough that, aside from the angry beast there were at least two other bug men, already more then he could probably handle without a weapon.
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:58 am
With the sudden appearance of their quarry attacking them, not only managing to knock one of their comrades senseless but managing to make their creature go into a blinding rage. It was chaos as the other two bug men suddenly had to deal with the raging beast and try not to get themselves mauled by its knife like claws.
As Ikamos was dragged away by Oulixes the boy at first tried to get away from him, as if he wasn't sure what was going on or who it was that was trying to rescue him. Desperately he had tried to get Oulixes to let go, but once he actually figured out it wasn't a bug like grasp but a human's he calmed down slightly. His head bolted up to catch a look at his rescuer and he found his breath catch. It was...it was him! It was Oulixes who had rescued him before!
"Wo..wow! You are amazing!" Ikamos managed in a gasp as they ran along, his shorter legs having a hard time keeping up with him. Looking over his shoulder his eyes went wide as he gave a quick shout of warning. A blast of fire was heading their way, and not just one but several! Some of the fire was aimed directly towards them and others were hurled in front of them as if they were being herded in a particular direction. Wait ...were they looping back?!
"Oulixes! The...there...are mo..more of them...mor..more than you saw!" Ikamos managed to gasp out. The few that had seen were just the tip of a much larger iceberg. "I...I think they are trying to..to summon allies!" He continued clinging to Oulixes grip as if his life depended on it.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:58 pm
Oulixes get out a muttered curse under his breath when he heard the boy's voice, turning to look over at him, starring down at Ikamos, then sighed, "You should have run off!" He told the boy, hating the fact that he was still here. This meant that he was going to look after him, protect him, wouldn't be able to move around as he wanted to move. There was so much that he wouldn't be able to do when he had to protect him. He was upset over it but it was equal parts because he'd be underfoot and because he'd be in danger. How was he supposed to try to protect him from all those bug mages?
He looked from side to side rapidly, trying to find a way to get them out of this situation... when there was a sudden rain of fireballs that seemed to be forcing them to head back toward where they had just been trying to escape from. Double damn he thought to himself as he found the two of them forced along by more fire raining down around them. What... what was going on...? What did those things want?!
"Stupid creatures." He muttered to himself, feeling his anger rising. He'd let that last one go, damn it, and now here they were tormenting him and this kid with their magic! He really was starting to hate the stuff he thought to himself. More so when the boy mentioned that they were trying to summon more allies, "Summon...? Those circles...?" Oulixes asked of him as they got back to where they could see the bug mages once more. He grabbed hold of the boy, dragging Ikamos behind him, and set to looking from side to side, looking for a way to at least get the kid out of here.
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Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:24 am
The young boy was having trouble keeping up, his breath becoming ragged as they continued their mad dash. He managed to nod his head at Oulixes question about the circles.
"I..I was...a..accidentally f..found them......I..sp..spied on them...and...th..that was wh..at those...circles we..were for." Ikamos managed between each gasp for breath. "Th..there was on..only o..ne a..at first...then that..one with the sword that caught me...I..guess..I..I lingered to..too long." Ikamos continued as there was another large explosion near them.
Stumbling the young lad tripped over some loose stones, his grip releasing suddenly as he fell to the ground. Grunting he tried to get up but was finding that his limbs were lacking the strength to do so. Not that it mattered much as their enemy was so close behind them trying to outrun them almost seemed like a laughable idea.
One of the creatures sprinted past him as if it hadn't realized that one of its quary had stopped suddenly.
"Oulixes!! BEHIND YOU!" Ikamos shouted, distracting the one who was about to summon a fire ball at the other's back.
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