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 Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2022 11:15 am
Solo or RP Format
Counts as 5 RP growth Points
Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7
You've heard rumors of a local beast that has been causing trouble, always striking and darting away without a trace. Many have tried to capture it, but with no success. Now that fall is settling in, the community is distressed at the trouble being caused and has asked for your help in finding the beast and either relocating or finding away to get rid of it from the community.
[ A creature is terrorizing the community, but what is it and is it really such a problem? Use the fauna thread to pick out a local beast and tell us how your character found and if they remove or relocate it...or maybe even tame it as their own (not all fauna can be tamed). ]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 5:32 pm
"Kayde, how could you make me do that."
"Do what?"
"You know very well what." There was a slight edge to Elka's voice, growing all the sharper at the amusement in his. As if he didn't know she would react that way to being volunteered for such a disgusting job. It took so long to wash the smell of decay off her hands. Even now, she could swear she still smelled the rot on them when she brought them up to her face. It didn't matter that she had been wearing gloves the whole time. The smell must have seeped through them onto her hands. So revolting. How could anyone stand to even do that job? "So gross," she added, shaking her hands out in front of her as if they were covered in something.
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 5:51 pm
Now Kayde laughed, unable to keep his amusement at the subject inside any longer. Which was unfair to laugh about such a thing that clearly had bothered her. Just like it had been unfair to sign her up to do such a thing he knew she would find repulsive. Kayde honestly did feel guilty for it, as he tried to stop his laughter. "I thought it'd be good. See what people have to deal with to survive. Get another perspective." When she just glared at him, an anger growing in her golden eyes, he stopped walking and turned towards her. When she did the same, he took her hands in his and held them up in front of him, bowing slightly over them. "I'm sorry it was more traumatic than anything else. I wasn't thinking beyond myself. I'd promised to help them and than I couldn't and I don't really know anyone else around here to ask for such a favor."
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 6:01 pm
Elka pursed her lips, trying hard not to be taken in by his charming words. It was impossible. Other people might look at him and see a manipulative man, using her love to get her to do the things he wanted. She saw someone honest. Maybe a little selfish at times, yes. But always honest. The real trouble with Kayde was his inability to say no. His heart was just too big to ignore anyone who needed a helping hand. Especially when it was a request made directly to him. Those he could never refuse. And now she was finding herself more and more in the middle of these problems with him. Maybe they should have a talk soon about it. He needed to learn how to say no or he'd run them both ragged.
"You take advantage of me sometimes, you know that?" she said softly, a little smile on her lips. Regardless of her obvious jab, a little pain came into his eyes, so she leaned in to give him a quick kiss. It wasn't like signing her up without asking her to help hang the pelts of recently skinned animals was a relationship-ender. She was mad, yes. And she'd still get him back for it. But at the end of the day, it wasn't a decision he had made out of malice, after all. "Oh, Kayde, you sweet thing," she added, stroking his cheek before giving it a gentle slap. "Where are you taking me this time?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 3:45 pm
"Well," the Leaf man started, picking up their pace towards their destination. He looked anywhere but at Elka, knowing full well the look that would be on her face as he paused in telling her where they were going. She'd be mad. Oh boy would she be mad. In truth, he didn't want to be here himself. This was nothing like the usual jobs he picked up for himself, bringing her along more for company than extra hands. He wasn't even sure why he picked this one. This wasn't something he was comfortable with, that he knew how to do. Tumbling through the air was his thing. Not battle.
Though he had been promised there wouldn't be any fighting, at least not from him. No, his job, and also Elka's, was to help steer an animal into a trap. Easy enough to do, Kayde thought. How big of a creature could it really be if they were asking for help from the local population?
"It's a, uh....Animal problem."
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Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 5:59 pm
That quickly wiped the smile off her face. Elka stopped than, her hands bunching into fists at her sides, hidden unseen in the folds of her long skirt. She resisted the urge to sock him one. Or two.
"Kayde!" the Ice woman yelled, so loud it made the Leaf man flinch. "That is worse than skinning dead animals! I can tell by your face it's not a small animal." All she got in response was a sheepish grin. So, no. Definitely not a small animal. Or even a dangerous small animal. No, this was something larger, wasn't it, or he wouldn't be hiding it. When neither of them could fight. What was he expecting them to do?
Opening her mouth to say as much, a pounding sound came from the direction they had been walking. Both had just enough time to look that way before a large animal came galloping towards them, a Shifter perched on its back. Elka gave a scream and dropped backwards onto the ground, hitting it hard. She raised an arm over her face to shield from the expected attack.
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Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 6:23 pm
Angry. Elka was so angry. And with good reason. Kayde did feel bad for dragging her into this, but he hadn't wanted to come all alone. He knew full well he should have refused to help this small village. He was no fighter. At beast he could use his acrobatic skills and dodge it. For a bit anyway. It had sounded like these people needed as many as they could get to help. He couldn't just let them down and say no. Maybe if he explained that, she'd soften a little bit.
He never got the chance. Something came barreling towards them and he barely had the time to jump back out of the way as it cut almost directly between them. It kept going, not pausing even.
Kayde leaned forward, placing his hands on the ground and leaning towards Elka, concern all over his face. The charging animal completely gone from his mind. "You okay?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2022 7:28 pm
Elka could feel the dirt underneath her fingernails, the grittiness scraping against her skin. She raised her hands and shook them, trying to dislodge the dirt that was clinging to her palms. "No. I am not." She was covered in dirt. She hated dirt. It would be caked onto the back of her skirt, now, so she'd have to spend hours scrubbing at it until she was satisfied with any cleanliness. If it ever came off. And it wasn't like she had all that much clothing. She couldn't spare to throw away a single dress.
"I'm dirty and there's dirt under my nails and my dress is probably ruined and who knows what kind of a situation you've taken us into."
Groaning, the Ice woman started waving her hands, again. That was when a noise came from the direction the rider had raced away from. A lot of shouting. Now ignoring Kayde, Elka got to her feet, golden eyes now in the direction of the noise. She didn't hear Kayde get up until he appeared at her side, also watching. Someone else seemed to be coming their way, just as fast as the first.
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 10:46 am
The village was a dot in the distance and there seemed to be a lot of activity around it. People were running back and forth with what Kayde assumed were buckets of water, as he could easily see a small line of smoke coming from one direction of the village. It had heard it was just a case of a lone animal stealing the kills of hunters. Something must have gone wrong while they attempted to deal with it.
Before he had a chance to move forward, Elka sighed next to him and took her first step towards the village without being prompted. Kayde stared at her with wide eyes until she was a good distance ahead of him. She never looked back to make sure he was following. Silently they approached, until they were close enough to clearly see the small fire. It was dealt with not too soon after.
"We heard you need help with a creature?" Kayde asked a nearby man, who was wiping at his brow with a handkerchief. He looked at the two of them, giving them a critical appraisal. He didn't seem too satisfied with what he was seeing.
"And you've come to help, huh? Have you any experience in dealing with Radaku? No, I suppose not. You've come completely unprepared." It was then Kayde noticed the sword on the man's back. "The creature is a lot bigger than we expected. It's been doing a lot more damage. We don't need inexperienced thrill-seekers getting in the way." And with that, he turned on his heel and left the two of them standing there. Kayde felt even more foolish than he had before. Of course their help wouldn't be needed. Why did he think they could have done anything?
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 7:10 pm
Elka listened silently to what the man said to them, for once not feeling annoyed at someone looking down on her. She'd turned her head and saw the expression on Kayde's face. The look of embarrassment there. She knew him well enough to know he was feeling like a dumbass for thinking they could come out here and help. All they could do about it was turn around and leave, though. The man was right, they were hardly qualified to help with this. They weren't fighters.
As she raised her hand to place it on his shoulder, there was a loud sound from off to the right. They both turned in time to see a large Radaku charging towards them, this time with no one on its back. Without a moment's hesitation, Elka was yanked off to the side, further into the village where the streets were a bit narrower and it would have a harder time of getting to them. It must have been enraged by everyone attacking it, for it followed them, slowing to a walk and growing menacingly in their direction. Elka was frozen stiff, afraid to dare to move a single limb for fear of attracting its attention.
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 6:17 pm
With death towering over them, Kayde wasn't sure what to do. In his desperation, he grabbed a broom from the side of a nearby doorway and started to jab it at the creature, but to no avail. It just snapped at the bristles until it finally got a hold on it and jerked it out of the Leaf man's hands. Now, with nothing between it and them, it advanced more slowly, head down and ready to spring.
Using the first idea that came to his head, Kayde bent down and grabbed the woman off the ground, cradling her in his arms. Strength wasn't something he'd ever worked on much. Being an acrobat, he preferred being agile over being strong, and so he was finding Elka a bit heavy already. Still, he tried his best to keep her suspended above the ground. Though he wasn't sure if it was easier to do this or just drag her along by the hand.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 6:29 pm
Never was Elka this close to a creature of this size. Any time she spied one of these being ridden down the street, she'd always moved to the other side of the road, to get as far away from it as she could. It was a terrifying creature to look at, especially after hearing stories of them attacking livestock as the animals were being herded to the big cities for sale. Or maybe those were other dangerous animals in other countries and she was getting her information mixed up. It was hard to think of anything but this thing doing just that when you were face to face with it and it was making all the indications of wanting to turn you into a meal.
But suddenly she was being scooped up. She gave a little cry of surprise, holding on tightly as her weight was being shifted around two pairs of hands. Than before she could say anything, she'd been turned sharply to the left and they were running. Looking over Kayde's shoulder, she could see the creature giving chase. Elka closed her eyes against whatever was going to happen next. Surely it would now be the end of them before the end of the animal.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 6:51 pm
Kayde wasn't really sure where he was going. He just couldn't remain standing there and waiting for the Radaku to make a move against them. Nor was he going to try to drive it off himself a second time. He didn't know what he was doing. So all that was left was to run. Which surely would set the creature off to chase him. But what else did he have left? Backing away slowly would also spur it on to follow.
Maybe if he ran, he could find some of the people who were fighting it. They had been on the edge of the village, so if he tried to run for the border, perhaps he'd find someone to help them.
No sooner had he darted around a corner did the man from earlier suddenly appear in front of him. He gave a startled shout at Kayde as he darted around him, equally yelling about the Radaku not too far behind, not stopping to see how it was dealt with. The result seemed obvious as he heard the sword being unsheathed behind him and the sounds of it swinging and making contact with something. He tried not to listen to what was going on behind him as he kept going a little ways before stopping and finally putting Elka down.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2022 7:22 pm
The Ice woman landed unceremoniously on her feet, swaying a little from the shake up she had just received. She, too, tried to ignore the sounds behind Kayde. Turning her back to it, she would have fallen had she not caught herself by spreading out her arms for balance. The aid of a hand on both her shoulders helped to steady herself.
"I think....That is quite enough excitement for today," Elka finally said, her voice shaky with emotion at what she had just experienced. The man who had dealt with the animal walked past them, barely sparing them a glance. Over his shoulder was the beast, dead and limp. Elka felt a bit sorry for it, having to end up like that. Until she reminded herself it had tried to kill her moments before. She couldn't say she liked any animal very much, no matter how docile it seemed. "I am going to return to the inn now. And lie down in my room for the rest of the day. Goodbye." And she walked off without a single glance backward, her steps a little shaky.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2022 7:42 pm
Kayde was in no position to argue against anything Elka said. With his hands on his knees, he was breathing heavily and could barely talk, let alone stand up straight. So by the time he had recovered his stamina and looked up, she was already well out of earshot. He debated chasing after her, but thought better of it. He knew her well enough by now to know she wouldn't be wanting his company and explanations tonight. Perhaps would avoid him tomorrow. Eventually she would come around, as she always did. Nothing he did was malicious. At least not on purpose. She knew that.
So, when he had fully recovered enough to walk, he, too, headed back home to rest for the rest of the day. Next time someone was asking around for help or he heard about trouble somewhere, he was going to ask for full details about what it was.
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