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Eloquent Conversationalist
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 Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:43 am
Ryugi grinned and listened as his friend spoke about his life. When he finished, Ryugi could simply say one thing.
You know, Max, you may be limited is some ways, but in others, you far outclass me.
Ryugi looked down the path ahead as it began to stoop lower into the valley below, and for the first time, the adventurers would get a glimpse of the Suhalla Desert. Its vast expanses would stretch far beyond what they were able to see with the naked and unaided eye. The desert was massive, and was a major environmental formation created by the mountains at Angara's center.
You may be unable to physically manipulate the elements as I can, but you have a much more vast knowledge of their inner workings. That alone gives you a very big edge in combat, or in your studies and experiments.
It was odd. Here was Ryugi, a long-lived dragon, and yet, in all his time alive, he'd rarely experimented with his elemental powers. He knew each one as personally as he might know himself, but he had never truly "played" with them to see what kinds of miraculous things he could create. It was a bit strange indeed.
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:23 am
"You know, Max, you may be limited is some ways, but in others, you far outclass me. "
Your far too kind.
Maximos said, with a humble wave of the hand, his eyes turning down to the road. Compliments always made him a tad bashful.
I'm merely a man lucky enough to have been given the opportunity, time, and luck, to learn and survive the process of learning these things, in the few years I've had.
His eyes finally lifted to look at Ryugi.
I'm sure given half the time I've had you can be twice as good.
Followed by a bright smile from ear to ear.
"You may be unable to physically manipulate the elements as I can, but you have a much more vast knowledge of their inner workings. That alone gives you a very big edge in combat, or in your studies and experiments."
He really didnt know what to say, other than to smile from ear to ear, and pause for a minute lifting up his leg and tapping his shoe.
And very snazzy boots, its given me that as well!
Almost as if the boots beat out the combat. And in a way, for the Shadow they did. Though he still didnt know, even after saying it, where he had learned the work snazzy from. Still, he was smiling, and a hand was scratching the back of his head as he turned back to the path ahead and caught sight of Suhalla.
He was rendered speechless beside a very low "Woooow...". Followed by a very awe inspired...
Its beautiful....
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:23 pm
The one and only desert on Angara. And also the hottest, driest place on the continent.
The sands seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. Miles upon miles of hot sand, dry dunes, and unknown desert creatures lay in wait for them just down the mountain. Near the foothills, a small settlement could be seen. A tiny patch of green and white among an ocean of dunes and sandstorms.
And that, there, is Suhalla. That's our stop for today. Tomorrow we'll get packed up with plenty of supplies, and head out.
Ryugi would point to the town and then look at Max, grinning. Then, he'd continue down the path. They still had a way to go before nightfall, and he didn't want to be caught in the mountains overnight.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:08 pm
Excellent!
His eyes followed where Ryugi gestured. Suhalla, a desert settlement if there ever was one. Every step they made toward it now, made Maximos feel strangely ever closer to a long lost home. He'd never been to this desert before, or this town. But the sand, the heat, it united certain things about people no matter where you went. Vergan, Suhalla, Barthavos, at some base level they were the same, as much as they were different.
I've always loved small desert markets.
Maximos said with a smirk meeting Ryugi's grin.
Should we rent some kind of animal to hold all of our water?
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:51 pm
Ryugi grinned.
Of course not. We'll be getting something even more interesting.
Ryugi would leave it at that to try and get Max's brain juices flowing. Of course, he'd eventually tell it to him if he bugged him enough, but on the other hand, he might keep it a secret until they actually got to the small desert town. Suhalla had a charm unlike any other settlement on the continent. Everything was quaint or seemed to be something out of the middle ages, but with a bit more of a fanciful flair, but Suhalla was different.
It seemed similar to an older middle eastern town with white-walled buildings, a town square with a well and gardens on the rooftops. Elemental dragons as the Angaran Dragons were, water was as easy to come by as being able to conjure it, but out in the desert, that became more difficult as conjuring materials could get damaged by the sand, heat, and wind. But in the town itself, it was a desert paradise. Flowing wells of water, rooftop gardens, and desert palm trees growing along a small river that wound its way along the outskirts of town.
They still had a ways off, but the place was certainly a delight to see and visit.
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:40 pm
Even more...?
The Shadow's brain cycled through a thousand different possibilities. Were they going to hire a large dragon to hold the water? Maybe a water dragon to follow them along? Maybe it would float beside them in a huge bubble? Perhaps a portable well? Perhaps a decanter of never ending water? With dragons you never know! It could have been anything!
But his wandering mind found home, and purchase in settlement on the horizon. The architecture brought old memories. Gardens, rooftops, fountains, windows, white clean slate walls...while most saw them as what they were. Maximos saw, grips, kick of points, climbable walls, scaleable windows. He was quite the agile fellow back in Vergan. Sometimes moving was the only way to keep from burning. Sometimes it was just fun.
Either way, he may not have had the words, but he was quite the excited individual.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:25 pm
Even more. Strange creatures are always interesting, but for some reason, I think you'll be more interested in what I have in mind. Also, we'll make sure to hit the marketplace before we leave. Ancalagon isn't going anywhere, I'm certain.
Ryugi would grin and then continue down the mountain pass. They were nearly there now, and the temperature was starting to pick up. Just a while ago it had been chilly, but now it was getting hotter and drier, much more desert-like. In a few more minutes, they would completely forget about how chilly they had just been as the heat of the approaching desert sands and sweltering temperatures.
As they continued down the path towards Suhalla, the boots began to become more of a problem in the sand as it made it more awkward to walk. However, a dirt and gravel road lead them directly into town. In another hour or so, they would be entering the town and passing over the bridge and the creek below, the smell of cool water meeting sand and plant life thick in the air. A warm breeze kept it from being too terribly hot, and made it more bearable.
They had arrived.
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:17 pm
He chuckled. No, the glass dragon likely wasnt. But these clothes felt hotter by the second. Thick cottons, silks, light and dark colors. Maximos didnt sweat, but he did seem to fidget around in his clothes, seemingly unable to get them to fit right.
Walking boots was twice the effort. But his excitement carried him across unto the dirt and gravel, and the beautiful settlement before him.
Its so gorgeous.
He said, as they got yet closer. Nostalgia surrounded him as plentiful as sand and heat. He gave bright smiles to strangers along the road, and even picked a bit of the pace as they walked. And before he knew it, there they were!
Suhalla...the hillside doesnt do you justice.
He said with a bright smile, a nod of his head, and forward he went. Hoping Ryugi had a goal somewhere within the city walls.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:58 pm
Ryugi grinned. Suhalla had its visual delights just like every town in Angara, but it had a charm all its own. It was hot, but it was a dry baking heat. Thus, many of those who lived there wore loose-fitting robes and other such things that could breathe, but keep them under the shaded hoods as well to prevent sunburn. People hustled about, heading to and from the small shops, markets, and bazaars loking for goods and things, just going about their lives as usual.
Ryugi wandered through the town, moving along and around people, seeing to head towards what seemed to be a very green buiding. Of course, the building itself was not green, but it had a lavish rooftop garden with all sorts of green plants, ivy, and palm trees. Fragrant flowers bloomed in pots in the front of the building anjd surrounded thearea in a sweet scent one would not usually expect to find. This was the Suhalla Inn, and it was where the both of them would be spending the night.
Upon reaching he entrance, Ryugi would wait for a moment to let Maximos enter first, before following him inside, and talking to the desk clerk. After getting them two rooms and two room keys, Ryugi would thank the man, and then head back out into the streets, Max in tow. He'd then turn to Max and speak again.
Alright. We've got our rooms or the night, and we'll head out tomorrow morning before it gets too hot. But for now, we can hit the bazaar. I know you're dying to see what they've got.
Ryugi would chuckle and motion to Max to lead the way. He'd follow behind for now. He wasn't really looking to pick up any trinkets, but he knew Max would be looking for stuff all over the place, and Ryugi would be there to assist him if he needed it.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:35 am
Max was truly childish at times. Not in a obnoxious way, but rather in that he seemed entirely giddy with no focus. He did not love just part of it what he saw, he loved it all, and he did so so much he couldnt seem to focus in the slightest.
He found himself mesmerized by the very scale of the garden covering the inn. Taking in its grand design, and running his hand up a few of the vines.
The dry heat wasnt quite as bad, after he took to the local customs and popped up his hood over his head to shield his pale skin. With his attention here, then there, then here again, and someplace else, time flew! He hadnt even finished wandering around the lobby of the Inn when it seemed Ryugi was informing him the rooms were purchased and now, now they were free to shop! All Max could do was grin, from ear to ear and say.
You read my mind!
His hand rose up, fingers pinching his jacket as he said.
Where can I get some more fitting attire? I think I may actually cook in this.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:51 pm
Ryugi could only grin as he looked around at all the activity going on around he and Max. Suhalla was the epitome of desert living on Angara. The climate was hot and dry, but water was plentiful. The greenery around them almost made it seem like a lush paradise, except for the lack of moisture in the air. Humidity was almost nonexistant.
Ryugi turned to Max and spoke as he smiled.
Well, there are tons of shops around here. Let's browse them and see what we can find you, hmm?
As he spoke, Ryugi unraveled his white scarf, revealing the garment's true length of approximately nine feet long. Max would get a glimpse of somethig few people ever did, Ryugi's neck. Of course, it wasn't anything fantastic, just a neck, but a neck that was usually hidden by the scarf. As he finished, Ryugi wrapped the scarf about his head, forming a white hood of sorts, just a little something to keep the sun out of his face. His scarf had more uses than simply being a long white scarf, it would seem.
Ryugi, now ready for desert travel, would motion for Max to take the lead as the pair wandered into the bazaar of Suhalla.
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:14 am
Ryugi Kazamaru Ryudo's merged form with Lethe held many benefits. One of these was the outer black covering that covered him from from head to toe. This covering was made of layers upon layers of compressed shadow energy. It was much like the shadow skin of the Shadow Spawn, but far, far more durable. This shadowy armor was so tightly compressed that it could actually protect against a bullet, and was actually given weight despite it being made from just energy. The Death Knight's sudden attack had left Ryudo in a very poor predicament. His speed and spin had caused him to move into an attacking position that was unstable, and thus, it was far easier for him to get hit than he'd anticipated... With a crash the two forces collided. The Death Knight's punch slammed into Ryudo's form, but not before his spinning form and the durable outer shell did their job. The spinning motion served to cause the fist to roll across the outside of the armor, spreading out the damage it would have done across the durable surface area rather than a single point. The only visible damage to the outer covering would be a few cracks where the fist had impacted, but these would soon be repaired by the shadow energy coming from the merged draconic form. Death Knight wasn't the only one out here with regenerative armor. This form was MADE for close range combat, much like Ryudo alone had been MADE for combat with his abilities. What good would a form like that be if it couldn't take a few hits? The force would send Ryudo's form into the air where he'd stop his spin, his arm would glow, and in the blink of an eye he would speed to the ground below at terrible speed, his clawed hand aiming to cleave the Death Knight with terrible force as dust was kicked up from the landing... [4/7] And thusly the shadow dragon immediately recovered from the attack, both in stun and in damage. Argon didn’t dwell on it, however, as Ryudo turned to come crashing down almost instantaneously. Without leaving any room for thought, the Death Knight kicked off, taking a quick hop backwards. The sonic boom produced by the shadow dragon blasted past him with incredible ferocity; the brunt of the attack hardly missed him at all. Of course, the sheer force of the shockwave caused by the attack sent the Death Knight flying a considerable distance. Ignoring his situation, he pulled in an insane amount of mana in transit. Instead of storing it, however, he immediately released it. It were almost as if the Death Knight had attempted to carry molten rock, only to drop it because it was way too hot. "ARC-FLARE!"Ryudo would quickly find that he was ground zero for an attack that couldn’t even be seen outright. The chaotic energies sped through the air faster than they could be tracked, much like an arc of electricity. The chaotic and negative energies would literally explode when it touched the shadow dragon, as though the air around him just spontaneously erupted. With almost no noticeable pause between blasts, the dark barrage continued to bombard Ryudo from all directions. The individual explosions weren’t even weak, each one easily having more than enough force to maim or even kill an normal human being. Factor in the negative energy’s natural boon on life and the Chaos energy’s raw destructive power, and you have a seemingly unbeatable weapon. Regenerative armor didn’t help much if there was nothing left. While a barrier could help ward off the attack, Ryudo would find that a mere psionic push to disperse the air around him would prove ineffective; the shadow dragon was already pegged as the spell's target. The dark energy would merely converge on him again to continue its relentless assault. Without giving Ryudo the time to react to the Arc-Flare, Argon pulled himself up from his rather unceremonious landing. It seemed that the Dark Magicks required no mental upkeep after the spell was cast. The Death Knight could move around, continue to fight, and even cast other spells while the barrage destroyed an individual target. Dark magic of this caliber was completely ludicrous; it was overkill in every sense of the word. Argon was no longer receiving power from Lazarus in terms of strength, as his partner’s support was now focused on helping to support the spell. In addition to draining the Death Knight’s own mana, it was also draining from his ‘vitality’; this wasn’t a cost for the spell as much as it was backlash from the chaotic energies being too much for him to fully control at this point. He was still a ways away from being a true master of chaos.
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:40 am
Lets!
Max said, raising a triumphant squeaky fist into the air. Sweat had a way of making leather squeak. Though he did take a moment, regard (read as: stare) at the seemingly unending length of Ryugi's scarf. Nine feet! Well Max hadnt the calculating tool to measure its exact length, but he could tell it was longer than Ryugi was tall!
And with Ryugi prepared, the duo were off!
Max's first order of business was a clothier. He needed clothes that werent nearly so stuffy! He needed something loose, baggy yet not restricting. Leather boots would do. Yes, yes definitely.
Fire wasnt one of his elements. He needed to dress light, black of course, but light. Although it was at some point, peering and dashing in and out of shops that Ryugi might notice a black hooded cloak suddenly joining the Shadow's attire. He didnt steal it. But he didnt buy it either! It was thin, but seemed thick as wool when held up to the light. Yet it breathed! And Max donned it. In certain lighting it looked like something was stitched or sewn into the material, but Max hadnt, or didnt seem to have had the time to stitch something!
Still, after he was sufficiently dressed, he would of course turn to Ryugi and ask directions to the most important part of this shopping spree the swords!
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:20 pm
Ryugi would point down the ways a bit where voice could be heard calling out the prices of wares for sale. The shops were mostly kiosks and stands, each covered in different colored cloth. People gathered around the shops gazing intently at the products lined up for purchase as the vendors pointed out the quality of their work and did their best to convince others to purchase them.
I'd guess that there would be a good place to start looking.
He'd grin and head in the general direction of the voices, and look back to make sure Max was following. He'd be there to give Max any pointers if he asked, but Ryugi knew Max would likely have his own ideas and views on what he wanted.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:38 am
Maximos grinned from ear to ear, dragon senses saving the day yet again. Sure he had heard talking, but it was all around the busy market. To pull a single voice, or even several single voices and not the whole crowd was exceedingly difficult. It was that much more difficult pulling a voice from a distance, a crowded distance.
But that was the point of team work, one persons strengths to match anothers weaknesses. Maximos trotted along behind Ryugi, feeling alot more mobile and alot cooler than moments before.
His goals were specific this time. He needed a short blade, and a scimitar. They were desert stands, no offense to Ankokuko, but the desert was sunny and bright, and he really didnt want to crack open a cactus with a long sword. It seemed excessive.
But a weapon such as the kind he needed were hard to find. You see it needed to be light, and yet strong, the grip had to feel right, not rigid and unforgiving. And most importantly, it needed to be balanced. For that he'd ask Ryugi's help. Maximos had steady hands, a swordsman's hands, an artists hands, but nothing that could ever beat the genetic superiority of Ryugi's more sensitive draconic grip. Despite advertisements, and losing track of time, Maximos finally found the weapons to suit his desire.
First, was a dagger with a foot long blade to rest horizontally at the small of his back. Next was not one, but six scimitar. Though Maximos seemed to have learned a new sleight of hand trick as he took off his black cloak laying five of the scimitars in it, and stabbing it through with the sixth. And as he pulled the sword out, the cloak went flat, the swords vanished, and the there was no hole. Maximos seemed exceedingly satisfied as he tied the sword over his shoulder opposite the caller. Which he bought new blade oil for. Lots of oil in fact, perhaps because there were more swords to use them on? Who knew, Max was a weird fellow!
But after it was all said and done, adjusting the three straps that now reached across his torso, Maximos turned to Ryugi with a bright grin and said.
Do you think we have the time to visit some book or scroll vendors?
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