|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:56 pm
Azulon nodded lightly as Elcca talked, though it wasn't all very helpful to him. Everyone was trying to come up with some ideas on how to act form now on. "I think splitting up is our best bet. Too big a group is far too difficult to hide, we won't learn anything that way." Besides, it's not like they were much safer together anyways. "If one group or pair is caught, they can sound an alarm and give others the chance to spread out escape." They had been clear at the start, there was no guarantee of getting home after this mission, or even staying alive.
"We may even need to consider some more complex strategies." But he didn't voice his ideas, just yet. and then the vulture arrived. "Whether or not he has proof doesn't matter. If the buzzard is allied to the nergui, we shouldn't tell it anything. If it isn't, why should we bother?" Azulon pointed out. The vulture was best ignored. Besides, the raven had probably already alerted the enemy, Azulon couldn't recall anyone doing as it 'requested'. They should just catch and kill the vulture. One nergui less, or even just simply for the sake of a somewhat bad-smelling meal.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:10 pm
As someone who typically traveled alone, Elcca couldn't say much for how the group movements should go. But while spreading out might be a good idea, she worried spreading out too far might ruin their only advantage. "If we're lucky, any Nergui groups we come across shouldn't be much larger than our group. It might be good to put some distance between us so we don't look like an invasion force. But we'll need to take care not to split up. Nergui are more well known for overwhelming their foes than anything else."
Elcca tensed when one of the group called alarm out. Already? This was going to be a very short lived trip. Lived being the operative word. As of yet, she hadn't shown much sign of losing her temper. But the vulture's claim of servitude seemed to spark a flicker of rage through her. "If you are any friend of Hestia, then you should let us be," she snapped. Where was Yoan anyways? Since those two were such good friends, after all. "Scatter bird. I can barely tolerate your kind when you aren't questionably aligned."
"I say we kill it," she muttered under her breath to whoever was nearest. The only thing that kept her from having more conviction in her voice was the fact it was a vulture. Like vultures cared who died. They were worse than hyenas. "Flying rats."
There were some other grumblings, but they faded off into strange, archaic languages.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:11 pm
Once she set her mind to something she really didn't stop. She didn't think about much other than the target that she wanted to reach. This one track mind through out the journey kept her from snapping at the other lions that she was traveling with. She cooled her tempers and kept going, she kept her mind off of the burn of the sand, although it was familiar in long distances it was far less pleasant. She ignored the sun, the distance, everything except for where the group was going and the dangers that they crossed on the way. Although most of the spirits were high, Aithne really never had 'high spirits'. She just wasn't that type.
But she slowed as did everyone else as they approached a tree and she let out a quiet side of relief, although it was almost the opposite, she was close and she couldn't just wander around in her trance as she did before. If she did then it would be far too dangerous, she now had to communicate with the rag-tag group. She turned toward the red lioness that seemed to be leading the group. Was she the one who put it together? Aithne was a little suspicious but either way but she was trying to let go. They approached a tree, she took a moment and stared at the odd rune. What was that supposed to mean? Was it a warning? She wasn't too sure but she turned toward the others. She approached Morag's side and nodded her head. "I agree that this should be the time where we start to split up. I don't think we should all be in groups of tree, we should mix it up, some of three, some of two, four. Males with females, all females all males." She suggested.
Her attention snapped toward the bird and then she shook her head at the male who decided it would be best to snap at him. "Dont' get all worked up." She growled at him. Regarldess of if the bird was a stranger she didn't see the point of getting all snappy. It looked suspicious.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:39 pm
Hardly.
With every passing day, the deeper in to the territory they roamed, the more alert she felt herself becoming. They were no longer in Firekin territory, and there was no guarantee this mission was going to actually pan out. They were supposed to find information, find something. . . but the Nergui were not to be taken lightly. They were killers. They were marauders. They were fierce and strong. Even Firekin pride couldn't dismiss what they had done to the Hongshan, who were not weak warrios themselves; or what they had done to her brother.
Though the bitterness was always at the back of her throat, the orange eyed female had kept quiet. She was too smart to do something stupid or rash, and wanted now only to somehow aid to putting a stop to this catastrophe. The Nergui had to be defeated, someway, somehow. . . . and if any information she brought back would help keep her brothers death from happening in vain, she would do what she could. For pride, for family, for Nur'yu. She was too stubborn to sit idly by . . . .
So it was, the lioness kept alert when they moved in to the dark and black sands. The entire area was foreign, and the stakes were high. There was no guarantee upon a safe return. The nergui could arrive any minute, or be prepared for their arrival. So now was the time that they would begin to pair up and split. She said nothing for the time, listening to what others discussed. "I agree, to split up now would be best; mixing up the groups might help with the element of surprise, if we even still have such a thing." She bared her fangs in a moments irritation at having been spotted by the avians a week prior. While they had traveled quickly, it was still quite unlikely they had beat the avians, if they had indeed wished to inform their allies.
Either way, they would know soon enough.(( I want to be a watcher! ))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:01 pm
The vulture shrugged, then preened at his feathers. "Well, okay, don't believe me. Let me go get the Cursed One instead... And then your cover can be blown wide open. Or... Would you rather I go get the Diseased One? Or perhaps--" He squawked at a rock that flew past, feathers ruffling. "WELL!" The vulture shifted a bit down his branch. "So TOUCHY, aren't we? And I was going to share with you the location of a fresh kill! Granted there's not MUCH left on it, but it could be enough to sate your appetites that I'm SURE you have..." He motioned with a wing, starting to give the appearance of boredom. "Though I do pose this about my loyalties - If I'm always where you can see me, how can I go tell the Nergui where you are, or that you're even coming?" He then smiled. "Besides, regardless of who wins... I only have gains to get!"
Serkan scowled, then dropped back to his paws. "Right, we split." He pointed at Nyimak, Mkazo, and Tch'kero. "You three should go that way..." He pointed north, then pointed at Sinad, Aithne, and Elcca. "You three should go this way..." He pointed somewhat south. His next motion was to Saoiraed, Macheo, and Azulon. "You three should go this way. "This time he motioned more central. He paused a moment, counting on his paw. "Other three, we go together, ah... North of center, yes?" Hopefully, that way they kept each other in sight. His gaze then went to the vulture. "Baldy go with Sinbad and company, yes...?" The male smirked a little at the vulture's indignation at being called Baldy. Oh, the simple pleasures in life... At least, what simple pleasures he could find at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:33 pm
"Your first response is to threat? How could I have ever questioned! I think we'd rather take our chances with your loyalty than keeping you around to alert the nearest patrol. Be gone bird, I won't warn you again," Elcca snapped. Her tail thrashed as she did. This was not the sort of distraction they needed right now. Particularly when everyone seemed to have an idea of what they were doing.
"Hold up," the seeress continued. At least this foolishness would keep her attention off the other. "We can spread out, but splitting up like that is not wise. Unless you are all experts of the northlands, we'll sooner end up lost. The bird and his friend clearly made it this far. Splitting up so substantially is just going to make our numbers easy to pick off. We can fan out to obscure our size, but moving in different directions is not a sound plan."
She snorted. "Besides. There's nothing back south but desert. Unless you want to go home. In which case its a bit late for that."
The red lioness stomped her feet a few times as if to make her point clear- only to snag her foot on one of the short lying thorn-bushes that grew about the steppe. She winced and held back a yelp. "I hate this country," she muttered. This was not the place she intended on dying in. Stupid grey land.
As if a minor note of sanity, Yoan returned from his short trip around the ridge. The black bird swung around the group, eyeing the newcomer warily. "No groups visible for about a mile. There is something though, out in the grass. Looks like a dog. Might be worth checking out."
"Another thing to alert the patrols to our position," Elcca muttered.
Yoan spiraled around once more. "Well, it seems you all are doing a fine job of not being detected anyways."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:48 pm
"Elcca is right... spread out, but don't go far enough that you can't come to the aid of another group if need be. And if you see any Nergui artifacts like this one... don't touch it if you can help it." Morag eyed Serkan as she said it, her tail flicking at the urge to smack herself. "If they come back to check their sign, they'll be able to smell us on it... we need to avoid leaving traces as much as possible."
She paused as the crow came back to join them, tensing as he mentioned a dog out in the grass. Time to do what she did best, it seemed.
"I can go check it out. One other person can circle around the other way, trapping it between us while we see what its up to. Once we figure out what it wants, we can deal with it."
"I agree about the vulture." She said last, her voice low. "Why bother coming back? And there is always the chance it'll give us away even by accident."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:40 pm
A small rumble murmured from the lioness as the large group revelled about the area around them, soft eyes watching all the movements - the dark earth in front of her, the tree bothering her a little, but she wouldn't say. She wasn't certain about the avians, her sight constantly snatching up as they flew around, her tail thumping softly against the dry ground.
"If you do send one around, it better be someone who is large enough to support themself in the case of emergency." She murmured to the lioness Morag, before lifting her body. "I can follow if you want support, I am silent on my feet." She offered before looking up to Elcca, eyebrows lightly rising.
"Should we not make sure the Avians fly low? I wonder if a bunch of avians sweeping around a singular spot would be considered something to flag as suspicious, hm?" She offered. It seemed reasonable, at least. As a lioness raised around hunting the feathered things, she had learnt . . . much about them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:43 pm
"The avians should fly low, or not at all unless needing to send word to another group. It does not appear as if there are many flying in the skies as it is, having too many in flight at once would draw too much attention." Mwako'damu looked to Kooka, Kooka stayed silent. He flicked his tail, looked to the strange land. It didn't feel right under his paws.
They were to spread apart, but be within distance.
"We've traveled far but must be wary of how far within reach we are of others who might lurk here, like that one," Mwako'damu motioned to the dog Elcca had made mention of. "But we should be within a few strides of one another, we are firekin and strong, but we cannot underestimate anything outside of our lands."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:27 pm
Since Azulon had resolved to ignore the buzzard, he also ignored any more talk about it. he creature obviously wanted attention of some sort, the best way to get rid of it was just to stop giving it importance. Yoan, however, was another matter. A dog? He didn't imagine it to be nergui, especially if it was alone. Wild dogs didn't usually ally themselves with lion prides, it was dangerous. Azulon himself had killed many a-dog in his days of being a rogue. And the nergui didn't strike him as the sort to bother with keeping those kinds of pets around. "But perhaps it knows something, or has seen the nergui about." He could also mean a jackal, he supposed.
"I will circle around." He nodded, agreeing with Morag's idea. "You should attempt to approach it, if it seems suitable." Azulon recalled the dark female had handled the raven... well-ish earlier. At least the best out of them. Perhaps her flattery would be more successful with this dog Yoan spoke of. "If it tries to run I'll be ready to catch it."
For a large lion he could be quite stealthy if he needed to be, granted he'd have to make a wide circle, but Azulon moved quickly enough. So he was ready to move out at a moment's notice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:10 pm
Mkazo shot Aithne a glare. He enjoyed battle, but they were far from home, and in enemy territory. He would hope that even the most brash warrior would show caution, given that the lack could cost them their lives or worse. And this buzzard made his skin crawl with its talk of gods, creatures that Mkazo had yet to hear of a favorable experience with. At best, they were meddlesome, and he wanted them to stay the hell out of a mission this important. ...But the ball of feathers had a point. If he stayed in sight, he couldn't do a whole hell of a lot of harm.
He was about to take issue with Serkan volunteering him when Elcca's bird returned. "If they're not with the Nergui, they might know something. If they are, let's keep them from sending an alert." Keeping 'dogs' didn't sound like the Nergui, but he was willing to take little for granted out here. He flexed his toes against the ground, claws extending to scrape at the earth. "That one," he nodded at Azulon, "Should be fine, but I can keep an eye out if backup's needed."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:25 pm
Morag nodded as a few offered themselves up to help, glancing at each.
"Good. I can approach from the front, draw its attention. If its one of theirs, I can chaise it back into your waiting claws. Its a good hunting tactic, and so rarely does the prey think to look ahead when danger is more immediate on their tails." She paused for a moment, lifting her head to Yoan. "Do you have any specific information about it, before we go?"
The dark female felt like she finally had something she knew how to do, but rather than run head first into trouble, she wanted to hear what the seer and her companion had to say. It was usually worth hearing, even if one didn't take their advice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:25 am
Yoan spiraled once more, adjusting his flight path to match their new plan. Flying low wasn't exactly easy, but at least he was small enough to coast. If only there was more wind! He never used to notice the wind, before all of this happened. Things lions take for granted, he supposed.
"Only that it is a dog," he reported to Morag, swinging down a bit lower to her. "Seems alone. It looked like it was digging at some roots, so if you're lucky it will be distracted while you slip around it."
Elcca still seemed a bit sour, but having something else to distract her from the potentially disastrous vulture seemed to be doing the trick. She wasn't quick to offer her services in this ambush, however. "I'm afraid I'm about as good a hunter as I am a warrior. I've never heard any reason to believe the Nergui work with dogs. Or if they did, it surely wouldn't be out all by itself. Nergui rarely travel alone."
Yoan swooped around, settling down on her shoulder. With nothing further to add, the two slunk off to the side- settling down in some of the bushes. There was some grumbling as Elcca caught her foot on another thornpatch. But from this vantage point, they could at least watch the ambush.
-----
As the group continued further, sure enough there was a wild dog in the distance. She was a thin, dusty looking thing- but at that moment it seemed she was more interested in catching some small rodent that had burrowed itself into the earth beneath one of the bleak trees.
If someone was looking for an ambush, it was the perfect setup.
arrow If you are in the ambush team, roll a dice 1-5.
The dog will be successfully snared either way! But if all ambushers add up to at least 5, she will go down silently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wooga Paes generated a random number between
1 and 5 ...
1!
|
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:57 am
With those last words from Yoan, and Elcca, the male ssumed they were in the clear to start, and did just as he said he would. He crouched low and silently moved along, first figuring out where the dog was so he could give her a wide enough berth as he circled around her. That part went by quickly and with no real hold-ups, at no moment did Azulon feel he had to stop to not be detected, and so the movement was continuous. All in all he got to the other side of the canine quite quickly!
Then he began to approach slowly to get as close as he could without being detected, keeping an eye out for Morag or any of the others to indicate it was time for him to spring into action.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whimsical Blue generated a random number between
1 and 5 ...
1!
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:09 am
Nodding silently, Morag slipped as silently as she could into the grass, crouching low as she slunk around to the opposite side of the dog from Azulon. Her single eye scanned the area in quick sweeps, making note of each rock, stock of grass and lump of earth as she navigated with careful steps.
When she caught sight of the dog, she watched her carefully, taking note of what she was doing and her dusty appearance. Wild dogs didn't tend to hunt alone, but this looked like a lean land... to all appearances, she was just a rogue out to find food. Even if she wasn't one of the enemy that they could interrogate, they might get lucky and she'd know where the enemy was, or had been recently.
Creeping up close, she leaped from the grass with a snarl, charging at the wild dog with every appearance of intent.
((EDIT: dang 1. xD ))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
