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 Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:06 pm
Anniversary DanceBeastdad was weeping as Keionx finished her dance and received her reward. He was so proud! Of course his baby would win – heroes always won – but she had done so well and danced so smoothy with the nice yellowblood that he couldn't help but be proud.
He remembered the yellowblood, vaguely, from all the trips to the library, and was happy that it had been her (though he had been hoping to see Keionx with the redblood, but oh well. He could find out more about that later.)
He watched his troll anxiously through the crowd as she got her prize, pawing at the floor with a hoof impatiently. She'd won, and he wanted to take her – and maybe that troll – out for something to eat. If the teen's lusus would allow it, of course! He gave the likely-looking yellowblooded yakbeast a shy wave with one of his strong hands. That would be nice.
But where? He brightened as he saw the two leave the prize table. Well, he could go ask them now. As long as it did not fall too far outside his troll's diet... oh, who cared? He would spoil her a little today. He knew she would work it off later.
Smiling, the musclebeast began to trot over...
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:43 am
Running Dry Keionx was stunned at what Vremea's Yakmom had told her. Hoofbeasts, as it turned out, spoke similar languages – though Beastdad and Yakmom's dialects were very different and it had been hard for Keionx to understand her, despite her familiarity with the Lusus. Vremea, to her, did not seem the sort of person to protest or make a huge fuss in any way: Vremea was gentle and kind and elegant. She was a lady – that was the archetype that Keionx had decided on for her, despite her yellow blood. Keionx had thought she suited it.
The news was confusing and, after giving Yakmom some of her sparing saved portion of water – she had been fortunate to fill a canteen or two before the drought – she set off, perturbed. And a little outraged.
Not at Vremea, of course not at Vremea... but she was out there, in the middle of an angry crowd, alone... Keionx wondered if she should charge in and rescue her.
But... though... the other troll, Vremea's friend of undetermined archetype, had gone there, and had likely already rescued her...
Keionx took out the piece of paper and leaned against Yakmom's barn – repaired with Kei's own two hands. She looked at the green ink copying, the precise script of the other teenage troll's.
Then she flipped it over, contemplating the royal missive on the other side. Then back. She smiled, intently, at the riddles scribed for her.
She knew where adventure called.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:01 pm
Event: Egg HuntKeionx had managed to recoup her losses after being robbed, enough to satisfy Beastdad and Zariah with some degree of chocolate. Keionx herself did not partake – she was too agitated. She did not mention Etsali to either of them, though she mentioned Kursha offhand here or there. She did not want Beastdad - either of them - to know she had failed.
Normally, Keionx had no trouble going to bed – her active lifestyle usually left her so exhausted that she fell asleep with ease, and stayed asleep until she woke up at her usual ungodly hour. Tonight, though, was different.
She had dressed and made ready for bed.
She'd done her routine.
She'd done a few extra exercises in her weight room.
She'd even drunk a warmed extra portion of musclebeast milk.
But still she paced among the junk in her 'Trophy room', unable to bring herself to settle into her recouparoon and give herself over to sleep. She couldn't get that thief's smug-a** face out of her mind. It leered triumphantly at her every time she closed her eyes, making her furious each time it returned.
Her head hurt. She needed to sleep. Her body ached from exertion, but she returned to her training room and began practicing with her sword against a practice dummy, swinging so violently that she nearly destroyed it with each slice.
That thief would not get away next time they met. Oh no. Keionx would not allow it.
She practiced well into the early day, in the safety of her cavern home until she nearly fell asleep on her training mat and Beastdad took charge and carried her into bed, placing her in her recouparoon and 'tucking' her in.
And she slept, finally, but her sleep was disturbed by leering orangebloods, and dragon raccoons, and a thief she could not catch...
Suffice to say, the hero was a bear the next evening.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:46 pm
Meta: Inside the Fluid Redistribution Center Being processed by security was a lot of waiting... restraints and waiting. Fighting valiently was not accepted by the drones, and – after some roughing up – Keionx was locked in a room for processing. She hoped the others had gotten out safely, though she'd seen Alexin get taken.
She looked at the miserable grey walls of the cubicle space used as a prison, and made a face. This would be a decidedly unheroic place to die, if dying was on the menu, which it would not be. But neither was escape – try as she might, the handcuffs around her wrists held and the rolling chair beneath her spun dourly. The presence of the plants in the pipes disturbed her – they meant that something uncanny and evil was at work, and that meant that she had to stop it. She needed to consult with Alexin and find the source of that evil and destroy it, and – she kicked at the felt walls – she couldn't do that from in here.
“Hey kid” a drone came in and grabbed her, forcing her up and to her feet, “Lucky you, you're free to go.” they said, shoving her towards the door, “Stay lucky and don't try anything stupid like that again.” they said, as they tossed Keionx out of the doors and into the throng.
Keionx stood up, giving the drone an almost haughty glare as she brushed herself off. How rude... but no matter. She was free to continue her heroic quest.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:51 pm
Meta: A Strange and unexpected Shop Keionx resolutely followed Vrykol into the tunnel, the potion in her hand. She had no reason to doubt the jadeblood's words. The wise old shopkeeper in the stories was usually right, and usually helpful, thus she was too.
The talk of immortality and the riddles and death had addled and scared her, but Keionx had recovered and she knew – she just knew – that following the Jadeblood would lead her to the heroic deeds she so craved to accomplish, her first work for all trollkind.
She was afraid, yes, but she was also excited and, despite not entirely knowing what was to come, she was ready. Whatever the threat was, she was ready. She had been ready ever since Beastdad had taken her from the caverns, had been ready all her life.
There had to come a time when you stopped being 'ready...' and just did.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 7:13 pm
Running Water
Keionx was a happy – if exhausted – young troll as she brought her burden of water across the Chittentown border. Of course, she had ended up carrying Alexin's load, but it somehow felt perfectly right to her to do so. She liked carrying the heavy loads, she liked doing the heavy work, she liked working. It all felt so satisfying, a hard days work for the good of all and it left her with a light feeling in the core of her being, a good feeling. She leaned against the sign haphazardly and dustily welcoming her to Chittentown. She would wait, first, for Alexin and Splitch, who had fallen behind somewhat as Keionx had plodded swiftly forward. They would know what to do next, because there was a next step. The water was there, but the water would have to be divided up fairly, otherwise it would be unfairly distributed and that was wrong. There were so many things wrong in this world, Keionx was learning, but – as she adjusted her load on her back, she knew, with certainty, that she and Alexin had done this thing, this one thing, and it was absolutely and completely the right thing to do. And that... made her happy in a way that nothing else would.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 7:13 am
META: Whimsical Underground Adventure 2000 - Aendal Battle! Keionx didn't know how long it took her and the exhausted teenagers to reach the surface, but it could not have been less than an eternity. Every step was an agonizing reminder that she was leaving with fewer friends than when she had entered, a constant pounding reminder of her failure to be a hero.
As things began to change in the cavern, as the air began to dry and become clearer and less musty, Keionx knew she should have boueyed with hope. That was what heroes did at the end of an adventure, and hope had never abandoned her ever before.
But Keionx had also never been on an adventure quite like this one and, as she pushed herself and her friends forth into the moon's light, she felt nothing but a dull ache.
She had failed.
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 7:03 am
Meta: Getting Kicked Out Keionx felt motivated. This was the chance she had been waiting for, the adventure that would reveal another adventure and open up the first page of her grand story. After what she had seen in the Fluid Distribution center, she knew that whatever was ahead would be epic.
Some villain had stopped the water. Some villain had left the plants in the pipes. If she defeated the villain, then she would bring back the water and save Chittentown. She would be its hero. Beastdad would be proud! Zariah would be proud! Her life would have meaning and good would come to Alternia.
Her plan with Alexin was sure to work – imported water would buy them the time they needed to seek out the source of the trouble and destroy it heroically. And it was only a matter of time: With a hero on the case, evil could not last for long.
Keionx only needed to wrap a few things up here in Chittentown and then she could head over to Four Fronds and meet up with Alexin. She couldn't wait!
She would show Ephias that there was hope. She would bring water back to Chittentown. She could only ask for him to hold out until then and to be there to see her return, triumphant.
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:13 am
Been Caught Stealing Keionx guarded the water she and Alexin had brought, making sure that everybody got a share and that nobody stole or caused trouble. She felt imposing in her costume armor and with her sword and shield, and validated because no trouble had happened.
It was nearing the end of the night, and she felt her mind wander off of the crowd and onto the events of that day and of her patrol.
Etsali. The thief. Of course such villains would work a crowd. Keionx was only glad she had intercepted the bronzeblood before she could rob these people further.
She took out the pocketwatch and fiddled with it, running it over in her hands, feeling the engravings. The watch belonged to another, a mysterious other that Keionx was unlikely to find. She did not, however, wonder at the victim of the crime but the perpetrator.
How could she do such a thing? Did she feel no kinship with her fellow troll? Did she take joy in their suffering? Did she not realize that her actions were evil? Keionx was certain – reasonably certain – that the thief knew exactly what she was doing and didn't care about others at all.
She be a selfish, horrible, smug trollop. thought Keionx sourly, staring down at the watch, I doubtst that I changed her at all with mine intervention.
Of course not. Villains were rarely deterred by a violent warning such as she had given Etsali. They came back, again and again, to satisfy their selfish desires. She smiled fiercely at the watch, wrested from the theif's hands.
If she cometh, I shall twart her. she thought, her grin widening, Every time.
“Hey!” called a voice. Keionx looked up startled, blinking at the face of an irate, strange troll. They held a cup, clearly here for the water.
“Can I help thee?” she asked, her hand on her sword. If he was looking for trouble, she would not allow it.
“That's my watch!” he pointed.
Keionx looked down at it, glittering in her hands. “Is it?”
“Yes! Yes! Can't you see that's my symbol?!” the troll pointed to his chest. Sure enough, his yellow-lined symbol matched the insignia on the watch.
“I see.”
“Give it back!”
Keionx hesitated, feeling the weight of the watch in her hand. She looked at it, gleaming in her hand. It was more than just a watch to her – it was a reminder of the event, and she found she didn't want to part with it, this memento of the thief. “Are you sure... it is thine?” she asked, biting her lip, “For I... did not see thee when it was taken...”
“Of course its mine!” snapped the troll, “That's my symbol, that's my watch! It was taken from me and you...” the trolls eyes widened, “You?! You stole it, didn't you?!”
“I did not!” Keionx protested hotly, “I am no thief, citizen! Just as thou art not!”
“Then why do you have it?!” the troll grabbed for it, “Give it back!”
“I... retrieved it from... never mindest thou...” Keionx, reluctant, handed the watch over, her fingers slowly relinquishing it. “It is thine, and thou shouldst have it.”
The troll snatched it from her hands and stomped off, not even bothering to get the water they had waited for. Keionx watched them go, her fingers moving over the new absence in her palm, feeling a deep sense of regret and loss. It was the right thing, to be sure – stolen goods must be returned to those they belonged to – but...
She sighed, closing up the water depot she and Alexin had built for the day. She would simply have to find herself a new memento.
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:43 am
META: Emergency in ChittentownKeionx brushed Yakmom's fur in the cleaned stall, her mind elsewhere. It had been frequently elsewhere since the fight with Aendal, and Keionx wasn't sure where it was, or where it had been before. She felt aged or, perhaps, hatched anew. The world around her felt new and freshly raw against her, no longer insulated by something that was there.
Aside from Yakmom, Keionx was alone in the house. If she had to, she knew, she could visit Ephias and Wolly, but she didn't want to leave Yakmom. The beast had been feeling poorly as of late, and Keionx wanted to make sure that, when Vremea came home from her tiger rescuing adventure, she would find her kind lusus in good health. That was Keionx's obligation to her. To them all.
They were good people. They had told her that she was a hero, that she had done well in the fight, that she had played a part. And they were right – she had done a lot. The fact remained however that they had had to protect her – her, foolish enough to think she could fight alone and so weak that someone else, someone who she cared about and who shouldn't have had to worry about her, had had to stand in and protect her. And no matter how they spun it, she could not change this fact.
It was them that had been the heroes of that fight. Not Keionx. For the first time in her life, she hadn't been capable or a hero. For the first time, she had nearly lost hope.
”I don't know what I am anymore, Yakmom.” she commented to the yak, petting the great white beast, ”Milieu says I can be a hero. Vremea says to follow my heart. I don't know how...” she leaned against their side. ”Dost... dost thou?”
Normally one wouldn't do this with a lusus that wasn't their own, but Keionx knew Yakmom, and they had something in common: they were alone. Vremea was on her quest – her heroic quest – and Beastdad... Keionx hadn't seen her Lusus since she had dropped by home on the way to the store. He'd taught her how to manage on her own – or she'd thought he had, anyway – but that didn't mean she didn't want to see him. He was her daddy, he had taken her out of the caverns and taught her everything she knew, and though Zariah needed his attention and care more than his own troll did, he still would check on her. He should. He had to.
She needed her daddy to talk to. There were things to discuss that she wanted to discuss with her Lusus. So she had waited and waited, and he hadn't come back.
”I don't know where he is...” she whispered to Yakmom, ”I don't know what to do.”
Abruptly, she leaned back, swallowing back tears she didn't want to cry, not again. ”I... maybe I shall read.” she announced, leaving the stall, ”Um... call if you need anything.” she hurried back inside the yellowblood's hive, biting her lip until the sting of tears faded. Keionx had always been inspired by books, and Vremea was a librarian. Perhaps she had some books that would give Keionx guidance...
Or at least distract her for a time, until Vremea's return...
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Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:52 pm
META ORP: The Hero's Parade Keionx was grateful for Ephias's company on the way to Vremea's hive. She didn't think she could be alone right now. She looked at him often as they walked, seeing him in a totally different light.
No, not different. More complete. She hadn't been understanding him completely, she had realized. They'd been on different wavelengths, unaligned like radios set to the wrong frequency. Not anymore. She was hearing him loud and clear, and she was glad he was there because clarity was very, terrifyingly, new.
She took her leave of his company at Vremea's hive, and made herself throughly at home. First, a shower: the water washed away the grime and some of Keionx's pain. Being clean was, indeed, a mood improver.
So was sleep. She hadn't been intending to use the recouparoon, of course. She'd slept on the floor often, and would need only a little bit of slime to help ease her to sleep. But when she saw Vremea's recouparoon, full of sopor slime, she couldn't help herself. She had only been intending to close her eyes for a moment in it before returning to the the rightful place for a guest, but the second the sopor slime encased her, she fell asleep into a rest dreamless and respiteful.
All would change soon.
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 5:09 pm
Violence, Dragons, and Escape Routes
Keionx was not normally a violent person, though obviously violence was a part of being a hero. Usually, though, she did not think ill of anybody, and certainly nothing that would warrant more than a stern look and a stiltedly polite voice. Never a blade, not unless all else failed.
Etsali was an exception. Every time she thought of the thief, her blood boiled. She wanted to catch her, to hurt her, to make her pay.
And this night... this one night... was no exception. Etsali had insulted the one last thing that Keionx had left, the one thing that hadn't been confused and tangled and mussed by the events of before.
And for that she would pay.
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 4:59 pm
Who is the Better Hero? (Battle) Keionx knew she had lost even before she realized she was lying on the sandy ground of Chittentown in a pool of her own – and a darker shade of – blood. She kept her eyes closed for a moment, unwilling to open them and admit to bitter, terrible defeat.
She had lost. Against someone who ought to have been her lesser. A hero always won – that was what she had learned from wigglerhood on. Heros faced adversity, but they always prevailed in the end.
Always.
And she hadn't. She had lost against Etsali – ETSALI of all people. She began to cry, hope drained from her along with any energy she might have had left from all the months of agonizing and confusion. She was no hero.
Her head hurt, and her tears eventually forced her to sit up and sniffle. She rubbed them away, and glumly assessed her injuries. Head trauma – it was fine, she'd hid her head before. Maybe too often she thought miserably. Cuts and bruises – nothing too serious, though bandages and medicine might help. The physical injuries weren't the problem.
She felt empty inside, hurt, helpless, and lost. She sheathed her sword – she'd clean it later – and stood, using its sheath as a prop.
Well, what now? What would she, an empty husk of a girl who didn't know what she was, do?
Ephias. came the answer. I'll talk to Ephias. It was what she had come to Chittentown to do anyway, and she needed him... now even more than before. She needed him to listen to her problems, she needed him to talk, she needed him to give her hope – as she had tried to give him hope before. She needed his help. She had no where else to turn.
Slowly, achingly, she began to make her way towards his hive, and whatever salvation she could find there.
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 12:04 pm
Loot Loot Looting Beastdad had frequent reason to be worried about both of his charges. Worried and proud! His babies were coming into their own and exploring. He just wished that Keionx didn't have to do it alone.
"I shall be fine, Dad." Keionx reassured him. They had slowed as Keionx finished her run. She hadn't seen her lusus in months, and she had missed Beastdad so much, but Zariah needed to be cared for more than she did. Cared for and protected in their hive. He was weak and she was strong, so it was only fitting that she go off on adventures and Beastdad stay with him at home. That was as it should be.
Except... beastdad knew that Zariah was not staying home. He went out and did things - heroic things - that he was not supposed to tell Keionx about. Beastdad was okay with this, and with protecting him. Such things would be an excellent surprise to Keionx one day - a good one, Beastdad hoped. But he still worried about leaving his - and she was his - troll all alone like this. She could handle herself, but...
"I will find a way to fix this drought." she said. Beastdad looked at what had been a water station in the desert city as they passed it by, "Thou shall see. I wilt be a hero like thee, Dad, I can do it. On mine own..." she said.
Beastdad did not doubt it. But he wanted to stay with her, at least a little bit. He loved his girl. He loved her so much. And he was so proud.
"I love thee too." Keionx said, smiling at her father, "Dost thou want to go adventuring? Or mayhap to visit some of mine friends?" she wanted to spend time with him too.
Anything - with Keionx - would be fine with Beastdad. As they completed the last stretch of her run, they shared a moment, one of those special moments between lusus and child that happens sometimes, and the encounter with the looter was soon wiped from Keionx's mind.
Such moments, due to their separation, were rare for them, and in the events that followed, Keionx wished that - in that moment - she had treasured it more...
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 5:29 pm
Bloodfest
XX Keionx left the Bloodfest area, her gold Gerbowling trophy (and her copper Capture the flag trophy) heavy in her arms. She was stunned, somewhere between not having expected a win and wanting more of one. Stunned, also, because she felt that something undefinable had resolved and solidified within her, something that, before, had been chaotic and uncertain.
Though the trophies and goodies were heavy and hard to carry, Keionx did not offer them to her muscular Lusus, who clopped next to her, patient on his hooved feet. They both knew they needed to talk, something more than the fleeting moment they had had at the stands, but neither were sure what to say. Beastdad especially: he merely watched her as they walked, unsure of what his baby had grown into. Keionx wasn't so sure herself.
She had treated herself to a hotel room for the nights of Bloodfest (the 'Moon Scouts,' as her heroes had called themselves at their stall, had insisted on it), and she led Beastdad to the room. It was a typical lowblooded travelers hive - not very fancy – but it still displayed some measure of Civicect's opulence in its smooth wallpaper, pleasant furnishings, comfortable recouparoon, and fairly nice waste block. It certainly fit her and Beastdad well enough, though he had to duck under the doorframe somewhat.
Keionx put her takings from Bloodfest – including the water bottle (partially drunk and really just water, but Keionx was too thrifty to throw out even this newest trash from Etsali) and the thief's mask she intended to keep forever – onto the large desk in the room, intending to sort out transportation later.
She sat on a comfortable, plush seat and stared at her Lusus. She took a deep, slow breath, and then another.
”Well...” she said quietly, ”Lets talk.”
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