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 Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:37 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Azreal's frown only grew as Zakia tried to call the radaku with no response. "Just how dangerous are menzuri for radaku?" He found himself asking before that pinched expression from his companion caused him to pause. For a moment a gentle expression crossed his own gaze as he reached out to touch the Aishan hybrid's shoulder. "We might have to rough things up a bit." Azreal advised, his hand slowly moving away from Zakia as he took a step to the side and gestured towards the webbing that he had noticed in the tree line. "The best way to learn about creatures is to study them in person, no? Just have some faith that I can do a bit more than simply reading books." And his family would maim him if he ever allowed something like this to happen to a creature and especially if he didn't help Zakia out when she was clearly worried...more so that he wouldn't forgive himself if something happened here, not that he would admit such a thing out loud.
"Let's find Ista and get to that cave."
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:38 pm
[9]
“They’re bad news. Their webbing can be hard to see-,” She motioned to the nearly translucent strands, “-and harder to walk away from. If Ista was caught then she won’t be getting out.” Even if it hadn’t been her companion the thought of the poor thing suffering stung. Maybe she really was fine? The alternative would only distract her so as much as it pained Zakia to do so she shut that part of her mind off and continued.
“Menzuri venom has hallucinogenic side effects. I’ve heard some sisters say it’s, so they won’t know to be afraid and call out for help, but that’s just talk.” For a moment Zakia turned to look at Azreal, then at the hand on her shoulder and she raised her own to lay over his. She gave it a squeeze before nodding and continuing forward.
It didn’t take long to spot a few radaku tracks in the porous terrain. While they could have easily been mistaken for a wild radaku’s what she saw when she looked up was unmistakably Ista’s.
The pack that had once resided on the radaku’s back was held aloft by webbing. The straps had been damaged and - “There’s blood on the leather. She was attacked.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:39 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
These menzuri were getting better by the minute. No wonder his family didn't decide to settle in Jahaur despite how cold Zena could be during the winter months. "Sounds like a fun time." Azreal mused, thinking about how many ways this could go wrong. But the touch of Zakia's hand and that squeeze had all sarcasm stumbling to a halt as Azreal found himself focused again. They would figure this out, menzuri venom and webbing be damned. "We'll just be careful." A common sense statement, but still something he found himself saying to try to ease any nerves about this whole situation.
At first Azreal wasn't certain what Zakia had seen to make her stop like that, but then as her words registered with him the mage fianlly spotted the hanging pack. "Dammit." He shook his head, Azreal reaching for the pack to see if he could break it free from the webbing. It was firm like Zakia said but he couldn't help wondering that maybe, just maybe he could do something. "There's no body so we still have a chance." He commented in an attempt to offer reassurance. "I also wonder..." Azreal glanced over towards Zakia and gestured to the side. "Take a step over that way? I know spiders are sensitive about their webbing so I might trigger some menzuri, but I want to see if this can break their webs." The temperature around his body immediately dropped, Azreal repeating what he had done to the vines earlier but this time with the webbing. Perhaps trying to break it normally would prove tough wtih how sticky and firm the webbing was, but if it froze? Such temperatures rarely happened in Jahaur and ice creeping along the webbing was a strange sight indeed, especially even more so as he reached out and snapped the pack free from the frozen webbing that shattered into pieces.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:45 pm
[10]
Zakia nodded and took a few steps to the side, her arm sliding over her shoulder behind her back so she could unlace the cords that held her bow to her back. It wouldn’t do much in short proximity, but the feel of the wood in her grip gave the huntress something to focus on. The bow was obviously of Aishan design, and built for powerful, long distance shots. She’d added a few modifications over the years – namely the runes she herself had carved into it – but overall it was as natural as jungle itself.
She kept her eyes on the area around them, occasionally trailing off to marvel at the strands of webbing that hardened and seemed to crystalize, before turning to the jungle once more. A flash of something caught her eye; enough so that once she had a grip on her bow Zakia readied a hand over the fletching of an arrow. “Southeast. Just one but something’s watching.” She murmured.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:46 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Something was watching? The very thought sent an unwanted shiver down Azreal's spine even as he refused to show it. That was just unnerving and creepy in so many ways especially now that he could see one of the creatures scuttling across the remaining webbing towards them. A giant crystal spider from anyone's nightmares with eyes that basically glowed in the dim light of the jungle foliage. Far too many eyes. Regardless of any venom, it would be fairly easy to just have nightmare visions from seeing the menzuri itself. But based on the horror stories of the Dretch, Azreal could only hope that it was just more menzuri out there watching them. Crystal spiders would be tricky enough, the last thing they needed were those twisted creatures that haunted the Aishans added into this mess.
"I can try to freeze its legs as it comes closer." Azreal managed, the runes along his armbands warming up as he gathered his energy for their upcoming fight. He felt a bit disconnected from the cold all the way out here in the jungle, but he wasn't certain how helpful an actual storm would be out here in the middle of the jungle. Would the crystal skin just reflect lightning strikes? How did any of this work? "Anything I should know about them before they strike? Weaknesses more so than their venom and webbing?" He questioned, taking a step towards Zakia as he prepared himself. Snippets of wind that swirled around him as his power rose shot out in all directions, Azreal frowning as he felt some resistence. "It feels like they might be keeping cocoons or bodies towards the northeast." They would have to rush in that direction, the mage hoping that they could save Ista before it was too late.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:49 pm
[11]
“How fast can you cast?” With every step the Menzuri made Zakia’s fingers inched that much closer to the arrow. The tips of her fingers connected with feathers and held, her eyes locking onto the beast. Storms...lightning...metal. Zakia’s fingers shifted to a separate arrow in her quiver and slowly she pulled it free. It’s weight was different than the rest, with a metallic arrowhead and decorative shaft. She remembered trading for it in Sauti on her way back to Jauhar, exchanging some furs for a piece of Belrean copper.
“Just don’t get caught; that’s all you need to know.” The very moment she got a clear shot Zakia swiftly knocked the arrow and let it loose. She aimed for a kink in the crystal; a spot near it’s shoulder joints where it’s natural armor wasn’t as thick. With luck she’d managed to make the shot, but it wasn’t enough to stop it; just enough to piss it off.
And to alert the others.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:50 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"As fast as necessary." Azreal promised as he froze the ground beneath two more menzuri as they appeared from the darkness. The creatures skidded along the frozen ground, crashing into each other and letting out an impossibly high pitched noise that rang in Azreal's ears. "If we can't kill them easily maybe I can distract them long enough." He had seen the arrow and the way that the first menzuri took the shot, the spider just moving sideways from the blow and circling around them instead of chasing straight for them as originally intended. It had done something at least despite appearances, Azreal noticing some green ooze dripping along the ground behind the creature.
"Do you trust me?" Azreal asked Zakia before changing the question as he stood next to her and kept an eye out for more menzuri that might drop in on them. "Actually just trust me. Go find Ista in that direction, I'll try to catch up but I have a better chance at slowing them down." He gave her a smirk, the confidence there to irritate her more so that she wouldn't worry about him as much. "It's a bit easier for me to cover more ground, especially if I don't have to worry about another body near me." Not like he would have much time to talk out more of a plan, especially since the other two were finally starting to get their bearings again despite the slippery path that had originally entangled them.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:51 pm
[12]
“You didn’t take the shot?!” Zakia motioned to the menzuri she’d shot. “It’s copper! METAL! Have you never seen the way lightning hits - never mind.” Maybe he hadn’t read the same texts she had, maybe he had, but what mattered now were the creatures moving in on them.
Loaded question after that. She curled her lip at his smirk, a retort quick on her tongue before she swallowed it. Instead, Zakia grabbed his arm and tugged him closer. “Don’t make me regret leaving you.” The Aishan looked him firmly, her lips set in a line before letting him go. She hesitated, as if the thought of leaving him behind weighed on her, but she did trust him so Zakia ran. Movement on her sides let her know she was being pursued by at least one, maybe two, and hoped whatever he was planning worked out.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:52 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
And cue their usual frustration. "I'm a mage, not a mind reader and if you didn't notice..." Azreal gestured towards the menzuri skating around on the ice. "We had extra company drop in so forgive me if I didn't take the time to study your arrows!" Still, it didn't mean that the idea was forfeit especially since the arrow was still ledged into the menzuri's joint. And admittedly his own temper was rising because he was flustered that he had missed her intentions. Though all things be damned when she looked at him like that. Don't soften now, stay angry at me. I'm an idiot who annoys you. He silently pleaded before simply nodding and taking a step away as she ran in the opposite direction. Immediately ice spread out along the ground behind her, the sharp shards jutting up from the ground like large crystals to deter at last a couple of the menzuri that chased after her. One or two may have gotten through, but he believed in Zakia just as he hoped she had some shred of faith in him despite everything.
"Alright. She wanted lightning so she'll have it." Azreal's runes glowed, his gaze bright with energy as the clouds gathered around them and blocked out whatever rays of sunlight had previously been flickering through the trees. Within seconds flashes of lightning could be seen through the trees as the storm began, Azreal allowing nature to strike at the menzuri with the first hit going straight for the injured one that burst into flames as the copper attracted the lightning. Of course she was right to think that way...and of course it worked. The very thought both amused and flustered him even more as he focused on sending down more lightning to strike against the menzuri that threatened to encircle him. Get there soon, Zakia.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:53 pm
[13]
Running through the dense underbrush of Jauhar came second nature to Zakia. When one of the menzuri leapt at her from a high root she ducked, using the slick muck to her advantage and slid beneath it before regaining her footing to run again. Zakia’s lungs were starting to burn, and despite the danger there was a thrill in it. At any moment the webbing could trap her, a fang could pierce her skin or she could run off a ledge and yet she couldn’t deny the exhilaration. It’s what had pushed her into that storm all those years ago, the one she’d very nearly died in -
-the one Azreal had found her in.
Don’t you die. Don’t you dare die. She ran along a root that crested at nearly twice her height before jumping, popping off a quick succession of arrows at a menzuri before running again. Either she’d managed to outpace them – which wasn’t likely – or something had deterred them. Or someone.
The darkening of the jungle wasn’t lost on her and even though the snap of lightning caused her spine to stiffen a part of her felt validated. Worried, but almost smug. It carried her to the northeast where she slowed until her pace was barely faster than a walk into a webbed mess. She’d found their lair – with cocoons hidden in every alcove – but one was smaller than the rest, less dense as well and when Zakia cut away at it with a dagger a little radaku’s head lolled out. “Ista! Come on, come on...” She could see blood on her fur, but just from the bite, no other wounds. Now she just had to focus on getting her up and moving.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:56 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
No wonder his aunt told stories about these creatures to scare others. Azreal felt his frustration growing as he continued trying to move forward but kept getting pushed back by the sheer number of menzuri scuttling about. Had they somehow found a whole nest of these cursed creatures?! He could only pray that their actions had attracted the menzuri away from their main nest so that Zakia wouldn't have to deal with so many when she found Ista. It was something though that he could go all out here in the dense jungle without witnesses to see how dangerous he truly could be. He just didn't know what word to put on the flaring emotion that had his blood racing through his veins. Was it simply exhilaration beneath the frustration or a burning curiosity about what all he could do without worrying over others, if not something else? Either way Azreal was determined to keep up the pace as he fought back against the menzuri, his true motivation out of sight but hopefully a bit safer from his efforts. He had nearly lost her once, long ago, and he never wanted to feel that fear ever again.
The runes in his bracelets and along his upper armbands left burning marks along his skin as some stones even shattered at the sheer impact of the storm's power as Azreal let out a final round of strikes, the heat from the attack making the area hazy. "Come on..." Azreal closed his eyes tightly against the threatening wave of exhaustion as he watched more menzuri fly backwards from the impact of lightning. Had he bought enough time? It felt like he was dancing with the creatures, dodging webs that had been flung in his direction while sidestepping attacks as the few that escaped his lightning strikes lashed out at him with their pointed limbs and fangs. Azreal even ended up tumbling backwards when one menzuri leapt at him from the trees where it had managed to move without him noticing until the last second. Still, despite his bruises and the fresh cuts along his palms from where he skidded along the rough ground covered in tangled roots the mage held strong.
He didn't like this though, not when he didn't know what was happening with Zakia while his own energy was depleting. I have to catch up and make sure she's alright. And what if she came back to rescue him? Then he truly would never hear the end of it! At least that was what Azreal told himself as he forced his body to lift from the ground and move forward, the mage sending out another wall of ice to hopefully slow down any surviving menzuri that wanted to pursue him as well. Northeast, right? That was the direction....Azreal closed his eyes for another brief second, allowing the cool brush of the wind to guide him before he opened his gaze again and started forward.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:58 pm
[14]
Zakia uncorked a vial from her pack and gingerly lifted it to Ista’s mouth. The radaku struggled, twisting its head away from the foreign object until she glamped its jaws shut around it with a firm hand. It wasn’t a cure – not a full one, anyway – but it should be enough to clear the edges of Ista’s mind so she would know friend from foe. She held on for a moment, making sure the injured beast fully swallowed before rising. The longer they waited the higher the risks became. If any of the menzuri were close there could be issues and if all had gone after Azreal then there definitely were issues. “I’m sorry girl, but we gotta go.” She bent down to help Ista to her feet, wincing when the radaku struggled for stability. In a perfect world they could have taken a moment to rest, but this wasn’t the time.
She took a few steps forward, then stopped when Ista didn’t follow. The radaku sat back down, her breaths coming out in pants and her head swaying as if she wasn’t sure of her surroundings. At this rate they wouldn’t be able to get to him in time - He asked you to trust him so DO IT. There was too much foliage to outline the battle, but she could see it in the burst of light and the crack of it settled her. To so many it would have been terrifying – a raw spectacle of power – but to her it was a sign that he was alive. If he could fight he could live and she needed to prepare for that.
“This is going to be uncomfortable, but you’ll have to make do.” Zakia tore a strip of cloth from her already bare clothing and used it to tie around Ista’s eyes. With that settled she hoisted the creature up and over her shoulders – front legs on her left, hind legs on her right – grasped the radaku’s ankles and started to walk. As much as she wanted to jog or hell, even run, Zakia didn’t have it in her. She just needed to see him.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:59 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
It was eerie how quiet the jungle had become now that the storm was over and the few twitching menzuri had retreated back into the shadows. At least he knew that the fight had happened and that it wasn't some sort of hallucination from the menzuri venom. There was plenty of evidence of the fighting in the area left behind, proof that something truly had happened with the scorched trees and plants that had embers still burning along the edges of their leaves. Green ooze, some mangled menzuri bodies and damp spots along the ground from melting ice all marked the path behind Azreal as he pressed onwards. Each step was starting to register the pain in his body now that the adrenaline rush was wearing thin, but his determination to see Zakia kept him moving regardless of every joint that screamed at him. Azreal also realized that their time was limited, there had to be a few survivors that would be returning to the nest soon enough. He just hoped that they wouldn't already be there and that he wasn't too late.
Relief immediately crossed his features as he emerged from the foliage, Azreal looking a bit worse for wear but still standing as he surveyed the area. Tousled hair, torn and dirtied clothing with some blood smeared across his skin meant nothing as long as they made it out of this. He could be miffed later about looking like such a mess, but in the moment he was just so relieved to see Zakia carrying Ista. "You made it then." He greeted Zakia, a genuine smile crossing his lips despite the dangerous situation that they were still in
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 4:01 pm
[15]
Ista's dead weight would have been preferable to the half-hearted stirring. She would occasionally raise her head, kick out a few limbs and whine before settling once more. The radaku might have been able to walk on her own, but Zakia didn't want to waste anymore time than she already had. Once they were safe she would put her down, but until then all she could do to comfort the creature was murmur as she damn near tripped over roots trying to get to Azreal.
He's alive. "Goddess, you look awful. Are you alright?" She was happy to see him - elated, actually - but he didn't look anymore capable of standing than Ista. "I can put her down if you'd rather I carry...you." Would he even agree to that? Why couldn't she look him in the eye after offering? Did he notice? "I just think that it would help you to conserve strength if you could...rest a little."
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 4:02 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"I'm fine." Azreal reassured Zakia even though the world around him was wobbly. Was there a haze in the trees? Did fog even happen in Jahaur? That was a question for later though, if anything it prompted him to want to get out of this clearing as quickly as possible. "Let's just get a bit further away and we can rest then." He shook his head at the offer, trying not to sway with the motion itself. It would probably be a bit embarressing to be carried but more than anything he didn't want Ista to be put at risk because of him either. This whole mess was partly his fault as it was since Zakia had been wanting to show him around the area, they would have never probably gotten close to menzuri if not for the relic hunt.
"I took care of a few of them, but there might be more." Azreal added, forcing a smile as he gestured for Zakia to follow along even as he didn't know quite where he was going through the trees.
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