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 Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 6:45 pm
Get off of me, Beryl, but yes, that's the general idea. *flies up toward Othelia* Now try not to slice me up Othelia, we're doing you a favor.
*snorts and rolls her eyes*
That's...that's a big stick...*stares for a moment before shaking her head* D'ya need help with it? I mean...with...whatever you're gonna be doing with it?
*nervously hops off Renna and transforms* If I get stuck down here... tell Sio to go on without me!
*Sio snorts with exasperation from her position off to one side*
*drags branch to edge of hole* If I thought you would be useful with this, Carmine, then I'd ask. But I don't think you will, so please stay out of the way. *lets go of branch with tail and leans over to pick up one end in his mouth*
Oh for heaven's sake. If you got stuck we'd tell you to shrink and send a bird in to get you. Use your head!
*huffs a little unhappily but settles to just watch, completely useless*
*flies up to brace one shoulder a bit awkwardly against Othelia's hind leg* Get into position Beryl, and when I say "go" push.
*flaps up and prepares to push at Othelia's other side* Oooook... this had better work!
*wraps tail tightly around a tree behind him and carefully lowers branch down to Othelia, mumbling unintelligibly around it*
*blinks at the branch near her and then at Xelloss*
*sticks her head over the edge of the hole* Othie...I think he means for you t'grab that when the others start pushing...or...maybe now...but...do it later and don't squash Beryl and Lorenna.
*Lorenna and Othelia simultaneously roll eyes*
Thank you for that brilliant insight Carmine. Now, on my signal...GO. *starts pushing at Othelia*
*starts flapping madly and pushing Othelia with all her strength*
*braces himself and keeps holding the branch out for Othelia*
*lets go of the root and snaps at the branch as quickly as she can*
*beats her wings harder and faster than she's used to* You. Are going. On a diet!
*flaps and scrabbles at the walls of the pit* I think Sio's even lighter than you!
*grunts slightly as the weight moves onto the branch*
*resists the urge to smack Lorenna and Beryl with her tail putting her efforts towards using her forelegs to help pull herself up*
*watching closely* Keep going. Keep going. You're almost there! C'mon...
I got dust in my eyes! Dang it! *squints eyes shut but keeps pushing*
*tail starts slipping on the tree until he gets a firmer grip on it*
We'll look at your eyes...later. Are we at the top yet?! *getting frustrated*
Noooo...yes!
*gets her front legs up on the ledge and starts shifting her weight so it's off the others*
*darts over and starts helping to get Othelia's back legs up* Good job team!
*gives Carmine an unappreciative look while he's still holding onto the branch and mumbles around it* S'not ovhur yet.
I'm bliiiiiiiiind! *flaps out of hole and careens around*
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 6:46 pm
*sticks her tongue out* She's mostly out of the hole isn't she?
*gives Othelia one last shove to get her completely onto safe ground before flying to one side and dropping to the ground* I am never doing that again.
*lays on the ground and lets go of the stick to finally let her jaw relax*
*races back with a length of vine curled around her neck and nearly collides with her aunt*
Whoa! *spins around in the air and then lands in a heap, panting*
*races in, dragging a long leafy vine* Did we make it? Is it over?
*lets go of the branch and spits out shredded wood* Youch... *gingerly unwinds his tail from the tree*
*quietly approaches Beryl with a quizzical look on her face* Are you...okay?
It took you guys long enough! Yeah it's over. We staged a daring rescue!
And what "we" is this? You just stood by the edge shouting at us! I think I dropped my hat somewhere...*scowls and looks around for it*
*rolls over to lay on her belly and looks at Xelloss seriously* Are you...? *ponders over the right word* ...hurt? *scrunches up her face not sure if that's what she was going for*
*squints and blinks a lot to get the dirt out of her eyes* Yeah... Just some minor chaos. I'll be fine.
*disappointed* We wanted to help rescue her too!
... *tiredly but bemusedly looks at Othelia and ignores her question* I wouldn't have done that Carmine or Lorenna, you know. *shakes cramps out of tail*
*stares hard at Beryl* ...Sure?
Then next time you should search faster. When something could go wrong at any second it's best to act at the first opportunity. *nods* If you wish to be of assistance then find my hat.
*doesn't point out the obvious problem that probably neither of them would have gotten stuck like that in the first place* I wouldn't either. *keeping her voice down so Carmine doesn't hear*
*calming down some* I'm ok. Check me for spiders, wouldja?
Hat! I can find that! *begins running around the edge of the hole, looking around*
*turns away from the others so they can't see his expression and gives Othelia a slight ominous smirk* "Birds" of a feather have to stick together, right?
Spiders...? *opens mouth to say something but changes her mind and starts looking finding it hard to spot anything on Beryl's dark coat*
Don't you dare fall in there Slipsand or so help me we're leaving you!
*smiles* Something like that. *runs her tongue over her teeth* ...my mouth tastes like wood...
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Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:51 pm
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:57 pm
The trip had taken a lot longer than Carmine had anticipated. Based on the scruffy and battered look of the group behind her she got the feeling they were feeling the same way.
It was worth it though.
Carmine's mouth hung open as she stared at the sight before her. Structures built out of dark stone towered out of the greenery. Vines grew up the sides and in places the stone had cracked and crumbled away. Humans had lived here once, she was sure of it, what else would build something with no point like this? It looked as though various animals made their homes here now, she could see a few brightly colored birds perched on a stone ledge. If she had seen more soquili in the area Carmine might have considered moving their head quarters here.
"We made it..." She said when her brain was finally able to process speech. "Guys, we made it!" She turned to look at the others with a wide grin on her face. They'd taken a great journey and they'd made it. This was a victory for the Under Ground.
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 3:21 pm
Lorenna found herself awestruck at the sight of the massive structures. When the birds had said they had found something amazing made from stone she hadn't imagined anything on this scale. They were only birds, to a bird even a horse was large and impressive. Her mane was horribly tangled, her coat was muddy and she had bug bites the size of her eye. This almost made up for the unpleasantness of the entire trip.
Almost.
Pretty architecture alone wasn't enough. "Yes, Carmine, we can say that." She replied dryly marching to the front of the ground to face the others at Carmine's size. "Just to make sure that this is fresh in everyone's mind. One bag is yours, one belongs to the entire Under Ground. The number of items in your bag must equal that of the Under Ground's bag. Do not put any junk in the Under Ground bag or we'll pick a replacement from your bags." Lorenna said fixing Beryl with a pointed look. If there was anyone likely to just toss an equal number of sticks or something into the Under Ground's bag it was Beryl.
"Given the rather...chaotic nature of everything we've faced down It would be best to move in teams or groups. I suspect there may be more dangers here than we believe." She glanced around the area suspiciously. It felt like something was watching. "We'll meet back here at nightfall and we'll stay until we feel we have all we want. If there are no questions then you are dismissed."
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:39 pm
Even Xelloss was momentarily silenced when they caught sight of the ruins. He had been born and raised in the jungle with Lord Beastmaster, but it had been years since he had been back. He didn't allow himself to feel something as romantic as nostalgia, but he still had awe for the power of the place.
"I'll be in a team with Othelia," he said absently, not even looking at the Underground. He continued to stare at the ruins. Were there any signs of mazoku presence in the runes upon the crumbling stone surface? Could this place lead to some hint of what had happened to the other members of his dark clan?
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:07 pm
"I'm on a team with Sio!" piped up Beryl. "... Obviously." She snickered and grinned at her buffalo companion. Though Beryl had spent much of the journey there complaining about this and that, she was all smiles now. All of her fatigue of previous days was gone. She felt as fresh as the day they started and could barely keep herself from launching herself forward and starting the exploration herself!
Beryl gave the bags around her neck a loving nuzzle. "Soon you'll be full of wonderful and expensive things!" she crooned to them. If they could find some real treasure it would make those days suffering in the swamp worth it. She wanted to be decked to her hooves with gold and gems by the end of this venture.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:11 pm
"Woooooow," breathed Slipsand. Her small eyes bulged from trying to take in the amazing scenery. It strained her imagination to think of humans building this. How could they move rocks that were so many times bigger than they were? Did any soquili help them? Did anyone who knew the secrets of its construction still live there? Questions flooded her mind to which she had no answer.
She didn't care who she went in with, she just wanted to explore. "You don't think that skinwalkers or something lives here, do you?" she asked. Monsters guarded the treasure in all the stories. No treasures ever came for free. Slipsand wondered what sort of story they'd stumbled into.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:33 pm
Othelia hadn't been listening to anyone. Instead she had been very fixated on a rock near her hind leg. It was carved with markings similar to the ones on her legs and back. If it had been smaller she would have put it into her bag and kept it as a memento but as it was she just settled to engrave it into her memory. It wasn't until she heard her name that she tuned back in.
Without a word she slipped quietly over to Xelloss's side. It wasn't until Beryl spoke that she understood why he had said her name. They were to be a team then. That suited her fine. 'Birds of a feather.' However, it seemed that one bird was being unusually distracted. She followed Xelloss's gaze to the ruins but couldn't see anything particularly interesting, at least not so interesting as to occupy his attention so fully.
"What is it?" She asked quietly to keep the others from hearing.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:38 pm
"I'll go with Slipsand." She said with a firm nod of her head. That would leave them with relatively even groups. Each would be capable of fighting or fleeing easily if trouble reared it's ugly head and likewise they would be equipped to reach things in a variety of places. "Raven comes with me." She added to keep Lorenna from trying to send him with any other group. If there was anything atop a pillar or anything of that nature they would need his wings.
"Skinwalkers are possible. Other animals are likely." She said probably doing nothing to put anyone's mind at rest. A place like this was bound to attract more attention than just their little group and it was better to be on guard.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:50 pm
"That leaves myself and Carmine then." Everyone had made predictable choices but there was one that troubled her. She didn't like the kalona together, not because she wanted to stay with them by any stretch of the imagination, but because Xelloss had been behaving strangely. He had been quiet, which was a relief for her ears, but that couldn't mean anything good. He had only been serious twice this entire trip, when Othelia had fallen down a hole and now. She didn't like it. He was up to something she was sure of it.
"We'll be keeping Khaa with us to relay messages if they are needed. We'll see you all tonight. Let's go Carmine." Without another look at the group she departed with Carmine at her side. They knew what needed to get done and they would do it or die trying. What bound them all together was a common love of treasure, or in Wolf's case some strange sense of duty to Carmine and her bird, who loved treasure. She had no doubt in her mind that every one of them would have full bags within three days.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:42 am
"Are we leaving now?" Slipsand grinned up at Wolf. She was happy with her partner. Wolf was nice. She wouldn't have been able to have fun with Renna. Renna was good at organizing and knowing things, but not as much for adventures. Slipsand would have had fun with Carmine too, Carmine always had something up her sleeve. She was just as glad not to be with the kalonas either. She liked them, but was starting to wonder if they were really very trustworthy.
Smiling deviously, Xelloss gave Othelia a glance that made clear that he wasn't about to tell her the whole truth. "Oh, I just used to have some acquaintances that lived around here. I was wondering if they might still be around... or might have left something behind." They might have left servants around too. That was a pertinent danger... but not one that Xelloss couldn't deal with.
Banishing his sneaky look under a smile, he swept a wing expansively at the ruins. "Well then, shall we go?"
Beryl didn't wait for everyone to say their goodbyes. "Last one there is a rotten apple!" She bounded away with Sio faithfully plodding after her. Finally, it was the moment she had waited her whole life for! Treasures galore and the best for her!
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:34 pm
Wolf nodded her head at the nixie and returned her grin with a small smile. "Yes, where should we start? The ruins or the surrounding area?" She would leave the choice up to Slipsand. The girl had more energy than Wolf and while Wolf would be equally content wherever they were she doubted that Slipsand would be the same way. Raven didn't get a choice. He would suggest some place impossible to get to just for fun. She shot her bird a look to make sure he kept his beak shut. He would understand, of course, whether or not he would comply was a different matter. So far he seemed to be restraining himself thankfully.
"Acquaintances...?" She didn't like that Xelloss wasn't saying everything he probably knew. He seemed to withhold information that could make life easier more than he had any right to. However, Othelia would be lying if she said that her heart didn't skip a beat at the word. That could mean other kalona. As much as she liked Xelloss and his company, as irritating as he was at times, she relished the thought of meeting more of her kind. The Under Ground made a point of avoiding the more dangerous species which still left her largely isolated.
"Yes, we should." She replied marching off toward the ruins with a new determination. Even signs of others would be good. Maybe they would still be in the area.
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:04 am
Slipsand chewed on her lip while considering their options. Beryl and Sio were dashing off to the ruins and she wasn't quite sure where Carmine and Renna were going. The ruins definitely would be fun to explore around, but she predicted that Beryl would get snippy if they pushed in on "her territory" too much. "Surrounding area!" She smiled brightly and surveyed the terrain. "There might be other entrances!" It was silly to take the obvious path! Everyone knew that the best stuff was the most hidden and least likely to be found.
Xelloss was happy enough following after Othelia and seeing where she might lead them. He knew nothing about what the layout of this temple might be or where he might find something interesting. Besides that, what Othelia didn't seem to realize was that she was half-mazoku herself, part of that demon breed of soquili. Xelloss recognized her markings as kin to his the first time he laid eyes on her. That she didn't even realize it might give her an advantage where he had none. Subconsciously, he wondered if she might be drawn to those artifacts and creatures that hearkened to her bloodline...
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:58 am
~~~*~*~*~*~~~To read the adventures of the groups please click one of these links. History Sealed Away!- Xelloss and Othelia Wandering Around- Wolf, Raven and Slipsand Raiders- Carmine and Lorenna ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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