She looked around for any familiar faces. Or even pleasant-looking ones. Anything, really, save any rebel who wanted to cut her throat or something. They wouldn't be beyond that, scourges to society and all. They were called terrorists for a reason. Perhaps some could be pleasant; they were still trolls, and they showed feelings at the greenblood commander's apparent betrayal.
Trust, however, was a completely different thing. Especially when they were being pushed back this way, farther out to the boonies. A cornered animal analogy would fit well.
She continued trying to find others in the limited light. Was this a figure in the distance, or a tree, or some other shadow? Hemera was not thrilled about the unnecessary difficulty.
Eventually, she was able to discern a living troll being from the boggy scenery. From the height, another child. ...Perhaps even fresh from the caverns. How small. There were plenty of commentary Mera could make on the get-up, but more than anything else, she blanched at the troll's apparent lack of shoes. What in the world?
Usually Mera avoided staring, but at this point it was impossible to do anything otherwise.
debinoresu
I wasn't sure if Karrem still has the UFOs on her horns but if she does there will be more commentary on that later :'D
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:28 am
Zariah Rutace With Chiara - Time for fisticuffs!!!!
He winced, his head drawn back by his ponytail in pain. Ouch! Way to fight dirty! When she kneed him he doubled over in pain. She was certainly getting the better of him....but Keionx was gone. She was safe. That was what mattered, not some stupid little squabble with a blueblood. He bit back the pain to sneer at her. "Wow, you're that lonely, huh?" Zariah pulled away from her, trying to completely detangle himself from Chiara, the mud made it a rather slippery and gross feat. "Guess it's gotta sting seeing trolls like us, huh? trolls that have each others' backs....stand up for each other....save each other? That stupid blueblood was on your side before....dunno WHY she saved him, but he musta said something a hell of a lot better than what you are." He smirked again. It was a new expression to him....but somehow he couldn't bow to her. Many times before he'd conceded to be quiet and withdrawn....but not here. Not about this.
Micillia
LordPocky
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kamileunaire
Floppy Member
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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:41 am
Dictys would find his bright smile unreciprocated as Larque gazed over at him, still caught up in disbelief. A knot had tied itself in his stomach, and he tried not to scowl too hard, his thoughts becoming tangled up with one another. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate what Dictys had done, but if the seadweller tried to hold it over his head, Larque was going to be very sour. The last thing he needed was to have a stranger trying to order him around.
"Nothing much." Larque muttered, not one for small talk. He was tempted to make some sort of disparaging remark about how he wished he hadn't come, or how badly organized the military was, but remembered his new company and thought better of it. "You?"
thyPOPE
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:46 am
The muck felt horrible on her feet, but they wouldn't stain a sickly green from it. Her shoes, however, would be ruined. This was definitely the most logical course of action- a worthy sacrifice. A smug grin swept across Karrem's face. Yes, even in these gruesome situations, she was still firmly grounded at the peak of rational reasoning. Her attention was suddenly redirected to a low buzz eminating from susus, a warning. Frantically, her eyes darted in every direction until she spotted the supposed offender. She reached up and patted susus, which she followed by a hum to notify everything was okay, then stared in the direction of the opposing troll. How could she determine if they were friend or foe? They seemed to be around her age- another child- so if they were a threat at least she wouldn't be outmatched. First, she would have to determine if they were a rebel or a royalist. A rebel should be assumed an immediate foe... she shouldn't be too obvious about her intentions, however. A professional, tactical approach.
After she straightened her posture, fixed her hair, and wiped off any mud or other uncleanly substance from her clothes and body, she faced the troll again with a firm, professional look. "Greetings, fellow troll. I'm afraid I've missed some of the events that have occurred today and would like to be briefed up on them... would you care to share what you have witnessed?" The perfect route! Not only will she gather information on what happened, but if she analyzes the perspective this troll viewed things from, she can sleuth out what side they were on. She needed to work on not sounding robotic, but she hadn't experienced practically any troll interaction yet. All of the practice she had was in the form of a simulation in her thinkpan, so things naturally hadn't come out as smooth. Nonetheless, she was still proud of her word choice.
Gl!tch~
yes she totally has them on, this is a drawing of what she sorta looks like rn minus shoes and shes now dry so her hair has regained buoyancy
debinoresu
Winner
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Hivestuck Captain
Alien Datemate
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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:12 pm
💣Danger!💣: As you wade through the murky darkness, you can't help but think that your journey so far was too easy. Sure there's the threat of the other trolls passing through the swamp right now, and the occasional dangerous lusus, but both can be avoided. If this is all there is to the swamp, why have no trolls colonized this area of Alternia? Perhaps you are just the strongest, smartest, most amazing troll in all of history. It is possible, but not likely. Out of your sight, behind a clump of swamp reeds, a decaying hand slowly rises from the water, sending out wide ripples... In your rp posts from now on in the swamp ORP, if you are a teen or older, you MUST roll 2d4. If you roll the same number twice in a row, you must immediately start the fight in the spoiler below. If you are trying to roll for other bosses, roll 4d4. The first 2d4 are for this new boss, the second are your accumulated totals for the other boss.
[align=center][b][size=18]You have encountered a hoard of Early-Rising Undead![/size][/b] [i]Mini-Boss Rules[/i]:[spoiler][i][size=9]Only a maximum of three trolls may fight this boss. This is a mini-boss! Unlike regular boss battles, the mule will not be posting new rounds, and players can simply post as fast and often as they want, [u]taking turns to attack one at a time[/u]. Players who have trinkets or abilities may also post to use one [u]directly after posting their attack[/u], giving them a maximum of two turns for that round. When each troll in the fight has had a turn to attack the mini-boss once and use one power/trinket, a new round begins. At each new round roll the standard 2d6 and use the table below to see what damage you've taken. As always, the first number is what you should check for your damage, and the second is the amount done to the mini-boss. Once the mini-boss or all players fighting it reach 0hp, this can be counted by all trolls participating as a battle rp for growth. If you have any questions, please PM the mule![/size][/i][/spoiler][/align]
[i]You're pretty confident at judging when it's light enough to go inside, shut the door, and drop the bolts. Here in the dark of the swamp, with treetops clustered so close overhead, you'd assume that there would be little to few undead, and definately not now. These creatures relied on sunlight to live, didn't they? So what was this medium sized hoard doing, shambling towards you? Questions would have to be cut short, as the moans from behind you indicated that you were surrounded.[/i]
[b]If you rolled a 1,[/b] several of the creatures surround and pin you down. They tear at you with surprisingly strong hands and rake you with still sharp teeth, despite the mould and decay. [b]Take 4 dmg and deal no damage.[/b]
[b]If you rolled a 2,[/b] you get body-hugged from behind. The thing holding you is cold, wet, lifeless, and surrounding you in a choking embrace. [b]Take 3 dmg and deal double damage.[/b]
[b]If you rolled a 3,[/b] hands grab at your feet from below. Looking down, you see a torso with no legs, fastening onto your feet and trying to pull itself up. [b]Take 3 dmg and deal double damage.[/b]
[b]If you rolled a 4,[/b] one lands on top of you for a moment, wet dead air forced from it's decaying lungs into your face from the impact. You quickly kick it off. [b]Take 2 dmg and deal double damage.[/b]
[b]If you rolled a 5,[/b] suddenly one displays a terrifying burst of speed, charging towards you. It grabs onto your front as it's legs disintegrate and it topples into the muck. [b]Take 2 dmg and deal double damage.[/b]
[b]If you rolled a 6,[/b] you look around, trying to find a place where you can at least get your back against something solid. There is nowhere to be found, they are all around you. [b]Take 1 dmg and deal triple damage.[/b]
[i]*damage multipliers should be applied before age/weapon bonuses*[/i]
[b]When the mini-boss or all trolls have reached 0hp, please look in the spoiler below.[/b] [spoiler] [b]Mini-Boss at 0[/b] [spoiler]You have managed to cull enough of the hoard to dart through the shuffling crowds and break free of their waving embrace. Still, you won't be able to survive out here for long. You should probably continue pressing north, or retreat back south to the safety of Four Fronds.
[u]You must keep rolling 2d4 in the main thread, the swamp is swarming with undead! If you have not won a prize from fighting this boss before, you can now roll 1d100 in their next post. [/u] [b]If you get a multiple of 3[/b], one of the undead your troll brought down had a 3 use novice trinket, pinned to the front of their rotting clothes. [b]If you get a multiple of 5[/b], one of the undead your troll brought down had a 3 use adept trinket, pinned to the front of their rotting clothes.
[i]The multiple of 5 overrides the multiple of 3. Always take the larger prize.[/i][/spoiler] [b]Players at 0[/b] [spoiler]The hoard is overwhelming, unrelenting, and unstoppable. You can't stay here - you must either continue pressing north, or retreat back south to the safety of Four Fronds.
[u]You cannot stay in the swamp anymore, it is too dangerous! Swamp ORP must be wrapped up and your troll may move to one of the two final ORPs, depending on their side.[/u][/spoiler] [/spoiler]
If you are a child, your parent will be forcing you onwards, and you cannot linger here! To be honest, it would probably be safest for trolls of all ages to get out of this area as soon as possible. Please wrap up all roleplay in this thread and move to one of the final destinations below.
If you are a rebel, there's no way out by going back, the swamp is swarming with hunters. Your only choice is to keep your head up and => push further north.
If you are a royalist, your TPS will loose power if you keep heading deeper into the swamp. If you're seeking safety then you should => return to Four Fronds.
Chiara was so engaged in the "fight" she barley noticed when her lusus let out a shrill squeak. Usually Chiara payed no attention to her guardian, but the shill squeak meant something, and Chiara decided it was time to listen.
Kicking hard, Chiara managed to get the boy's body off of herself, and she wiggled away from him. She didn't really want to capture him, she decided. He was too... interesting. Might come in handy later. "Your lucky, wiggler. Lucky i like you, or you would be hauled off to the guillotine the Queen is surely arranging right now." She ran back to her lusus and made her way out of the swamp. She would have to track down that annoying little kid later.
Lordpocky
VOID DICE ROLL. IGNORE THE DICE ROLL. the monster is only for teens and up
Micillia
Dapper Duck
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LordPocky
Cunning Codger
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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:00 pm
Zariah Rutace With Chiara - As if!!
Zariah made a face in response. She liked him? He sure as hell didn't need that!.What a loud-mouthed, rude, stubborn BRAT! But the warning keen of his lusus drew his attention back. He scrunched up his face with a final look at her before running back to his lusus. He was caked in mud and sweat....but at least he and Kei had gotten out in one piece....and that other blueblood.....whatshisname. He reeled anew at the thought. This would be much quieter WITHOUT that troll around he was sure.
Keionx managed to rejoin the mud-carved path that the caravan of rebels had made, carrying her burden with ease. Early sunlight prickled dangerously through the trees and she wanted to try to find whatever shelter that they provided. She was brave enough to dare a little of the early morning, but even she knew better than to actually be out during the day.
”We're almost there, I am certain of it.” she reassured Alexin. It began to rain as she trudged down the path, fresh footprints assuring her that safety was close at hand. And then, she heard it – a low, creaking moan. She turned to find herself face to face with undead, clawing their way out of the brush and muck.
She adjusted her rescuee, attempting to draw her sword. ”Run!” she called to Alexin, as the hoarde approached, ”Run, I'll hold them off and meet thee later!”
Beastdad was pleased that his charge was fighting so ably in the swamp, his muscles bulging extra with pure pride. He called encouragement from the side, ready to swoop in if things got truly serious, but content to let his baby fight his own battle. It was good that he was doing so.
But then, the unholy pall of day came upon him and, though the sun did not shine brightly through the canopy and the dusky swamp remained unchanged, Beastdad shivered. Zariah was ready for small fights with unarmed trolls, and for standing up for what he believed in, and Beastdad was proud... but not even his Keionx was ready for the terror that were daywalkers, not that Beastdad knew anyway.
But Beastdad himself could handle them.
The mighty musclebeast put Zariah on his back and started trotting warily through the swamps, towards where the path lay... and away.
Etsali gave a small, humorless laugh. "I think that fight did a number on all of us. Ephias got shot, and later I- Well, I got caught in the blast." She raised a hand to brush at her cheek, let a knuckle slide just across the nearest edge of her mask. "We managed to patch each other up, but he's more than a little better at it than me." There was some amusement there, a hint of a smile, but then she realized she'd missed an important detail and her eyes went wide again.
"Vos was here too!? I never even saw her, and- She's on our side?" The thief shot a quick glance over her shoulder, but of course the wagon wasn't within sight and there was no way of knowing if the little yellowblood was close. Or if she was even okay. What had she been doing here? Who had brought her? Or...had she swapped sides during the fighting like the other kids had? Abruptly she realized she didn't even know if Tevini and Cerpin were okay, and god she was awful at this.
"I'm glad you're alright too, though. If I'd known you were here, I'd have looked for you." She considered him another moment, and then went for a bit of cheer, putting her hands on her hips and flashing a smile. "But hey, I guess this is the part where I'm supposed to try and recruit you. Got to teach you the secret handshake before you come back with me, you know?"
A twinge of worry shot through him when she mentioned Ephias getting hurt, lips curling into a frown the more she told him about them both getting wounded. Raising an eyebrow at her words he released a chuckle-- "Yeah, he'd always seemed good at that." His tone sounded hollow but friendly, almost longing. He didn't know Ephias as well as Etsali did, but from the times they'd hung out together, he knew him well enough. Or at least, he thought he did. Rubbing his hands together, he gave the fellow thief a quirk of his eyebrow. "I... saw her run toward you guys before the battle?! She came with us-- I mean, the military. s**t, I thought..." He clenched his teeth with a 'tch', making a fist with his hand while his eyes wandered the area as if searching for her. He truly hoped she was alright. Even if she had been busy with other trolls ... She had still tried to help him out, when they were younger. The dancer wasn't about to forget that.
Hearing her words, Zindel was sure he could hear a small chuckle slide from his mouth and he cracked a smile, feeling good for once his entire time there. It was the first time he was more than just a random troll, he was actually... A friend. His eyes softened. "Thanks, Ets." He said softly, then watched her place both hands on her hips and offer him a smile. As soon as the words fell from her mouth, Zin's hand froze on its way to brush down his hair, and he stared right at her, shell-shocked. "C... come back with you?" He said this slowly, as if saying the words himself would help convince him. A hard swallow forced its way down his throat. Did she think... "Wait-- you..." He was still trying to place this together, and the only thing he could think of was of keeping her safe."What are you talking about? Etsali, you couldn't possibly be thinking on going with the rebels...?" He was incredulous-- Surely she remembered what they'd done to them back in Chittentown? Even if Stryke was apart of them-- Maybe he was different than those heartless criminals. He knew Etsali was different, he was sure of it.
"You're joining the band of trolls who tried to kill us and our lusi with that creepy zombie rainbow drinker guy?" Zindel took a step back, a little scared. He composed himself before continuing. "I-- I'm sorry. I can't. I really can't. I don't, I don't want to die. I..." He gulped, actually walking nearer and grabbing her hand out of fear. He usually wasn't forceful about this stuff, but he needed to-- To at least offer it. Staring at his hand on her arm, he looked up at her, opening his mouth to say something before faltering. He then sucked it up and squeezed her arm tightly, eyes staring at his hand before lifting up to look directly into hers.
"You should come with me."
He felt bold as he said it, continuing his thought after a pause to recollect his thoughts. "They'll give you lesser sentence, I'm sure. You can still do this. Eph and Vos, too. We can all go back." With a pleading gaze, the redblood looked down, sighing. "We can all stay safe."
Voscil had stared at Ephias for a long while, quieter perhaps than she'd ever been in her entire life. The psionic's eyes widened, staring at him for a moment as if he'd grown a second head. The look passed however, and she tried her damned to listen to everything he'd had to say. In all the time she'd known Ephias he'd never spoken that much. While still a child physically, her mind raced with the information he'd presented to her. Was this place where she could make a change in the world? "You're right...if I hadn't met you guys, I wouldn't believe a few trolls could make such a big difference!" Voscil wasn't sure if this was a big mistake or not, It was hard for her to grasp at the abstract concepts like this. "I think...that answers my question for now anyway!" She now had more than one perspective on the situation, and all of them were beginning to add-up.
Sometimes in the dim wee hour mornings of sunrise Vos had wrestled with some of these thoughts, but they'd been easy to ignore. At least until now. If anything she did understand was that everything on Alternia was indeed imbalanced. Things were not as they should be, she was just as good as any troll powered or not regardless of her blood-hue! Even if that was not how the world worked currently.
As they sloshed through the swamp Voscil was content to listen and follow her redblooded companion. Voscil had never been the best at leading, no matter how much she liked to be the center of attention. She was reminded of the time they spent underground and following after her friends lead. Almost like a waking nightdream, she heard voices. One was feminine, that she was all too familiar with. Another was deeper than she recalled, but had a certain tone to it. The child's eyes lit up as she gave a shout of surprise. "H-hey! I think I hear Ets and Zin! Come on Eph!" She pulled at him, before breaking away to rush ahead just a bit.
Mamaju lifted her head, having been immersed in her time associating with Wolly. Seeing Voscil move so quickly the tiger’s eyes followed the movement to see where her child was off too. She visibly relaxed when the distance traveled was not far at least. Her ears laid back, the smell of mold and decay lingered in the air raising the hair on her body. For now no visible sign of danger was present, she was content to let Voscil linger for the now.
Crashing out from a section of the wildness came her as a blur of yellow and black movement and energy crackling around her. A few stray electrical pops sounded before Vos moved close to the mumbled voices of what she was sure were here friends. She had to look up to see Zindel, while Etsali was about the same size as Ephias from the looks of it. She was officially the youngest member of the team, and really she wasn't sure how to feel about that. Pushing it aside, Voscil plopped herself right in front of the two of them, ignorant to the serious conversation they'd been engaged in.
"I THOUGHT I HEARD RIGHT! HI GUYS!!" She chirped, trying not to let on just how scared and worried she was. "Ephias is right behind me. I..I missed you guys." She blurted out with a wide smile as she reached out to hug the two of them, looking back with an arm stretched out for their fourth companion.
KitsuneAura.
Katanari.
quite uneventful.
Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:00 pm
This, Pagoni said, is what an unprepared troll looks like. Truly, that was the case. Visible signs that pants legs had been torn off, a bow that was looking rather droopy, no shoes and all...
Pagoni was disgusted, but Hemera only felt pity underneath her general revulsion at the idea of being in sight of others, on a mission, like that.
The troll, however, caught sight of her, and seem to notice how sloppy they looked. She watched them stand and wipe off the muck; Hemera felt some vague hope that they usually did better than this. She had to blink, though. Had this child just called her 'fellow troll'? That just seemed...off-kilter.
"Umm, yes, I suppose." Looking at Karrem, how was Hemera to know that the lowerblood wasn't a rebel? Royalists should respect themselves more than to look like that. Or have? Things? Hanging of their horns. But a real rebel would be in no position to wander around aimlessly. Shouldn't they be grouped together in the heathen drove they were? "I came for the banquet. I do not recall seeing you there; you must not have been there for that. Were you there for the speeches? I am not sure how far back you need me to go before we are on the same page. I assume you are not here without instruction. No troll would venture out here without reason." Mera then pointedly looked at Karrem's legs. "And you seem to have dealt with your own duress out here."
She looked around. "There does not seem to be many others around; I have not seen much activity since the tunnels. Perhaps we should return to the base in Chittentown." Hemera took a moment to think about it. Chittentown as so far away, and there had been so much running and walking with little rest. "Or perhaps Four Fronds. I am as dedicated as the next troll, but perhaps this should be left to trolls with more experience. I think it was generous of the queen to allow us to take part in this great event, but I do not think there will be much progress at this point. We're only mortal."
The atmosphere seemed to change; whatever noises the night wildlife were making calmed down, leaving the area even more eerie than before. Pagoni started to swivel his head around nervously, then fluffing up some. He was good at panicking, but this was heading into overdrive.
Even without her lusus acting as a living danger radar, the tealblood was starting to feel a weird fear in the pit of her gut. "Yes, we should definitely go back. Let's go," she said, and without another glance, started speedwalking back the way she came. Pagoni was nearly running ahead of her.
After Ephias had finished, the two tromped the remaining distance through the swamp in quiet. Their journey was not long thankfully. Maybe ten minutes had passed, when he heard the sound of voices. He was not the only one. Suddenly Voscil let out a shout and tugged at him. A moment later she went dashing off, leaving a curtain of water flying up behind her. Ephias turned his gaze from Voscil's blurred form to the direction of the voices. In the distance through the trees he thought he saw two figures. Etsali's voice certainly sounded familiar. The other he was not so sure about though. Just to be safe, he unhooked his shears from his pants.
“Wolly,” he called back over his shoulder. “And er... MamaJu,” he added, seeing the tigress. The two were getting along better than they had at first, though Wolly occasionally tripped out of nervousness. It was impossible to tell beneath the thick layer of wool, but his knees were shaking. Still he maintained a very cordial attitude.
“We're going on ahead,” Ephias said. Turning back towards the direction Voscil had gone, Ephias set off at a jog. He kept a wary eye on through the trees as he ran, in case of an ambush or hostile wildlife. The swamp was too dangerous to zip around blindly. Thankfully his short journey was uneventful, and soon he had caught up with Voscil and the others. One he immediately recognised—Etsali of course—though the second gave him pause. It was not so much that he was unfamiliar that he was changed. Ephias stopped maybe ten yards from the trio. Beneath the mud and grime, it was almost invisible but in the moonlight there was a faint gleam from a military insignia.
“Etsali... Zindel...” He lowered his shears, but kept them ready at his side.
Etsali felt her heart sink the moment Zindel's smile fell away. It was immediately obvious what she'd said wrong, and she wished more than anything that she could take it back. She still would have ended up saying it in one way or another, there was no denying that, but if she could have put it off for a few minutes more, at least. He'd been smiling. Why couldn't she have let that be for just a little longer?
"I don't think we really have a choice right now, Zin. I-" The redblood's hand closed around her wrist suddenly and this time she was the one to flinch back a step before she could catch herself. Her gaze lifted from his hand to meet his eyes, and she had to fight back tears because she realized suddenly that she understood entirely why he was so upset. If she'd been able to find Ephias sooner in the caves, it would have been exactly this, wouldn't it? The realization of how alike their minds had been on this stung.
"We fought back too hard," she countered gently, baring her teeth in what might have been a proud smile in another context. "I don't think they give light sentences for that." Trying to plead their case would probably only get him into trouble if they dared to try it. As much as she wanted all of her friends where she could keep a watchful eye, she was already beginning to see there was no solution here that would make that possible. She couldn't even deny that it was safer for him to be with the military right now.
"Listen-" But before she could finish, there was a familiar voice and immediately behind it came the expected flash of yellow. "Vos?" Pulling her arm free of Zindel's grasp with one last regretful glance, she put on a smile for her younger friend and stooped to hug her. "I'm so glad you're alright!" Another voice from where the yellowblood had zoomed in, and Etsali glanced up to find Ephias. All of Cops and Robbers, back together again. She wanted to cry more than ever.
But there was no time to prepare herself to deal with that, a trend that was becoming more and more common, unfortunately. A ripple in the swamp water caught her eye and soon enough there was splash of movement, a moan. Was that...? This early!?"Look out!" Head turning as she tried to take count of the approaching horde, the thief reached for a knife and prepared to fight.
