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 Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:13 pm
Tough one.
Maximos folded his arms across his chest, tapping his chin. His curiosity about this Suhalla Desert raged in counter to his desire for new magics. In the end, Ryugi's suggestion won out.
Altin shrine it is. Where ever Ancalagon is, he's been there a long time, I doubt he'll go far. We can afford a side trip!
He was entirely ready for travel. He even brought his halberd, though strangely the entire thing was covered in white cloth and tied down with black straps. He hadnt returned to Shadow Island in order to make it item summonable, so he simply carried it with him.
What sort of place is this shrine?
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:25 pm
Ryugi motioned for his friend to move along with him and began to walk towards the mountains to the north. It would be a much longer trip that their trip to the city. So that meant they'd have more time to talk about the adventure and other such things.
Well, Altin Shrine is the place where a sect of Adamantist Monks spend their lives training to better themselves and to become more aligned with their elements. They're the most powerful and most respected fighters in all Angara, yet they do not engage in traditional combat.
Ryugi would pull out some of the sweet bread he'd purchased for the trip and offer some to Maximos before continuing his story.
They focus hard on strengthening their bond to the elemental planes instead of training their bodies to accept more energy. As their bond grows, their body adapts to the plane's increased flow of energy, and allows them to use more energy without tiring. Its a different method than hardening your body, and takes much more time. However, it results in far more powerful warriors. While they meditate and look deep within their bodies, they also believe they receive messages and prophecies from the Adamant dragons themselves. It's said that they foretold the war with the humans all those years ago as well.
Ryugi finished for the moment, and took a big bite of his bread. They had plenty of food for their journey, and even if they didn't, Ryugi knew what plants and things were good to eat, so they'd be able to find food along the way. So, he could afford to enjoy the sweet bread.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:50 pm
Huh...
He said, accepting the sweet bread and taking a big bite. After a chew he had a proper response in mind.
...I'd like to see how this connection works at a higher level. I dont personally have a connection to another plane, but...
A sip of water he brought from the Inn.
...perhaps theres something I can learn from them.
A few more bites of bread, a few more sips of water. He paused for a moment mulling the concept over in his head. He imagined the monks, their training, how the magical science could work...all conjecture of course. Though he did turn back to Ryugi as his companion's final statement rose up a question.
Do you think they could predict Ancalagon's location?
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:55 pm
Ryugi shrugged and munched his sweet bread a bit longer.
Well, I can't really say. They more predicted the event, not really a location. Its worth a shot anyway. I'm sure they wouldn't mind sharing information with us if we asked. And while we're there, we'll have to see if one of them can talk to you about the connection. I'm sure you could learn something about the process, even if you may not be able to use it yourself.
Ryugi continued walking as he spoke.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:07 pm
Excellent!
Maximos followed with a head full of possibilities, like a child full of dancing sugar plums on X-Mas eve. He was excited, new magics, new possibilities. And all that stood between them was a very long walk. Admittedly he wondered if flying wouldnt be quicker, although more conspicuous. In the end he decided walking was better exercise and walked beside Ryu.
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:15 pm
It was funny. Ryugi caught a look in his friend's eyes as he continued to walk on. And the thought struck Ryugi as odd.
You know, I don't know why I didn't think about it before, but we COULD fly to get to the Shrine. All the time spent in my human form it must have just slipped my mind. Kinda silly if you think about it. So, what do you think?
It WAS Max's adventure after all. it was ultimately up to him if they flew or walked. Ryugi didn't really prefer either.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:22 pm
Ryugi Kazamaru It was funny. Ryugi caught a look in his friend's eyes as he continued to walk on. And the thought struck Ryugi as odd. You know, I don't know why I didn't think about it before, but we COULD fly to get to the Shrine. --Maximos was already hovering about 5ft off the ground. Blasts of black streamed from his boots hoisting him up. He could clearly fly farther or faster, but that was his silent way of saying "Oh yes". And once Ryugi took off he would blast off in a streak of black following beside his companion. Of course, "beside" was a large margin as Ryugi was a full sized dragon and Maximos was just a man. But, they'd manage.
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:36 pm
*Insert transformation scene*
And then Ryugi sprung into the sky with a mighty flapping of his wings, and the pair would make their way north towards Altin Shrine.
Now, just because we're flying doesn't mean it will be a quick hop skip and a jump. This is still quite a distance. It'll take at least 24 hours to reach the Shrine simply by flying nonstop, so we'll have to rest for the night. But by this time tomorrow we should arrive there.
Ryugi's disembodied voice flowed oddly from his form as he flew next to his friend, his large golden wings carrying him along at a fast clip. He did so very much enjoy flying, and he rarely got to on the mainland, so this was a lovely treat indeed. And such beautiful scenery down below.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:19 pm
Maximos was a show-off, at least in the air. Man wasnt meant to fly, so when he did, he did it to the upmost. It wasnt necessarily speed, but just the experience as a whole. For instance, as Ryugi spoke, Maximos spun. He was like a screw, swirling place leaving a spiral trail of black in his wake about 300ft.
Excellent! I've always wondered how long I could hold out with these.
He said as he spiraled over Ryugi, around the large dragons other side and then under him and around again and back to his original spot, all while driling away in place.
It was fun! And as odd as it sounded if his boots lost power or he grew tired he figured Ryugi might we willing to lend him a ride.
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:01 pm
Ryugi watched as his friend shot around him with his boots propelling him along. As he watched him loop and roll, Ryugi had an idea, something he hadn't done in a long, long time...
Say Max... How would you fancy a race? Or at least some fancy flying competition just for fun?
If gold dragons could grin, Ryugi would be doing so.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:07 pm
Maximos answered, though he didnt say anything at first. He just gave a smile that would rival D himself. A spark of violet danced from his left eye down his arm across his leg before igniting the runes covering his boots just a tad bit more. They were a dull purple at the moment, but soon grew to a pale violet.
What's your game my friend?
Even races had rules, a starting and a finishing line, maybe some tag points? He needed to know that before he could burst off into the wind. Though he was honestly curious which was faster, a single blast of force or those gigantic wings...
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:16 pm
Ryugi's sharp eyes scanned the landscape as he attempted to map out a path that would not only be fun for the both of them, but also move them more quickly along their route...
The path will head over the plains there until you hit the forest. There you'll head right and follow along over or through the forest until you hit the large lake in the middle, where you'll have to make a hard turn and make for the mountain pass that will be off to your right at almost a 90 degree angle. Once you see the pass, the course is easily laid out for you. You'll have to stay no more than 200 feet above the path at all times, which means you'll have to weave in and out between some of the larger peaks. Once you make it to the valley, you should spy a small village there.
That will be out resting place for the evening and the finish line. If you can't make it that far, just tell me and I'll give you a lift the rest of the way. Other that that, you're allowed to use whatever means you can to get from the start to the finish, and you can't attack the other racer. But powers to assist for speed are totally in. Sound good?
Ryugi would wait for an ok from his friend before starting the competition.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:49 pm
Got it.
Maximos said with a stout nod. He'd likely get lost but as long as he could look back or forward and see Ryugi he would know where he needed to be and hopefully could correct, or catch up in time. Then of course there was the obstacles...
Oh, this was going to be fun.
On three?
He said with a wily grin.
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:57 pm
On three...
Ryugi would hover in place for a bit with his wings flapping to keep him where he was. This was going to be interesting to see how much he remembered about flight after all this time...
One...
Ryugi started taking deeper breaths, pumping his body full of oxygen for the long run ahead as he looked quickly towards Maximos before turning to face the course in front of them.
Two...
The flexed his chest muscles and his arm muscles as the time drew near. He already had an idea, and now it was time to see if it would work out as well as he thought it would.
THREE!!
And Ryugi was off! But...he was climbing up and forward instead of flying straight ahead? What did he have planned? Whatever he had planned his wings and arms were working as hard as the could to power him higher and higher as his speed started to take off. He was slow at the beginning, but soon he was climbing at a steady rate of about 70 feet per second...
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:46 pm
He bent his knees, sparks arching down his sides, as the runes were engulfed in illumination. A brilliant high lavender bristling from the awkward flying devices. The glow almost seemed pink. Maximos bent even farther at the knee as if he was about to jump to some impossibly high peak. It quickly grew brighter and brighter until...White, a flashlight, the stream of black pouring from the boots seemed to cut off for just a moment as Maximos visibly began to fall. KRA - KA - BOOM!The sound was similar to sudden explosive rolling thunder or perhaps a low grade sonic boom. Black exploded out from the soles of his shoes as he immediately straightened his legs and rocketed forward, with impossible speed, his body was a black blur ripping a trail straight forward. For a moment, tree's arched in his direction. Soon the monumental force would fade, but the speed should hold. Of course there was a problem with this. While Maximos was faster, he covered only slightly more ground than Ryugi per flap. And...with such a great amount of forward motion, turning, dodging, or adjusting would be very very tricky. He couldnt hold it for long, but thankfully the start was a straight away. The true test would come when they hit the forest.
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