[CLASS QUEST] Ta'ruk | Page 1 | ◈ Archives | Guild Forums

Suhuba
Captain

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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 6:36 am

This Quest is for Ta'ruk who is striving to become a Beast Charmer.

OOC
||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 2000 word reply (can be more).
||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks.
||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner.
||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker.
||. Your responses will be graded on a letter grade scale. A grade of D or F will result in repeating the quest process, C or better will result in passing and possible rewards.
||. Questions about quests can be asked here.

IC

It wasn't very long after Ta'ruk had made the decision to practice beast taming before he was out in the jungle training. The sounds of Jauhar surrounded him and it seemed like things were going well. He had even managed to trap his first animal before the day was over.

But he would have to work a little harder if he was going to get through the day. Another beast tamer stomped and broke through the foliage, facing down Ta'ruk. "This one's mine. Move along." He shot out at Ta'ruk. He seemed to be about the same age, but his demeanor was cocky and aggressive. He was a bully to say the least.

Quest Tasks

||. This quest is for Ta'ruk to test his courage and stand his ground against the bullying beast tamer.
||. Ta'ruk will find himself having to stand up for himself, using whatever he needs to to keep his catch.
||. The beast tamer who intends to profit off of Ta'ruk will threaten Ta'ruk when he doesn't agree to let him have the animal.
||. The quest should end with Ta'ruk somehow chasing off the bully and keeping the animal for himself.

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 2:18 pm

Ta’ruk wiped the sweat from his brow and looked down from his hiding spot. He had moved along the fungus so as not to break even a stalk and had scouted the area a few days prior so he knew what moved along and visited this little area. Now he was waiting holding his woven net. It was a simple net of woven vines and stones to hold it down, but it was perfect for what he wanted. This was his first chance at taming intentionally so he wanted it to go well. He didn’t think he had the skill set to track and trap a radaku or something particularly dangerous. Still he didn’t want to just walk up and pick up a spitrog to take home. Instead he set his sights on a nondwa. The graceful creatures weren’t violent and would be easy to tame and train. Now he was just waiting knowing that soon it would be the time of day for them to be out and he had seen several pass this way. It was clear they came this way often by the ash like residue he had found littering the tops of the glowing fungi. A trickle of sweat rolled down his back tickling him as it went making him even more uncomfortable then he already was in his current hunched pose. Perhaps he should have done a trip trap of some kind, the problem was when trying to catch a flier it was hard to predict where they would land. It wasn’t like a running creature he could just funnel into some pit and come back to later. With that thought he wondered if perhaps he shouldn’t give up and try to catch a radaku. Half flexing his fingers to as not to lose his net he knew that having to deal with a radaku’s teeth and claws while the scared animal was in a pit was more than he was willing to deal with right now though. Still the thought was nice after all who wouldn’t be proud to show off a splendid radaku? More the day leeched away while he waited every so often shifting trying to stay as quiet and nonintrusive as he could. Much of the time he wished he had brought Vesper along because the little sprite was always interesting to watch. The only problem was he wasn’t sure if she would scare of the nondwi or not. The old man who was helping him learn what a beast tamer was took care of her the past few days while Ta’ruk had picked his prey and set up his trap. That was much of the reason he was out here. To make sure that what happened with Vesper wasn’t some trick or fluke. This was a good way for Ta’ruk to prove it to himself that he could do this and make it work well.

In due course of the day his patience was rewarded as a group fluttered among the fungi below him. Waiting a moment before dropping the net to be sure and catch at least one he was surprised and thrilled. Below him in the net a nondwa fluttered to escape but couldn’t from the weight of the stones. The net and fungus around it seemed to radiate while scales from its wings rubbed off. The others kicked up a flurry of glittering dust not knowing where the unseen enemy was while they fled leaving behind their companion to its uncertain fate. Slowly climbing down Ta’ruk couldn’t help but keep glancing at it in the net to be sure it wasn’t just a dream. At the bottom he moved over to it to get a better look. It was a mix of pastel blues, greens and a hint of purple. The wings seemed to shimmer and dance with sparkles. Feeling proud he started to try and think of how to best calm it down so he could take the net off when a crashing through the underbrush interrupted his thoughts. Ta’ruk turned to see what the threat was coming. Should he grab the nondwa net and all and flee? Or could he scare this beast off with a shout and toss of a few sticks?

What came from the underbrush surprised him more than he ever thought possible. It was a shifter boy. Short cropped white hair bounced off dark skin while the stranger took a quick glance over the clearing and the captured nondwa. He then looked ta’ruk over and his lip curled up in distain at what he saw. “This one is mine. Move along.” The stranger waved a hand like Ta’ruk was a small pest that could be brushed aside. Blinking Ta’ruk had to take a moment to process what the stranger had said. “I’m sorry. I think I misheard you. I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding. Maybe we should start over. Hello I’m Ta’ruk.” “Oh hard of hearing are we? Listen I don’t care who you are.” The stranger frowned and took a step forward pointing at the trapped nondwa that had stopped fluttering in the net and seemed to be resting or resigned to its fate. “That is MY nondwa and YOU are encroaching on my capture. Get lost.” Ta’ruk shook his head knowing that there must be others trying to tame in the woods but in disbelief at the cocky prentice in front of him. “No this is my nondwa in the net I wove. I can’t just let you take it.” “It’s hardly something impressive or even worth worrying over but it’ll do as a pet or some cheap coin. Oh and I wasn’t asking you idiot now get lost before I decide to take and break you leaving what’s left for the radaku.” Ta’ruk felt his hands curl into fists at his sides. He had spent too much time weaving a net and tracking a spot for someone to just walk in and take the first thing he had ever caught. Starring at the youth he supposed he would have been afraid had he grown up in the settlement near here, but he hadn’t. Ta’ruk had been born in Neued before the war. He had watched as his home was destroyed and his family was all gone. Ta’ruk had traveled in the jungle been captured and rescued from an oban slaver and survived simply far too much for this youth to be scary to him. “No.” His tone was final and it was the last thing he said before the other, apparently willing to be true to his word and injure Ta’ruk to get the beast, charged him.

Ta’ruk was surprised but tried to take a swing at the incoming prentice. He missed and the other prentice’s shoulder logged itself in his chest. Wheezing Ta’ruk fell and the bully fell on top of him. Grabbing a handful of the other’s hair Ta’ruk tried to keep his head down so that this cocky would be theif wouldn’t be able to see him and pick a target to hit at. It might not be manly or a fair way to fight but Ta’ruk was more concerned about winning than he was sportsmanship. The two were tangled up and hitting and kicking what they could, rolling around on the jungle floor making a mess of the fungi. Neither noticed the nondwa straining in the net to get away from the brawling pair probably hoping not to get squished if they rolled that way. The poor creature still couldn’t escape and was witness to the conflict. Kneeing the bully in the gut Ta’ruk finally broke free and scooted back before standing quickly. The other did the same. Ta’ruk could see the anger in the other’s eyes and then did something so incredibly stupid he knew if Ouen could see it he would be proud. “Is that you have? You hit like a girl.” This was the wrong thing to say to the other prentice as he snarled and picked up a broken old branch and charged again. Feeling a bit of panic at not having a readied weapon of his own Ta’ruk flung himself sideways and kicked out at the other’s legs hoping to trip him up. He didn’t quite manage to make the bully fall but did trip him up. Scrambling to his feet he darted away through the broken fungi and past his captured pet grabbing broken bits of wood and small stones. The bully laughed and jeered at him. “Running away finally? About time you grew some brains.” Spinning Ta’ruk changed directions once more and this time was heading toward the bully. The reaction was instantaneous. Up came the branch as the bully’s laughter stopped. Getting closer Ta’ruk wasn’t quite sure how long that branch was but was fairly sure he would be able to manage alright.

Ta’ruk threw one of his hand full of wood, stones and even a few bits of fungi that he had thought were stones in his haste at the bully’s face. The other held an arm up to protect himself which left only one arm holding the branch. The bully’s swing was hardly effective as he tried to fend Ta’ruk off. Able to divert it with his empty hand the other flung debris point blank into the bully’s face before following it with his fist. He heard a little crunching noise as the bully fell back and balled up holding his face. Picking up the fallen branch Ta’ruk stepped back and readied himself for the next assault while the bully was crying and cursing him. There were little drops of blood running through his fingers falling onto the jungle floor. Ta’ruk holding the branch look the other prentice feeling bad but not bad enough to let the thief just walk off with his nondwa. That was the crux of it right there. This nondwa might not be fierce and or worth much, but to Ta’ruk it was already his. “This time you get to listen. No no don’t get up until I say or that little hurt from before will get a lot bigger.” Ta’ruk’s hands tightened on the branch knowing it was likely making is case to mess with him better than he himself could. “This nondwa might not be big of flashy but I caught it. I’m not giving it up especially not to someone who thinks that he can just walk up and take what he wants. Just go away. Get up and leave me and my catch alone.” Ta’ruk might sound brave but he was wondering if the other would really give up and how many spots he could get ambushed at on the way back. The bully stood up with malice in his eyes mixed with pain but thankfully started moving off keeping his eyes on Ta’ruk. Something told Ta’ruk he was memorizing his face to give him trouble later. Yes leaving the settlement after this might be a fairly good idea. Ta’ruk kept watching until after the bully was gone from sight and he also kept his ears open should he hear something out of place. Branch in hand he moved to the still captured nondwa who was hardly flittering anymore having tired its self out during the scuffle. “A lot of trouble for one little nondwa but still I think you’re worth it.” Smiling Ta’ruk reached out his hand and slowly moved to pet it so that it had time to see his hand coming and calm down before he actually started to stroke its soft fuzz. Then gathering the stones that held the net he hauled it so the nondwa couldn’t escape yet if it got its second wind. He would need to find another spot in the forest or near the settlement to try and tame this little creature. This place might not be safe if that bully had any friends who were as violent as he had been. Maybe the tree tops would be a good place? But if the nondwa did escape he’d never have a hope of catching it again. Sighing lightly Ta’ruk dropped the branch and rubbed the spot on his chest he knew a bruise would form thinking of all the quite areas around the settlement that he could turn to and work in before gathering Vesper and all his supplies. Hopefully he would be leaving town with two creatures in tow rather than just the little sprite.

Words: 2,079 words