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Post by Dragon on Nov 3, 2007 23:16:11 GMT -5
"Glad to be back in action myself." Dragon said dusting herself off. It wasn't usual for her to be the damsel in distress and she didn't like it one teeny weeny bit. She stopped her boots to get feeling back in her feet before she fitted an arrow into her bow. Then with reluctance she followed Hunty down the mirror passageway.
"For all we've been through, there better be a boatload of treasure."
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Post by Zylaa on Nov 5, 2007 21:37:58 GMT -5
((And now... we go back to racheting up suspense! )) Zylaa stepped over the opening past the mirror and stumbled a bit as she felt all that was left of the mirror-image reversal the creature had experienced. The hallway ahead was just as dark as the previous one, so she waited to let the people with the torch pass. Time to scan every brick again, she thought, though they wouldn't leave traps where the blarf thing could trigger them. She looked back at the monster, who was trundling in through the mirror behind the pirates. Poor thing must be hungry, cooped up in here so long- Wait- This temple's been abandoned for centuries. She stiffened and stared at the monster. "Lovable thing, isn't it?" she said to the hallway at large. "And who would keep a friendly beast to guard all this treasure? He's not here to keep people away," she continued, whipping her head back around to watch the shadows in front warily. "Something else has to be down there."
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Post by Kengplant on Nov 5, 2007 21:41:02 GMT -5
"Just don't go scarring us and telling us to kill you again K?" Keng told Dragon, and to Zylaa she said, "Well if you'd been left alone in a mirror for centuries you'd be happy to have some friends to hang out with I'd bet."
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Post by Zylaa on Nov 5, 2007 21:43:36 GMT -5
"Happier with having friends than having food? How's he been eating?" she demanded. The beast looked at her, and she thought she could feel it's reproach. "Look, it's nothing personal," she said to the monster.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2007 3:49:01 GMT -5
Meanwhile, back on the Weewoo...
It was chaos as usual throughout the decks. With none of their human companions around to set them straight, or feed them odd emotional biases; the ice weasels, rabid meepits, and squirrel armies fell into a humdrum of quibbles, territorial fracases, and inquisitive milling about. Those observations suited Lep'Tony Chotes just fine, so long as they remembered to keep out of his chart lockers. Without Bloody Mary there, Santa seemed to stand out as the alpha meepit. Either that, or she was just so wild none of the others wanted to get in her way. Hazel and the rest of her contingent, didn't really care to mettle much with the meepits issue so long as Bloody Mary wasn't around to spurn them up. The ice weasels seemed to keep primarily to themselves. One, whom Lep'Tony had just started calling 'Mac,' was a genuinely inquisitve rogue. It would busily scamper about the after yardarm and rigging lines constantly watching the goings on about the bridge deck. Occasionaly scittering back up the lines and growling something to one of the less interested of his species. A redundant drumming common in the overhead rigging.
(Intro, fer the less inter'sted)
The Neopian pets that followed Lep'Tony seemed to have found useful niches for themselves amidst the humdrum of White Weewoo society (okay, I hada' stop an' laugh when I en'ered that comment XD). Zalpho, a Tyrannian Tuskaninny, and Geules, the Halloween Jetsam, had industriously put themselves to work in two much needed positions. One as ship's carpenter (Gueles) the other coopering (Zalpho) metal bands and rings. The two of them worked and fought well together, though often had quibbled about the best way to do both. It was unwise to interject when they were at it, as they would together turn on the offender in an instant. Neddy the Cloud Pteri found purchase in the crow's nest, taking the odd lookout shifts and doubling as a messenger. Of course, the plummage helped him blend in against the sky, so it often looked as though noone was in the lookout. A handy trick for catching surprises, though he would snatch the odd nap on a day like today without fear of getting caught too. Lastly was little Doodle, a White Flotsam, with a nack for potion tinckering. A trait that had annoyed Kat a time or two when the little lass helped herself to a few ingredients while the mage was out. Either she neglected to lock the trap under her work table or hadn't been told about it. Either way didn't concern Doodle, as she considered herself mage enough to enter the mage's quarters. Together, the five of them made a ragamuffin group to say the least.
Amidst the petpet armies they were divided as well. Both Zalpho and Geules seemed to get along happily with the squirrels. Gueles had recently finished making some of the longest wood splinters from the last conflict into descent miniature javelins for their squirrel allies. Zalpho even managed to fit some with balance weights so they would fly true for the little warriors. Their like for the squirrels' didn't transfer over to the rabid meepits however. The two had convinced Doodle, who liked meepits very much, to concoct a sleeping drought for a 'practical joke' on her little friends. Of course drugging the meepits favorite juices worked like a charm, but backfired when Neddy caught them collecting the sleeping balls into a sack. Needless to say, since it's discovery its been a cold, quiet distain linguering between them and the meepits. Poor Doodle, for her part, is in the same boat, though she deeply regrets her part in it. Neddy was no fan of the squirrels or ice weasels himself, as they'd occasionally come up and raid his seed tray when he was off on message runs. As for Lep'Tony, he tried to keep his distance from the squirrel and meepit problem. They both had their good and bad details to work out. He did have a little spot in his heart for the weasels though. Especially 'Mac' who he'd sneak the odd little meat treat. The little creature never came close enough to touch, but it learned to do simple tricks, like untieing simple knots on command.
The pirate Lep'Tony, had quietly taken on the role as quartermaster's mate along side Huntress. She had to sleep sometime and he was the most qualified veteran of the mast to take the helm in the odd hours of the night. His kind had special keenness for night sight, which helped to secure his position in the quiet hours when the Weewoo were underway.
(Storyline I s'ppose gains here, har, har...)
He felt it unwise, that the crew had left the ship wit' just the small army critters to guard her. Should Capn Jenkins return, rat blocks on the grappling lines would be enough to keep his ship from the threat of rabies while he burned their precious home to the waterline. So he'd opted to stay behind and keep watch while the others went inland. Either way, he was sure of his one and a half shares of whatever loot they brought back. But, the Weewoo were badly in need of repairs so he had Doodle swimming about most of the evening, sounding the inlets and waterways for a shallow reef they could use to make repairs on the Weewoo's hull. He'd been pouring over charts to make her search more fruitful while the incident with Cyborg and Evie was going on, not bothering to press his say until the vote. He was sure of one thing. Capn Jenkins was probably still in the archaepelogo somewhere and he wouldn't wait to long to come out and claim his prize back from the Underdog.
"Bet ye a half barrel o' seeds n' nuts, we'll see ol' Jenkies afore t'ree days n' nights er cold." He had offered to Hazel.
With at least four days of forage for the taking, the greedy little squirrel couldn't resist. She had accepted his bet without thinking twice about it ((Hope i ain't o'ercompensatin' here Cyborg))!
Three days. That would have been two days more than he would have waited to take a brig in the shape the White Weewoo was in. And he intended to use every minute Jenkins gave them, to ensure the tide was in their favor on the next meeting.
Luck was in their favor today. Doodle had found a perfect reef for their needs between the two islands just west and north of their present position. Gueles had managed record time on smoothing hull patches until they had the lumber to make real repairs. Zalpho was still measuring bands for the foremast to help strengthen it against a few stray shots that nicked deep into the heart wood. Hazel, Oak, and Rowan the squirrels had the spyglass and had located a couple promising trees that would do for lumbering and/or a new mast. They just lacked intelligence now. Neddy had yet to return from flying around the local islands for a peek at either Jenkins's ship, or if he had a fleet of ships harboured somewhere nearby.
In spite of the double strong coffee the meepits had made for him this morning, Lep'Tony was wearying. He had, had a long day. What had it been, nearly 30 hours now since he slept? If things were busy he could push as much as 90 hours before collapsing. But the real work was done. One anchor had been brought aboard, cannons loose fit and primed in case of Jenkins's return. Every sheet of canvass secured and rigged for quick release by squirrel or weasel, rudder repaired, bilges pumped out, and charts organized for at sea repair or getting underway towards Kat's mysterious isle (depending on which cubby ye look in, har, har). He set his empty cup down for the meepits to take below, lumbered down the stairwell and across the main deck.
"I'm catchin' some shuteye, Zalpho." He said to his most trusted Neopian. "Get me up if'n anyt'ings amiss, eh?"
"Aye, aye Cap'n, I mean sir." They'd been traveling so long together as Master and Mate, that he had to keep reminding himself Lep'Tony wasn't a Cap'n anymore.
The quick tootle from the tuskaninny in ascent is all Lep'Tony heard as he ambled up to the forecastle, where he rigged a hammock between the Sprit sail and the foremast main beam. His size and bulk weren't suited for below decks, so he rarely went down there. Giving Seymour the screal the boot, he slumped in to catch what little shuteye the day was going to allow...
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Post by Goosh on Nov 6, 2007 7:41:57 GMT -5
Goosh was pondering Zylaa's rather interesting question when he saw it: another blarf (I'm going to have to assume that these things are officially named 'blarf's now). It was lumbering down the passage away from them. Without a second thought, Goosh stealthily followed it, and to his horror, found two things: A great mound of treasure, which had to be the main stash, and dozens of blarfs. Kid blarfs romping around, mama blarfs caring for furry little baby blarfs, male blarfs play wrestling. None of them were on guard.
Goosh ran back to the others, grabbing Huntress's arm for attention. "Hunty," he hissed to the Captain. "Blarfs--they're not guardans. They're food for the guardian. The whole species is here to feed the actual keeper of the treasure." He explained about the mound of treasure and frolicking blarfs. "The guardian is here somewhere, and it eats blarfs for breakfast!"
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Post by Huntress on Nov 6, 2007 9:56:14 GMT -5
((XDD Goosh amuses me muchly.))
Huntress shot a wide-eyed, eyebrow-raised glance at him, then back at the monster.
"Brawrg," it grumbled sulkily.
"But-a-but." Hunty's brow furrowed. "It's not exactly a fluffdog, guys. It has three rows of goddanged fangs. And tentacles. And claws. They're not there for show."
"For all we know, they might be," remarked Bloody Mary. "Hey buddy, can you actually do any damage?"
The blarf shook its fur to reveal the eye again and glared up at him - for no longer than a second, before its nose twitched and it whimpered in sudden terror, backing off into the depths of the hallway. The ancient stone walls shook and rubble fell from the ceiling as it struggled to rush backwards.
"Woah-woah-WOAH now!" bellowed the meepit, pulling the creature's ears. "Down, boy!"
Huntress tilted her head. "It'll do enough damage when released in the ninja dojo, I reckon..."
"Oh, they can be very vicious," another voice said from the hallway Goosh had just come from. "But none of them ever holds a chance against me, see?"
The pirate turned her head slowly, blinking in confusion. The voice had been... melodic. And soft. And sweet. And generally brought to mind the words 'ambrosia of heavens', though Hunty's cold mind also added the words 'and a barf-bucket' to that.
"So you're the guardian?" she asked sharply.
The woman in the hallway smiled. She had a bright, white smile. "Merely a servant of the actual master of this temple. But no trespassers, whether mages, pirates or powerful warlords, have ever managed to get past me." She was holding a sword. Now that she stepped closer, Hunty could see that the sword was carved with so many runes that it was a miracle it hadn't fallen into pieces yet.
Actually, she could see more than that at this point. Like the woman's face. It was, well... 'gorgeous' was more or less beginning to describe it. She had long silky silver hair. And slanted violet eyes. And pointy elvish ears. She was wearing some sort of a silver diadem, and her clothes... well, Xena the Warrior Princess would've hanged herself at the mere idea of such an interpretation of leather warrior-clothes.
Altogether, it was more than enough to set alarm bells ringing. Hunty's eyes narrowed into slits. "What's your name?"
The woman spun her rune-laden miracle around a few times. "My name, you filthy pirate? Why, I'm Kassandra Amethyst Moonbeam, part elf, part human, and proud daughter of the Woodland Realm."
Hunty broke her own personal speed record in lifting, loading, cocking and aiming her crossbow. "Not a single step closer!"
((Yesyes, my mind works funny ways. But if you're even remotely familiar with the... creature... in question, you'll know that they're nigh impossible to battle e.e;))
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Post by Kengplant on Nov 6, 2007 12:02:16 GMT -5
"..." Keng said to the lady. The reply to which was of course "..." as there really wasn't much to reply to. Don't underestimate and all that but, well, it was one against many here and she knew her crew to not exactly be pushovers, then there were the meepits. Finally she decided she may as well introduce them, the elf had given her introduction, it was only fair that they return the favour. Or she could just ask a stupid question. Yea, that would work too. "So, uhh, if you spend all your time down here in a haunted breaking down temple, what do you need the treasure for?"
Keng was of course ready to fight and had her sword drawn. She was tempted to say look, we all know that you're just the second in command here and are only supposed to be a minor annoyance for the protagonists of the plot before they face the big guy and you're only going to do a little superficial damadge to us so why don't you just step aside and let us move on to your big master guy or girl or thing or whatever it is. but that would be anti-climactic.
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Post by Goosh on Nov 6, 2007 16:07:28 GMT -5
((xDDD That Xena line cracked me up, Hunty.))
Goosh stared at the strange woman, who had appeared almost silently behind him. He pulled out his own cutlass, mentally weighing it against the thin, fragile looking thing Kassandra held. He vaguely considered chucking it at her head, but that seemed to ninja-ish to do any good. Then again, elves--even part elves--were known to be more about psychological warfare. Perhaps they could also try magic, but with half their crew fainting left, right and centre, it wouldn't do any good.
"We don't need to fight you," he said to Kassandra. He stowed his sword back in its scabbard. Now for the bluff. With what could only be described as an old lady voice he moaned, "I have gazed into the future, and our crew has been--will be--victorious!" Goosh gave a large 'inconspicuous' wink to the crew.
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Post by Kengplant on Nov 6, 2007 19:35:48 GMT -5
Keng resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 'Nuff said.
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Post by Dragon on Nov 6, 2007 20:40:39 GMT -5
Dragon's ears perked up at the guardian's name. Her bloid boiled and her head rushed.
"Kassy! Kassy come play with me!" The little elf cried. "Let's play hide and seek!"
"No Bronwen! You're no fun to play with. You'll just turn into something small again and I'll never find you!" Kassandra replied, continuing to pick the flowers.
Bronwen looked crestfallen. "But it's my magic Kassy. It's my magic. Just like you're part human. It's in-in... inevi.."
"Inevitable." Kassandra sighed. "Yes, but I can't shapeshift. I can't turn into a pretty unicorn. I can't turn into a fox when I want to sneak out of the palace... I don't even have magic!"
Kassandra loathed her human side. She figured it came from her mother's side. She didn't know who her mother was. She had left her a young age. But it mattered not. Her father had plenty of nannies to pick up the slack.
"Of course you do Kassy. The best in the land!" Bronwen exclaimed.
"Then why haven't I seen it yet? How come you already have yours?" Kassandra pouted.
"Because the elves in my realm get their magic at a younger age. Don't cry, Kassy. It'll come, I promise."
~Years later...
"Bronwen! Bronwen wake up! I... I think I found my magic!" Kassandra whispered, standing over Bronwen's bed. The little elf was instantly awake, she was a light sleeper.
"What? Show me!" Bronwen exclaimed, shaking all traces of sleep from her.
"Look." Kassandra simply stated cupping her hands.
Bronwen's eyes crew excited.. then they widened. She was afraid.
"Kassy stop it... stop it! Kassy don't do that... it hurts Kassy stop!" Bronwen cried, the pain consuming her.
Kassy... stop....
Fire blazed in Dragon's eyes. Kassandra finally looked over at her.
"Why hello, Bronwen... you've certainly changed."
"Kassy- Kassandra. You even try to-"
"What? And you're going to stop me. I've done it to you once, I'll do it to you again, Bronwen... or wait. Didn't I hear the other's calling you Dragon? How did you pick up that name?" Kassandra smirked. "But of course it must be Dragonfly. Isn't that what Bronwen is when translated into common tongue? How crude."
"Shut up. I might have changed, but you certainly haven't. And this time I won't be crying out for you."
Dragon started transforming, summoning her energy into a great transformation.
"I'll be laughing."
A unicorn.
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Post by Cyborg on Nov 6, 2007 20:59:04 GMT -5
" Okay I don't know how you two know eachother, but Kassandra if you harm Dragon in any way you'll have more than a shapeshifter to deal with." Cyborg said to the mysterious woman.
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Post by Kengplant on Nov 7, 2007 4:08:24 GMT -5
((I'll put up a peep hole post into the goings on of Jenkins later. Gonna get really busy for me in RL, and I want to give some attention to the post. So don't worry Tony, you'll... sorta get something to do. Oh. And I'll post my such and such O'clock now here's the weather report thing aswell XD))
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Post by Huntress on Nov 7, 2007 4:16:21 GMT -5
((x3 Keng, it also depends on the point of view. From her point of view, we're a bunch of trespassers who have her outnumbered and carry a multitude of dangerous weapons/pets/a blarf, whereas she's all alone with a prissy little sword. By all accounts, we're toast.))
Huntress took a step back. the crossbow still poised. "Ohyes," she muttered, "someone's definitely going to lose an eye here."
"Problem is," remarked Bloody Mary, hopping off his whimpering steed, "that statistically, one of us has a lot bigger opportunity to lose an eye here, especially in this tiny little passageway. 'Sides," he glared at Kassandra, "this one's a Sue. Those never lose eyes. Not good for the.... visage." The last word had enough poison to kill a small village.
"Not a full Sue," remarked Hunty. "Those godmode. But this seems to be turning into Dragon's battle, so we might just as well go get some popcorn... of popped blarf or whatever they eat here."
"Blarf," a miffed voice complained from the shadows down the passageway.
Bloody Mary skipped over the floor. "Wouldn't know, you still need to get wounded by the elf-chick there."
"...What?"
"RCP," said the meepit. "Floating timeline. You won the right to get severely wounded by the next difficulty we encounter."
Hunty stared at him. "Gimme a break."
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2007 6:07:30 GMT -5
((I'll put up a peep hole post into the goings on of Jenkins later. Gonna get really busy for me in RL, and I want to give some attention to the post. So don't worry Tony, you'll... sorta get something to do. Oh. And I'll post my such and such O'clock now here's the weather report thing aswell XD)) ((Har, har, dunno if'n I feel the need ta wait that long lass, but I did need me right fine nap. Har, har...)) Over one of the islands... Neoned had been pumping his little body all morning. It would have been more useful had Lep'Tony let him follow the ship from the moment the Underdog had chased her away! But he hadn't thought of it either, so here he was now. He flew from peak to peak of the islands, staying high enough to blend in with the sky; though the thinner air meant slower horizontal flights. It had been an age since he'd flown at these heights and the easy life was beginning to tell. He's had to stop every 500 ft. of vertical elevation to refigure for the thermal drafts along the island volcanoes and gullys. He had gone up and down three islands by now instead of flying around them. It was a watch trick they had always discussed when serving for queen and quid, but never had much use for. Dragon had already demonstrated that Jenkin's lookouts were wise to birds flying at the waterline. Had he tried following their trajectory, they'd probably have a bead on him the moment he came around the first turn. So he was going to try the humble approach. Perch himself in a random fruit tree, hopefully a nice, ripe one; and observes the ship's goings while he enjoyed a little snack. Amidst the branches, they probably weren't likely to catch him watching. So far he had the pleasure of a mango, its fruit was still abit young and not very sweet. But the tartness of the early fruit certainly gave him a jump start! Next island he had the company of a sort of fig tree, though it wasn't in fruit. Pity. His third landing was in a grove of date palms. To his joy, the great shrub was heavily in season and rife with plump, juicy dates. The little pteri nearly gorged himself on the lovely tasting fruits, and left seeds and drippings all over the sand. Up until they had found the dates, his Pirakeet ( Pawkit) had done nothing but mutter and grumble about this little job. "Let's go back, there's nothing out here... I'm hungry... Get away from my seeds you nasty rotters!" Pawkit would say. Most of them were just replays of things he had said on the weewoo but bellied the Pirakeet's agitation. "Guess you'll stop your grumbling now, eh?" Neddy spoke to his little companion as it continued eating. Pirakeets weren't known for satiated appetites and the little petpet really had gorged itself until it was bloated and kept trying to eat dates! Eventually, the feasting took its toll in the early afternoon sun and Pawkit's eyes began to droop. Neddy was beginning to feel tired too. The pteri had to fly over and catch his petpet as its grip let go from the palm and his wings couldn't hold up the tremendous weight of fruit in its overgorged stomach! He settled them down in the center of the palm top, and scanned about quickly while Pawkit began to doze. Still no sign of the Judgement. With no sign of their quary and full bellies, they both settled down for a light nap. 'They aren't going to be too far off.' Neddy thought to himself before midday slumber overcame him. Little realizing how true the comment was going to be... Back at the White Weewoo, things hadn't gotten less chaotic. Geules had taken a warped plank of wood over the side and shuttling squirrels over to the island in platoons. Most of the younger squirrels were eager to try out their new javelines, while the older ones, entranced by the ripe smells from the trees, were in a gathering mood. The beach's moist sands during out going tide were ideal for landing the long tips into. "If'n I didn't know better, I'd think they was a bunch o' ninjas wit' blow guns in the jungle." Gueles commented in observation. But his comment received a resoundingly angry hiss from the army of squirrels up in the canopy. After the first couple of salvos, the odd squirrel nipped off, overcome by the wanderlust of finding the most exotic nut on the isle. Soon Geules only had an inexperienced unit of only the eager young left to pitch toothpicks. They were bound to be back soon, he felt. On deck, Hazel and Rowan had found what they considered, the perfect tree to replace the foremast. Some of the squirrels on deck were excited by the prospective tree. As they each had a disorganized turn looking through the lense, the squirrels became more excited to get at that tree, since they usually got first shot to pluck its branches clean of delectible fruits, nuts and berries! Their excitement though, was tempered by Zalpho as he looked at their treasure. "Not to burst your bubble, but that tree is way over yonder on that other island." He pointed out to them. "We'll have to wait for the others to return before we can fetch that tree.""Row boat!" One of the squirrels yelled. "Yes let's take the row boat!" Another called back. "Let's not and say we did!" One of the meeptis yelled back. Which was retorted by a resounding, "Shut up!" By the mass of squirrels. In spite of all Zalpho's reasoning, their was soon a littlle, squeaky, squirrel chant going on about the quarterdeck. "Row boat, row boat, row boat!.." Zalpho looked to the meepits to rally support adains it, but the little anarchists didn't seem to care in the least. "If they wanna go and get stranded out in the middle of the lagoon, that's their business." Santa had said, voicing the meepits perspective on the whole business.
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