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Post by icon on Mar 18, 2019 18:51:18 GMT -5
Three meters tall, bulk-bodied with slicked back spines and razor-sharp claws. This one is eviscerating a felled tree. Sparks fly, smoke flashes—the rest of its pack will be on their way soon.
I curse under my breath.
I sling my staff over my back, crouching forward, hand resting on my belt pouch. Is there any way I can escape its notice before the others arrive? Anyone should answer.
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Post by June Scarlet on Mar 25, 2019 17:33:20 GMT -5
You could try sneaking around it, but that probably won't work. The best thing would be to just stay put and hope they don't notice you in your hiding place.
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Post by icon on Mar 30, 2019 14:09:32 GMT -5
Nothing to do but wait.
The loud, furious sounds of the thrumming harvester multiply as the rest of the pack convene in this area. I continue to huddle close to the walls of this makeshift shelter, trying to escape the cacophony. When there was only one, I could hear where it was relative to my position—with the others present, it's hard for me to tell which direction they're coming from. I count my flasks and vials, to distract myself.
Sunset's golden glow slowly trickles away, giving way to the deep blue of evening shadows.
Suddenly, the harvester drones stop their whirring. I hold my breath.
Carefully, I risk my chances and glance outside the hole again. What is it that has caused the drones to stop their activity? Anyone may answer.
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Post by Gelquie on Apr 13, 2019 0:20:24 GMT -5
As night has fallen, the drones have entered low-power mode.
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Post by icon on Apr 17, 2019 0:32:21 GMT -5
I can barely hear the sound of the steam coming out of their side vents now. I can see three of them from my vantage point, all hunched over, using their front sets of legs as supports to prop themselves upright. I've never been this close to one, let alone several—up close, their spines are even more massive.
If I run now I might wake them up—but if I wait, they will surely catch me in the morning. I don't have the advantage of a long sprint in this undergrowth, but I can't afford to play the long game here.
Steeling my resolve, I leap from my hiding place and bolt for a passageway between two trees. Do any of the drones give chase? Anyone may answer.
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Post by June Scarlet on Jul 9, 2019 18:17:28 GMT -5
One starts to wake up, but it's slow to move in its current mode. Looks like if you hurry, you can make it!
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Post by icon on Aug 5, 2019 15:10:45 GMT -5
I pound my feet against the forest floor, hearing in the distance the slow metallic groan of the harvester curling up from its hunched position, its protrusions slowly clanking against each other as it warms and begins chase. I hear the thundering crash of its pursuit, knocking over organic and artificial structures alike.
Only this one harvester pursues me, its siblings still conserving their electrochemical energy. The forest is deep-hued, dark now, blue and violet — but the pulsing glow of circuitry and bioluminescent reflections offer me just enough light to keep moving forward.
Does the Scrapyard Forest do anything to slow my escape? Any number of people may answer.
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Post by Fraze on Aug 8, 2019 9:17:50 GMT -5
You reach a nursery of harvester cocoons.
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Post by icon on Aug 21, 2019 13:13:30 GMT -5
I stumble across the hatchery entirely on accident. The cocoons are large; not as large as me, but easily coming up to my waist at their tallest point; these drones are still younglings. Clusters of slick green biometal, twisted and curled into a rounded tip. They appear to be coated in some kind of liquid—oil? sap? grease? It makes no difference to me.
Though on second thought...
I clamber up a pile of cocoons, the soft light glowing faintly through their shells. As the harvester bursts through the underbrush, still in close pursuit, I reach for a vial from my waist pouches and pop the cork—gesturing at the machine, beaker in hand, to indicate that I will shatter the vial on these cocoons if it steps any closer to me. My pulse is racing. I don't even remember which potion this vial contains.
Does my gambit pay off? How does the harvester react to my threat? Anyone may answer.
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Post by Fraze on Aug 24, 2019 3:22:09 GMT -5
Dormant harvesters activate and surround you, but none attack.
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