Sand worms with a side of dragon - RPLOG
From Rusted Promises
Participants
Date
19/7/476
Log
The Reports said the attacks happened in Drytongue Flats. An unforgiving wasteland of heat, sand, and monsters. Not many were brave enough to venture into the sands alone, thats why the traders had constructed the Caravans. And one such Caravan was now scattered across the sands, torn apart by what many are starting to believe was a dragon...
Sveta mumbles angrily as she crawls over the great flats. Her sacred family keeps her cool even in the heat of day, but the sand is everywhere - in her boots, between the feathers of her cloak, in her jerkin, and other unmentionable places. Bone dragons aside, there's not much else to look out for as she keeps her eyes peeled for any signs of activity, leaning on the shaft of her speak like a walking stick of sorts.
She was stupid, a stupid stupid vixen. "I shouldn't be doing this, I said I'd stay out of trouble.... but they need help..." Mirana mutters to herself, at least she wasn't taking any chances... along with her is a small army! A twirligig defender, a divine shield, an oiled crusher, a water elemental, and even a trainee from the Lightbringers. In her left hand is a strange looking metel box with lots of buttons on it and a switchy thingy. Right now the machines and elemental just follow her, but the trainee glances around as if something might attack his corporal at a moments notice. She is glad that she is a pheonix today though, and walks up to Sveta as she sees her, "Good afternoon, here to help as well, what have you heard?" she asks.
A small, lightly dressed ferret is gradually making his way to the scattered caravan, whining loudly between sips at a wineskin and shielding his eyes from the bright sun. Eventually he reaches the little army of creatures and looks around the area with a huff. "Nobody told me this place would be so... boorrriiing! Ugh." The creatures kicks at some dirt and pouts after that, crossing his arms and taking another drink from his wineskin.
A rather immense wolfess follows after Mirana, wearing a frown as she is quiet for now. Kiall'a is more of a tagalong here than anything as she stays rather close to the Lightbringer cadet, not to crowd Mira any on her own while she fiddles with her necklace.
Fuyu is out and about after a while of being lazy. Well, she was researching, but lazy's accurate enough. She lands nearby with a hopstep. She shakes some sand loose, mutters and looks to each person present. "Seclude yourself for a while and you stop recognizing faces. New blood's fun though. Welcome, or hi there, guess that's better!"
A slight breeze started to kick up, picking up sand and throwing it about as the sun continued to beat down and bake anything that couldn't seek shelter from it. A lone Cart stood in front of them, all that was left of the group that was attacked. Its drive sat there whistling, The old hare was whittling at a piece of wood as it waits. "Ah was waiting for someone to appear....just didn't expect an army." He comments, waving a hand as he beckons them over.
Sveta gives Mirana a small, respectful dip of her head and adjusts a facecloth she's hung over her beak to keep the sand out. "I see you're here, Lady Solacious. I suppose you're well-guarded for the moment, but your condition...no, far from it being my place to question you." Leaving the others behind, she steps forward to the hare and asserts herself in a businesslike manner. "Well then, would you mind explaining what's going on here?"
Mirana blinks a bit as the sand starts picking up, and starts working some air math to help buffer it. Noticing her cousin helping, she alters the harmonics of it, adding a few more calculations and, not only does she and her wolfen family member create a buffer against the sand, but focuses clarity in her companions. "Thank you Lady Kiall'a." She says then gives a friendly wave to everyone before returning her hand to her large belly. "And thank you Sveta. Both for being here and for your concern. I'm fine, but thank you sweetie." she tries to reassure, not just Sveta but also herself. The heat doesn't bother her at all, but her trainee is chugging the water, "Yes, good hare, what happened?" she asks after Sveta.
The rather large wolfess continues her math to ensure that Mira's own spells hold together, Kiall'a giving a nod to Mira as she is silent for now, concentrating. She's not exactly the world's best mathemagician yet.
Fuyu looks over to the cart and says, "I think it was rogue marauding gops out on a reven- it looks like it was attacked" She does raise an eyebrow at the dropping wind and mutters something while deftly making her way over the sand towards the wreckage, keeping an eye out for any movement, turning her head further than what most would for obvious enough reasons. She glances back and says, "Out of a sense of morbid curiousity, what exactly are you doing with the wind so I know how to try and compensate in case I hear something?"
Arriving a little late for the party, Ictus looks around and coughs as he spots Mirana with a frown, "Mira, love... You know you shouldn't be out this far in your condition..." not scolding exactly but definitely concerned before he looks to the others, "So, what do you think is going on? Bandits perhaps?"
"Well what does it look like happened? We were attacked." The hare commented back, waving his knife at the debris scattered around them. "Some big creature came out of no where and just tore right through us...guess we were in its way or something." He mutters, giving a shrug. The wind turns from a minor annoyance, scattering sand and fowling up vision. To a gentle breeze that actually helped to keep the heat down and everyone cool.
Sveta gives the hare a small bow. The breeze doesn't help her much - she was already impervious to the heat, and the sand...well, it's still there. "I see. Very well, I'll assume the rest of your caravan was lost as well, then? That you're the only survivor? If there's nothing else, then, good sir, gather up anything you'd like to bring along and follow us. We'll get you out of here and back to civilisation." The goshawk turns to the rest of the group, her grip tightening on her spear. "Be on your guard. We should be able to see anything coming from a long distance away, but still..."
Mirana gives a slight yelp as she feels movement again, and blushes when Ictus berates her a bit, "I know darling, but, they need help, I braught protection." she says almost meekly to him, and gestures to her machines, her elemental, and the trainee, now taking a bit less time on the waterskin. As she continues to work on the spell, she walks over to Kiall'a and gives her a pat, "You are doing well, thank you, but I think I can hold it up for now." she says. "Yes, you were attacked sweetie, by something very large, do you need medical help? Are there any other survivors? If so what are the extent of their injuries?" she asks, looking the hare over and starting on treating any injuries on him that she sees with or without his permission. When Fuyu asks about the spell, she responds, "It is a simple buffer of crosswinds that doesn't quite reach the ground to keep it from picking up more sands and push the sand already coming at us in a slightly different direction." she explains, and whinces. So much to focus on...
Kialla ceases her contributions for the moment, when Mira tells her, looking to Ictus, someone she hadn't met yet with her normal, rather neutral expression. For now, she just stood close to the smaller foxes as she waited, looking, and watching around.
Fuyu rolls her eye and says, "Sure thing, I'll keep the other eye out for it." mostly in response to Sveta commenting on what she's already doing. Glancing to briefly, she asks, "Can you set up a skid with anything you need salvaged? No reason to abandon everything if we can get it out easy enough. Or do you even care at this point?" her ears swivel back at Mirana's comments, then the just sort of flatten and she mutters, "Right, the bird had it right, keep your eyes out, we won't really be hearing it too well." She claps her hands together and begins rubbing them as she makes her way towards the edge of the spell's perimeter to keep watch.
Ictus looks at the hare and nods at that, "Yeah, I heard." he nods to Mira and sighs, "Alright, I'm still going to keep an eye on you." he smiles a little though and blinks as he spots someone he doesn't know, "Ah, hello there." he nods in greeting to Kialla
There really weren't many wounds for Mirana to fuss over, just a few scratches and a bruise. "I just want to get out of this damn heat." He mutters in response, putting his knife away as he hops off the bench seat of his cart. "As for the thing that attacked me, it went that way." Smiling he points off to the west, were a cloud of dust can be seen forming, something was definitly happening over there. As Fuyu gets closer to the perimeter of the spell, she can start to hear a slight rumble. Sand shifting as something seems to be moving through it, straight towards the group...
Sveta scowls and unholsters her shield from her back. "Trouble! Lord Solacious...if you will, please? Rally everyone, please?" With that, she grabs the hare by the shoulders and urges him into the middle of the group next to Mirana. Hopefully he'll be a little safer there...giving a brief nod to everyone in the group, Sveta positions herself on point directly between the group and whatever's approaching, shield in one hand, spear in the other.
Mirana looks over the hare, and gives him some simple herbs, "These will ebate your pain, and stay inside the..." she doesn't finish the statement as she hears Sveta. Her eyes go wide and she reaches for her machines. A dial twist, a few buttons pressed, and the Twirligig takes point infront of her, oiled crusher shortly behind. Then, the divine shield rolls up to produce its field of holy force, next, water elemental beside her. "Thomis, to the side of Icuts." she says, army set up, she pulls out something that looks like... and.. odd, very small musket? She doesn't attack yet, she wants to see what it is first, and make sure it can't be reasoned with. "My darling, thank you." she says as she eyes the moving sands, Creator Scourcher ready.
Kialla remains close behind Mira, even as she's setting up all her machines and even the other fox and the little soldier as she simply stood ready, being rather unexperienced she just waited for the moment...
Fuyu claps her hands and calls out, "Heads up, the half-blind woman sees something. Might suggest you watch your footing!" She extends her hands out and snaps her fingers, both, creating a pair of large eruptions of fire. Loud ones, though no one's really close enough to feel the concussion, she seems happy enough and then keeps an eye out for the creature's reactions to it in case she needs to do more than try and distract it away. If she's lucky it was loud enough to deter it.
Ictus hmms? at the hare and nods at that before he notices the shifting sand, "Great..." he looks to Sveta and nods as he gets his weapons out, glancing around as the others get ready as well, before he blinks at the pillars of flame, "well, let's hope tha works..." he mumbles to himself as he eyes the shifting sand
Fuyu's explosions definitly cause a reaction, as the shifting sand stops. No movment at all as if it just vanishes. "..Intresting little show miss." The hare comments, crossing his arms as he trys to look over someones shoulder to see what is going on. The silence lasts for a few more seconds...Before over to the west, just in the confines of the spell that Mirana was holding the sand explodes outward as the Sand worms head surfaces, and lets out a low growl of hunger as it regards the group.
Sveta narrows her eyes and stands firm. Not another one of these things - well, at least this one seems a lot smaller and softer than the one she'd fought with Mirana and the others near Silverveing but a little more than a week ago. Someone had even taken a tooth as a trophy...but at least it seems this one probably won't be worth taking a trophy from. Raising her shield, the goshawk prepares to cover both herself and everyone else in the group from the worm's charge.
Mirana looks at the display and smiles when the creature seems to have been driven off, but, that doesn't last for long! A yip and she turns to look at the beast. On the strange small box, some more button presses, quick, practiced like she had done them every hour of every day. The first to respond to the messanger spirit inside the box is the Twirligig, firing at the worm with strange musket balls, next is the oiled crusher, moving to smash the thing as best it can with its mighty fists. The shield of devine force from the small devine shield offers its protection to all. Water elemental fires great shards of ice at the seemingly attacking worm, while Thomis charges, twin blades slashing at the creature. Mira herself raises her strange gun, pulling the trigger.
Kialla bites her lip, everyone is doing things. Yet, she hasn't yet. This worm moved through the sand, and for now had shown itself to be an actual threat and it was poised to attack the group. Mira had already begun her assault. Though, she had a thought... beginning her own mathemagic on the sand where the creature sprouted out, fire magic in specific.
Fuyu glances back and says, "See, just ha- oh what fresh hell." She turns on her heels and starts to raise her hands, figuring there is no kill like overkill when.. a small swarm of nuisances attack the worm. Seeing as hr fine detail control on spellcraft is questionable at best, she lets her arms drop and begins scanning the area, watching for anything else to happen. She'll just wait for everything to get out of the way so she can do her thing.
Ictus briefly glances over at Mira as she attacks and hmms at the. He steadies his hands as he aims his crossbow for it's head, while the others are attacking, before firing!
Chaos is brought forth by the attack, The worm lunging hungrily at the closest thing, which just so happens to be Sveta. tThe musket balls tearing through its soft flesh, as the oiled crusher smashes against it . Even not fully developed the worms hide was still able to absorb the blunt force trauma. The strange weapon that Mira fires making it howl in pain, before it starts to thrash. A crossbow bolt piercing its eye as it falls to the ground. But even as it lay still....the rumbling didn't stop, two new swells, larger then the first move swiftly towards their location. Twin roars of pure anger anounce the arrival of the newborns parents....
Sveta swallows hard and takes a step back, still bracing herself behind her shield, although she still stands her ground against the swells. Not much time for discussion in the face of imminent danger. "I think a tactical retreat may be in order. Lord and Lady Solacious? If you would, please...and anyone, anything to help cover a retreat would help immensely."
Mirana looks as the smaller worm goes down and.... two more come up! It clicks to her, "Oh creators... oh Shaila... what did I do..?" Her eyes go a bit wider, though her pupils are pin pricks. She pants a bit as thoughts swarm over her. No time to focus on that now, she had to protect her family. "A... a potentally good idea." she says and starts to pull back her units, looking to Ictus. Running is... not going to be her strong suit, so she makes sure there is a lot of creator steel between her and the approching.... parents... she cringes again, tears in her eyes, ready to pull back with the rest.
Fuyu glances back over her shoulders and says, "Good job guys, we've got them on the run now" Running straight towards them, but hey. She sets her feet shoulder length apart and begins a few quick gestures, running a few numbers in her head for distance and radius, one might notice she even draws something in the sand with her foot before she claps her hands together and an even larger than before. One might notice her aim was a bit off even with all the work, but she's a bit shy of depth perception. The explosion in question swirls into place before detonating downward, sending sand and dust outward on the shockwave.
Ictus winces as he realizes that the worm was but a child and then more as he spots the parents coming over to say hi. He shakes his head and frowns as he looks to the others, hearing Sveta he nods and quickly searches the area, "Yes, but there is no where to run to!" as he moves to help Mira flee.
"I spotted a Cave not far from here, The rest of the caravan wanted to check it out to see if we could find anything of value. It rests on a rock shelf, should be safe if we can get there!" The Hare shouts, staring with wide eyes as the swells draw closer, before he turns to race towards what he was hoping would be safety. Fuyu's explosion does the trick, disorientation The worms and sending them off in opposite directions, buying the group a little extra time.
"Well, then. If there's a cave, there's a cave. I'm not sure how well rock holds up against these things if they're determined to burrow, but it's better than staying out here on the dunes." With that, Sveta turns the side of her reinforced jerkin outwards, and prepares to buy the rest of the group some time, if need be.
Mirana wracks her brain for a while before coming up with an idea, "I hope this doesn't hurt them..." she says pulling what moisture she can and drinching the sands behind them. Another button press on the strange box and her machines are in full retreat, the oiled crusher stopping to lift the heavy vixen. With Ictus' help she is firmly situated on it as she and her excort make for the cave.
Fuyu doesn't worry about getting to the cave. She flies and she's having fun. Besides, leaving the one person out to be eaten wouldn't settle well with her. So she begins prepare her next spell, though she waits for them to surface, wings unfurled and ready to take off if they come for her instead of the avian woman.
Ictus blinks as Sveta stands her ground and growls to himself, "Damnit..." as he helps lift Mira with the machines help and frowns, "How fast can it move?" as he dashes for the cave with it
The Rock shelf soon came into view as the crested a dune, a Formation of a few rocks that could easily reach twenty feet in the air at least. "There, that one!" The hare shouts, pointing at the center most Rock, its shadow almost covering up the entrance to the cave that he spoke of. Mirana's plan works, it slows the worms down. Forcing them to fight their way through the thick soup that the sand has become, before one surfaces, throwing the wet sand everywhere as it turns to Lunge at Sveta. It's maw open wide and fangs gleaming.
Sveta curses not quite under her breath, making sure everyone is well away before taking advantage of the worm's slow speed to turn and make a dash for the entrance of the cave, feeling a sharp impact on her back shortly after she reholsters her shield on her back. She flies in small hops and leaps, more large bounds than actual flight, and manages to make it just in time, ending with the rest of the group in relative safety.
The machine carrying Mira is fairly swift, even if bogged down. It keeps pace with the rest of the machines and her escort. She looks back as Fuyu and Sveta say behind, cringing slightly, "I slowed them down, get out of there..." she says as she is cared into the cave. She looks around, and decides to use some fire math to help light things up. Looking back once more, she seems relieved to see Sveta making her way back as well! Once firmly inside the cave though, she has the machine sit her down and hugs on Ictus tightly.
Fuyu unleashes her last spell before taking wing and leaping into the air, quite a bit easier than what Sveta was doing due to not wearing any heavy armor. The spell in question was not quite the one she was originally planning, but when a big roaring monster opens it's mouth nice and wide, sometimes inspiration strikes and instead of the usual fireball, she focuses on wind magic and tries to create a concussive blast of sorts. It's loud at least, either way. She's off!
Ictus winces as he watches the scene and moves assist Fuyu's magic, but he is hugged! He looks to Mira and smiles in relief at the cuncussive blast, thankful that she is safe for now
The Concussive blast does the trick, causing the Worm to reel back before it fell on its side, stunned by the loud noise. But the other one was still charging, bellowing its rage as its mate is hurt, before it foolishly slams head first into the Rock shelf. Cutting it's own roar off as it knocks itself unconcious, and causes loose rocks to tumble down and seal the mouth of the cave. Trapping all inside, with Mira's flames warding off the dark....
