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| − | <div></div> | + | <div></div><br> <br>The entrance to the deep swamp was as muggy as it ever is, swarms of kricks flying around to bother those entering and trying to press far in. There though, in one of the most 'open' clearings, sits a trio of shady looking alligators... Familiar to those whom were hear last time, they are all clad in body concealing cloaks, and face obscuring hoods! Near them though, stands a single male crane, busy pruning his feathers as he looks around for a moment before checking a flier... Seems he was impatient today!<br> <br>Natska makes her way through the swamp, a slight breeze wrapped around herself and keeping the kricks at bay. The jaguar nods at the familiar looking crane, then the alligators, and takes her spot to wait for the rest of the group to assemble.<br> <br>Cassidy keeps herself close to Natska, sharing in the breeze to keep the pesky kricks away. "Is uh, everything alright?" She asks the crane, brow raising behind her mask. "You seem flustered. Is it that urgent?"<br> <br>Cara rushes through the swamp, clad in more suitable attire for the mission. She manages to have little trouble with the kricks this time, no doubt thanks to the jaguar's help. The feline nods to the jaguar upon her arrival and takes out her staff. "Well, it's nice to see you here again, Natska." She shifts her gaze to the masked fennec and grins, "The same goes for you as well, Cassidy." The feline turns to face the crow and waits for further instructions.<br> <br>With a few muttered curses about the stagnant smell and ugly looking vegetation, and a few more.. choice words in regards to the insects anouncing her arrival, Sara emerges from some thick set foliage just set off the general beaten path and looks expectantly around at the gathering, tired looking crimson eyes looking to the smattering of freeswords that had arrived before and greets each with a nod, "Natska, Cassidy.. good to see you both." she admits with a faint smile before looking to Cara and nodding her greeting. With that out of the way she looks then to the alligators and crane before looking again to the group and asking them, "That guy the client?"<br> <br>Iorek follows in behind the others, the cloaked wolves red eyes darting around him at every noise he hears. Despite his best efforts to conceal it, he's obviously nervous, clutching a bow tighly in his paw. He nods to the others before looking over to the gators and the crane. "Um... Hi, Iorek... here about the contract."<br> <br>"Yes, yes I am flustered. I lost two errand boys to attacks by these 'Ground Poppers', and I want them eradicated for waisting my perfectly good manpower. Now, we've found where they seem to originate from, and I want -ALL- of you to go and deal with them." The Crane is certainly snappy today! The Alligators look up at the group, their sharp and rather handsome features showing as they examine the group while the smallest of them speaks. "We can show you the cave, and we can all go in at once. We figure you guys will aid more if things dont kill you before the fight."<br> <br>Natska inclines her head again to the alligator trio. "Ah! Thank you, that is thoughtful of you. I will do my best to not slow you down once the fighting starts." She smiles, sweetly, and then her shadow stretches out and rises up from the ground, coiling around the jaguar like a light mist as she gets ready to move further into the swamp.<br> <br>Cassidy nods slowly, reaching up to adjust her top hat as a number of small, fiery orbs flicker into existence to surround her. "Mhmm. I'm not letting something grab me and pull me down again. I'd rather not have to go make an emergency change of clothes this time, if I can help it."<br> <br>Cara raises her staff and grins, "Sweet! I get to whack the Poppers today." At the advice from the smallest of the alligators, the feline raises an eyebrow, "Why would they kill us this time? After all, there has to be a medic amongst us all. Although." The feline stops for a moment and her stance seems to become more firm as a faint glow emits from her arms. "I think I might be able to handle myself."<br> <br>"Uhm.. ground poppers?" Sara asks, a little quaver in her voice, removing that earlier bluster from before, "Well.. considering I'd like to not die here, I'll go with your offer of assistance and be led to the cave you spoke of. Still.. before that, do you know what we'll be going up against? Numbers and the like, or is it more or less a mystery?" after giving her equipment a brief look over Sara nods inwardly and says, "Well.. no matter what, I think I'm good to go whenever all of you are."<br> <br>Iorek nods along with what Sara is saying, something catches in his throat and he coughts "Oh, and um... anything anyone suggests foor tactics... ground poppers, so... burrowers?"<br> <br>"They burrow under the ground, pop up, stick you with a barbed tongue, and try to pull you under... And as we're in a swamp, it's a little hard to -see- how many would be present." The crane idly fanning himself with a hand before sighing gently. "-Hopefully- you will be facing the queen, or spawner, or whatever it is. -That- should hopefully be too big to just burrow as easily as these things do... And at least none of you are -too- small." |
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| + | The smallest Alligator shrugs once more, pointing to his accomplices. "We'll lead you to it when you're all ready, and we'll take care of any extras that show up. Just focus on the big guy or... Thing."<br> <br>Natska looks over at Sara and grins. "Like... swamp toads. With giant, barbed tongues. But they pop easily." She nods. "Goog to have you with us by the way. You too, Cara." She glances around, then nods to Cass. "I'm sure we'll manage."<br> <br>Cassidy nods at Sara, offering a little smile. "Yes! Nice to see you. It's been a while since I've see you in action," she says, lifting up off the ground with a bit of air magic, the tails of her coat flicking in the breeze as she hovers a foot or so off the groun.<br> <br>Cara rolls her eyes for a moment and answers the wolf's question as well, "Yep, so long as you dodge the tongue, you should be fine.", The feline turns to the other reptile that isn't an alligator and smiles, "You must be an elemental dragon."<br> <br>As the general description of the gound popppers comes up Sara nods inwardly and pulls a small blade seeming to be of eastern origin and admits, "Don't think barbed tounges would be that big a problem.. still, as I said I'm quite ready to see what the big toad looks like." followed by ".. and to get out of this damned swamp.." muttered under her breath. As question of her race comes up Sara looks to Cara and scratches at the back of her head, "I guess.. I can become one, but well.. I'm not exactly a dragon per-se. Just.. a strange looking lizard.." the last bit followed with an awkward chuckle at herself before turning her attention away from the feline in question.<br> <br>Iorek puts his bow over his should and draws his dagger instead "Hmmm... if these things burrow... do they have eyes? ...Just trying to figure out if we can get an edge somehow..." looks around all his comerades, his tail dropping as he feels slightly out oof his depth.<br> <br>"see for yourself." The smallest alligator says, turning to depart with his two cohorts, as the crane waves the group to follow them. The Alligators themselves have unerring direction as they lead the group through the densest parts of the swamp, where the krick swarms can become rather -huge-... Passing by these swarms takes some careful manauvering, but soon enough the group is standing at the entrance of a large half burried tunnel! The Tunnel itself is pitch black, and smells almost of rancid meat mixed with the delicious smell of vomit... A euphoria for the senses surely. The Alligators don't seem bothered by it, as they glance back at the group for a moment. "Ready?"<br> <br>"Of course," Natska replies, although she touches Cass' arm for reassurance. Her breeze begins blowing a little faster, and she wrinkles her nose. "Worse than that other one, ugh... I'll try not to breath to deeply."<br> <br>Cassidy grimaces behind her mask at the scent, tail flicking in agitation as she floats along. "I hate the swamp," she grumbles, keeping close to Natska. "The sooner we solve the issues out here, the better, as far as I'm concerned."<br> <br>Cara manages to suppress herself from gaging and wonders if there would be a safe way to light a fire. Although, something about this entire set up feels like a trap. She manages to bring up a pleasant, "Yeah, I'm ready. Is it okay if someone brightens up the place though?"<br> <br>After following close behind the alligators, and making sure to avoid the giant swarms of kriks, of whom her eyes never seem to leave until she's far enough away. With the various wetland creatures passed by and the group relatively unharmed Sara peers into the cave, doing her best to hold back that gag reflex as the smell of rotting foliage reaches her nose. "Bleh.. I"m with you there, Cass. Think the longer we stay, the higher my chance of being sick.." a brief urp of discomfort passing her lips shortly after as if proving that point. "Well.. considering the darkness, I'd rather not go in without a light source.." after pulling a decent sized cloth wrapped torch from her satchel Sara utters a soft "Well.. here goes nothing.." before speaking an even softer prayer to Hephestia in her attempt at safely lighting both it, and protecting her and her group from anything the open flames would most likely agitate.<br> <br>Iorek audibly breathes out his nose as he stops and gags a little "Man, now is not a good time to have a keen sense of smell" he exhales deeply and shakes it off, muffling another wretch. He looks at all the others and then, looking to the gator he says weakly "as I'll ever be?" <br> <br>Each of the gators pull out their own torches as well, lighting them silently, before motioning the group forward. "Good, come on then." Into the mouth of the tunnel they go, the damp cave reeking of that unpleasent stench as they press in deeper... Not too far in, they pass the half consumed remains of a male armadillo with a heavy clan badge clutched in his hands, the smallest gator motioning to the corpse as he speaks. "One of the couriers, we're gett--" His words interupted by a loud earsplitting screech filling the tunnel! Seems whatever resident it had, was aware of the intruders! The ground beneath the group begins to shift and disrupt itself, as a larger tongue lashes around the smaller gator's ankle and yanks him right down into the earth! The Two large gators motioning the group forward into the tunnel! "GO! We'll hold them!"<br> <br>Ears folding at the screech, Natska dodges to the side as the tongue lashes; as it starts to drag the gator down the tunnel, the jaguar breaks into a sprint, determined to reach the creature on the other end of the appendage before the gator does. "Come on!"<br> <br>Cassidy inclines her head at the gator's words. If they were confident in their chances, she wasn't going to doubt them. She drifts forward, faster now, before finally touching down on the ground as they went further into the cave. "Careful, stay on guard."<br> <br>Cara cringes as she looks at the gators and frowns, while her ears furl down. "I'm sorry!" At that point, the feline instantly dashes after the jaguar. "Please forgive me!" Her ears hike back up and the feline runs as fast as she possibly can, her legs striding at speeds that anyone who knows her would expect by now. "I really hope we'll be able to save them though."<br> <br>With both her hands full the screech comes as Sara's own personal hell as she had nothing at all to block the sound with. With a long wincing shudder that had her turning her head with eyes left half-lidded Sara whispered, "Shutupshutupshutup.." as she beared the ear-piercing shriek. As it had finally ended and Sara breathed a short breath of relief she had turned her head to find one of the two gators missing and the group rushing towards the end of the cave, the two felines making the situation quite clear and leaving the lizard-woman rushing down the cave as fast as her feet could take her!<br> <br>Iorek follow the others along the corridor, remember their objective to go after the queen not the swarm. Instead of running like the others, he decides to try and remain as quiet as possible as he advances, curious on how the enemies can detect his presence. Staring at the ground around his feet, ready to pounce if he sees a tongue come his way, hoping he is quicker.<br> <br>It seems the swarm is interested in the Gators, the two beings drawing strange sharping looking swords as they begin to cut at emerging tongues while covering the freeswords! Their path is rather simple, as there is only one tunnel, and soon enough they're left on a small ledge that heralds an exit into an even larger dome like room! The Dome itself is far too smooth, and well carved to be natural, and the ledge itself is too sharp and clean before it's three foot drop down... But the true eye catcher of this room, was a twenty foot tall creature, vaguely shaped like a cross between a newt and a frog! It's jaws are massive, and more than large enough to swallow a normal sized being whole, with razor sharp teeth to rip at whatever it's massive barbed tongue cannot shred first! | ||
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| + | The Creature turns to the freeswords as they enter, and with another ear splitting shrill faces ready against them! Two beedy eyes trained on them as it readies itself for it's 'snack'... It seems the battle is on!<br> <br>Cassidy scowls and furrows her brow, slipping back a few steps to position herself behind the others. "Well this will be interesting, certainly." She begins pondering her 'arsenal,' trying to settle on a spell that'll provide effective.<br> <br>Cara covers her ears from the loud screech and instantly jumps down into the arena. The feline can easily figure out that attacking from the front is a terrible idea. Therefore, she instantly tries to circle around to the back of the creature in the hopes that she might be able to find a blind spot that she can capitalize on the beast.<br> <br>With the giant creature close by Sara could only find her resolve faltering if only briefly as it utters its deafening shriek, it doesn't take longer than the shriek to end before she regains it with gusto before shouting, "SHUT THE HELL UP!" and throwing the torch at the creature. Along the way however the flames do seem to falter, almost as if the blessing was unwilling to cause any harm outside of defence, and only leaves the once smouldering stick either thunking harmlessly against the creature, or into the water nearby, either most likely ending up with the same result. With the free hand however Sara pulls a small pistol from underneath the cloak, takes aim at the giant creature and pulls the trigger, leaving the pistol discharging a strange white flame, as well as the modified shot and its venemous payload itself.<br> <br>Iorek quickly decides to break round the room, making to get behind the creature the opposite direction of Cara, all the while sizing up the creature for weak spots. eyes, limbs or anywhere he'd maybe thing there would be blood vessals near the surface. At the very least hoping to put the creature on it's toes by spreading out.<br> <br>Natska slips to the side as she enters the room, getting enough distance between her and Cassidy that they can cover for eachother; she begins gathering her will and mentally preparing her equations as she eyes the giant toad, quietly cursing at the massive monster and its lightning tongue.<br> <br>The Giant creature isn't a slouch, Sara's shot finding home against it's scale-like hide, piercing into it some! It doesn't seem phased by the damage though, as a large left claw lashes out at Cara, while it's tongue spews forth in a sweeping whip motion! Just grazing by Cassidy, before slapping into Natska! The Barbed tongue is quick to wrap around the poor woman, and it seems a bad situation to be in! | ||
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| + | Cara and Iorek however, manage to find their way into their positions, their opportunities rising! As for Iorek's observations, aside from the eyes there are no easily seen weakspots!<br> <br>Natska plants her feet as the tongue wraps around her, ready to resist with all her might (and a little cheating, if need be). Not one to take a tongue lashing without response, however, the jaguar gathers up some of her most potent of her new batch of maths, and then unleashes them on the giant creature, letting her maths turn its own body against it and tear it apart.<br> <br>Cassidy narrows her eyes and focuses her fire magic elsewhere. Not on the creature itself, but on the cavern itself. An explosion focused on the dome above the creature's head, trying to bring the cave down upon it.<br> <br>Cara grins happily, "Well, it looks like it's time to live up to my family name", and leap directly to the left side of the creature. Just as the feline gets close enough, she begins spinning around with her leg outstretched and foot pointed forward. It looks like the feline is striking the back of the creature multiple times with the same kick.<br> <br>Her shot having found its mark sends a feeling of elation rippling down her spine. It doesn't seem to last long before she notices a tongue dart out at the side of her vision and hit Natska. Finding herself reaching for the blade though it doesn't seem to last long before Natska speaks those magic words of hers. Figuring she had been in good hands Sara turns her attention back to the toad and rushes it, blade drawn and at the last moment, with the toad in slashing distance, just seems to just jump back and resheathe her weapon. Strange.<br> <br>Iorek hops around getting the bottle up "Bad idea, bad idea BAD IDEA!" he runs and leaps at the huge beast to climb it, planning to plunge his envenomed dagger in it's eye, then diving off, hoping a roll will cushion the fall.<br> <br>Natska's spell sizzles at the tongue, causing a stretch of dark decay to appear upon the tongue... Causing the beast to release her with another screech! Cassidy's spell crumbles at the cieling some, causing a few cracks to appear, though the construction here seems far too stable than what beings should be able to manage! The attacks from Sara and Cara both strike true, Sara leaving a wide deep gash near the creatures stomach, while Cara's kicks leave deep marks in it's hide! Iorek manages to get a hold, and a steady climb on up, while the creatures seems still dazed and confused from the dark math!<br> <br>Natska shifts her stance, a grin spreading along her muzzle as she watches the things reaction. The jaguar regathers her magic, but she holds off from another attack as she catches her breath and watches her opponent.<br> <br>Cassidy frowns at the, apparently rather sturdy, ceiling before turning her attention elsewhere. As soon as the creature lets out its shriek, she tries to strike it down the gullet with a snap of brilliant lightning let loose from the tip of her finger.<br> <br>Cara groans for a moment and brings out her staff. "I hope this hurts!" The feline promptly begins a series of horizontal and vertical strikes along the wounds that she made earlier. The feline just can't stop whacking away at the skin. "Yay, paddling!"<br> <br>With the creature dazed, and opened up wide Sara had capitalized on its weakness and with a shout returns to where she had slashed, this time instead of the small sword she had wielded earlier, a long barreled musket seems to be gripped tight in her hands. With a loud grunt and a muttered curse Sara presses the barrel close to that bleeding wound and pulls the trigger.<br> <br>Iorek gets to his feet tentatively, making sure to keep his balance as he makes for the creatures eye, plunging his dagger into it 2 handed with a yell.<br> <br>The Creature shakes it's head visciously, attempting to dislodge Iorek, and while he manages to hold on, his dagger falls short of it's intended target! This beasty is rather tough to kill it seems, as Cassidy's spell smacks just short of it's gullet, and of all the things, seems to be grounded straight into the ground, causing it to just fizzle out... This creature had a surprising amount of resistance for what could be a natural creature! Sara<br> <br>The Creature shakes it's head visciously, attempting to dislodge Iorek, and while he manages to hold on, his dagger falls short of it's intended target! This beasty is rather tough to kill it seems, as Cassidy's spell smacks just short of it's gullet, and of all the things, seems to be grounded straight into the ground, causing it to just fizzle out... This creature had a surprising amount of resistance for what could be a natural creature! Sara's own shot smacks into the wound due to close range, elliciting another growl from the creature as Cara joins in smacking it from behind! | ||
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| + | Soon enough though, a gutteral trio of haunting roars fill the air, as three dark robed skeletons, resembling the alligators from earlier jump right into the fray! Catching air from the ledge, with bone axes in their hands, the smallest and middle sizes one manages to smack at the creatures chest, cleaving a nice wide opening for the freeswords as the bone weapons carve through it easily! The largest of the three hurls his axe right at it's face, nicking it as it lets out a challanging roar to take the creatures attention!<br> <br>Natska draws a small rod from a pocket in her jumpsuit and flicks her wrist, causing it to blossom into a fiery lash; she circles the toad a little and raises her weapon, then freezes as the skeletons come charging in. She hadn't been quite expecting -that-, but she joins in soon enough, whipping at the toad monster with a controlled tongue of flame.<br> <br>Cassidy tucks her hands in her pockets and watches quietly for the time being, letting herself recover from the electric display. Seemed like the others were capable of doing the work, anyway. She needn't tire herself out too much over nothing.<br> <br>Cara instantly takes one look at the skeletons that resemble the alligators and she begins twitching. "No. No. N-no. No!" The fit feline puts her staff away and brings out her venom covered sabre from it's sheath. "No!" She instantly begins slashing at the same wounds from earlier with the rage of an angered person. "DIE!"<br> <br>With both firearms empty and Sara left needing a breath of air from her earlier exertions, especially the earlier slash that left her winded. With that she turns to find cover, stopping completely shocked as she watches the skeletons rush the group, figuring they had been evil Sara reaches for her sword, damning the weariness.. until finally she notices them them attacking the creature. "Wait.. what?" is all she manages to wonder aloud out before shaking the thought from her mind and ducking behind a rock to begin the slow task of reloading the musket and pistol.<br> <br>Iorek gets frustrated at himself for missing, driving his claws of one hand into its head for any sort of purchase and trying to stab the eye again with his other hand. "Dammit, this thing isn't going to go down easy huh?" Oblivious so the croc skeletons as he's rather preoccupied<br> <br>Natska's whip strikes hard into the deep gashes the two gators had made, as Cara's own strikes find those sweet vulnerable spots as well... Even Iorek, having managed to stay on top for so long, finally has his weapons find purchase as they dig into the beast's eye! A shrill ear piercing scream emits from the creature as it's eye is taken, and Iorek forcibly dislodged from it's head! | ||
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| + | The Gators seem to waste no time, each taking time between distracting it, and cutting into it with their weapons with precision movements! One of the beasts large claws finds purchase on the largest one though, sending it straight into stone... Only for the gator to rise once more, and charge with fury renewed! Given the beasts sluggish movements, it must be close to it's end... Time for the killing blows!<br> <br>Natska continues harassing the toad-monster from the flank, her whip of fire flicking at the monster's skin, doing her best to help keep the thing distracted and vulnerable for the other Freeswords to finish it off.<br> <br>Energy regained, Cassidy steps back up towards the lip of the cavern, looking back towards the large creature. The flame around her gathers up and launches towards the thing in a barrage of fire.<br> <br>Cara promptly takes her sabre and continues slicing into the beast. The feline constantly twitching throughout the entire stream. It's almost as if she expects to hear something else coming after her. As she finishes her last slice, she leaps up into the air. Once she makes it to the tip of her jump, she swings down her sabre in an attempt to deliver a vertical cut down into the beast in the hopes of causing enough pain for the others to finish it off.<br> <br>Iorek in a futile attempt to do more damage before falling clear, aims a roundhouse kick at his dagger hilt in the beasts eye to drive it home before landing on his back on the ground<br> <br>Natska's lashings, and Cassidy's spell send the beast back reeling, as Cara further rips into it with her strikes, just as Iorek manages to drive the dagger in further to the beasts eyes! The Creature letting out a pained cry as the bone weapons rip into it once more, and the creature falls unto it's back... it's body already begining to decay at an accessive rate as it's muscles turn back to much and moss from the swamp! It's skin turning into hardened bark and stone as well... Almost as if it was made up of -the- swamp! | ||
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| + | The three skeletal gators gather as their opponent falls, each looking to each other with unspoken words as they hold their axes close and look back at the group.<br> <br>Cassidy keeps her hands in her pockets, leaning over the edge to look at the gators and the group. "Is that it, then? Are we done here?" She asks, ears flicking under her hat. "Because I am ready to get out of this swamp."<br> <br>With her weapons finally reloaded Sara utters a fierce battle cry as she rises over the rock she had been hiding behind.. only to find the creature dead and left rotting. With an expression that could be irked, Sara lets the rifle drop to her side before returning it to its earlier hanging spot. "Well.. glad that's over and done with.. what about the small things, they dead too?" she asks to noone particular before looking again to the skeletal gators and shuddering, ".. and that being said.. what happened to you guys..?" her crimson gaze studying the creatures, trying to figure out whether they had been friends still, or some sort of foe.<br> <br>Iorek lies on the ground, winded struggles to catch his breath "...Please tell me it's over..." he sighs, staring at the cave cieling, spread eagled on the cave floor, not quite got the composure to stand yet.<br> <br>The Gators don't speak to Sara, just staring at her with empty eye sockets, before they pull their hoods back up, and make their way silently back to the ledge... It seems the gators weren't going to fight them, and were just as happy to leave! Well, take those victories where they come. Aside from the departure of their skeletal assistants, it seems the group has won the day... Only left to pick up, and make their way on out.<br> <br>Cassidy turns about and withdraws a hand from her pocket, adjusting her hat as she starts her way out of the cave. The job was done, and nobody was seriously injured. At least, not that she noticed.<br> <br>Natska makes a small noise and nods her head at Cassidy. She waits for a short bit, givingthe gators time to get away, then follows after them and back towards the swamp entrance.<br> <br>Iorek rolls onto his stomach and notices the slime he's now in with a groan, before pulling himself up to his feet and hobbling out the cave "Well that was.... something."<br> <br>"Well.. spirits above.. that was interesting." the lizard-woman had mumbled as she made her way over to the decayed toad to prod the remains with her sword just for good measure. "Huh.. nothing but roots afterwards.. guess the work of the cultists?" she asks herself before shrugging and settling the hood of her cloak back over her head and rushing back out, in an attempt at catching up to Natska and Cassidy, each getting the usual question of, "You doing alright? I seen the tongue hit you.. will you be okay?"[[Category:RPLogs]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:27, 22 May 2015
Participants
Date
22/5/478
Log
The entrance to the deep swamp was as muggy as it ever is, swarms of kricks flying around to bother those entering and trying to press far in. There though, in one of the most 'open' clearings, sits a trio of shady looking alligators... Familiar to those whom were hear last time, they are all clad in body concealing cloaks, and face obscuring hoods! Near them though, stands a single male crane, busy pruning his feathers as he looks around for a moment before checking a flier... Seems he was impatient today!
Natska makes her way through the swamp, a slight breeze wrapped around herself and keeping the kricks at bay. The jaguar nods at the familiar looking crane, then the alligators, and takes her spot to wait for the rest of the group to assemble.
Cassidy keeps herself close to Natska, sharing in the breeze to keep the pesky kricks away. "Is uh, everything alright?" She asks the crane, brow raising behind her mask. "You seem flustered. Is it that urgent?"
Cara rushes through the swamp, clad in more suitable attire for the mission. She manages to have little trouble with the kricks this time, no doubt thanks to the jaguar's help. The feline nods to the jaguar upon her arrival and takes out her staff. "Well, it's nice to see you here again, Natska." She shifts her gaze to the masked fennec and grins, "The same goes for you as well, Cassidy." The feline turns to face the crow and waits for further instructions.
With a few muttered curses about the stagnant smell and ugly looking vegetation, and a few more.. choice words in regards to the insects anouncing her arrival, Sara emerges from some thick set foliage just set off the general beaten path and looks expectantly around at the gathering, tired looking crimson eyes looking to the smattering of freeswords that had arrived before and greets each with a nod, "Natska, Cassidy.. good to see you both." she admits with a faint smile before looking to Cara and nodding her greeting. With that out of the way she looks then to the alligators and crane before looking again to the group and asking them, "That guy the client?"
Iorek follows in behind the others, the cloaked wolves red eyes darting around him at every noise he hears. Despite his best efforts to conceal it, he's obviously nervous, clutching a bow tighly in his paw. He nods to the others before looking over to the gators and the crane. "Um... Hi, Iorek... here about the contract."
"Yes, yes I am flustered. I lost two errand boys to attacks by these 'Ground Poppers', and I want them eradicated for waisting my perfectly good manpower. Now, we've found where they seem to originate from, and I want -ALL- of you to go and deal with them." The Crane is certainly snappy today! The Alligators look up at the group, their sharp and rather handsome features showing as they examine the group while the smallest of them speaks. "We can show you the cave, and we can all go in at once. We figure you guys will aid more if things dont kill you before the fight."
Natska inclines her head again to the alligator trio. "Ah! Thank you, that is thoughtful of you. I will do my best to not slow you down once the fighting starts." She smiles, sweetly, and then her shadow stretches out and rises up from the ground, coiling around the jaguar like a light mist as she gets ready to move further into the swamp.
Cassidy nods slowly, reaching up to adjust her top hat as a number of small, fiery orbs flicker into existence to surround her. "Mhmm. I'm not letting something grab me and pull me down again. I'd rather not have to go make an emergency change of clothes this time, if I can help it."
Cara raises her staff and grins, "Sweet! I get to whack the Poppers today." At the advice from the smallest of the alligators, the feline raises an eyebrow, "Why would they kill us this time? After all, there has to be a medic amongst us all. Although." The feline stops for a moment and her stance seems to become more firm as a faint glow emits from her arms. "I think I might be able to handle myself."
"Uhm.. ground poppers?" Sara asks, a little quaver in her voice, removing that earlier bluster from before, "Well.. considering I'd like to not die here, I'll go with your offer of assistance and be led to the cave you spoke of. Still.. before that, do you know what we'll be going up against? Numbers and the like, or is it more or less a mystery?" after giving her equipment a brief look over Sara nods inwardly and says, "Well.. no matter what, I think I'm good to go whenever all of you are."
Iorek nods along with what Sara is saying, something catches in his throat and he coughts "Oh, and um... anything anyone suggests foor tactics... ground poppers, so... burrowers?"
"They burrow under the ground, pop up, stick you with a barbed tongue, and try to pull you under... And as we're in a swamp, it's a little hard to -see- how many would be present." The crane idly fanning himself with a hand before sighing gently. "-Hopefully- you will be facing the queen, or spawner, or whatever it is. -That- should hopefully be too big to just burrow as easily as these things do... And at least none of you are -too- small."
The smallest Alligator shrugs once more, pointing to his accomplices. "We'll lead you to it when you're all ready, and we'll take care of any extras that show up. Just focus on the big guy or... Thing."
Natska looks over at Sara and grins. "Like... swamp toads. With giant, barbed tongues. But they pop easily." She nods. "Goog to have you with us by the way. You too, Cara." She glances around, then nods to Cass. "I'm sure we'll manage."
Cassidy nods at Sara, offering a little smile. "Yes! Nice to see you. It's been a while since I've see you in action," she says, lifting up off the ground with a bit of air magic, the tails of her coat flicking in the breeze as she hovers a foot or so off the groun.
Cara rolls her eyes for a moment and answers the wolf's question as well, "Yep, so long as you dodge the tongue, you should be fine.", The feline turns to the other reptile that isn't an alligator and smiles, "You must be an elemental dragon."
As the general description of the gound popppers comes up Sara nods inwardly and pulls a small blade seeming to be of eastern origin and admits, "Don't think barbed tounges would be that big a problem.. still, as I said I'm quite ready to see what the big toad looks like." followed by ".. and to get out of this damned swamp.." muttered under her breath. As question of her race comes up Sara looks to Cara and scratches at the back of her head, "I guess.. I can become one, but well.. I'm not exactly a dragon per-se. Just.. a strange looking lizard.." the last bit followed with an awkward chuckle at herself before turning her attention away from the feline in question.
Iorek puts his bow over his should and draws his dagger instead "Hmmm... if these things burrow... do they have eyes? ...Just trying to figure out if we can get an edge somehow..." looks around all his comerades, his tail dropping as he feels slightly out oof his depth.
"see for yourself." The smallest alligator says, turning to depart with his two cohorts, as the crane waves the group to follow them. The Alligators themselves have unerring direction as they lead the group through the densest parts of the swamp, where the krick swarms can become rather -huge-... Passing by these swarms takes some careful manauvering, but soon enough the group is standing at the entrance of a large half burried tunnel! The Tunnel itself is pitch black, and smells almost of rancid meat mixed with the delicious smell of vomit... A euphoria for the senses surely. The Alligators don't seem bothered by it, as they glance back at the group for a moment. "Ready?"
"Of course," Natska replies, although she touches Cass' arm for reassurance. Her breeze begins blowing a little faster, and she wrinkles her nose. "Worse than that other one, ugh... I'll try not to breath to deeply."
Cassidy grimaces behind her mask at the scent, tail flicking in agitation as she floats along. "I hate the swamp," she grumbles, keeping close to Natska. "The sooner we solve the issues out here, the better, as far as I'm concerned."
Cara manages to suppress herself from gaging and wonders if there would be a safe way to light a fire. Although, something about this entire set up feels like a trap. She manages to bring up a pleasant, "Yeah, I'm ready. Is it okay if someone brightens up the place though?"
After following close behind the alligators, and making sure to avoid the giant swarms of kriks, of whom her eyes never seem to leave until she's far enough away. With the various wetland creatures passed by and the group relatively unharmed Sara peers into the cave, doing her best to hold back that gag reflex as the smell of rotting foliage reaches her nose. "Bleh.. I"m with you there, Cass. Think the longer we stay, the higher my chance of being sick.." a brief urp of discomfort passing her lips shortly after as if proving that point. "Well.. considering the darkness, I'd rather not go in without a light source.." after pulling a decent sized cloth wrapped torch from her satchel Sara utters a soft "Well.. here goes nothing.." before speaking an even softer prayer to Hephestia in her attempt at safely lighting both it, and protecting her and her group from anything the open flames would most likely agitate.
Iorek audibly breathes out his nose as he stops and gags a little "Man, now is not a good time to have a keen sense of smell" he exhales deeply and shakes it off, muffling another wretch. He looks at all the others and then, looking to the gator he says weakly "as I'll ever be?"
Each of the gators pull out their own torches as well, lighting them silently, before motioning the group forward. "Good, come on then." Into the mouth of the tunnel they go, the damp cave reeking of that unpleasent stench as they press in deeper... Not too far in, they pass the half consumed remains of a male armadillo with a heavy clan badge clutched in his hands, the smallest gator motioning to the corpse as he speaks. "One of the couriers, we're gett--" His words interupted by a loud earsplitting screech filling the tunnel! Seems whatever resident it had, was aware of the intruders! The ground beneath the group begins to shift and disrupt itself, as a larger tongue lashes around the smaller gator's ankle and yanks him right down into the earth! The Two large gators motioning the group forward into the tunnel! "GO! We'll hold them!"
Ears folding at the screech, Natska dodges to the side as the tongue lashes; as it starts to drag the gator down the tunnel, the jaguar breaks into a sprint, determined to reach the creature on the other end of the appendage before the gator does. "Come on!"
Cassidy inclines her head at the gator's words. If they were confident in their chances, she wasn't going to doubt them. She drifts forward, faster now, before finally touching down on the ground as they went further into the cave. "Careful, stay on guard."
Cara cringes as she looks at the gators and frowns, while her ears furl down. "I'm sorry!" At that point, the feline instantly dashes after the jaguar. "Please forgive me!" Her ears hike back up and the feline runs as fast as she possibly can, her legs striding at speeds that anyone who knows her would expect by now. "I really hope we'll be able to save them though."
With both her hands full the screech comes as Sara's own personal hell as she had nothing at all to block the sound with. With a long wincing shudder that had her turning her head with eyes left half-lidded Sara whispered, "Shutupshutupshutup.." as she beared the ear-piercing shriek. As it had finally ended and Sara breathed a short breath of relief she had turned her head to find one of the two gators missing and the group rushing towards the end of the cave, the two felines making the situation quite clear and leaving the lizard-woman rushing down the cave as fast as her feet could take her!
Iorek follow the others along the corridor, remember their objective to go after the queen not the swarm. Instead of running like the others, he decides to try and remain as quiet as possible as he advances, curious on how the enemies can detect his presence. Staring at the ground around his feet, ready to pounce if he sees a tongue come his way, hoping he is quicker.
It seems the swarm is interested in the Gators, the two beings drawing strange sharping looking swords as they begin to cut at emerging tongues while covering the freeswords! Their path is rather simple, as there is only one tunnel, and soon enough they're left on a small ledge that heralds an exit into an even larger dome like room! The Dome itself is far too smooth, and well carved to be natural, and the ledge itself is too sharp and clean before it's three foot drop down... But the true eye catcher of this room, was a twenty foot tall creature, vaguely shaped like a cross between a newt and a frog! It's jaws are massive, and more than large enough to swallow a normal sized being whole, with razor sharp teeth to rip at whatever it's massive barbed tongue cannot shred first!
The Creature turns to the freeswords as they enter, and with another ear splitting shrill faces ready against them! Two beedy eyes trained on them as it readies itself for it's 'snack'... It seems the battle is on!
Cassidy scowls and furrows her brow, slipping back a few steps to position herself behind the others. "Well this will be interesting, certainly." She begins pondering her 'arsenal,' trying to settle on a spell that'll provide effective.
Cara covers her ears from the loud screech and instantly jumps down into the arena. The feline can easily figure out that attacking from the front is a terrible idea. Therefore, she instantly tries to circle around to the back of the creature in the hopes that she might be able to find a blind spot that she can capitalize on the beast.
With the giant creature close by Sara could only find her resolve faltering if only briefly as it utters its deafening shriek, it doesn't take longer than the shriek to end before she regains it with gusto before shouting, "SHUT THE HELL UP!" and throwing the torch at the creature. Along the way however the flames do seem to falter, almost as if the blessing was unwilling to cause any harm outside of defence, and only leaves the once smouldering stick either thunking harmlessly against the creature, or into the water nearby, either most likely ending up with the same result. With the free hand however Sara pulls a small pistol from underneath the cloak, takes aim at the giant creature and pulls the trigger, leaving the pistol discharging a strange white flame, as well as the modified shot and its venemous payload itself.
Iorek quickly decides to break round the room, making to get behind the creature the opposite direction of Cara, all the while sizing up the creature for weak spots. eyes, limbs or anywhere he'd maybe thing there would be blood vessals near the surface. At the very least hoping to put the creature on it's toes by spreading out.
Natska slips to the side as she enters the room, getting enough distance between her and Cassidy that they can cover for eachother; she begins gathering her will and mentally preparing her equations as she eyes the giant toad, quietly cursing at the massive monster and its lightning tongue.
The Giant creature isn't a slouch, Sara's shot finding home against it's scale-like hide, piercing into it some! It doesn't seem phased by the damage though, as a large left claw lashes out at Cara, while it's tongue spews forth in a sweeping whip motion! Just grazing by Cassidy, before slapping into Natska! The Barbed tongue is quick to wrap around the poor woman, and it seems a bad situation to be in!
Cara and Iorek however, manage to find their way into their positions, their opportunities rising! As for Iorek's observations, aside from the eyes there are no easily seen weakspots!
Natska plants her feet as the tongue wraps around her, ready to resist with all her might (and a little cheating, if need be). Not one to take a tongue lashing without response, however, the jaguar gathers up some of her most potent of her new batch of maths, and then unleashes them on the giant creature, letting her maths turn its own body against it and tear it apart.
Cassidy narrows her eyes and focuses her fire magic elsewhere. Not on the creature itself, but on the cavern itself. An explosion focused on the dome above the creature's head, trying to bring the cave down upon it.
Cara grins happily, "Well, it looks like it's time to live up to my family name", and leap directly to the left side of the creature. Just as the feline gets close enough, she begins spinning around with her leg outstretched and foot pointed forward. It looks like the feline is striking the back of the creature multiple times with the same kick.
Her shot having found its mark sends a feeling of elation rippling down her spine. It doesn't seem to last long before she notices a tongue dart out at the side of her vision and hit Natska. Finding herself reaching for the blade though it doesn't seem to last long before Natska speaks those magic words of hers. Figuring she had been in good hands Sara turns her attention back to the toad and rushes it, blade drawn and at the last moment, with the toad in slashing distance, just seems to just jump back and resheathe her weapon. Strange.
Iorek hops around getting the bottle up "Bad idea, bad idea BAD IDEA!" he runs and leaps at the huge beast to climb it, planning to plunge his envenomed dagger in it's eye, then diving off, hoping a roll will cushion the fall.
Natska's spell sizzles at the tongue, causing a stretch of dark decay to appear upon the tongue... Causing the beast to release her with another screech! Cassidy's spell crumbles at the cieling some, causing a few cracks to appear, though the construction here seems far too stable than what beings should be able to manage! The attacks from Sara and Cara both strike true, Sara leaving a wide deep gash near the creatures stomach, while Cara's kicks leave deep marks in it's hide! Iorek manages to get a hold, and a steady climb on up, while the creatures seems still dazed and confused from the dark math!
Natska shifts her stance, a grin spreading along her muzzle as she watches the things reaction. The jaguar regathers her magic, but she holds off from another attack as she catches her breath and watches her opponent.
Cassidy frowns at the, apparently rather sturdy, ceiling before turning her attention elsewhere. As soon as the creature lets out its shriek, she tries to strike it down the gullet with a snap of brilliant lightning let loose from the tip of her finger.
Cara groans for a moment and brings out her staff. "I hope this hurts!" The feline promptly begins a series of horizontal and vertical strikes along the wounds that she made earlier. The feline just can't stop whacking away at the skin. "Yay, paddling!"
With the creature dazed, and opened up wide Sara had capitalized on its weakness and with a shout returns to where she had slashed, this time instead of the small sword she had wielded earlier, a long barreled musket seems to be gripped tight in her hands. With a loud grunt and a muttered curse Sara presses the barrel close to that bleeding wound and pulls the trigger.
Iorek gets to his feet tentatively, making sure to keep his balance as he makes for the creatures eye, plunging his dagger into it 2 handed with a yell.
The Creature shakes it's head visciously, attempting to dislodge Iorek, and while he manages to hold on, his dagger falls short of it's intended target! This beasty is rather tough to kill it seems, as Cassidy's spell smacks just short of it's gullet, and of all the things, seems to be grounded straight into the ground, causing it to just fizzle out... This creature had a surprising amount of resistance for what could be a natural creature! Sara
The Creature shakes it's head visciously, attempting to dislodge Iorek, and while he manages to hold on, his dagger falls short of it's intended target! This beasty is rather tough to kill it seems, as Cassidy's spell smacks just short of it's gullet, and of all the things, seems to be grounded straight into the ground, causing it to just fizzle out... This creature had a surprising amount of resistance for what could be a natural creature! Sara's own shot smacks into the wound due to close range, elliciting another growl from the creature as Cara joins in smacking it from behind!
Soon enough though, a gutteral trio of haunting roars fill the air, as three dark robed skeletons, resembling the alligators from earlier jump right into the fray! Catching air from the ledge, with bone axes in their hands, the smallest and middle sizes one manages to smack at the creatures chest, cleaving a nice wide opening for the freeswords as the bone weapons carve through it easily! The largest of the three hurls his axe right at it's face, nicking it as it lets out a challanging roar to take the creatures attention!
Natska draws a small rod from a pocket in her jumpsuit and flicks her wrist, causing it to blossom into a fiery lash; she circles the toad a little and raises her weapon, then freezes as the skeletons come charging in. She hadn't been quite expecting -that-, but she joins in soon enough, whipping at the toad monster with a controlled tongue of flame.
Cassidy tucks her hands in her pockets and watches quietly for the time being, letting herself recover from the electric display. Seemed like the others were capable of doing the work, anyway. She needn't tire herself out too much over nothing.
Cara instantly takes one look at the skeletons that resemble the alligators and she begins twitching. "No. No. N-no. No!" The fit feline puts her staff away and brings out her venom covered sabre from it's sheath. "No!" She instantly begins slashing at the same wounds from earlier with the rage of an angered person. "DIE!"
With both firearms empty and Sara left needing a breath of air from her earlier exertions, especially the earlier slash that left her winded. With that she turns to find cover, stopping completely shocked as she watches the skeletons rush the group, figuring they had been evil Sara reaches for her sword, damning the weariness.. until finally she notices them them attacking the creature. "Wait.. what?" is all she manages to wonder aloud out before shaking the thought from her mind and ducking behind a rock to begin the slow task of reloading the musket and pistol.
Iorek gets frustrated at himself for missing, driving his claws of one hand into its head for any sort of purchase and trying to stab the eye again with his other hand. "Dammit, this thing isn't going to go down easy huh?" Oblivious so the croc skeletons as he's rather preoccupied
Natska's whip strikes hard into the deep gashes the two gators had made, as Cara's own strikes find those sweet vulnerable spots as well... Even Iorek, having managed to stay on top for so long, finally has his weapons find purchase as they dig into the beast's eye! A shrill ear piercing scream emits from the creature as it's eye is taken, and Iorek forcibly dislodged from it's head!
The Gators seem to waste no time, each taking time between distracting it, and cutting into it with their weapons with precision movements! One of the beasts large claws finds purchase on the largest one though, sending it straight into stone... Only for the gator to rise once more, and charge with fury renewed! Given the beasts sluggish movements, it must be close to it's end... Time for the killing blows!
Natska continues harassing the toad-monster from the flank, her whip of fire flicking at the monster's skin, doing her best to help keep the thing distracted and vulnerable for the other Freeswords to finish it off.
Energy regained, Cassidy steps back up towards the lip of the cavern, looking back towards the large creature. The flame around her gathers up and launches towards the thing in a barrage of fire.
Cara promptly takes her sabre and continues slicing into the beast. The feline constantly twitching throughout the entire stream. It's almost as if she expects to hear something else coming after her. As she finishes her last slice, she leaps up into the air. Once she makes it to the tip of her jump, she swings down her sabre in an attempt to deliver a vertical cut down into the beast in the hopes of causing enough pain for the others to finish it off.
Iorek in a futile attempt to do more damage before falling clear, aims a roundhouse kick at his dagger hilt in the beasts eye to drive it home before landing on his back on the ground
Natska's lashings, and Cassidy's spell send the beast back reeling, as Cara further rips into it with her strikes, just as Iorek manages to drive the dagger in further to the beasts eyes! The Creature letting out a pained cry as the bone weapons rip into it once more, and the creature falls unto it's back... it's body already begining to decay at an accessive rate as it's muscles turn back to much and moss from the swamp! It's skin turning into hardened bark and stone as well... Almost as if it was made up of -the- swamp!
The three skeletal gators gather as their opponent falls, each looking to each other with unspoken words as they hold their axes close and look back at the group.
Cassidy keeps her hands in her pockets, leaning over the edge to look at the gators and the group. "Is that it, then? Are we done here?" She asks, ears flicking under her hat. "Because I am ready to get out of this swamp."
With her weapons finally reloaded Sara utters a fierce battle cry as she rises over the rock she had been hiding behind.. only to find the creature dead and left rotting. With an expression that could be irked, Sara lets the rifle drop to her side before returning it to its earlier hanging spot. "Well.. glad that's over and done with.. what about the small things, they dead too?" she asks to noone particular before looking again to the skeletal gators and shuddering, ".. and that being said.. what happened to you guys..?" her crimson gaze studying the creatures, trying to figure out whether they had been friends still, or some sort of foe.
Iorek lies on the ground, winded struggles to catch his breath "...Please tell me it's over..." he sighs, staring at the cave cieling, spread eagled on the cave floor, not quite got the composure to stand yet.
The Gators don't speak to Sara, just staring at her with empty eye sockets, before they pull their hoods back up, and make their way silently back to the ledge... It seems the gators weren't going to fight them, and were just as happy to leave! Well, take those victories where they come. Aside from the departure of their skeletal assistants, it seems the group has won the day... Only left to pick up, and make their way on out.
Cassidy turns about and withdraws a hand from her pocket, adjusting her hat as she starts her way out of the cave. The job was done, and nobody was seriously injured. At least, not that she noticed.
Natska makes a small noise and nods her head at Cassidy. She waits for a short bit, givingthe gators time to get away, then follows after them and back towards the swamp entrance.
Iorek rolls onto his stomach and notices the slime he's now in with a groan, before pulling himself up to his feet and hobbling out the cave "Well that was.... something."
"Well.. spirits above.. that was interesting." the lizard-woman had mumbled as she made her way over to the decayed toad to prod the remains with her sword just for good measure. "Huh.. nothing but roots afterwards.. guess the work of the cultists?" she asks herself before shrugging and settling the hood of her cloak back over her head and rushing back out, in an attempt at catching up to Natska and Cassidy, each getting the usual question of, "You doing alright? I seen the tongue hit you.. will you be okay?"
