[RftR] Play Thread

IC:Shadow prowls quietly in the shadows, trying to stay downwind of the creatures.

OOC: If he sees one of them, he will attempt to read their mind to assess their threat and possible edibility.

IC:

Beta Three casts a glance, a milky flash of membrane over a charcoal lens. "kl-Ii...mm, on it..."

The sand sniper bore his slow words with chagrin, turning to the wet blanket of hazy darkness closing around him. Wary from the sleepless night in TinkerTown, the lone sniper heeds his blade brother's command, tuning the countless cilia in his inner ear to the remotely audible thrum of the night; tunnel-accustomed irises to the deceptive calm; and his antennae to the subtle tastes on the damp wind. Beta Three sinks into his heritage's sense for surprise and seeks out a burrow to bunker for the night, and the possibility of food to sate his empty carapace.

Too many woes on the wind to be restless with the morning light..

IC:

Gwr Gwir gives no expression in return for his companion's instant obedience. Instead he simply finds a suitable place to lay his head after Brother had found an adequate area to make camp. Gripping his blade tightly by his side, he relaxes his heartbeat and body in a sort of half-sleep as he has been forced to do over the years, but heightens his senses to his surroundings, trusting that his blade will do the work for him should anything come within its deadly range.

A small hollow, nicely shielded by a scraggly copse of trees is soon found, and Gwr settles down for rest; blade at his side, while Brother takes first watch. Slinking through the slowly deepening gloom, the sand sniper soon catches the scent of something warm blooded - and large, slinking through the hillocks and stunted trees to the south and east. The thing - whatever it is - is trying to be quiet and from its sounds, it seems to be approaching Gwr and the rudimentary campsite.

Gwr slips comfortably into his "half-sleep", his breathing becoming slow and steady.

(BEN ONLY: Click here)

(Light ONLY: Click here)

OOC: Everyone needs to roll Initiative and place it in the Admin Thread.

IC:

Gwr continues to drift in and out of reality, unaware thus far of any potential foes.

Gwr rests comfortably, dozing in and out of dream-land. His dreams are filled with battles, knights, horses, victory and honor: emblems of a life lost. The air grows still and even more muggy, despite all confines of logic and reason. Heedless of the heat, Gwr continues to doze, until his companion makes its attack...

The sand sniper's form moves quickly and quietly, burrowing into the earth as easily as a human might dive into a pond. The creature's native skill at burrowing is so tremendous that once it vanishes beneath the loam, not the barest hint of its activity can be seen. Brother races beneath the ground, hoping to emerge beneath its intended target and then bursts out of the ground, bringing its impressive scythe-like claws to bear.

(BENRAVEN ONLY: Click here)

Gwr, you are jostled out of sleep as you hear the thudding sound of something heavy hitting the ground, followed by the groaning and cracking of several trees, and then something that can only be described as a hissing hoot vocalization...

(BEN ONLY: Click here)

(LK ONLY: Click here)

Beta Three takes in the closing threat with a unblinking gaze and swivels around on his many hind legs. Calmly and quietly, the creature crawls around its commander, and slides seamlessly under the earth on the opposite side of the threat. The sand sniper bends acutely underneath the earth, now in its home element, and surges forth on his way to intercept the oncoming presence. He subdues his gnawing hunger, hoping that he has before him a mindless (or mostly mindless) mammal to satisfy his empty stomach.

'Protocol first,' or so the Blade Brothers say...

The emersion from the soil was the refreshing peel that Brother felt fish must enjoy as they emerge to snag low flying prey. His expert blades slice short and crisply into nothingness and Beta Three realizes his mistaken course, quickly veering back into the soil from whence he came.

OOC: You're no where's near Gwr. You're to the south and east, remember? ;) Those directions are in there for a reason. Here's a basic map:

====================
===G================
====================
====================
====S===============
====================
============BG======
==========B=========
====================
====================

Key:
Each = is 10'
G - Gwr
B - Brother
S - Shadow (but that's OOC for now)
BG - Bad Guy

Hope this helps!

OOC: It was when he first went into the loam; we posted simultaneously, which caused the confusion (can edit that part out). I was waiting for LigHt to post before I laid out Brother's movements; he wouldn't leave his CO hanging without a clue.

Thanks for the reference point! Brother's quite a bit off mark in many ways than one.

IC:

Gwr is drug away from his much needed rest by what sounded like exploding trees, and finds himself in a dark humid forest with a mosquito bite in every crevice they could find. Finally realizing the possibility of danger, he leaps to his feet with sword in hand while discerning the source of the disturbance. Afterwards, he braces himself for impact or foe, sword extended lest he run into a tree, and begins marching towards the source. All the while thinking to himself, "What has that insect gotten himself into now?"

IC:

Shadow turns in the direction of the new sound, surprised. He lets out a furious roar of challenge and warning, meant to frighten whatever is attempting to sneak up on him.

IC: The Klik attempts to maneuver into firing range of its original quarry, taking a shot if possible this round.

OOC: Medium is the Range listed on the power I'll use if given the chance.

Battlemap:

====================
====================
====================
=====G==============
====S===============
====================
============BG======
==========B=========
====================
===================K

Key:
Each = is 10'
G - Gwr
B - Brother
S - Shadow (but that's OOC for now)
BG - Bad Guy
K - Klik

(GWR and SHADOW ONLY: Click here)

(BROTHER and BG ONLY: Click here)

The creature in the tree begins howl-hooting mournfully, occasionally shaking the trees around it. Its ear-splitting cries race up and down the scale from sadly mournful to seemingly insane...

A Klik tripod, taller (and wider) than a small hut, seems dismayed. It gleams in the faint light, strange blue pulses darting along its polished frame. The sides and back of the massive metal creature bristle with an impressive array of pointed implements, giving it the appearance of a clockwork hedgehog, albeit one that's five meters tall. Its shiny domed head nods forward as it mutters to itself, "Rotten luck, wot?" but it squares it shoulders and soon another copper-coloured cannister shifts into position as it readies its next shot.

IC: Shadow makes a low, growling purr, his scorpion tail flicking in agitation. He begins to prowl, hoping to move into the underbrush and put more room between him and the creature. Unbeknownst to the knight, Shadow's eyes have changed color, where once a faint yellow light emanated from them, now a glowing dark green poured from them...

OOC: Going to cast Phantasm 2 against Gwr. Will post this in Admin Thread.

A====================
B====================
C====================
D=====G==============
E====S===============
F===========B========
G============BG======
H====================
I====================
J===================K
    123456789!@#$%^&*()

Key:
Each = is 10'
G - Gwr
B - Brother
S - Shadow (but that's OOC for now)
BG - Bad Guy
K - Klik

NOTE: I've added "X" and "Y" coordinates to make moving easier. So, if you want to move next to the Klik, for instance, then that space would be J-) - let me know if there are any questions.

Gwr trains his eyes on the fleeting image of the wyvern and lets his training take over, thrusting with his blade. The blade hits home and elicits a growl from the dragon, but then his attention is drawn to the tremendous sound of splintering wood and what seems like a mini-explosion to his left. A tree groans in protest and falls...

Gwr glances back to his opponent only to find that it has transformed! The wyvern has grown into a full-grown dragon! It is large, green, with huge wings. It's jaws snap and snarl; smoke and fire snort out of its nose, it's wings flap and tail twists and curls.

Brother slips to the north, behind the strange reptilian creature. The sand sniper sees the tree fall and the creature make a pitiful leap...

At that moment, the massive Klik to the south fires another copper container towards the monstrosity. The precisely timed attack strikes home, slamming into the large, bulbous pustules on the creatures back! The bile-filled nodules explode, splattering the creature with a thick, viscous liquid that hisses and bubbles like acid. The creature wails pitifully in pain and despair and lies on the ground, twitching...

IC: Gwr is at first startled by the sudden appearance of the dragon, but then lets his instincts and reason take over and sees no sense in fighting a huge green monster all by himself. So he decides to recruit his Brother and let him know about the stalking intruder and flame-breathing wyvern that he was forced to encounter alone, and complain to the bug of his incompetence of keeping first watch, leaving him to die under a tree half-asleep! Gwr runs to his left where he heard the sound of cracking trees, keeping half an eye on that jaw-snapping lizard as he flees.

IC: With a cry of "Tally-ho!" the tripod moves towards the stricken creature, stopping about ten feet away. This time, a mesh net shoots out, hoping to trap the creature.

OOC: It will be interesting to see how this one plays out, LK. :)

OOC: Lovin' the lines that are coming out of his mouth, too. A British Steampunk klik is the bomb (or British-esque anyway ;)

A====================
B====================
C====================
D====================
E====D===============
F=============GB=====
G============BG======
H==============K=====
I====================
J====================
    123456789!@#$%^&*()

Key:
Each = is 10'
G - Gwr
B - Brother
D - Dragon
BG - Bad Guy
K - Klik

Gwr races away from the dragon as its roars shake the leaves from the trees. Luckily, the light from its fires allow him to see a bit more of what lies ahead, mostly hidden in the gloaming light. A large semi-reptilian creature that seems an odd mix between an ape and a lizard lies on the ground, green ichor spurting from its back. The foul-smelling odor reminds Gwr of a gangrenous wound and hisses and pops like acid. When he is half-a-dozen footsteps away, suddenly Brother bursts from the ground, his massive scythe-like claws bursting through the creature's armored hide. The beast makes a pitiful attempt to strike back with a massively clawed palm, but is too busy writhing in pain and (what can only be described as) whimpering and wailing.

Suddenly, a cry of "Tally-ho!" splits the darkness and a massive tripod, its form limned in wavering electricity, moves towards the stricken creature, stopping about ten feet away. Something whirs within the things chassis and an whoosh of steam issues forth noisily, followed by a mesh net. The heavy metal net shoots out and easily covers the mewling creature.

OOC: We're basically out of combat at this point, unless you all want to fight one another. The creature's not dead yet, but it's in no condition to fight...

Gwr is quite satisfied at the sight of a writhing foe, and laughs to Brother, "Please! Devour that wretched thing! If not for food at least to do away with that rotting stench! And by the way, I saw a dragon scorpion a little ways back, and when I stabbed the beast it turned into huge fire-breathing demon! But it just stood there displaying its power as I came to find you so that danger seems to be over." Gwr then sees the over-excited three-legged robot, and doesn't find him to be a threat either. "And he seems to be helping us out", Gwr thinks to himself, so Gwr contents himself with its presence for now.

Brother flicks through the soil and the bundle of writhing joy (for the sand sniper, anyway) slithers grudgingly into the earth, bestowing silence once again to the fractured stand of trees. The black form returns, though not with any signs of eating, and turns an intensely silent stare at the electrified tripod. A memory is threatening to boil the black blood in his veins, as a soft chant buzzes mentally, along with the phantom touch of his blood brothers' antennae on his own, recounted from what seems eons ago. Kil'klik....Kil'klik...Kil'klik...Kill...

Stomaching the thought, the long sniper asks aloud, "kl-who...ar-re you...andd whatt...is your direkktive..?"

Gwr commands Brother, "We could strike him down anytime! He just netted the beast in our aid, so let him be! He might be useful..."

The copper colossus seems taken aback as its prize disappears under the surface. The Klik's green eyes click open and shut a few times. When the insect-like creature is told to devour the fallen monster, the tripod is struck speechless at the inconsideration. Only once the insect-like creature returns, it calls out in an oddly accented voice, "I say! I wasn't quite finished with that creature yet, sorry. Oh, this will not do."

As the others approach and address it, the Klik answers, "My directive, you clicking carapace, is to catalog strange and unusual creatures. I demand you return that specimen forthwith!" as it stamps one foot for emphasis.

OOC: I'm loving your character, LK!!

IC: The sand sniper clicks its mandibles in agitation at such a ghastly order. More memories boil to the surface of nets and sailors, chambers and scientists...soldiers...and the chanting increases to a dull bass note pulse in his head.

Blinking its milky eye coverings, the sand sniper arches in warning, "kl-Thisss...will not-t...do..." And he slithers into the ground for a few moments.

A net with a acid-burnt shell surfaces noiselessly at the tripod's feet, only the blood pooled in the husk evidences the abnormality it once contained, before the sand sniper appears swiftly again at its guarded distance. "kl-Inspect...that..." The silence between its antennae almost crackles with menace, its awkward speech dripping with malice--a trait borrowed over time from humans.

The klik ventures forward carefully, peeling away the net as it mutters to itself, "Very strange, the sheer amount of desiccation. It wasn't below ground that long..." Once the net is removed and folded away, the klik stands for a moment, just staring silently.

In a swift motion of practiced presicion, one hand reaches into a compartment and produces a ball bearing about the size of an apple. This is placed into another compartment that begins to spark and hiss as hot bits of metal shoot out. In less than a minute, the tripod is holding in its hand a perfect metal replica of the corpse on the ground. Proudly, it intones, "See, that wasn't so hard, now was it?"

Brother hunkers for a moment, readied to move from the unpredictable klik's path when he inserts a possible projectile into its chassis. Then the sand sniper's gaze narrows at the mysterious craftsmanship before it, not ready to trust even that seemingly harmless rendering of its meal to be nothing more than the clockwork destruction working hard to remove his brood a world away. "kl- Hard..." It releases its gaze from the grotesque statuette, "has..nothing to do...with it..."

"What-t...again...wasss your...nammme, tri-podt?"

IC: Gwr stands idle, simply watching Brother and the robot interact, at peace now that simply conversation flows. Then he walks up to the pointless hunk of metal and gives it a good test kick, wondering if a decent knife could be made of it. Turning to Brother, he declares, "I guess he's done observing... and obviously he doesn't have a nose so rid this thing from our presence." Afterwards, he turns to the robot wondering himself what the thing is called.

OOC: Feel free to keep talking/whatever - this is just a flavor post. ;)

As the adrenaline of battle fades, the sweltering heat sets back in (as do the mosquitoes). The rhythmic clinking of the tripod rolling up its metallic net makes Gwr's eyelids feel a bit heavy and the oppressive heat make the creature's smell all the worse. As the tripod inspects the creature's form (in order to create the replica), something strange is noted. There seems to be some sort of encoded data on the creature's carapace, approximately where the thing's neck once was...

OOC: LK, if you want to investigate further, I'll need a Smart/Linguist/Awareness check.