Dave casts enlarge person and soars to the air with another ice filled roar "come out and face me you bastard, "
Despite David's overly showy attempt to draw an attack, none comes. Perhaps the assassin is gone, or maybe is too professional to be distracted by such an obvious tactic.
The young man shakes his head "Sorry miss, but I'm more of a fighter than a diplomat. I'm actually not even a native of this planet. I came here in search of somebody else, and happened across this place and heard a commotion inside, prompting me to investigate"
Anahita gives the young man a curt nod of recognition, and then turns back to her peers, looking around at the people assembled while her illumination spills around the chamber.
She seems content, at this point, to simply wait and watch.
"Well, you heard him," she said, voice shaking just a little. "Are you guys ready to play or what?" It had been a long, emotional day, and the last thing she needed was to be worrying about some dragon-hunting psycho taking pot-shots at her husband....but there also wasn't anything she could do about it. And James could be so prickly when his pride was hurt. Which it would be if she didn't give him the space to prove that he wasn't so easy to take out. Gods, this sucked.
::So help me, James Tyrellius Sunwake, if you get killed out there I will hunt you down in whatever afterlife you end up in and bring you back just so I can kill you again!::
::So noted,:: he said dryly as he rummaged through a trunk pulling out an assortment of magic items and hastily putting them on.
Midori looks as though she's just gotten an idea and looks at the group with something of a sly smile. "I know what to do!" she says excitedly. "Mina-san, I'll see you soon!" she says, breaking away from Sara'rin's tugging and rushing off towards the forest, quickly vanishing from sight unless followed.
"I'll figure out how to find you when I get back, or leave a message..." he says to Asha before looking back to Vai.
"So, if you want me to get us there, I'm going to need some spa ail coordinates relative to our placement, along with distance in terms of light speed, assuming that's a constant in this universe, and a reference system to facilitate extracting of end point-- but, I really just hope you can get us there yourself."
It might be obvious there for a moment he is rather brilliant, once push comes to shove, and maybe the 'bad boy' cussing guy is just a facade, or masque.
He does look ready to go though, having not simply disappeared on Asha without word.
Vai looks momentarily shocked to hear such technical talk from someone who she had assumed was something of a slacker. She blinks once or twice at him after he's done talking, but nods to him. "Yes, Speed of Light is a constant, but if we used that to try to get there, it would take us like 20 years and a few weeks on top of that. These things," she says, handing one of the devices she was holding to him. "Are called Starcasters. Um... Jump Drives might be another name for them. There are bigger versions that ships use, but these are personal use. Basically they teleport you to where your going, but have to be adjusted to compensate for gravity wells and planetary orbits, so don't mess with the settings. All you have to do is press the green button there and wait a couple seconds while it spools up." The long-winded explaination given by Vai is accompanied by a mock demonstration with the spare Starcaster she was holding. Tryko'Sam will note that she's very careful not to touch him, and recoils if it looks like he is about to make contact with her.
Here Vai stops for a moment to glance at Asha. Recognizing her as a Firebird only by her snack of choice, Vai purses her lips slightly, but nods. "How about this Asha, when we get back and I have some free time, I'll introduce you to some of my sisters. They're firebirds too."
Once that matter is settled, she'll look back to Tryko'Sam, and simply nod. "If you're ready, just push the button. I can follow you with my own power."
Tyrrin grimaces, now that the intended target was safely away, she drops the illusion completely. The illusory Jiminy, who had apparently died from the shot, also vanishes. Tyrrin glances at Dennis the minotaur, before closing to stand next to him, casting a lower power protective spell on herself.
"If you can cover me for a minute or two, I'm going to try to use my Seer powers to divine about our attacker. My powers are more focused under the Stars." she says quietly to Dennis, remaining alert.
About twenty minutes after Rena had left Bradley's on the rooftop, there's a soft padding of bare feet coming up the stairs, and the door quietly opens and closes... Rena casts about for Bradley, seeing if he was still up and about, and if not, she'll make for his cot in the aviary proper, her bare feet making little noise against the stone rooftop...
If Bradley is awake enough to see her in the meager light, she seems to be almost identical to her previous humanoid form - the angelic wings which appear to be wrapped around herself at the moment, the long, full and flowing blue-white hair, the lovely emerald green eyes set amongst her slightly darkened skin and radiant face.
Of course, what Bradley probably would focus on first - though she's currently covering her modesty with the wings, she does appear to be completely stark naked, as far as he can tell.
::So noted,:: he said dryly as he rummaged through a trunk pulling out an assortment of magic items and hastily putting them on.
::And then it's my turn. Trust me, I still get plenty bored...::
Nodding, he smirks and kind of chuckles at the distance she gave, pressing the button.
"Won't be the first time I get wrecked to miscalculated jumps... See you there, Vai. Asha, see you when done. Enjoy, be safe."
He eyes the starcaster in his hand, as if willing it to do something odd, before it finishes the cycle and teleports him.
Midori looks as though she's just gotten an idea and looks at the group with something of a sly smile. "I know what to do!" she says excitedly. "Mina-san, I'll see you soon!" she says, breaking away from Sara'rin's tugging and rushing off towards the forest, quickly vanishing from sight unless followed.
Ephebe smiled as she watched the children run off to play. It was good to see them enjoying themselves. Children with powers so rarely got a chance to just be kids.
Tyrrin grimaces, now that the intended target was safely away, she drops the illusion completely. The illusory Jiminy, who had apparently died from the shot, also vanishes. Tyrrin glances at Dennis the minotaur, before closing to stand next to him, casting a lower power protective spell on herself.
"If you can cover me for a minute or two, I'm going to try to use my Seer powers to divine about our attacker. My powers are more focused under the Stars." she says quietly to Dennis, remaining alert.
There had been screams of panic when Jiminy was shot and Dennis had been doing his best to get people inside nearby buildings in an orderly fashion.
"Keep moving, no pushing, everyone get under cover," he bellowed, before turning to Tyrrin. He nodded.
"Stay close. I'll do the best I can. To be frank, I'm an accountant not a fighter," the minotaur rumbled.
About twenty minutes after Rena had left Bradley's on the rooftop, there's a soft padding of bare feet coming up the stairs, and the door quietly opens and closes... Rena casts about for Bradley, seeing if he was still up and about, and if not, she'll make for his cot in the aviary proper, her bare feet making little noise against the stone rooftop...
If Bradley is awake enough to see her in the meager light, she seems to be almost identical to her previous humanoid form - the angelic wings which appear to be wrapped around herself at the moment, the long, full and flowing blue-white hair, the lovely emerald green eyes set amongst her slightly darkened skin and radiant face.
Of course, what Bradley probably would focus on first - though she's currently covering her modesty with the wings, she does appear to be completely stark naked, as far as he can tell.
Bradley had been laying on his cot, relaxing and listening to the sounds of the pigeons as they settled in for the night. He sat up abruptly when Rena enters the aviary and his eyes went wide. A small trickle of blood started dripping from his nose.
"R-rena!" he stammered, blushing.
::So noted,:: he said dryly as he rummaged through a trunk pulling out an assortment of magic items and hastily putting them on.::And then it's my turn. Trust me, I still get plenty bored...::
::Alright, alright...I get it. I'll be careful....you know, there's a reason why I'm currently loading up with enough protective enchantments for a freaking army. But Kuros is in bad shape. I can't abandon them just because some nutjob is taking potshots at me.::
Asha wrinkled her nose when Vai suggested introducing her to her firebird sisters....and then tilted her head as it caught up to her that Vai wasn't a firebird...well....guess they weren't traditionalists then. Might not be so bad being introduced...
She shrugged after the other two disappeared and took her snack with her as she went in search of new people to meet.
Bradley had been laying on his cot, relaxing and listening to the sounds of the pigeons as they settled in for the night. He sat up abruptly when Rena enters the aviary and his eyes went wide. A small trickle of blood started dripping from his nose.
"R-rena!" he stammered, blushing.
"I'm back." she says, silken-voiced and smiling radiantly before she notices the blood once again trickling from Bradley's nose. "Oh..." she exclaims, unfolding her wings from around herself as she closed the distance - and oh angels, she was perfect. "You're bleeding again Bradley." she says worriedly, yet again unaware of the 'distress' she was causing. "You should've had that other potion."
Ephebe smiled as she watched the children run off to play. It was good to see them enjoying themselves. Children with powers so rarely got a chance to just be kids.
A few minutes after the children had all left, Ephebe's senses pick up a miniscule rustling in the undergrowth nearby. Probably just a squirrel or other rodent moving through the brush... no wait... there it was again. A twig snapping... too heavy to be a rodent then... Someone might be trying to sneak up on her.
"I'm back." she says, silken-voiced and smiling radiantly before she notices the blood once again trickling from Bradley's nose. "Oh..." she exclaims, unfolding her wings from around herself as she closed the distance - and oh angels, she was perfect. "You're bleeding again Bradley." she says worriedly, yet again unaware of the 'distress' she was causing. "You should've had that other potion."
Bradley tried to speak, but he didn't seem to be able to put words together at the moment. All that came out was a strangled series of nonsense words. He couldn't seem to think about anything other than the very beautiful and very naked girl standing in front of him. He had no idea what he was supposed to do about it, but he couldn't look away either.
Ephebe smiled as she watched the children run off to play. It was good to see them enjoying themselves. Children with powers so rarely got a chance to just be kids.A few minutes after the children had all left, Ephebe's senses pick up a miniscule rustling in the undergrowth nearby. Probably just a squirrel or other rodent moving through the brush... no wait... there it was again. A twig snapping... too heavy to be a rodent then... Someone might be trying to sneak up on her.
Ephebe snapped her fingers and an aschen appeared in front of her.
::Investigate, but do no harm,:: she told it firmly and the tiny demon scampered off to investigate the noise.
Lewis remains semiconscious in his twisted position next to Ephebe.
Despite David's overly showy attempt to draw an attack, none comes. Perhaps the assassin is gone, or maybe is too professional to be distracted by such an obvious tactic.
Dave growls. Ok fine, he thinks, 'least he's not attacking anybody else he looks over to where James was shot and plots the cone to determine a point to narrow down where the shot came from
Lim-Môr does a short wave to Asha as her gaze passes over him and Reviarti in the cafe
Grim runs off with his scythe held high above his head. Soon in the distance several medium sized trees can be seen falling over.
Lim-Môr does a short wave to Asha as her gaze passes over him and Reviarti in the cafe
Asha walks over to the strange pair.
"Hello," she says cheerfully. "My name is Asha. Can I sit with you while I eat my snack?"
Ephebe snapped her fingers and an aschen appeared in front of her.
::Investigate, but do no harm,:: she told it firmly and the tiny demon scampered off to investigate the noise.
After a moment or two, there's a surprised noise in a voice Ephebe's recognizes. "Eep!" comes the sound of a melodious voice, and Midori is seen bursting out of the brush at a dead run, making for her weapon pouch resting on the ground. "Blackscales-sensei, there's some kind of demon!" she shouts as she's running...
Lang heads off with Sara. her young age means he feels obligated to look after her. wspecially if she finds the nests where the honey is harvested during the summer months.
He leads her down the trail to the small village, which is really not much more than a few houses and a very small prayer shrine.
some of the people know Lang as he passes through younger ones wave with excitement, while the older people cling to the older ways with a respectful bow.
They reach a small wooded area this part of the woods is home to a very beautiful type of moth. thier worms produce a fine silk strand that can be used to make cloth but when they become a moth thier wings glow blue in the night.
Bradley tried to speak, but he didn't seem to be able to put words together at the moment. All that came out was a strangled series of nonsense words. He couldn't seem to think about anything other than the very beautiful and very naked girl standing in front of him. He had no idea what he was supposed to do about it, but he couldn't look away either.
Finally, Rena makes the connection, considering Bradley's staring. "Oh!" she exclaims again, sounding decidedly more flustered than the first time, and... could that be a touch of colour on her cheeks? After a moment longer, Rena once again closes her wings around her, hiding her nakedness somewhat."Uh
.. Sorry. I forgot about clothes." she says a little guiltily. "Did you like what you saw though?"
After a moment or two, there's a surprised noise in a voice Ephebe's recognizes. "Eep!" comes the sound of a melodious voice, and Midori is seen bursting out of the brush at a dead run, making for her weapon pouch resting on the ground. "Blackscales-sensei, there's some kind of demon!" she shouts as she's running...
Ephebe snapped her fingers and an aschen appeared in front of her.
::Investigate, but do no harm,:: she told it firmly and the tiny demon scampered off to investigate the noise.
Ephebe laughed. "It's alright, Midori. It won't hurt you. It belongs to me. All of the aschen do. Unless a miracle happens and they actually work off their contract," she added dryly.
Finally, Rena makes the connection, considering Bradley's staring. "Oh!" she exclaims again, sounding decidedly more flustered than the first time, and... could that be a touch of colour on her cheeks? After a moment longer, Rena once again closes her wings around her, hiding her nakedness somewhat."Uh
.. Sorry. I forgot about clothes." she says a little guiltily. "Did you like what you saw though?"
Bradley nodded emphatically, blushing, not trusting himself to try and speak. He'd made enough of an idiot of himself already.
::We can be there in an instant if you need it, little brother.:: Taron replies. ::You know me, always making portals and stuff.::
A few moments after the button is pressed, appearing in the chamber far off world, along with the villagers and other students. Tryko'Sam appears right about where Vai disappeared.
He takes a few moments to peer around, squinting in the dark and hoping to spot Vai, the one who'd asked for his help.
"So, hey... Someone call for a taxi?" He smiles charmingly at whoever is standing around of the students or villagers, a slight frown upon seeing corpses and signs of graphic combat when his eyes adjust to the illumination there.
----
Anahita's gaze turns to peer at the arrival of Tryko'Sam, and she seems to focus on the young man intently, not realizing her scrutiny.
There is a burst of light that is dazzlingly brilliant in the gloom of cavern to announce Vai's arrival a few moments after Tryko'Sam had himself arrived.
"Oh crap, sorry guys. Didn't mean to leave you in the dark like that." She says almost immediately, and the light level in the room gradually increases to the level of a comfortably lit room, but oddly, there doesn't appear to be any one source.
It's now clear to Tryko'Sam that this group of teenagers definitely did battle in this room - the bodies of horribly disfigured creatures lay around, and there is blood on most of the teenagers here. There is also, apparently caged (though the cage door is now open), a jumble of humanoids who are mostly unconcious, with a small few who appear to be stirring very slightly - small grunts or moans here and there.
"Oh..." Vai says, seeing that Jan has been freed from the machine, nods solemnly. "Thanks guys." she says to those standing around the machine itself.
"Last thing we need to do... Tryko'Sam, there's a village out of this cave and about two miles in..." she looks around, realizing that she's lost her bearings a bit from being underground. "Um... which direction was it again? What do you need to make the portal? Does a description work, like with teleportation magic?"
Bradley nodded emphatically, blushing, not trusting himself to try and speak. He'd made enough of an idiot of himself already.
She smiles at that, actually fully blushing that time. She's deinitely not quite as touchy-feely as she was when she was under the demon's influence, especially since her arms are trapped by the wings hiding her modesty, but she does brush her wing tips against him slightly as she moves a little closer. "Um.. I want to say sorry for before, I was being really selfish about your reaction to how I looked, when you were already hurting. You already take on so much of the pain and suffering of othersa, you don't need me adding to it."
Ephebe laughed. "It's alright, Midori. It won't hurt you. It belongs to me. All of the aschen do. Unless a miracle happens and they actually work off their contract," she added dryly.
"Ano..." she glanced back at where the demon had been, blushing furiously but keeping her head up high. Contracts at least, she understood. Either way, she continues walking on towards her weapons pouch and refastens it, trying to maintain some of her dignity, but probably just further damaging it. "I understand, Blackscales-sensei." she says a moment after her pouch is securly re-attached.
After that's done, she looks back at her sensei with a small smile, trying to forget the embaraassment. "Ano... Blackscales-sensei, I was going to ask, since you're judging the things we bring back, what would you find interesting?"
There is a burst of light that is dazzlingly brilliant in the gloom of cavern to announce Vai's arrival a few moments after Tryko'Sam had himself arrived.
"Oh crap, sorry guys. Didn't mean to leave you in the dark like that." She says almost immediately, and the light level in the room gradually increases to the level of a comfortably lit room, but oddly, there doesn't appear to be any one source.
It's now clear to Tryko'Sam that this group of teenagers definitely did battle in this room - the bodies of horribly disfigured creatures lay around, and there is blood on most of the teenagers here. There is also, apparently caged (though the cage door is now open), a jumble of humanoids who are mostly unconcious, with a small few who appear to be stirring very slightly - small grunts or moans here and there.
"Oh..." Vai says, seeing that Jan has been freed from the machine, nods solemnly. "Thanks guys." she says to those standing around the machine itself.
"Last thing we need to do... Tryko'Sam, there's a village out of this cave and about two miles in..." she looks around, realizing that she's lost her bearings a bit from being underground. "Um... which direction was it again? What do you need to make the portal? Does a description work, like with teleportation magic?"
"Heading and distance, babe. Just give me the heading and distance-- description of what I will see might help, or a major landmark. I eyeball it, this isn't magic. Could be called that-- sure wouldn't mind being called magical, but..."
He has mixed expressions on his face as he looks around, especially at the dead things, then to the villagers, but mostly, he's cool under pressure and not showing any signs of illness at the gore.
-----
Once Vai returns and adds her illumination back to the dancing light illuminated chambers, the three winking flames without heat fade away as Anahita stops her spell.
She spends a good time more, actually walking closer towards Tryko'Sam, as if distance might help the examination with her intense gaze.
He may have spotted her, but doesn't let up, keeping focus on Vai and helping the people. A wave is given if someone (other than Anahita), greets him or makes eye contact.
-----
"Had I know you'd thrown a party-- I might have come with. What happened here? or better I don't know?" Tryko'Sam seems curious, not asking anyone specifically.
He has the charisma of a heroic figure, and certainly demonstrated confidence as well, dressed as he is in his leathers and such.
"Sure. We met earlier. Kinda. When we nabbed your friend out of that forest place."
He tilts his head to one side.
"I still can't believe we wasted a spell on that thing just for the others to kill it again. Even if it was one of Gian's."
"We couldn't just let it die. That wouldn't be fair. It's not their fault they're primitive."
"They were content with killing that guy. Why couldn't we show them what it's like?"
"Shut up! Gods, I can't talk for five minutes... anyways... sorry. I'm Lim-Môr. Nero. Gian, so nice to meet you."
He assumes Reviarti will want to introduce herself.
Bradley nodded emphatically, blushing, not trusting himself to try and speak. He'd made enough of an idiot of himself already.She smiles at that, actually fully blushing that time. She's deinitely not quite as touchy-feely as she was when she was under the demon's influence, especially since her arms are trapped by the wings hiding her modesty, but she does brush her wing tips against him slightly as she moves a little closer. "Um.. I want to say sorry for before, I was being really selfish about your reaction to how I looked, when you were already hurting. You already take on so much of the pain and suffering of othersa, you don't need me adding to it."
He shivered when her wings touched him and blushed a little harder. He had to look away for a moment so he could remember how to talk.
"It's okay, Rena. You had every right to be upset with me. I hurt your feelings. I'm sorry. I know I wasn't at my best, but that's no excuse. I was the one being selfish."
Ephebe laughed. "It's alright, Midori. It won't hurt you. It belongs to me. All of the aschen do. Unless a miracle happens and they actually work off their contract," she added dryly."Ano..." she glanced back at where the demon had been, blushing furiously but keeping her head up high. Contracts at least, she understood. Either way, she continues walking on towards her weapons pouch and refastens it, trying to maintain some of her dignity, but probably just further damaging it. "I understand, Blackscales-sensei." she says a moment after her pouch is securly re-attached.
After that's done, she looks back at her sensei with a small smile, trying to forget the embaraassment. "Ano... Blackscales-sensei, I was going to ask, since you're judging the things we bring back, what would you find interesting?"
Ephebe laughed. "Smart girl. I should probably scold you about cheating, but as I recall from listening to the rules, no one bothered to say you couldn't ask me how I was going to judge what was interesting. Strategy is important in life. Hmmm....I think I would find something unique to this area the most interesting. Whether it's a type of stone or an animal or a plant, that doesn't matter as long as it's only common here."
"Sure. We met earlier. Kinda. When we nabbed your friend out of that forest place."
He tilts his head to one side.
"I still can't believe we wasted a spell on that thing just for the others to kill it again. Even if it was one of Gian's."
"We couldn't just let it die. That wouldn't be fair. It's not their fault they're primitive."
"They were content with killing that guy. Why couldn't we show them what it's like?"
"Shut up! Gods, I can't talk for five minutes... anyways... sorry. I'm Lim-Môr. Nero. Gian, so nice to meet you."
He assumes Reviarti will want to introduce herself.
"Oh! That's where I remember you from! I was trying to place it, but I couldn't figure it out," she said with a smile. "Although I don't think we were properly introduced then. Or if we were I forgot. It was a rather stressful afternoon. Pleased to meet you Lim-Mor Nero Gian... is it rude for me to ask why you talk in three voices?"
"Hmm? Ah, I'm riviarti. I'm the one who found your friend, he's the one who teleported him."
riviarti looks up from her food! directly at asha. 4 of her eyes scrutinize her quickly, then her eye stalks return to looking elsewhere.
He uses air quotes "for science."
"Our parents are wackjobs."
"They aren't wackjobs. Just misguided..."
"Bla bla best in everyone bla. They called us Subject 1 until we were 29."
"We're still here because of them. Try to be at least /a little/ grateful...."
He looks towards his angelic half and sticks his tongue out.
He does the blinking of the eyes you may notice when he switches back to the medium voice and stuffs a roll in his mouth to try and keep himself from talking more.
Upon seeing the illusion fall, and his target fade away, the sniper picks up a new target, and lets a pair of arrows fly. At Dennis.
And
"They sound really pretty. Maybe we will see some tonight." She smiles at him.
As luck may have it she doesn't stumble upon the bee keeping hives, but she finds something similar.
There is a large hornet's nest up in a tree. In the fading light, there don't see to be any bugs in it.
"Ooh! That's a big one. Maybe it's empty."
She walks under it and calls up at it.
"Hellooo is anyone home? Buggies, are you there?"
She listens to it for a moment and the fact that no angry buzzing happens signals to her that there are no bugs.
"Lang, can you help me get up there and get it?"