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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 1, 2023 12:59:53 GMT -5
The trip to the Crescent Isle was meant to be like something of a vacation for Leandros and his wife. It had been sometime since they were able to actually take any trips together thanks to his adventuring. He hadn't been to the soft sands of the beach since fighting off the harpies with Ak'ka.
They had both hoped no such thing would happen this time, but fortune was not in their favor. As they unboarded the ship the remnants of the of the massive wave could be seen. The huts closest to the water had some heavy damage and it looks like debris littered the beach.
"I hope no one was too hurt in this." Apogee took her husband's arm as they looked over the scene.
"I'm just sorry this seems to have put a small pause on our vacation." He gives a little laugh.
Leandros waits for his other retainers to catch up before getting them up to speed on what the plan was. The group would take the first hour or so to split up and gather information. If there was anything severe that needed their attention, they could address that first. Otherwise organizing relief and rebuilding efforts wouldn't be too taxing on the group if it came down to it.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 1, 2023 13:56:36 GMT -5
That storm really did a number on the beach in the Crescent Isles. There's debris everywhere, sand thrown in all directions, and massive pools of water far from the actual ocean with plenty of wildlife trapped inside. Having flown overhead to check out the mess, Astrid found a few pools of water full of smaller sea life that has been difficult enough to free up without a proper bucket, but with all the rebuilding in the local town, they need all the tools they can get, so instead she's just going back and forth helping the little guys. Needless to say, it's kind of a pain in the butt, and she's quickly just absolutely drenched in water. The biggest challenge of the day comes when she finds a rather large pool with two very large rays swimming around inside. With the sun beaming down on it, it's evident that the water level has reduced. When she steps in to try to grab one of the creatures, it sets off a chain reaction where it gets angry, thrashes around, knocks her back, and gets the other one riled up. Sitting in the sand watching water flail in every which direction, Astrid lets out a pained expression. How the heck is she gonna manage this on her own?
Quest Name: Glide Over the Moon Participants: Two or more Location: Crescent Isle (Coast) Post Requirements: 6 post per person, 200 words per post Reward: +1 Renown, +1 Hide, +1 Water Catalyst Description: A huge wave flooded the beach, filling up large pools further up the beach with water. Now that the sea has receded, two Manta Gliders have become trapped, stuck in a pool and unable to return to the ocean. While normally docile, these creatures are now angry, lashing out and attacking anyone who even tries to get close, let alone help. The pool will begin to dry up over the next few days, leaving these creatures to die. We need to find a way to get them off the beach and back into the Luna Sea.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 4, 2023 0:08:12 GMT -5
From what Leandros and his team had gathered it seemed that the ocean had been particularly angry as of late. Something about a bad omen, a sign of the end times, anger of the loss of the gods. It wasn't all particularly useful information, but massive waves sending debris and animals everywhere was a problem.
Well, what were they to do? Leandros looked around at the scene before spotting a silouhette in the distance that looks a bit familiar.
"Wait here, I see someone ahead that can probably help figure this out." He smiles and departs from Apogee.
The knight approaches with a look of a bit of relief that this would ne be a solo effort. "Good day, Astrid." His pleasantries are cut short as he sees the two rays stuck in the tide pools. That was a more immediate concern.
"That....looks troublesome. Have you dealt with these creatures before? How do we get them back into the water?" In hindsight, probably a bad question to ask. They looked a bit too big to just grab and toss like starfish. The two of them probably could but those lashing tails presented another problem. Why could he just not have a nice vacation with his wife?
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 5, 2023 15:17:24 GMT -5
With most people putting their efforts into repairs around town, Astrid doesn’t expect anyone to come bothering with her or her self-assigned tasks. When she hears Leandros, she freezes a little. She hasn’t heard from or spoken to the knight since… A knob forms in her throat, but she quickly swallows it and looks over her shoulder at Leandros.
“Ah, hi there!” she says in a friendly voice. “Didn’t expect ta see ya all the way out here of all places.” Astrid gets up and dusts herself off of whatever sand clings to her clothes. It’s admittedly uncomfortable to be trying to do this work with all her armor chafing her clothes against her skin. As part of her pleasantries, she extends a gauntleted hand to shake.
“It’s a bit troublesome,” she admits, looking at the thrashing rays. “They’re slippery, an’ they’re a bit hard ta grab ‘cause they’re so big.” Each of the rays must be at least ten feet across, maybe even fifteen feet, and Astrid's arms only reach four and a half feet. “I tried ta pull one by their tail, but I was afraid I’d hurt ‘em, so I didn’t do that fer too long.”
Astrid looks back at Leandros again. “What brings ya out here?”
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 5, 2023 17:09:05 GMT -5
Leandros will shake the hand with a smile. He wasn't sure if he should broach the subject of Vikram or just let it be. The events of that day weren't easy for either of them, but Leandros had a much easier time shedding the feelings having not been close to the man. Perhaps afterwards at seems there is work to do.
"Well, this was to be a vacation with my wife, but the world doesn't seem keen on allowing that to happen at the moment." Leandros laughs gently as he looks over the seen.
"I imagine the two of us could lift one if we worked in tandem, but the issue would be those stingers." The knight puts a hand on his chin to think. If they had a way to knock them out or pacify them it would help, but bashing the gliders in the head was more likely to harm than help.
"Perhaps if one of us held onto the tail and the other the head we could sort of swing and toss them into the water? It might be unpleasant for a moment, but better than drowning....or suffocating I suppose." He remembered how strong she was from that fight in the temple, they could probably pull it off.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 5, 2023 17:32:46 GMT -5
Astrid is definitely glad Leandros doesn't mention Vikram. She's been avoiding thinking about that subject as much as possible, so much so that she hasn't gone back to the Fighter's Guild since. But that's nothing to talk about right now.
"I didn't know ya had a wife," Astrid says. "Sorry that yer vacation got ruined by... nature doin' whatever the heck it wants ta do. If we're quick, we can get ya back ta relaxin' and havin' a good time together. I'm here just doin' what I can, ya know?"
She turns to look at the rays again. "Aye, I think it'll take at least the both of us. I tried ta make a couple of copies of meself ta help with it, but we couldn't lift high enough, an' every time one of the rays hits 'em, the duplicates disappear. I was thinkin' of castin' magic that'll slow the ray down ta at least make it easier ta dodge their flailin' ta help with that. Maybe a couple of copies plus the two of us can do the trick ta get these guys back in the water." Astrid rolls her shoulders a bit and focuses hard on her magic, so that she can create two replicants of herself. Perfect copies manifest on the beach beside her and wave at Leandros.
"Let's see... Yer Bstrid, and yer Cstrid," Astrid says, quickly assigning the duplicates their alphabetical names to avoid confusion.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 6, 2023 15:35:23 GMT -5
"To be honest it was a bit foolish to imagine there would be time to relax these days, nothing has been quite settled since whatever went down with Scern in the Mesa." He sighs a bit, he made no effort to hide the fact he is from Capitol Landing when they first met, so it would be easy for Astrid to guess the situation hit a man like him strangely. Being a knight of a place that seems to be the root of the problem.
He raises an eyebrow seeing another replicant this time, giving the copy a wave. "Have you always been able to make two or is that the result of some training?"
Leandros makes his way around one of the gliders to get into a spot where they could start lifting. Given the inherent height advantage, he would go closer to the water so when they got it up into the air Leandros could basically just toss it to the side and into the water. "Do you think one of us...four should hold the tail down to keep it from thrashing?...Also if you do get stung don't worry, my wife is an alchemist, she likely has something that will help heal you right up." The knight grins, always ready to talk about his wife at the drop of a hat.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 6, 2023 16:57:31 GMT -5
All of the Astrids' faces twist in annoyance at the mention of Scern while they try to find a good place to grab the ray.
"Oh, that guy," one of them scoffs. "Yeah, he sure was spewin' a lotta crazy stuff, but he wasn't lyin' far as anyone could tell."
"It ain't like Ziev tried ta say he was wrong, just threw a buncha magic an' tried ta kill everyone," another grumbles. All four Astrids look so tired for a moment.
"This ain't that new," one says, perhaps Bstrid? "Most we ever did was... what? Twenty-six or so?"
"Aye," the leadstrid says with a confident nod. "It's tough ta have more than one at a time when I'm fightin'. Takes a lotta magic, ya know?"
"I've got the tail!" Cstrid shouts, in a ready stance, preparing to snatch it as soon as everyone is ready to move.
Bstrid pipes up at the mention of his wife being an alchemist. "Tell us 'bout yer wife! Is she part of the Consortium too?? Maybe we've met her!"
"There's some good folks in the Consortium," Cstrid says, nodding readily.
"Can we get the dang ray back ta the ocean before ya blabber the man's ear off??" Astrid asks. "If yer not careful, yer gonna get whacked an' go poof!"
"Right, right! Ready, Mister Leandros?" Bstrid calls.
"I'm in charge here!" Astrid says. "An' I say HEAVE!!"
When Leandros is ready, the whole group of Astrids grabs a flailing edge of the ray, one of them catching the tail, and they all lift to the best of their ability. The other ray thrashes about wildly as its mate is dragged away from it, but luckily Astrid kept her duplicates out of the water and instead takes the battering.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 7, 2023 19:35:44 GMT -5
"Were you there? I had heard plenty of adventurers were involved, but I had yet to meet any....Though I suppose I have neglected to ask, seemed a difficult time. Feel free to decline talking about it if you wish."
Leandros similarly paces around the manta glider to get into position, "26? That is mighty impressive, what happens at 27? 1strid? Or Aastrid?" He gives a little smile and laugh having caught on to the naming structure and attempting to make a joke.
He motions with his head or hands to help spread everyone out and make sure none of them nor the glider are too strained. The delight on his face when asked about his wife is evident though.
"Oh no, she's just a brilliant woman, a bard as well. I spent a good week learning floriography once just to try and impress her." He gives another laugh before straightening up.
The first manta is tossed with ease, staying true its name even in the air and gliding into the water though the re-entry is a little bit of an unceremonius thump.
"We should hurry on the second one, it doesn't look too pleased." Leandros will quickly shuffle over to get ready for a much more hurried version of the toss and throw.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 7, 2023 21:32:45 GMT -5
"Aye, I was there," Astrid says, getting a grip on the edge of the ray. "First, we fought a buncha cultists, then we got into this temple they were defendin', then suddenly we were in space with a buncha people I didn't walk into the temple with. Scern was there ramblin' about Ziev. Thin's seemed all weird, like everyone was outta place in time. I think I was taller? An' I had a flyin' horse. I don't have a flyin' horse."
The group of Astrids begins to lift the ray into the air as Leandros asks about their alphabet soupstrids. Through their straining, a couple manage to giggle. "S'pose we'd have an infinite number of names if we used numbers, eh?"
While they get the ray out of the water, holding on tight while it thrashes, Lee goes on about his wife, and they all manage to exchange a confused glance. "We don't know what floriography is," they say, glancing at him with dumbfounded expressions. "Is that real fancy? Did she like it?"
Off into the water the ray sails and it splashes down, flailing about and throwing shimmering droplets into the air. But it's free. And there's only one more left to go. Suprisingly, all of the duplicates survived the encounter.
"ONE MORE!"
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 7, 2023 22:54:23 GMT -5
"So, was in like a dream thing or just some strange magic?" Leandros blurts out the words as he ducks under a thrashing tail. "Careful of that." This thing really wasn't happy about this situation, though it was hard to blame it.
He helps heave the next one up and over with a little sigh. Leandros pauses a moment to stretch his arms and get them loose, it wasn't often he had to strain them in such an odd fashion like this. Manta lifting was a hell of an exercise, though not one he is likely to recommend to anyone. Heavy bags and weights will do the job just fine.
"It's the language of flowers, apparently each flower has its own special meaning, so you can tell someone something by giving them a specific bouquet." Once more the knight circles the manta to get into position. "We are married, so I think she liked it. Or at least liked me enough to not tell me I got it wrong."
He laughs as he squats down to get underneath the manta. "3....2....1." Once more they can lift in tandem and put an end to the creature's suffering and reunite it with its friends.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 7, 2023 23:07:46 GMT -5
"A dream?" Astrid echoes before pondering if that was the case. "No, it weren't like a dream or nothin', though I s'pose it felt like a dream sometimes. Me hammer talked ta me too. Buncha weird stuff." The group heads over to try and find a good spot to grab the other manta. "I think it was like... Well, outta place in time feels like the right way ta say it. Oh, an' Ziev did some time magic that made us all relive the same moment over and over again! Gods, he was tirin'..."
Her words come with a sigh, and her eyes fall into a downcast expression. "Hearin' all that about the gods was tough," she says. "Knowin' he was tellin' the truth didn't make it any better."
"Grab that side there!" Bstrid says, pulling her from her downtrodden reverie.
"Ope, yeah, on it!" Astrid says, wrestling with the ray as Cstrid continues to ask about Leandros' wife.
"The language of flowers?!" Cstrid squeals. "That sounds kinda neat! I think we learned somethin' about that when we were studyin' alchemy! Didn't remember none of it, but that's what writin' stuff down is fer!"
On Lee's mark, all three lift with all their tiny might and the flailing ray is airborne and ready for delivery to the ocean.
"Obviously she liked what ya did if yer married, ya doof!" Bstrid says through gritted teeth, but it's all in jest. "What, are ya so dense ya thought she was still courtin' ya??" The three Astrids all laugh though it's labored under the weight of the ray.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 8, 2023 17:55:00 GMT -5
Leandros claps his hands together like he needed to dust them off as they toss it aside. He puts his hands on his hips watching the glider quickly dart through the water and back into the deeper parts of the ocean.
"That's the joy of marriage, I get to continue courting her." He smiles widely. "Every day is another chance to share a love with her."
As they talk, his other retainers start to file onto the beach alongside Apogee. The older looking human seems to be in fine shape, but the halfling beside him looks exhausted, doubled over hands on his knees. Leandros raises an eyebrow at the pair.
"He'll be fine, got scared by a harpy that was trapped under some debris. Flew away, but scared the hells outta him." Gilder laughed and patted Theobo's back.
"Good to know...Astrid this is my huntsman Gilder Tavoie, squire Theobo Buck, and..." The knight smiles and hops down from the tide pools they were in to embrace a woman with bouncy blue curls. "My wife Apogee. Not quite the duplicates you can make, but helpful hands nonetheless~ Have you eaten yet? I can buy dinner as a thanks for helping out with the gliders."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 8, 2023 19:39:51 GMT -5
Once the ray is back in the water, Astrid lets out a heavy breath. Somehow, her duplicates seem even more tired than she is and both of them lay themselves out on the sand to catch their breath. Well, they do only have a fraction of her power and energy.
"Gotta say, Mister Leandros, it's real refreshin' ta see someone not beatin' 'round the bushes 'bout their feelin's," Astrid says, stretching her back out. In her experience with adults involved in romance, the majority of them try to hide their feelings for some reason or another. She wonders if it's a fear of rejection, and honestly, she can understand that aspect of it. But crushing as it may be, the worst someone can do is say no, right?
The rest of Leandros' party makes their way to the beach, and Astrid looks them over, trying to commit their names to memory as they're each introduced. Her duplicates get up, and the three Astrids approach with small half-waves. "Nice ta meet ya, I'm Astrid Stormstone!" In unison, all three Astrids hold out their hands in an offer of a handshake. Once hands are shaken, the duplicates disintegrate in a puff of sparkling magic.
"Mister Lee, -I can call ya that, right?- I ain't one ta turn down a free meal, but yer the one that showed up an' helped me, not the other way around."
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 8, 2023 22:03:17 GMT -5
"Well you are only seeing the end result. There was plenty of that, but thankfully she was patient enough to let me figure myself out. It wasn't easy to convince myself that I am more than just a warrior in the knight." He smiles down to Apogee, stealing a quick kiss as the duplicats approach.
Gilder is surprised by the duplicates, but Theobo is amazed. The halfling grabs the hands with both of his and shakes them vigorously. Gilder and Apogee give much more normal handshakes.
"If you want, you can drop the Mister as well." He chuckles softly. "Well then, rather than argue over who helped who, how about I cover you this time then and when and if we ever meet again, it'll be your turn. How's that?" He grins as broad as his shoulders.
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