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Post by Shitakibo on May 4, 2023 14:41:21 GMT -5
There was a commotion across camp one morning as Taki was meditating, so she unfurled herself to investigate. Walking outside, she was nearly toppled over by the rush of a man as several people headed over to the main entrance of the camp. As she approached, she saw medics carrying a guild messenger by stretcher to get aid at the medical tent. The shaman approached the group, noting that the messenger's steed had also been injured greatly. Without hesitation, Taki sauntered into the crowd discussing various details and information. She ignored the protests of others and placed her hands upon the steed, one running over it's mane until it settled down.
She cast Major Healing, a soft light pouring down her arms and into the animal. She watched carefully as it began to heal over it's deep wounds and slashes, but still seemed bothered by some malady. Something strange had made these wounds, something bladed but not made of metal or other common materials. The spell closed the wounds but could only ease the symptoms of whatever malignance had afflicted the horse. Stepping back when she finished, she helped the animal up from the entrance and guided it to the camp stables to get rest and care until it was done passing whatever condition was causing it such pain.
Calling Yukina to action, the bird took flight and spiraled high above the camp. Banking into a wide circle around the camp, the snowy owl gave no indication of intruders. Either they'd hidden well along the pathways in and out, or there was some other explanation. A few moments later, there was an assistant going around gathering anyone who wasn't already on assignment for an emergency meeting. Taki signaled Yukina again, who dove down and found a nice perch near the entrance to keep watch while the shaman crossed the camp towards the gathering.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on May 4, 2023 18:48:34 GMT -5
Gerhart was sleeping peacefully in his bedroll when the barking of Thoman shifted him awake. He sleepily mushed a hand against the dog's face to pet him as the ranger sat up with a grown.
"Something is wrong in the camp. I can smell something bad around the area."
Gerhart took in a few deep sniffs as well before the twinge of iron hit his nostrils. Scrambling from his bed, his sword belt was hooked on and tightened as he ran with Thoman following close behind. He would come to a slow stop seeing someone already taking care of the horse. Even only being able to catch a glimpse of the fading wounds he could tell it was bad, but at least this new person had some healing to take care of the worst of it.
"An ambush? By what? No bear or wolf would think of coming close to a camp like this....not that there are a lot of bears or wolves in the desert." He sighs as he gives the leather of his belt one last tight jerk to clasp it in place.
"Did anyone see what happened? Where was this guy coming from?" Questions he was sure had already been asked or were at least already being sought after, but any answer could help them plan a next step.
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Post by Shitakibo on May 4, 2023 20:20:30 GMT -5
Noticing the gentleman near the gate asking for information, Taki walked over to him. She tapped him on the shoulder, then directed him over to the meeting where the Commander was about to begin the emergency meeting.
"I've called you all together because this morning's incident represents a break in our communications. The commotion at the gate this morning was caused by an attack on a vital messenger to the other guilds of Charon, who are supporting this endeavor to protect towns and cities. As far as we are aware, the pair were attacked by a smaller member of the species we're attempting to push back. A hunting party has already been dispatched for this unchecked creature, but I will be assigning two of you to return with messages about our status here." Explained the wizened veteran, an imposing character with battle scarred gear and a few grisly scars to spare. His heavy, experienced gaze swept over the crowd before landing on the brightly colored shaman.
"You, healer... Shitakibo, and the Ranger Gerhart beside you. The pair of you are to make your preparations and leave as soon as possible. Everyone else, see to the security of the camp, tend the wounded, and prepare for things to get worse before they get better..." He finished after scanning the crowd again. People began to shuffle off to their tasks as Taki turned to the man and offered a hand.
"As the Commander said, I'm Shitakibo, or Taki if the name is difficult for your tongue. Let's get this task done and make sure we both make it back here safely. I for one do not wish to miss out on the ensuing hunt, the challenge should be a fascinating test of skill and ability." Said the shaman, looking eager to get underway.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on May 7, 2023 17:10:40 GMT -5
"Should've sent them out in pairs to begin with." Gerhart keeps hat thought to himself as he puts his hands on hips hips and watches the commander pace back and forth during his speech.
There were a lot of people here, it seemed a mistake to send anyone out alone when they could spare an escort. He sighed, maybe there was something he didn't know about keeping people in place. It wasn't uncommon for gerhart to be wrong about things.
At least for this second round he would be there to keep someone safe. He shakes the grumpiness from his head and smiles towards Taki.
"Don't worry about speed, that I have covered." He grins widely and sticks his fingers in his mouth to give a sharp whistle. In the distance, dozens of tiny birds are startled away as Halcyon takes to the air from where he had perched for the night.
As the kestrel begins to head their way, Thoman also trots to sit beside Gerhart's side. "Gerhart Stanislav and this is Thoman."
"Hello, Shitakibo." When his mouth moves, instead of a bark, the common tongue comes out.
"Hope that isn't too weird, a dog that talks. I know some people take some getting used to it." Gerhart offers a small chuckle of a laugh.
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Post by Shitakibo on May 7, 2023 17:45:20 GMT -5
Bowing slightly to the pair, she smiled and shook her head. "Fear not, many of my companions are capable of speech, and the more my own knowledge, skill and understand grows, the more of their voices I can understand. Some day I hope to be able to speak in such a way to any creature I come across... though I plan to complete my spiritual training with my Guardians before that. The big owl above is one of my companions." She let out a sharp, hissing whistle as she finished the sentence. A few moments later, a brown and grey cat, slightly larger than the average housecat and with taller, more rounded ears rubbed against Taki's leg.
"You called miss?"
"I did indeed, we're heading out Shuna. This is Gerhart, and their companion Thoman. Do try to get along."
"I will, when do we leave?"
"Immediately it would seem." Replied the shaman, as another assistant brought the pair a satchel of parchments. Attached to it was a simple set of orders: Deliver these messages to the Guild Hall affiliates near the Docking Coast, await replies, then return. Haste was imperative, as was protecting these messages. Taki shared the contents of the orders with Gerhart.
"I'm ready to go when you are." She said, as Yukina hopped down from her perch. Giving each of the wonderful and unique companions traveling with her a treat, she ran her hands through the snowy soft feathers of the owl. While Yukina's spirit was the calmest, and possibly the wisest among her living companions, the shaman still hadn't learned to communicate with her. Eventually... in time she would be able to focus more of her time on learning the ways of the Druid.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on May 8, 2023 19:05:49 GMT -5
"Well that cuts down on the adjustment period for sure." Gerhart offers a soft laugh as Taki seems to be more than used to it.
She seemed good with animals and...well the arrival of a talking animal of her own just adds further proof that she'll be just fine. Halcyon banked in from the east and descended to a clearing just outside of camp, trying not to rustle people too intensely from the flapping of his wings.
"That would be our ride. Since we are taking guests, Thoman, stick here and see if you can help out any. If the messenger or anyone else shows up again they may need some healing. I'll leave that to you."
"You got it!" Thoman barks and offers up a paw which Gerhart taps with a little fist bump before heading off, waving for Taki to follow.
It's a quick jog over to where Halcyon waits, picking at his feathers and cleaning while he does. A squawk leaves his beak as Gerhart greets him with a little headbutt and grin.
"Hope you aren't afraid of heights, but this is the fastest travel we got I think. The saddle fits two and it's got a little side saddle, usually Thoman sits there, but if you'd like, it should fit you." Gerhart looks down to the cat with a little laugh. It would be big, but the basket shape meant she wouldn't be tossed out of it.
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Post by Shitakibo on May 8, 2023 23:24:57 GMT -5
Taki signaled to Yukina, petting her soft feathers. Like Gerhart, she had decided to have the Snowy Owl stay here at the camp in case of any further problems. Any help they could get would keep more people from getting hurt. With all that was going on, an extra measure was also in order with the stakes so high. She took several deep breaths, then let out a heavy sigh. A swirling, misty energy surrounded the shaman, then manifested in an ethereal feline form.
"Keta, I want you and Yukina to stay here, keep watch and relay through Ryu if something else happens. Keep each other safe, we'll be back as soon as these deliveries are made."
"Of course miss, you'll know if something happens." Replied the spirit, who took up a perch in a tree near the gate with Yukina.
Taki and Shuna made their way over to Gerhart's mount, A Kestrel falcon of immense proportion. Before taking a seat in the saddle, she knelt beside Halcyon and offered her greetings. After a quick scratch on the chin, she hopped up into the saddle. Shuna joined her, nestled down into the sidebag as the pair clipped into the riding harness. While she'd not taken a flight on such a creature before, the saddle and it's tackle were similar to the design she used for traveling on Keiga. Like the air, being tossed from the saddle in open water was less than ideal... and no matter how strong a person was, nature always was stronger.
Leaning down, she patted against Halcyon's feathers, waved to her companions by the gate, and took a steadying breath.
"To the Sky, and our destination safely if you please." She quipped, a tremor of excitement and wonder in her voice.
"This should be more fun than getting a ride from Yukina!" Shuna exclaimed, wide eyed and bracing herself.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on May 10, 2023 7:47:38 GMT -5
Gerhart stiffled a little laugh at the happy chirps Halcyon gave when getting the scratches, feathers fluffing up a bit, "Careful, keep that up and he might become your problem."
He grinned and helped the others get into the saddle and set in before climbing in himself. Once everyone was settled, the wings unfurled and slowly beat over and over until the group found themselves lifting into the air. Given that they had new passengers, both rider and mount decided to not go full bore immediately. It was only fair to give them both a chance to acclimate to the rush of wind.
They were a good ways out from the docking coast, but this certainly was going to be faster than taking any road. The sands made it hard to really make good time on horse or cart if you were really looking to go as fast as possible. Halcyon's speed also made it much easier to avoid any dangers, or at least made it far less likely they would have to deal with bandits or other creatures. There weren't many flying threats in the Arid Mesa, but Gerhart still kept his eyes scanning the horizon. You never know what could happen.
"You just let me know when you're comfortable and I can pick up the speed." He grinned as he called back to Taki over the winds.
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Post by Shitakibo on May 10, 2023 13:55:52 GMT -5
Shuna tucked herself down into the side saddle, ears flattenend and curling into her fluffy tail to keep warm. Taki smiled, tossing her arms wide and leaning into the harness for a moment as the wind pressed against her. She chuckled softly and shouted into the sky. "Show us your swiftness Halcyon!" Bracing herself, she tucked against the saddle once again, grinning wide.
Watching the great wings pump faster, she marveled at Halcyon's speed and Gerhart's bond with his mount. The pair worked together to accelerate to incredible swiftness, even the ground below was a blur of motion and color. Taki marveled at the experience, scanning the area and enjoying the challenge of trying to sense the spirits of the air, wind and sky. Like the currents and drafts that drove the weather, the wispy spirits were more felt than seen. Dancing across the very edge of Taki's sense, their gusty whispers were fascinating.
Miles disappeared beneath the great hawk's wings, who moved with incredible swiftness towards their destination. As they cruised, Shuna popped her head up a couple of times to peak out. Wide eyed, she would quickly sneak back into the nestled saddle. Poor girl, Yukina wasn't able to match this kind of speed, but made up for it in stealth and a bit of snowy magic in case of emergencies. Taki comforted the jungle cat, petting her fur and rubbing her neck as they went.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on May 13, 2023 10:43:48 GMT -5
Gerhart may not have had the deep connection to nature that Taki had, but with his companions it would seem like he did. Unlike most people riding a horse, Gerhart didn't have to pull or urge Halcyon in the directions they wanted to go. The two would lean into banks at the same time or adjust to lift up and gain a bit more altitude. It was a potent partnership to be sure.
"You may want to hold on for this!" The ranger called back on the winds as their destination started to fall into view. The kestrel started to angle downwards and tucked his wings in for a dive. The group would quickly accelerate and speed towards the ground. The saddle had plenty of hand holds and straps so no one would have been at risk of being tossed overboard.
The several minutes long descent was turned into an adrenaline filled 30 seconds before he pulled up, wings unfurling to catch wind and slow down to give them a much gentler landing. Gerhart gave Halcyon a few head scratches with a grin before hopping down.
"We should be able to find everyone we need to back at the docks."
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Post by Shitakibo on May 13, 2023 21:03:27 GMT -5
Taki hopped off, exhuberant from having flown for the first time. She carefully helped Shuna down, warming the jungle cat with her blanket. Digging into her pack, she gave her companion a treat and a small bowl of water. There was still a good deal to be done and they'd need all the eyes and ears they could muster. If someone or something was attacking, knowing would be the key to the ensuing battle. Delivering these reports and getting back to camp was only a fragment of the problems they might encounter.
"Lead the way Gerhart, Shuna will be our eyes above." Said the shaman as she finished the routine. On cue, the feline dropped from Taki's arms and vanished. An excellent climber, and stealthy wonder, Shuna had come a long way in her training and that gave Taki an endless supply of delight. Each of her companions was special and able to contend with a variety of situations, so the shaman could often be prepared for any eventuality that might occur.
She followed Gerhart into town, Shuna spotting for them from the rooftops. Like most ports, even the weather couldn't keep the place from being busy with the variety of trade ships and fishing vessels. Scanning the surroundings, Taki's crimson orbs swept over the throngs of people milling about at their jobs, buying, sellling, loading and cleaning. All seemed quiet for a moment, though she caught more than a few stares.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on May 14, 2023 23:05:13 GMT -5
"Halcyon's got us covered too....though a bit less closely." He chuckles as the falcon takes to the skies once more. The kestrel circles the area but it is a wide and high circle meaning he wouldn't be an immediate help though as he showed, it wouldn't be long until he arrived if needed.
Gerhart kept a pretty relaxed posture as they headed into town, hands resting on the pommels of his swords and steps loose. The docks were certainly a lot less busy than when he and Wolfe arrived. Most of the supplies had already been taken to the camps and the only thing left were some of the creature comforts for the camps like nicer food and more ammunition for ballistas. Everything was already being packed up for the last trip out in the next day or so.
"We should probably hustle to the Mage's Guild office, we are gonna need their help. Pretty good at setting up alarms and figuring out where people are with magic and stuff yeah?"
He grinned and started shifting through the crowds to get down to the ship he knew was carrying most of the Mage's Guild folks. Gerhart did not hesitate to wave them down as he jogged over.
"Hey we got a bit of a situation back at the camp, Taki can explain what happened she saw more of it, but we need a few more specialists to come help."
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Post by Shitakibo on May 16, 2023 0:56:41 GMT -5
Chuckling, she cast a glance out across the crowd. As the shaman caught up to her ambitious friend, she smirked at his explanation. Sensing her companion prowling about and watching over the crowd, she stepped up and introduced herself to the officials.
"Greetings, I am Shitakibo, here in the stead of a messenger who was attacked on their way to us. We were tasked with delivering theese messages, and their replies if needed. The Scout's wounds were treated and he's being tended to, but we could use extra help." She explained, watching their surroundings as she spoke.
Shuna roamed the area, hopping across the tightly packed rooftops of the docks' buildings. So far, nothing seemed out of sorts as the feline cleared another gap. Taki herself could sense the movements of those walking on the ground thanks to Geomagnetic Sense. The group made their way across the docks, heading to a set of large buildings clustered together.
Each one appeared to be for one of the guilds, a hall designed to handle the guild's operations in the area. Patrolled by a few local guards, the area seemed secure enough that they wouldn't be messed with while here.
"Please take a seat, we'll take your message up to the guild master and return with your reply soon." Said one of the delegates, the pair taking a set of stairs to the upper floor of the building. Taki took a seat, marveling at the expansive library of books that lined the room. While the WEF kept it's own records and volumes, the collection of books here was immense. If anything could lure the curious shaman into joining, it would be the wealth of knowledge and research about the magical world.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on May 17, 2023 17:49:49 GMT -5
It was an impressive library, especially for an outpost, but this was the Mage's Guild after all. Knowledge and the trade thereof was a pretty important part of their business. The two are brought a bit of lavender tea as they wait.
Soon enough, an older orc woman comes down the stairs with her graying hair pulled into a loose bun that pulled heavy strands from her face. Her tusks were carved with the same runes that trimmed her navy blue wizard's coat. She crossed the floor and unbuttoned the coat as she sat down with a gentle smile.
"The forward camp was attacked you say? Oh just the messenger....still a concern, we did not sense anything aggressive in the area and our notes did not account for this type of behavior." She pauses a moment and motions for a page to start taking notes. "Perhaps there is something about our activity that set it off....it does seem more intelligent than we anticipated. Perhaps their leader is capable of speech.....oh I am sorry I have both forgotten to introduce myself and started rambling."
She smiles and offers over a thick and calloused hand, "Juniper Wizenbranch, leader of this outpost here.....What sort of help do you think you would need? I am afraid as mostly a research facility, we don't have many fighters."
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Post by Shitakibo on May 21, 2023 3:40:48 GMT -5
"I'm afraid I could only speculate the answer to your question miss. We were sent out by the base commander in response to an attack on one of the messengers this morning at our camp. As far as we were told, our task is to deliver letters to each of the guilds, collect replies and get back safely. I could make a leap of logic and say that special care should be taken when moving supplies and personnel out to our camp, or from it." Replied the shaman after considering the woman and her questions for a few moments.
"Do you have a reply for us to return?"
"Yes, here you are. Thank you for the information and good luck in your travels."
"Of course, thank you for your hospitality. Hopefully our guilds will continue to cooperate for the benefits of all."
"You're most welcome. Feel free to enlist our researchers in the future."
After finishing the offered tea, Taki stood and headed out into the brisk air. Shuna hopped down from her post outside and rejoined her side. Nuzzling against her side, the jungle cat purred softly and followed the group to the next guild hall. Along the way, the shaman could sense something off, a presence that seemed to persist. Tapping Gerhart on the shoulder, she motioned toward an alleyway.
"We have unwelcome attention. When we hit the alleyway, pretend to get upset and storm off. I'll disappear and flank them with Shuna."
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