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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Sept 20, 2023 14:24:26 GMT -5
Shaa had just finished a fight over the Pits and was enjoying a well earned drink from a fight patron who had won big on his victory. He typically didn’t like receiving private gifts from people because it could look like fight fixing but Sark, the fight patron, had a solid reputation and gifts from him were above board and not uncommon.
That was a good fight my boy, a good fight. He was a tough man but I knew you could take him. He didn’t see it coming with that wall did he? Sark, a middle aged man with way too much time and money, loved hanging out with the fighters. He had been picked on a lot as a child so having so many dangerous people as friends made him smile. He had fantasized more than once about getting all of his fighter friends find his bullies and beat them up for him. Here. This wine is over 200 years old, for special occasions. That’s really not necessary Sark, it was a good fight, it wasn’t a waste of time. Sark put the bottle down and spoke more lowly.
Hey. He started. Now that the fight is over, how would you like to help me out with something. Shaa rolled his eyes a bit. I’m not going to beat up your childhood bullies. The last guy was a social worker for Ginma’s sake. Sark shook his head and held up his hands. No no, nothing like that. I need some help with…welll….a bug problem. Call an exterminator. I do have lines ya know. The man takes a deep breath before explaining.
Look, I am a businessman, I run businesses all over. For the past two weeks, there have been problems all over the swamp. A pair of Vorrapedes are attacking travelers, wrecking campsites, hurting people. I need them taken out. Shaa scratched his head a bit. Go get a merc to do it, easy job if there’s just 2 of them. The man shifted in his boots. We…we tried that. But they can’t catch them. These bugs…they’re different..they…are clever. No one’s been able to catch them. Sark adjusted his belt. Look I wouldn’t even ask but I got a bad feeling about these things. It’s in my bones. And I trust my bones. Shaa finishes his drink a waves his hand to try and get him to calm down. He wipes his muzzle and stretches his neck a bit. I got some time. And I owe you for that thing back Zeniev but this makes us all square, ya? Absolutely. Thank you my friend.
Shaa walks out of the bar and sees a familiar face in the distance.
Quest Name: The Ground Moved Participants: Two or more Location: Marsh Flats Post Requirements: 6 post per person, 200 words per post Reward: +1 Renown, +2 Hide Description: A pair of Vorrapedes have been causing issues in the Marsh Flats, ambushing travelers and destroying small encampments. They are quick, smart and able to move beneath the murky marsh with ease. Things are getting out of hand and it's time something is done. We need someone to go in and remove the worm problem. Don't take this job lightly, they work together as a pair and have been highly successful in avoiding capture.
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Sept 20, 2023 23:59:50 GMT -5
Javal had just finished accompanying a group of merchants through the flooded road and walked them to the chosen destination of their store.
He looked the other direction from the store looking at his earnings after being paid fairly well after all fifty solars was pretty good money considering he had only had to fight a handful of road bandits on the way. That wasn’t much of a problem or challenge for the fellblood and he beat them down pretty quickly.
As he was about to walk away he was tapped on the shoulder by one of the merchants, a stringy bespectacled fellow who said, “Hello there mister I couldn’t help but notice your skill and appearance as an adventurer. Well, one of our good business associates Sark has been looking for adventurers to help him out with some large bug monster problems that have stopped one of his operations. He’s not far from here he should be at the pits lounging around catching up with some of the fighters there”.
Javal stood and thought about it for a second before saying, “Thank you, good sir I’ll head over there at once I can’t keep this man in need of help waiting” and sprinting towards the pits.
He made it there fairly quickly, opened the doors of the establishment, and started looking around for the merchant-looking fellow.
After a bit of searching and talking to some of the fighters and onlookers, he was pointed to a noble-looking fellow talking to a kind of familiar-looking minotaur.
He then walked up to the two and said, “Hello there good sirs my name is Javal Zarrias and I have been informed that you Mister Sark have bug troubles. I would like to help you as it is my duty as an adventurer to stomp out evil".
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Sept 28, 2023 20:53:50 GMT -5
The moment they caught wind of vorrapedes, Leandros knew his wife would not be accompanying them on this trip. Theobo tried to pitch the idea that he should stay behind and protect the lady, but he would not be so lucky. So, a very sour looking squire and the normal amount of sour looking Gilder strode alongside the knight as he rode Byrr into the Marsh Flats.
Admittedly, Leandros was not excited for the job. Bug hunting wasn't exactly a knightly job, but it was nice to get back to basics after Vulcadreus. He still occasionally felt a strange warmth in his chest that was....hard to explain. It didn't feel good or bad, it was just there.
He shakes his head from these thoughts as he picks up his gaze to spot the two men in the distance. A gauntleted hand is held up in greeting as he gives them both a smile.
"Five people to hunt some bugs? These people must really want to get rid of them...If you're here Shaa I can only imagine there's a catch. Are these two headed vorrapedes? Maybe twice as big and three times as many legs?"
A gentle laugh escapes the knight. A job with the minotaur was never exactly as presented. Of course, Leandros knew this was never the fault of Shaa but strange happenings had a way of finding their way to the minotaur.
"And Javal, I'll imagine you want to take one of them on yourself?"
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Sept 29, 2023 14:00:44 GMT -5
Shaa looks over at the ebullient Tiefling and chuckles. He doesn’t think that he knows him but he does look familiar for some reason. Shaa had been all over the continent this year so it really could have been from anywhere. He seemed friendly enough and he wanted to help so he didn’t feel any real reason to give him a hard time. Hello… JaVal was it? Sark quickly steps between them. Yes yes thank you dear Sir. We are looking for assistance in hunting down some Vorrapedes that are causing us issue. If you would like to assist, we would be grateful for the aid. Shaa wasn’t super happy about being cut off but he let it slide. He could handle the bugs himself. If Sark wanted to throw his money around, that was his prerogative. He just hoped no one would get in the way. If a Vorrapede ate an under performing adventurer, it wasn’t on him. Stepping back a bit, he smiles as a much more familiar face steps forward.
Shaa laughs and pulls Leandros in for a big hug. He had seen him briefly during the recent dragon fight and was grateful he looked ok. Several other members of the guild had still not checked in. Hey buddy. I thought our last little swamp romp would have kept you out of here for awhile. There are a couple bookies out here still looking for you. Hahaha. As they chewed the fat a bit, he considered the question.
It’s not my fault I attract all the freaks and weirdos. I am a kind and gentle soul after all. To be honest though, my friend here he says pointing a thumb at Sark says they are not normal Vorrapedes. No extra heads or anything just…what did you say? Sark interjects. They are clever, very clever Sir… This is Leandros…you know. Sark shrinks his eyes a bit and suddenly lights up. Oh yes, your partner from that fleshing eating beetle fight yes? Ohhh made a bundle on that one. Thank you for staying alive. Well, I know your skill so you are welcome to join us of course. Come on Lee, it will be fun. Wait, do you know this guy? He says pointing to Javal.
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Sept 30, 2023 1:06:54 GMT -5
Javal holds his hands crossed together standing to the side in the middle of Sark and Shaa before glancing straight towards the entrance spotting a very familiar friendly face that he was excited to see. He hadn’t seen Leandros since the great battle against Vulcadreus where all of Charon’s adventurers seemed to be and was hoping to meet the knight fellow again to catch up.
He raises his hand and waves at Leandros as he walks over to the group discussion about Vorrapedes.
Javal smiles wide and says, “Yes Mister, my is Javal Zarrias”, before Sark appears and asks for his help he responds, “Of course, I’d be happy to help crush the fiendish Vorrapedes to help out the community, it is the responsibility of heroes to help people in need”.
Javal smiles as he looks over to Leandros; he is already familiar with the knightly gentleman and had a couple of adventurers with him before.
“Yes friend Leandros I intend to help out and take out at least one and vanquish it from existence, anything I can to solve this predicament”.
Javal then turns over to Sark and focuses on the job at hand, “So Mister where can we find the Vorrapedes?".
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Oct 2, 2023 11:27:55 GMT -5
"Glad I could provide such a boon to your coin purse." Leandros gives a small smile, certainly one of the less enthusiastic smiles his friends have seen. He may still have his qualms with the fighting ring as a business, but that wasn't a conversation to have now.
The smile brightens at Javal's confidence. It was hard not to feel his enjoyment of the work of an adventurer seep into yourself. His hands rest on the pommel of the saddle as he listens in on Sark's explanation. Well that was good and bad...they didn't have any extra bits to worry about but angry vorrapedes still aren't something to desire.
"Clever how? Bugs aren't generally known as the most intelligent of creatures, so it must be serious if it is something worth noting."
"Armored, fast, and large....now they are getting smart? Great." Gilder sighed as he ran a hand down his face, this job was going to be a pain in the ass wasn't it?
Theobo has slowly lost his nerve for the fight, still getting used to just how common it is to be fighting big monsters all the time. After hearing about the fight with Vulcadreus and seeing how injured Leandros was coming back, the halfling wondered if being a knight was worth it.
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Oct 3, 2023 20:56:50 GMT -5
The big Minotaur rubbed his hands together briskly and looked over the group. Yup, about this size party should work. He said with a knowing smirk. If these things were as clever as Sark was alluding to, they would need to be more clever. That meant keeping their numbers small and stealthy. They would only get a couple of chances to catch these things off guard at most, as right now, they didn’t know people were hunting them. The second theyy figured it out, it would make the job infinitely harder.
Ok ,ok, sounds good to me. Best of luck to you all. I will see you back here when you have finished. I am assuming you will bring back proof of a job completed. Shaa huffed, slightly perturbed. Yeah yeah, I’ll bring back some bug bits for you to lick or whatever. Wonderful. May Solaris guide your path. Good luck with that… Shaa says under his breath.
As the group discusses the best place to start their search, a haggard man approaches.
Help….the man says weakly. You have to help us. Vorrapedes. They….ransacked the camp. Trying not to act too excited, Shaa held the man by his shoulders. You saw them? Where man? Where is your camp? The trembling man is shaken but tries to gather himself. We …we were out in the Hauntwoods. We had a full fire and armed escort. We should have been fine. They came out of nowhere. How many? There was just one….at first. But when others tried to escape, the second one came..and… the man caught himself and started to gag a bit. Get this guy some water! They.. they were so fast.
Shaa looked at the group. You heard the man. The Hauntwoods. This guy doest exactly look subtle, I’m sure we can backtrack him to the camp. This might be our best chance.
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Oct 4, 2023 3:00:28 GMT -5
Javal waved Sark off as the gentlemen left the group and walked away to talk with other business associates.
He then shifted his attention to the task at hand, “We have to stay vigilant and alert if what I’ve heard of these dangerous critters is that they are elusive and tricky to deal with. Using the element of surprise against them and striking at them quickly before they could realize what is going on could be a good way of dealing with them. If we alert them to our presence it may complicate our hunt and cause them to be almost untrackable due to their cunning”.
He was about to ask the group how they fight and in what order they should approach the Vorrapedes’s trail to best use their positioning when he glanced over to see a haggard and injured man approaching the bug hunters.
He’s put on alert as the man informs them of the Vorrapedes quickly and efficiently taking down their camp with brutality.
He places his hand on his shoulder and says, “Thank you for your information, please try to calm down, go to the nearest medic, or get some water”.
He stands up and raises his thumb in the air, “We got this from here don't worry my friend those Vorrapedes are doomed”.
Javal then nods to Shaa’s comment and says, “Let’s get going to the Haunted Woods, we cannot delay like friend Shaa has said tracking the gentleman’s trail should lead us straight to these vermin and let us wipe them out once, and for all”.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Oct 4, 2023 22:15:39 GMT -5
"The good word of trusted adventurers isn't enough?" He gave a small laugh to Sark's snark as the man headed off, happy to let him take off.
"Attacking camps? That's not usual...I'd say you're mistaken, but....kinda hard to get vorrapedes mixed up." Gilder's brow furrows in thought. What would have these things so worked up? "Don't just run out there, you lot are as bad as the lord. I'll scout and make sure those things are still there."
Leandros nods and lets Gilder get well ahead of them before he starts moving. He does actually take hold of Byrr's reins now that they were moving towards danger. They should be prepared for something to happen at any moment.
"Excuse his abrasiveness, I keep him for his tracking skills, not his people skills." Leandros smiles softly.
"He is right though, from the sounds of it we may want to consider how we approach this....I know the three of us are fine warriors, but given the nature of these vorrapedes we may want to consider more than just beating them until we win. As usual, I still can offer myself as a bulwark to draw attention if you both have other tactics....These beasts are well armored, but they could be vulnerable underneath similar to the baloth we fought Javal."
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Oct 5, 2023 0:40:22 GMT -5
True to Shaa’s prediction, the trail is easy to follow. As much time as Shaa spent in the Marsh Flats, he was not a giant fan of the haunted woods. Or haunted anything for that matter. He liked things you could punch, throw down a hole, chuck in a pit. The Haunted Woods was full of…other non punchable things. Now it had renegade kleptomaniac Vorrapedes running around harassing people. Maybe he should just burn the place down and rename it “ The crispy woods” hahaha. Ugh, it was never that easy.
He had estimated they were still about an hour out before reaching the campsite. If they were going to come up with some strategies to deal with these things, now was the time.
Any of you guys ever fought a Vorrapede? Me and my friend Ray were in this cultist hideout once. Turned out it was a converted Vorrapede nest. We accidentally busted the barrier and all these bugs came in and started eating all the cultists. We grabbed one and used it as puppet to escape. If I never smell Vorrapede viscera again it will be too soon. Hmmm good times. Somehow I think, taking these guys out will be harder.
He paused for a moment thinking. I trust my gut and my gut is telling me to watch it. Anyone have any ideas on what to use for bait? Shaa could think of a couple people he wouldn’t mind tossing in the way but decided not to bring it up. Placing his hand on the ground, and sends pulses out to sus out what’s ahead of them. He can detect movement… and something big.
Geosense
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Oct 5, 2023 2:36:49 GMT -5
Javal nodded and agreed with Gilder’s choice of scouting out the camp, “That is most likely the smartest choice of action, to be honest”.
Javal walks on foot keeping his pace aligned with Leandros and Shaa’s the fellblood man not familiar with jogging along his steed, Asleipmir’s speed.
“No worries friend Leandros, Gilder seems to be a lovely fellow. It's good to be cautious of citations like these. If it wasn’t for my retainer Nadia I do not know how I would still even be operating at the efficiency and capacity I am today. I can work as the support with some of my ranged spells and items or position myself to their sides to slip in some damage as Leandros acts as the bulwark. If there anything like the Baloth we fought Leandros then we are surely in for a tough time striking underneath them sounds good”, the fellblood responds to Leandros and his concerns about how they were going to approach this.
He then turned his head to respond to Shaa’s question about their experience fighting these vermin, “I have not, I’ve heard of them from other adventurers and books in the libraries I visit sometimes but that is about it. I haven’t heard of this Ray fellow but that seems crazy. A Vorrrepede Nest? Using one as a puppet? My companion, it seems that you truly have been a part of some interesting adventurers”.
Javal then stood by thinking of what he could do to cause some sort of distraction when then looking at the dirt ahead of them he smirked, “I think I can provide a distraction or at least take their attention from us”, he then held his hand out manipulating the dirt (1. Dancing Sand) in front of him to rise and shift around with his control.
He places both of his hands out to start adding to the wave the dust around in a bigger shape and size he then places his fingers in the air and points into the camp ahead of them sending the storm of sand inside.
1. Dancing Sand
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Oct 6, 2023 9:44:47 GMT -5
"Let's hope we can lure these things above ground and avoid chasing them into the earth. We need what advantages we can get and fighting on their turf eliminates a lot of them....Tunnel fighting is always tedious."
It was especially tedious for the knight with a longer weapon than the other two. Confined spaces made wielding a halberd difficult, he could still manage, just in a much more annoyed fashion.
Leandros pulls Byrr to a stop when Shaa goes to sense the ground not wanting to disrupt his sensing. He looks out into the distance trying to see anything of his own. The path they were on eventually opens up into a clearing, but that was off on the horizon, still a good few miles away.
As they pause for a moment, Gilder drops from a tree and shoulders his bow, "They are ahead...camp is destroyed. They churned the whole ground into practically sand. Something has them real pissed off if they are doing all of this."
"Well....perhaps we won't need bait then. If they are angered, our mere presence might be enough to draw them out." Leandros looks to Shaa to see what he's found out.
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Oct 9, 2023 22:38:19 GMT -5
Shaa stands up and looks at Leandros, his eyes squinting in deep thought. Well, on the bright side, there is definitely something still up there. Two something’s underground and one more above, The two underground are moving but staying in the camp. The third one….whoever it is…well….they are just kind of standing there. Like, not moving at all. If they were part of the camp, they should be running or escaping or something but…nothing. Shaa kneeled back down and picked up some damp ground turning it over slowly in his hand, letting it sift through his fingers in large clumps. Nope. It all smelled wrong, very wrong.
He curls a low growl in his throat. Ugh, I don’t like it. On the other hand I don’t see as we have another option. We just have to go in there and see what’s waiting…. He stops suddenly as a thought crosses his mind. No…no screw these guys. They think they are going to mess with us. No no, we are going to mess with them. You guys keep going to the camp. I’m going to go that way and circle around. Just ..stall em. Then…whammo.
Plan in his brain, Shaa runs off parallel to the camp, hurriedly moving to keep double pace with e rest of the group. He had to move quickly but if he made it in time, they would at least not be caught with their pants down. Not that he wore pants. Maybe running around without pants is what made him so dangerous. No surprises. Until there was.
As Shaa moved quickly around the forest to his rendezvous, he feels something coming and screeches to a halt. As he stops, an arrow wizzes past his snout and lodges into knotted tree beside him. He shifts into a fighting stance and squares off with a hooded figure that emerges from the side. Shaa pulls the arrow out of the tree while staring at the figure and bites it in half while staring at him. You missed buddy. You only get one shot at me and you screwed it up. So what the hell is actually going on here?
Fighters Sense Geosense
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Oct 10, 2023 2:40:24 GMT -5
“Yes Indeed, we should find some sort of way to get them out of their Burroughs and onto ground level, I can maybe try to drown out the tunnels perhaps? Manipulating water to get them out of their tunnels is about all I can do to try to chase them out”.
He then holds his hands back out, stopping his small sandstorm in its place and letting the dirt that built up fall back to the floor near them.
He turns his head in surprise as the Gilder fellow pops out of the treeline and informs them of the situation up ahead.
“Whatever would have angered these Vorrrapede fellows? Those travelers? Other Prey? Or is there something else besides them here? If necessary I’m sure we can just rush in there and give those overgrown orthopedists a taste of our strength”, he ponders out loud glancing at Shaa as he finishes scouting the area out with his geosense.
Nodding his head as he listens to Shaa’s findings, “This is getting fishy, or I suppose buggy in this case. Your plan sounds great, friend Shaa and Leandros should be perfectly capable of taking on whatever tricky plans those Vorrapede fellows have in store for us. Isn’t that right, friend?”, he looks over at Leandros.
Javal then looks straight ahead towards the camp and says, “Well let’s get headed there no time like right now to take on these Vorrapede fellows while Shaa tackles whatever mysterious figure is hiding away”.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Oct 10, 2023 16:18:01 GMT -5
"No one travels alone." Leandros motions his head from Gilder towards Shaa. The scout gives a nod and jogs after the minotaur. "Should anything happen to either party we need someone who can relay things....besides I doubt these scenes are disconnected so we may be able to learn something to aid the other."
With that Leandros snaps the reins to take off and meet the vorrapedes head on. Ahead of them it sounds like an earthquake mixed with a landslide. Rocks churn and rub against each other while the ground trembles. The two vorrapedes move in odd patterns that shift back and forth.
For a moment it almost looks as if it is some sort of dance or ritual. There's a purpose to the movements, not just random bug wiggling. Both stop and turn to face the adventurers, clanking their mandibles together in a display of intimidation. A loud screech pierces the air as they charge.
Back with Shaa, Gilder fires a return shot that just barely misses hitting the arrow out of the sky. Before the hooded figure can respond, Gilder already has another arrow nocked and readied. He was going to be ready for the next shot.
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