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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Jan 6, 2024 12:32:43 GMT -5
As much as Astrid doesn’t prefer the cold of Frost Gale, she has to admit the place seems a bit warmer than usual since Vulcadreaus appeared. Unfortunately, the milder weather is a massive problem for the northern reaches of the continent whose climates depend on things not to warm up unexpectedly. With the bulk of the WEF still busy hunting the last of the trolls in Arid Mesa, it’s on their members to continue the efforts to keep people safe by hunting monsters. That is where Astrid and Gerhart come in. It’s been a while since the two of them saw each other, what with both of them busy with clean up, adventuring, and other noble things, but she’s quite happy to be on an adventure with a good friend again. The two of them have bonded over surprising things that they can find funny in hindsight because while life may not have been kind to them in years prior, they’re both doing pretty darn well for themselves now. Flying over the Bleak Mountains on the back of her massive frostfire drake, Big Frizole, aptly named after one of Ulrich’s pets, Astrid keeps an eye out on the horizon with the special telescopic goggles from the WEF pulled over her eyes. As sparsely populated as the range is, the hamlets can be challenging to see at a distance, so the goggles help immensely. Some movement catches her attention, and she focuses in to see a swarm of currently thin but hungry giant bugs scuttling toward a small village. “Gerhart, there!” she says, pointing in that direction. “Action time!” Urging the drake forward, Big Frizole flaps his powerful wings and surges toward the village.
Bringing pets: Big Frizole (Drake Hussar) Buttfellow (Arcanatek Researcher, in pet pocket) Quest details: Quest Name: Check for Ticks Participants: Two or more Location: Frost gale Post Requirements: 8 posts per person, 250 words per post Reward: +1 Mystical Archive Ticket, Choice of 1 Rare crafting material Description: In the aftermath of Mt. Drakolt's eruption and destruction, a heat wave has moved across the region, warming and melting a bunch of ice in the northern regions of Frostgale. This has caused several hives of Glacier Ticks to emerge and move south, looking for fresh food and a place to set up nests. Unfortunately, they found what they were looking for. Several small hamlets and towns across the northern tundra have fallen victim to these pests, turning their small hamlets into a giant tick nest, and using the people as a food source. Assistance is needed in removing these monsters from the local villages. Special Requirements: You are fighting at least 10 adult sized Glacier Ticks while attempting to rescue any remaining civilians trapped in the village.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Jan 6, 2024 13:21:02 GMT -5
These were the types of quests Gerhart was happy to get back to. It was simple and straightforward, just some bugs being mean. He could understand that. No gods threatening to restart the world or whatever happened in Darkveil, no big world changing secrets about dead gods. He never wanted to do this to get embroiled in politics, just help people.
That ethos was why he liked taking any chance to work with Astrid. They had a lot of commonalities, but the desire to just do good and have fun was the strongest. Fighting some weird and big bugs was probably the quickest way to both do good and have fun.
He grins wide and bright when Astrid points them out, "Race you down there!"
Gerhart clicks his tongue and Halcyon pulls his wings in to start a dive. Dragons may be big and fast, but no one can beat a bird in the middle of a dive. Gerhart is only able to stay in the saddle thanks to the training he put into it.
Hal pulls out of the dive and claws at one bug, picking it up and squishing it as they pass. They certainly got the attention of the bugs as they turn to follow the roc, all wanting a taste of the much larger prey.
"CAREFUL, THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM." Gerhart attempted to call back to Astrid, though his voice was more than likely lost in the wind. He pulls on the reins to lead Halcyon to turn back around to make another pass.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Jan 7, 2024 20:10:30 GMT -5
Unlike Gerhart, Astrid doesn’t have a lick of formal training in riding any kind of animals. The only way she’s been able to stay in the saddle with fancy maneuvers is with the addition of some well placed straps that hold her legs in place. When Gerhart and Halcyon dive straight down, she urges Big Frizole to follow, but the drake, with its large size, sees no reason to rush even despite seeing the prey down below. Instead, he lets out a roar and pulls in his wings to enter a free fall, announcing their presence to both the ticks and the panicking villagers.
Holding on tight to the saddle with one hand, Astrid unlatches her lance from its holster and tucks it under her arm. This is the first opportunity she’s gotten to use it, and she’s going to take it. Big Frizole looks for a space large enough for his body in the trees then loops through them directly toward another tick as it approaches the village. Caught off guard, the tick doesn’t move out of the way fast enough to dodge the attack and gets skewered on the lance. The impact causes the lance’s shaft to expand, blowing an even larger hole in the tick before Astrid yanks it out, leaving the creature bloodied and limping on the ground.[1]
Seeing their assailants as large snacks, the ticks change direction and target the two massive beasts instead both for their own safety and their stomaches.
1. Hussar Lance
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Jan 11, 2024 17:59:38 GMT -5
Looking over the side of his saddle, Gerhart can see the panicked villagers. It's good they have the ticks attention, but he'd like to tie up those dozen or so loose ends before it gets worse. He pats Halcyon's back before unhooking his leg straps.
"Stick with Astrid, I'm gonna get the villagers to safety." He stands up and jumps off the roc to the right as Hal goes left to pick up and squish another tick in his talons.
Gerhart summons a pair of leathery blue-scaled wings from his cuirass and dives for the town.
"Not going to just explode into a building this time."
"One time Mads, I do that one time!"
The villagers obviously look a little scared to see someone approaching at such a speed. Many shield their eyes or look away as he lands, wings kicking up snow and bits of ice as he lands. When it clears they are met with Gerhart grinning like a boy.
"Hey, don't worry, we are here to help! Adventurers with the WEF and everything, but we need you all to take shelter all right?"
"How will you protect us? You're just a kid!"
"The girl on the dragon is younger than me actually."
"That's not reassuring."
"OK fair, but look we are really good. She's got a dragon, I have a really big bird, just please, get to safety all right? We have this handled, but its easier if we don't have to worry about you guys. Do not leave until we say its OK, no telling if any of these things might turn around for an easier meal."
Hesitantly, the group agrees to put it in their hands. Good, awesome! Gerhart grins and turns to head back. Unfortunately his descent did not go unnoticed as a few ticks have turned to scuttle for the meal on the ground.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Jan 20, 2024 18:45:39 GMT -5
With the massive size of Big Frizole and Halcyon, several of the remaining ticks leap through the air toward the great beasts, springing into the air and floating effortlessly. Those that miss land roughly on the ground and turn their attention towards the smaller flying snack that is Gerhart while five manage to latch onto the bird and the drake. Big Frizole roars as the ticks sink their Proboscis into his flesh. In an effort to stop the last of them from breaking through, his flaring scales lock together into a steel-like exterior, preventing one of the ticks from making him a snack and deterring another. [1] Two ticks latch on and start bleeding the drake dry. He roars and twists around in the air, blasting an icy breath [2] at one of the falling ticks, but with the insects accustomed to the cold, it does nothing. The drake’s muscles spasm as the ticks’ venom starts making its way through his system, and helpless to do much of anything, he starts to plummet. “Frizole!!” Astrid screams, clutching the saddle and trying her best to fight the ticks, but she can’t get a good angle from the saddle. She quickly sheaths the lance and manifests as much protective magic as she can. Golden light glows around her hands, and then pulses out and covers Big Frizole. [3] This will at least protect the drake from anymore damage when he hits the ground! Then, Astrid hunkers down, ready for a rough landing.
1. Reactive Hardening 2. Ice Breath 3. Divinity’s Blessing Ticks: A. Frigid Exterior B. Paralytic Venom 3 Ticks dead 2 Ticks on Big Frizole 1 Ticks attacking Halcyon 2 Ticks attacking Gerhart 2 Ticks just landed on the ground and have not proceeded further
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Jan 21, 2024 11:31:34 GMT -5
"Hey, you guys are not gonna believe this, but I am lost. Which way is the Pale City?" Gerhart's little joke is lost on the ticks as they just chitter and charge. "OK, be rude!"
He holds his swords out at a slight angle as the ticks come in.[1] Their little feet thunder against the ground and kick up flakes of ice as they look for a tasty meal. As one launches itself into the air, Gerhart seems more than ready for it.
One sword blocks the probiscus to the side while the other quickly cutting into its side.[2] The other tick comes in, but the nose of it glances off his greaves.[3] Gerhart kicks it away and hops backwards to get put them both in front of him again.
The injured tick raggedly pulls itself up to its legs, but its not looking good. The kicked tick is just made more than anything. The one chasing after Halcyon can't quite get the height to attach to the bird, but it does hold to the leg of the bird. Halcyon squawks as it tries to kick the bug from its leg.
"HAL, TRADE!" Gerhart calls up to the bird and watches it start to bank back around. If they timed it right he could take the tick from his leg while Hal sweeps in and pops the ones on the ground.
The ranger holds himself ready for the right moment and just hopes these things don't suddenly gain a lot of intelligence and realize what is happening.
1. Falcon Wing 2. Harrying Guard 3. Greaves HP used
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Jan 21, 2024 15:39:09 GMT -5
In an explosion of snow and dirt, Big Frizole lands heavily on the ground. Luckily the magic protecting him prevents any injuries, though the drake is somewhat dazed. The golden ward glows brighter than before with an energy ready to be released. As he tries to get himself righted, Frizole roars in annoyance at the two ticks that still manage their hold on him, but he realizes something quickly: his rider is not in her saddle.
Astrid is not so lucky to avoid damage from the fall, and upon impact, she gets thrown from the saddle and tumbles down the mountainside, coming to a hard stop against a tree. The two ticks on the ground see a helpless snack and leap in her direction. They are thirsty for blood, and if the bigger creatures are harder to get it from, then they’ll change tactics! As she pushes herself up, Astrid barely manages to see them coming enough to shift her body so the pinchers grab at her cuirass. Two attempts from each of the ticks are unsuccessful, missing from the after images of the Diplopia enchantment and scraping off with dripping ectoplasm from the phantom repairs she made.[1]
The drake, upon seeing this, leaps to his feet and barrels through the snow towards the two ticks attacking his rider. Both ticks hanging onto his sides are dragged along as they engorge themselves on his blood. “NOW!” Astrid shouts, and with a mighty roar, Frizole releases the pent up magic of the aura.[2] It blasts all four ticks with the force of the impact he took upon landing, sending them flying away. Three splatter against trees, stiff chitin driven deep into the bark now stained with blood. One loses its proboscis and struggles to stay on its feet.
Astrid scrambles to her feet and back into the saddle. Hopefully Gerhart is having a better time with the ticks who probably aren’t smart enough to see his and Hal’s brilliant plan coming to fruition.
1. Diplopic Phantom Armor -2/3 hit preventions 2. Divinity’s Blessing - release
Ticks: 6 Ticks dead 1 Ticks attacking Halcyon 2 Ticks attacking Gerhart, 1 is injured 1 Tick missing proboscis and injured
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Jan 22, 2024 14:23:23 GMT -5
"All right Hal, you trust me?"
SCREEAAW! Halcyon pulls in his wing to dive down. The tick tries shoving its probiscus in, but the whipping winds around it make it hard for the tick to both attack and hold on for dear life.
"Gonna take that as a yes."
Gerhart inhales a breath and holds it for a moment. Right as Halcyon pulls out of the dive the sudden stop in momentum dislodges the tick stuck on him. The beating of the large wings also tumbles the others on to their wriggly sides. As they struggle on the ice, Gerhart lets out the breath and a streak of lightning zips out from him.
The heat from the lightning is much closer to Halcyon than the bird likes but it stays uninjured at least. The same can not be said for the ticks. All three are hit and singed by the lightning. The heat actually causing them to boil and then pop like the world's most disgusting blueberry.
Even Gerhart grimaces a bit, "That uh....that was not what I expected. You doin all right Astrid?" He looks over to the half-dwarf who has done almost all of the fighting and handling of the ticks so far.
It seems like most of this group was taken care of. Any stragglers there might be don't seem all that interested in joining the fight. Gerhart can't blame them, even for bugs a flying dragon, giant bird, and two crazy orphans has gotta be weird to watch.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Jan 28, 2024 19:16:08 GMT -5
With her ass back in the saddle, Astrid doesn’t have much time to unrattle herself from her tumble down the mountain. One more tick still threatens to go after something, and Frizole’s steps are less sure-footed now that his rider is in less danger. The girl manifests her warhammer[1] in her hand and with all her might flings it through the air toward the final, limping tick. It slams into the side, cracking and punching through the exoskeleton with great force. Lightning on the hammer dances through the blood, making it harder for the tick to move with its last energy until it finally collapses, dead in the snow.
Recalling her hammer, Astrid leans forward against the saddle and takes a deep breath, trying to get her bearings. Then she hears the screech of Halcyon up the hill nearer the village. “Frizole, let’s go. Can ya move?” With a snort of acknowledgment, Big Frizole pumps his massive wings and lifts himself into the air to meet up with the other orphan adventurer. They both see a flash of lightning and a burst of exploding bugs. The massive drake lands beside Gerhart and looks him over with a studious eye before turning his attention to the roc nearby.
“We’re alright,” Astrid says, giving a tired thumbs up. “Took a tumble down the hill, but nothin’ too major. How’s everyone in the village? Anyone get hurt?” Taking a look around, it doesn’t seem like anything too major has happened. The buildings are largely intact, and besides the blood from the ticks, she can’t see any signs of injuries.
That is, until a loud crash catches their attention and a scream rings out from the other side of the village. Seems like more ticks are out there and on the hunt for easier, less dangerous prey.
1. Spellblade - Always There
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Jan 29, 2024 17:17:18 GMT -5
Halcyon ruffles his feathers and gives a good shake to toss off the viscera that splashed onto him. The giant bird picks of what doesn't come loose as he cleans up. Gerhart rests his hands on his hips with a gently sigh.
"I think it's fine, got everybody back inside easy enough...seems like this was a pretty easy...OH COME ON." The exasperation comes as he hears the screaming. "Just once can we come in, beat up the mosnters, and nothing goes wrong? Thoman see if anyone is injured, I'll head through the streets if Hal and Astrid, you guys don't mind taking to the air."
Halcyon squawks with obvious agreement that yes the bird would enjoy flying. Gerhart smiles and nods before turning to take off. A little cloud of snow kicks up as he hits the turbo to try and cover as much ground as possible.[1]
Another herd of ticks has started to pour into the city chasing after people who had thought the fighting was over. One tick dives for a woman, but before it can pierce her leg the runes on the Guardian blade flare up.[2]
"Oh no you don't!" The probiscus bounces off a barrier as Gerhart passes by stabbing his sword into its back. The tick squelches and wriggles a moment before it stops moving.
"Sorry ma'am it's gross I know, you ok?" She covers her mouth to prevent herself from throwing up as she takes off. "I think that's a yes for the most part."
1. Rushing Charge 2. Guardian Blade (used gauntlet HP)
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Jan 29, 2024 21:19:40 GMT -5
“I feel like just ‘cause ya asked that, somethin’ else is gonna go wrong,” Astrid says. She pulls on Big Frizole’s reins, and the drake takes off into the air, almost just having to leap and glide to reach the other side of town. From up here, Astrid has a good vantage point to see where the ticks are, and she grimaces upon seeing that they’ve scattered. It’s going to be more annoying to hunt them down than it is to fight and kill them.
“Well, Frizole, eat up!” Astrid says before unlatching herself from her saddle, aiming her hammer at the ground near Gerhart, and firing off a bolt of lightning.[1] Letting the electrical energy course through her body, Astrid focuses on the bolt and teleports through it,[2] appearing behind Gerhart. She’s immediately faced with another charging tick, and hefting her hammer, she wields it in both hands to knock it away[3] from him and his barfing damsel. “Watch yerself!” she shouts before turning to look at them for a moment.
“Gerhart, there’s a handful. They scattered through town. Frizole’s probably gonna scoop a couple up, an’ I’m sure Hal will too, but folks sure were confident about comin’ out without us sayin’ so.” Try as she might not to be too rude to the lady on the ground who definitely did exactly that, she kind of is, but it’s more of an exasperated rude than anything. A bit of monster hunting away from the village is easy, but inside the village is so much more complicated.
1. Lightning Bolt (+1 electrical surge charge) 2. Bolt Dancer 3. Bull’s Strength
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Jan 29, 2024 23:16:54 GMT -5
"Maybe I oversold just how handled we had this." He gives a little shrug. All things told, they did have this pretty handled. The second group may have been a surprise, but they were just ticks.
Halcyon swoops down and grabs a tick in his talons, flicking it backwards for Frizole to take out. On the ground, Gerhart spins his blades to shift the grips before he picks up running again. He makes three quick swipes hitting a pair of ticks before sliding past them.[1]
Thoman sprints beside Astrid as he starts herding people back inside, "Close the doors and lock them, don't come out till they say so!"
Over the chaos, no one seems to notice or care that a dog is talking. The large wolf dog stretches out to bite a kid's jacket and pull them out of the way was a tick jumps towards them. Gerhart flashes out his sword dicing the tick up with a blast of wind.[2]
"Where are they all coming from? Think you can send Frizole to see if there's a nest or something? I don't know where ticks from from, but they gotta have something nearby!"
Gerhart calls back to Astrid as he takes a moment to stop and signal for people to get into their homes. It was a lot harder to do this in a village. They couldn't rely on their flying mounts to provide a lot of cover and assistance. The good thing was both of them were pretty quick and more than capable of fighting these things. They were just annoying.
1. Haunting Blade 2. Wind Cutter
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Jan 30, 2024 18:43:27 GMT -5
Sure, they’re just ticks, but Astrid for some reason always has a tough time dealing with monsters when they’re specifically bugs. It isn’t that she’s afraid of them, it’s just that they’re always so darn annoying and tough. And there’s always so many of them. She really should have seen this coming.
Frizole snatches the tick Halcyon flings through the air up in his teeth, crushing the bug with powerful jaws and letting out a triumphant roar. Birds are not as good as drakes and dragons in his opinion, but this bird is skilled and can be considered a valuable ally. If only his ice breath were useful, but… Well, the drake does have a heated second gland, and he is quite good at sensing body heat.
“Aye, he can do that!” Astrid shouts as she grabs a man cowering in an alley and shoves him through a side door. Does he live there? Doesn’t matter! The door is opened, he is thrown inside, and she closes the door. “Frizole!! Go find out where the ticks are comin’ from!!” she shouts into the air. The drake roars in response and turns tail to fly back in the direction the ticks came from. Their information told them that they were freed from melting glaciers, but there might be a nest nearby.
Dashing back into the streets, Astrid sees a woman struggling to get inside with a tick blocking her way. She lets lightning manifest around her body and surges through the air like a little lightning meteor, crashing down on top of the tick and splattering it in an explosion of electricity.[1] “I DUNNO WHY YA CAME OUTSIDE, LADY! GO!” The woman tries to avoid the electrified goo puddle but Astrid grabs her arm and forces her through to the door, much to the woman’s chagrin.
1. Astrid’s Valkyrie Strike
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Feb 1, 2024 10:06:27 GMT -5
Gerhart would say they have to be a little gentle with the people, but he has to sprint forward[1] and shoulder check a man through his own window to save him from a tick. The probiscus instead ends up grazing Gerhart's neck. Thankfully it isn't able to land, but the freezing body of the tick makes it sting way worse than a normal tick.
He turns and stabs through the tick before it can scramble up and back to its feet, "Sorry man, but you really gotta stay inside."
The herd of ticks is starting to thin out, but there is a rumbling in the ground. Frizole and Halcyon spot a hole just out side of town the ticks seem to come from that has now become the source of the rumbling. After a moment the largest tick they've ever seen bursts through sending a spray of ice and snow into the air that Halcyon has to quick dodge away from. The tick is about the size of a large polar bear and that probiscus is aimed right at the town.
"Well.....wasn't expecting that. Think if we kill their king...or queen...whatever, kill the big one and think they scatter?" He looks to Astrid, already making his way towards the big one. Gerhart makes a sharp whistle for Halycon, they needed to reach the tick before it got to the village, the little ones wouldn't be able to break through doors but this big one could.
1. Rushing Charge
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 3, 2024 0:27:29 GMT -5
Using his heat glands to sense temperature in the mountains,[1] Big Frizole flies around the area from the village, following trails in the snow made by the ticks until detecting a particularly cold borough. As he roars to announce his presence then blast ice and heat[2] in the area. This, unfortunately, melts the snow and uncovers that very large tick. Surprised by its appearance, Frizole roars again and can’t manage to get an angle through the trees. The tick rushes to town with Frizole following from the air.
And on queue, it appears, leaping into the air with proboscis flicking hungrily.
Astrid looks up at it with an exasperated expression. “I… Don’t see no reason that can’t work,” she says. “That thing’ll crush a house if we ain’t quick an’ careful.” She looks into the sky to see Frizole giving chase but not able to stop it sooner with the thick of the trees stopping him. Hurrying after Gerhart, Astrid thinks up a plan.
“Remember how we stopped the Remorhaz when we were tryin’ ta get into the WEF?” she asks. “I’ll get that spell ready ta go ta hold it in place so we can all wail on it together!” Scern’s spell, the one she learned from the man who started Charon’s strange descent into primordial madness. He can’t even be completely blamed for everything because all he did was uncover the truth and reveal it to the world. Is the truth better even if things are harder? That’s something Astrid wonders all the time. How much of the truth is she willing to hear?
Drawing on the magic within while she runs, Astrid starts to weave together threads that will form chains. She just needs to get in range of the tick to unleash the imprisoning spell upon it. If only she could cast it on all the ticks at once to keep them from hurting the people in the village, but that would take considerable effort, and even if she conjured up enough duplicates, there’s no guarantee it would work.
The tick is closer, it’s almost in range. “I just need another minute!”
1. Thermal Senses 2. Dual Glands
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