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Post by Beak on Jun 17, 2024 23:38:43 GMT -5
(OOC: This is the quest "Fear Comes Alive" from the A Walk Through Wonder event and is a direct continuation of our previous thread.) A skeleton warrior ran into the now-deserted streets, away from the small drink stand and toward the family of corvids who had already flown off in various directions. The skeleton, Beak, was normally known for her insistent--if flimsy--disguise. An all-concealing robe, a walking stick, and leaning forward in a hunch gave her the appearance of an old woman, if an extremely bizarre and eccentric one. Ever since she'd risen from the dead and began roaming Charon in her skeletal state, she's always been terrified of being seen, of being discovered.Now, though? This is important.She runs. Fast. She left most of her disguise behind, as it would only get in her way. She now has what looks like a martial arts outfit--loose, comfortable, and overall mobile pants and a sleeveless top reveal bare bony arms from shoulder to wrist, where the new cold-iron enhanced gloves she just received take over. Bare skeletal feet clack with each step as the skeleton--clearly no old crone, this, but a spry warrior of a dead and forgotten tribe--charges toward the same disturbance from which every other citizen of the capitol appears to be running. The leathery fins adoring either side of her skeletal face are tucked tightly as she runs, as if the aerodynamics of doing so could make her just a little bit faster. The Blackfeathers.The Blackfeathers are out there, somewhere, fighting a dragon if the townsfolk's terrified screams are to be believed. And after everything they've done for her, Beak is not going to sit by and just... let them face that kind of danger. Not if she can help.Which she can. She thinks. The last time she fought in a major battle... well, she died. And so did the entire rest of her tribe. But this is her chance to prove she's not some dismal failure, or even a burden for the corvids to carry. This is her turn to save them." Nak korok rer nistor Abek," 1 she thinks to herself, as she runs toward her friends. " Sustog sos tusdirrin kur." 2 1 "I am the warrior, Abek." 2 "Today I serve my kin."
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 18, 2024 1:07:04 GMT -5
The Blackfeathers, meanwhile, are already scattered, Wind and Wind having established something of a sniper’s nest atop a carriage while Whistle and Loci dart toward the dragon alongside their parents, Whistle’s twin bayonets in hand and Loci easily keeping ahead of his twin as they dodge gouts of flame - and then Loci punches a fireball out of the air, hissing in pain as the explosion of flame washes over him, setting his clothes alight but not reaching his sister as they continue their charge forward. Rena, for her part, simply… vanishes, invisibility rippling over her as she zips across the cobbled street on skates of icy metal, the telltale scraping of those skates unnaturally silent as she circles around to the beast’s back…her invisibility briefly fails as she hurls four slender feather knives at the beast’s back just as it rears up to slam the ground with its forelegs, but it doesn’t matter because the dragon didn’t see her, doesn’t know she’s there - four feather blades strike home, the first two piercing scales like butter and delivering their payload of poison just before the second pair drives in just below the first two. The dragon lets out a roar of pain before abruptly a moment of twisting flesh/warping scales/melting bones a tall, slender humanoid with a roughly octopus shaped head and discolored skin stands in its place, those slender feather blades still stuck in its back as it spins around and focuses its ire on Rena…whose invisibility has already recovered, the creature letting out a confused noise as it sees no source of its new wounds... …and then a frigid crossbow bolt slams into the thing’s back, directly between the four feather blades already embedded in its flesh… …and then Whistle and Loci dart past, one of Whistle’s bayonets scoring a line of pain along the back of one of the creature’s knees as she halfway hamstrings it. the creature lets out a howl of rage and a moment of twisting flesh/warping scales/melting bones is abruptly replaced by a floating ball covered in eyestalks, the central eye glaring balefully out at its enemies as it turns to focus on the source of the crossbow bolt in its rear... ...and then two caustic-eyed spirits flank the creature, their twin auras suffusing and sinking into the thing as it suddenly begins to struggle a little more...
Combat Sheet Rena - 0/6 wounds Action - Invisibility Action - Two thrown Venom Feathers, two thrown Duelist Feathers Non-action - activation of Ice Skates, flight Movement - North Quadrant, in the air Active Effects Mighter than the Sword - 0/5 Weapons Duelist's Feathers - Slashing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Offhand - 40/40 ammo - 1/1 hp Venom Feathers - Piercing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Poison - 40/40 ammo Soulbound Bayonet - Slashing, Reach - Doublestrike, Lifelink, Serrated Rose Urumi - Slashing, Reach - Infinite petals Blackfeather Bayonets - Doublestrike, Dashing Blackfeather Pistols - no enhancements Blackfeather Staff - no enhancements Drake Gland - Ice Defenses Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Abilities Guardian Spirit - Caller of Spirits - 0/2 Banner Lord - 2/2 Spell Suspension - 2/2 Multi-Attack - 3/3 Pills of Vitality - 3/3 Quick Palm Lock Pick Undying Frenzy Passives Hired Help - Two for One Enchanting Sigil - Ice Undead Servant - Army of the Damned Persistent Dead Tools of the Trade Throwing Arts Climbing Arts Stormrider's Cloak Brain Helmet Wings Silent Step Backstab Silent Step Surface Scaling Shooter's Sense Far Sight
Loci - 1/4 wounds Action - punching a fireball Non-action - Movement - north quadrant, grounded Effects Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Wind - 0/4 wounds Action - Non-action - Movement - South quadrant, atop a carriage Effects Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Whistle - 0/4 wounds Action - slashing the creature Non-action - Movement - north quadrant, grounded Weapon - Icicle Blades - Reach - Slashing - Ice Effects - none Wind - 0/4 wounds - 20/20 bolts Action - shooting the creature Non-action - Movement - south quadrant, atop a carriage Weapon - Frost Ballista - Ranged - Piercing - Ice Effects - none Bell - 2/2 hp Action - Non-action - Movement - Center Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud. NevAction - Non-action - Movement - Center Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud. Mael - Wind conversion 1/1 Action - asleep Non-action - slumbering Movement - dreaming Effects - none Hanehiko Action - elsewhere Non-action - eating Movement - relaxing Effects - Slipstream Bridle -/4
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Post by Beak on Jun 18, 2024 1:58:44 GMT -5
"Rena!!" Beak... well, "shouts" is a peculiar word for a skeleton with no ability to talk/ but she broadcasts that message telepathically at nothing in particular. She doesn't see Rena anywhere, but she's right beside the carriage where two of her young have set up the sniper's nest. This would be a great place to camp and join them were her combat style ranged, but... the only things she brought into this battle are her fists and a few telepathic tricks. "Wind! Wind! I don't have time to stay, but-" as she's already running farther ahead, "-you should be able to answer me with your mind while I'm talking to you, at least until I get *too* far away. Now, where is your mother? Where's the dragon?" (This sounds like a lengthy speech to be given while actively running away from someone, but mental communication relies on more feelings and raw thought without actually needing to put it into words, and happens, well... at *the speed of thought,* when untranslated.) Assuming the chicks can guide her, she takes their guidance and runs further toward the disturbance, finding the floating eyestalked monster and... perhaps if she looked carefully enough she might see Rena as the invisibility flickers, too, but there's no time for that. No sooner does she arrive than the beast blast her with a beam of powerful heat from one of its eyes, enough that she has to cross her arms and dig her feet into the ground, bracing herself, to avoid being knocked over by it. She's still standing, but that... hurt. A lot. But... no. No. Not like this. She didn't come all this way to fail again and make the Blackfeathers rescue her. Her turn. She lunges forward, fists flying. The Blackfeathers knew that Beak was no feeble old woman, but it might nevertheless be a surprise to see that she's this fast when uncloaked. She is still a trained warrior, even if her last loss cost her everything. and she's already landed four blows in a one-two-one-two combo before either the beast or the spirits knew what was coming. The beast roars and cries out in pain, its form beginning to destabilize ass the effects of the cold iron on two of those punches sink in. Briefly turned by that effect, it tries to flee, to escape until its form stabilizes again, but between a sort of malaise from the cold iron and the effects of the spirits holding it, it doesn't get nearly as far as it would have wanted.
Combat sheet: Beak - 2 / 6 Wounds Action: Attacking the creature (primary hand) Action: Attacking the creature (offhand) Non-action: Message (Wind and Wind) Movement: Center Weapon (primary hand): Unarmed Weapon (offhand): Blackfeather Glove (Unarmed, Hand to Hand - Cold Iron, Offhand) Passives: Extra body enhancement slot (applies to all weapons in both hands) - Doublestrike
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 18, 2024 2:38:31 GMT -5
And then Rena flickers back into visibility right beside Beak, letting out an angry shriek as she darts forward, no weapons in her hands as she charges the creature…and just as she reaches the halfway point, she changes in a moment of melting bone and warping flesh and rippling feathers, and when it’s over Rena isn’t there, having been replaced in that instant by a tall, lanky crow-thing, with razor talons and a jagged beak that the new beast uses to tear into the destabilized creature in a devastating blow that rips a chunk from the other’s body as it lets out a roar of pain and struggles to get away… …and then Whistle ducks under it, slashing along the bottom of the orb-creature as Wind lets loose another bolt into the creature’s flesh, the shifting, twisting thing destabilizing a little further with every blow as it desperately , ineffectually scrambles to get away… … Bell and Nev turn those caustic eyes on Beak, their heads tilting slightly, their eyes widening as they take in her garb and observe the rapid series of blows she inflicts upon the target. Nev in particular sports an avian grin as the spirits shift to keep the destabilized creature within their auras…
Combat Sheet Rena - 0/6 wounds Action - Werebeast Transformation Action - Talon blow Non-action - Movement - Center, Grounded Active Effects Mighter than the Sword - 0/5 Bestial Transformation 3/3 - Weapons Duelist's Feathers - Slashing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Offhand - 40/40 ammo - 1/1 hp Venom Feathers - Piercing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Poison - 40/40 ammo Soulbound Bayonet - Slashing, Reach - Doublestrike, Lifelink, Serrated Rose Urumi - Slashing, Reach - Infinite petals Blackfeather Bayonets - Doublestrike, Dashing Blackfeather Pistols - no enhancements Blackfeather Staff - no enhancements Drake Gland - Ice Defenses Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Abilities Bestial Transformation 0/1 Guardian Spirit - Caller of Spirits - 0/2 Banner Lord - 2/2 Spell Suspension - 2/2 Multi-Attack - 3/3 Pills of Vitality - 3/3 Quick Palm Lock Pick Undying Frenzy Passives Hired Help - Two for One Enchanting Sigil - Ice Undead Servant - Army of the Damned Persistent Dead Tools of the Trade Throwing Arts Climbing Arts Stormrider's Cloak Brain Helmet Wings Silent Step Backstab Silent Step Surface Scaling Shooter's Sense Far Sight
Loci - 0/4 wounds Action - Non-action - Movement - South, Carriagetop Effects Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Wind - 0/4 wounds Action - Non-action - Movement - South, Grounded Effects Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Whistle - 0/4 wounds Action - Slashing attack Non-action - Movement - South, Grounded Weapon - Icicle Blades - Reach - Slashing - Ice Effects - none Wind - 0/4 wounds - 20/20 bolts Action - Crossbow Bolt Non-action - Movement - South, Carriagetop Weapon - Frost Ballista - Ranged - Piercing - Ice Effects - none Bell - 2/2 hp Action - Non-action - Movement - Center, Floating Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud. NevAction - Non-action - Movement - Center, Floating Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud.
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Post by Beak on Jun 18, 2024 15:57:26 GMT -5
The Blackfeathers haven't seen Beak in full combat mode, her movements this fast when they're fully unrestrained... but neither has Beak seen Rena's werebeast form. Rena did tell her that the hag had placed a beast in her mind, a beast of hunger and fury, and losing control to it was what cost her her family and half her clutch... but Beak had somehow assumed that was a metaphor. A figurative way to describe a craving, not.... Well. Today is a day of firsts and revelations on all sides. There will be so much to unpack after this. But now's not the time to get distracted. The beast is reeling from the effects of the cold iron, the injuries it has sustained, and both wraiths slowing its movements down as it tries desperately yet uselessly to flee. Its magic should be sealed by now--hence it not taking on another form besides the unstable mass--and its movements are sluggish. The Blackfeathers have left it wide open; she couldn't ask for a more perfect setup for a grand finale. It's time to end this. To avenge her previous loss and failure. To set her own doubts at ease, to prove both to herself and the Blackfeathers that she is worthy of calling herself an Ibekki warrior. To protect those who have become increasingly dear to her, even if they seem to have the situation well under control at this point. And perhaps to show off a little and try to impress some folks she seems to be growing more and more fond of by the hour...."Haaaa...." If landing four blows in the blink of an eye was something, that was when she was distracted by having to run all that way to join the combat, then taking a major wound from the beam attack she'd been blasted with right when she arrived. How the beast is wide open and her thoughts are clear. How about eight?"TAAA!" The blows are almost too fast to see, and the sound of impact from each almost sounds like a slow drum roll. But eight solid blows later--four of which come from that cold iron-laced glove--the unstable mass simply explodes with the force of the final blow, remnants of nebulous fae-fluids splashing... well, just about everywhere. Beak holds the follow-through posture from that final punch, her eyes fixed solidly on where the creature once stood, taking several long moments just to make sure it's not coming back. Finally satisfied that it's over, she relaxes her posture, finally allowing herself to look around... ... and seeing the small handful of bystanders who had stayed, who hadn't fled, and who now are getting a full, unobstructed view of not only the werebeast but the skeleton. They don't seem to be making any torches-and-pitchforks motions despite both "monsters" being in full view--they... even seem appreciative of having been saved? But Beak's posture remains defensive until she can be absolutely certain.
Combat sheet: Beak - 2 / 6 Wounds Action: Attacking the creature (primary hand + offhand, Doublestrike on each) Action: Attacking the creature (primary hand + offhand, Doublestrike on each) Non-action: Message (No specific target, just broadcasting a general kiai equivalent) Movement: Center Weapon (primary hand): Unarmed Weapon (offhand): Blackfeather Glove (Unarmed, Hand to Hand - Cold Iron, Offhand) Passives: Extra body enhancement slot (applies to all weapons in both hands) - Doublestrike
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 18, 2024 16:49:26 GMT -5
Caustic eyes calm, and the chicks scramble to join their parents in the center, chirping and trilling with excitement as they swarm around Beak even as the massive beast that Rena had become turns to regard her with eyes still blazing that cold, caustic white…the creature stands with a slight hunch, black frost crackling amongst its feathers as it lets out a puff of freezing fog in Beak’s face…and then those slender, razor taloned hands snap forward, snatching up the elder skeleton and…cradling her to its chest with a soft coo?
The specter of smoke and the wraith of ink float to the ground, their auras dissolving and their forms becoming distinctly less ethereal than when that energy had been emanating from them. The raven trills softly, examining their bestial bondmate for a long moment before letting out an affectionate chirp and nuzzling up against Rena’s side and nibbling against her feathers as she nuzzles and gently nips at Beak’s snout, that jagged beak impossibly gentle…
Bell, for his part, clambers up to join Beak in Rena’s arms, trilling happily and tilting his head at the elder skeleton before smirking, “...somethin’ tells me ye thought she was bein’ metaphorical, back when she told ye about this…” the specter shakes his head a little, letting out a chirp of amusement, “...she’s jus’ figured out how t’ manage it. Helps that she managed t’ kill the thing the Hag put in her head t’ undermine her control…”
The crowd doesn’t seem to know what to make of the new monster cradling the undead lizard woman, or of two skeletons among the four crow children crowding around its legs, or about the two wraiths that press against it…these strange figures had saved them from the shapeshifting fae monstrosity…
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Post by Beak on Jun 18, 2024 17:09:32 GMT -5
The crowd likely has as much to take in from all of this as Beak herself does. A shapeshifting fae monstrosity was on the attack, and now what--at least, visually--look like more monsters saved them from the first, except these ones mean them no harm... now that the battle's over, they're celebrating in each other's arms as affectionately and jubilantly as any one of the gawking bystanders would....
This is ordinarily where Beak would be terrified; having her secret exposed in front of an entire potentially hostile mob has been one of her greatest fears ever since she awakened like this. At this moment, though, her only concern is the family she's now being swarmed and adored by, and whom she holds and adores in return. So long as no one's attacking, they can be the second priority in her mind.
"I, ah... certainly did not expect this, no...."
She regards Rena's werebeast form, taking in every detail she can from her current angle. This is the creature that ate Bell, that caused Loci, Wind, and Hum to freeze... but the others don't seem to hold any lingering resentment or awkwardness toward her for that, which she takes as something of a relief; she wasn't planning to, either, and their seeming fineness with it gives her cover and permission to be, as well. If anything, she finds the creature more pitiable than evil... even at its worst, it was simply a slave to instinct, it was hungry, and... did they say the hag had placed something to undermine control even further? No, this is a force of nature, no more willfully evil than a poisonous plant is; it simply is. And... Beak has to admit this to herself even if she doesn't dare think it out loud to anyone else yet... she finds her oddly beautiful, even like this. Especially like this.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 18, 2024 18:52:42 GMT -5
Rena lets out another soft coo, that jagged beak gently nibbling at Beak’s muzzle and forehead as the monstrous crow cradles the elder skeleton to her chest, those enormous, ragged wings mantling protectively about her gathered dear ones as she lets out a quiet trill, that same frozen fog puffing from her beak as her free hand lifts up, one taloned finger extended to gently, oh so gently rub between Beak’s eye sockets as she chirps softly, those burning white eyes seeming to take in every little detail as the monstrous crow gently squeezes the elder skeleton with the arm she’s using the cradle her…
Bell trills in amusement, amber eyes shimmering gently, “...scared me t’ death the first few times she changed like this…but she’s more snuggly than anything else, so it was pretty easy t’ get past…” even as he speaks, those amber eyes watch with amusement as his living, currently bestial bondmate nuzzles and nibbles at Beak’s snout and forehead.
Nev, for their part, nuzzles against Rena’s side, nibbling at her feathers and chirping happily as they lift up their youngest daughter into a gentle, cradling hold, cooing softly as the little skeleton chirps happily and nestles close…
The crowd slowly disperses, the people regathering their wits and choosing to ignore the monsters that had saved them in favor of finding their own loved ones…
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Post by Beak on Jun 18, 2024 23:27:02 GMT -5
"Ehehe, so I see... she really is." There's a warm feeling... ironically, for the death and destruction this form caused, Beak feels safe in the werebeast's arms. That claw... so big, so sharp, so dangerous, yet so gentle... and... stars above, that caress right between her eye sockets. Skeletons don't blush but the frazzled, distorted shorting of her telepathic signal says it all.
Oh, she likes this form. She likes this form a lot.
The crowd slowly disperses and... that's... that. Huh. It was plainly obvious from the defensive posture she took that she was worried how the crowd would react, how they would take seeing this skeleton walking among them when she was out of her disguise. No torches and pitchforks, which is a very welcome surprise... certainly kinder treatment than she'd have gotten among her own kind. No congratulatory speeches or "thank you brave heroes" or anything, either... just... people seeing a very unusual sight, determining that the danger has passed, and going back to their own business. Their own families. Making sure their own loved ones are safe, enjoying the same reunions that Beak and the Blackfeathers are enjoying now.
... Or perhaps they're too nervous about approaching the current "monsters" even if they clearly mean no harm, or perhaps, in a city like this, these are just the kinds of eccentric folks that happen around here sometimes.
Whatever the reason, that's fine. Beak never needed to be worshiped. Just... being accepted and maybe impressing the Blackfeathers with her capabilities is enough.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 19, 2024 0:17:09 GMT -5
The monstrous crow lets out an amused, almost chortling sound, cooing again as she straightens up a bit and begins the trek toward the Blackfeather’s quarters for their time in the city. Even as she walks, she’s gently nipping and nibbling at the elder skeleton with her jagged beak, occasionally licking Beak’s forehead with a long, rasping, ice cold tongue.
All in all, it takes about a half hour for the Blackfeathers to make it back to their ‘burrow’ in the city, and by that point the monstrous crow has begun to flag, drooping and tired and overheated under the sun pounding down from above.
So it should be no surprise that she returns to her more normal form almost as soon as Beak is gently set down outside the small, seemingly abandoned building the Blackfeathers have claimed for their time in the city, a great cloud of icy fog exploding from her massive form and clearing to reveal Rena as she was before, save that she's become visibly tired and drooping. The silver eyed crow collapses forward against Beak with a soft noise of exhaustion, heedless of the chirps of amusement from her bondmates as they usher the group into the building…
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Post by Beak on Jun 19, 2024 4:21:07 GMT -5
It only occurs to Beak as she's being carried away that she'd left most of her disguise back in that place where they'd gotten their drinks, before the dragon attack... fortunately, that's not a long distance at all from where the fight took place. Depending on which way she's being carried, if they're heading back that way again, then she can pick them up again along the way. If not... hopefully one of the younglings would be kind enough to fetch them? She would do it herself, but she seems to be rather captured at the moment. Every nibble and lick along her skull sending the most pleasant shivers through the old bones... yes, clearly this is some sort of paralysis induced as part of the abduction. A wicked magic, indeed.
Not that she needs or wants to put the disguise back on once she has it again, mind. Settled in the burrow, she's happy to remain comfortable, and for her, the martial arts top and pants are about as comfortable as she can get without stripping to the point of indecency. No hood, fins free to splay, bare arms, feet, tail... she even carefully removes the gloves and sets them in the pile as the boots, wrappings, robe, and walking stick.
She sees Rena's fatigue and quickly leads her to bed. She briefly struggles with a few conflicting emotions--mostly desire versus fear, the worry over whether she's overstepping some bound... but, if the grooming on the way to this place was all right, then maybe she can get away with joining Rena in that bed. Not for anything untoward, mind; she simply means to continue the snuggling that's been happening since Rena's transformation, and... well... she's not the only one with the need for some rest. Beak did take a rather nasty wound in that battle, after all. Nothing that won't heal eventually, they always do, but... well... she'll be sleeping that one off for a while, most likely.
Worth it.
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ring ring ring ring ring ring ring, BABY CROWS
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 19, 2024 4:41:49 GMT -5
Rena is quick to make that decision for Beak, letting out a sleepy chirp as she reaches up to drag the skeleton down into the nest of blankets and cushions and nuzzles under the taller woman’s jaw and against the vertebrae of her neck, a low purr rumbling from her chest as she nestles against her, those silver eyes drifting shut as some instinct has her gently nibbling at those vertebrae her beak is nuzzled against…
…the chicks happily scamper off to retrieve Beak’s disguise, returning some time later to find their dad and bab’sk having joined Rena and Beak in the makeshift nest, Loci trilling in amusement before shaking his head and joining his siblings in devouring the meal that Bell had prepared for them in their absence…
…Bell shifts a little against Beak’s other side, those amber eyes glancing over Rena’s snoozing form before he speaks for a moment, “...well, I’m hopin’ it’s obvious by now what that ring o’ feathers means…” the specter smiles softly, gently nuzzling Beak and nestling close, a small smirk ruffling the feathers around his beak as Rena mumbles a little in her sleep and hugs Beak a little tighter, gently nipping at the vertebrae of the skeleton’s neck once again as she lets out a contented chirp…
...Nev, for their part, mantles a wing over the others as they nestle against Rena's back, gently nibbling between Beak's eye sockets with a soft, affectionate smile...
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Post by Beak on Jun 19, 2024 17:23:18 GMT -5
Beak... had a suspicion as to the purpose of the ring, yes. She merely didn't want to presume, didn't want to read too much into what might have been a simple friendship token if she guessed wrong. It turns out that her first guess was exactly correct, though. She merely didn't have enough confidence in her answer being correct to voice it at the time, but whether she was confident the answer was correct or not, it was.
Perhaps there's a lesson in there about learning to trust herself more or doubt herself less, or... something.
That... is a topic for another day. The poor dear has a ways to go to work on that particular issue. But... small steps. One day at a time.
For now, she's now freer to explore the ramifications of that meaning now that she knows, now that it's confirmed. She'd gladly accepted the ring when it was offered because she was more than happy to accept whatever it meant: If it meant friendship, affection, simply seeing Beak as one of their own, then... yes. If it meant... something more, then yes. And now that the ambiguity is cleared away and the weight of the gesture truly is sinking in... yes, yes, a million times yes. Stars, yes. She just took a beam to the face to impress the Blackfeathers, to prove her worth to them, like a giddy schoolchild trying to impress a playground crush. She'd gladly take a thousand such beams to earn a response like this.
For now, Rena and Beak alike both have the battle to rest off--Rena's fatigue to restore, Beak's wounds to recover--and so Beak is happy to leave the affection at snuggling as the two simply rest, sleep in each other's arms. There will be time for more later... a thought that leaves Beak feeling fluttery in organs such as her stomach that she technically shouldn't even still possess.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 19, 2024 17:59:36 GMT -5
Rena lets out a contented trill, nuzzling against the vertebrae of Beak’s neck, her hand somehow finding itself twined with the one bearing the ring of feathers as she relaxes further, the silver eyed crow nestling close in her slumber.
The children trill to each other as they clean up after their meal, fond eyes glancing toward their parents and not-yet-parent all nestled together in the makeshift burrow’s makeshift nest before the chicks pile into their own nest of blankets and cushions, nestling against each other and pulling out the objects of their various hobbies - a book, a sketchpad and charcoal stick, a block of wood and a woodcarving knife, a wooden flute - before setting about whiling away the hours until it’s time to move once more…and one by one, they begin to droop, the day’s exertion and the food in their bellies beginning to catch up to them. One by one, the children set aside their respective hobbies that they might curl up, nestle against their siblings, and slowly drift off with chirps of contentment…
…Nev smiles softly, cobalt eyes shimmering with affection and adoration as gentle talons alternate between tracing Rena’s feathers, Beak’s jaw, and Bell’s arm, the wraith of ink and stardust letting out a soft coo as they nestle a little more firmly into the makeshift nest…
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