Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 17, 2020 1:57:55 GMT -8
Name: Temple Predator Type: Task Location: Yoruba Requestee: Cabal Difficulty: 1 Significance: 1 Objective: Slay the Devil Taker. Sub-Objective: Earn access to the Azure Orb. Plot: Upon Yoruba's landing in the North Blue, all sorts of strange creatures have migrated to the island, looking for food or territory. One such beast has been successful, making it difficult for natives to get close to their own temple, one that guards their greatest treasures. The natives have asked for help in getting rid of this "Devil Taker" beast while their guardians are otherwise occupied by invaders. Wishlist: Island Information Relations with Native NPCs Cast: PCs: Rigel, Melissa NPCs: Cabal, Chile "Devil Taker" Wild Beast.
Last Edit: Jul 17, 2020 1:58:18 GMT -8 by Rigel Larrat
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 17, 2020 2:26:03 GMT -8
Rigel waded through a calm river of Yoruba, only moments following daybreak. He'd rested and recovered following his brief encounter with the marine captain, Denji Kord, and the injuries had fallen away from his body in the short rest. Before they departed to search for the Devil Taker, Rigel had requested that he get the chance to take a short swim through the rivers. Not only did he feel dirty, but he wanted to clear his mind, refocusing on the task at hand. Rigel wanted the treasures of the island to bring back to the Underworld and protect his friends. Rigel didn't want to steal them from the natives, and instead earn that treasure.
This time, that would mean doing the job that the native guardians had struggled to complete. They were meant to contend with this Devil Taker beast. Rigel mused as to what the mysterious animal would be. He'd seen a great deal of animals across the island, both small and large. Nothing seemed to completely dominate the landscape as the natives described this one beast. The fact that it lacked a physical description was amusing too. Mysteries protected other mysteries on this island. Devilish powers, Devil Taker, mysterious trials.
Rigel wasn't able to clear his mind, evidently.
Breaking from the river, Rigel would shake off the water, pulling his clothes over his head once again. "Melissa!" Rigel didn't immediately see her as he was getting out of the river. "Ready to head out?" All the musing was only perpetuating the mystery. Before the pirate came to some uninformed guess, he elected to just take things as they came to him.
Melissa had jumped at the chance to get her feet wet. She had followed Rigel, though chose to swim further down than he was. Finding a small patch that deepended enough for her to actually swim a few feet. Submerging herself fully, she took in a deep breath. The waters embrace granting her a calm that only it could. She wasn't aware of anything at this moment but the feel of the cold river around her. She didn't even realise how long it had been, when she finally broke the surface. As she broke, she heard his voice. The young man whom had grown to become a friend to the mermaid. So much so that Melissa Devaroux no longer at this point in time wore her disguise. He had earned her trust.
"I'm ready" she shouted as she dawned her natural attire. she ran her hands through each individual tentacle upon her head, feeling the water trickling down each one. "That was so nice. It feels like its been so long since I'v been underwater" she said with a childish giggle. She didn't bother drying herself off. Water was her weapon, why would she bother. She did though fill up her water skins from the river. Preparing her weapons was something she had to remember to do. If she happened to be in a place that didn't revolve around water, then this was her only means. Though lately.....she had been sensing it. Strange I know but, when she touched Ko, it was as if she could feel the water flowing within him. "So, we've got a beast to kill right?"
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 17, 2020 16:11:29 GMT -8
Rigel turned in surprise. Melissa looked how she looked without her disguise. "No lies between us. I like this a lot better." To actually know what a friend looked like, underneath all the external coverings she clung to, felt better, more natural. Melissa seemed a bit more comfortable as well. The stuttering, stammering young lady that he'd met at Java was a distant memory. She was confident and sarcastic now, playful even. She was much more fun as company.
"I'm not your tour tour guide, let's get a move on, alright?" Chile, the guardian that Cabal had entrusted to the pair of Rigel and Melissa seemed dedicated to getting them on their way as quickly as possible. The young girl seemed a great divergence from the serious Ho-Ho, but was just as fearsome looking. Between her strange staff and ornate bird mask, she gave off a threatening aura that felt as though it could strike from any angle. When Rigel got closer, Chile would start to walk off. "Ready?" But wouldn't wait for an answer.
The guardian seemed to dive into the depths of the forest and Rigel panicked. "I guess we're following!" he shrugged at Melissa, running along unless she spoke up about any problems. Chile's pace seemed more like she was trying to lose the pair of foreigners rather than show them the way to the beast's domain. Rigel was only just able to follow the trailing cloth of her outfit to keep up. The situation on Yoruba was urgent, but the rush of this expedition felt excessive all the same. "Don't you think we could ease up! We're gonna be gassed before we even start to fight!"
"That's your problem! I've got places to be," Chile would shout back. "The Temple of Conflagration is poised to be invaded by some marines! I've got to get there to do some real work." Rigel had been unaware another raid was being made onto the Shandorian land. They really were being invaded from every angle. It also explained why Hanisu and Ho-Ho hadn't been there to see the two pirates off on their quest.
Rigel was going to abandon the argument when a shadow passed over him, like a swift cloud. The pirate stopped in his tracks to see the flying form struggling to get any altitute, weighed down by a small band of similarly familiar soldiers. "Hey, Melissa! Aren't those revolutionaries? Chile! Wait up!"
"As do i" Melissa said softly. As Chile pipped up, Melissa rolled her eyes. "Why couldn't Ganon or Ho-Ho escort us" she moaned. She would sigh. "Oh fuck" Melissa groaned as she took off running after Rigel who wen't running after Chile. She ran forward with such fierce speed....that would eventually have her shouting to Chile to "SLOW THE FUCK DOWN, I CAN'T FOLLOW". Though she doubted the little cretin would worry about that. In fact Melissa could have sworn the little bitch had sped up.
As the shadows loomed over their head. Melissa would look to the sky as did Rigel, both halting. "Thank god" Melissa said ever so softly. "I hope we don't run into that Kangaroo guy......He's probably not my best friend" Melissa said. "Chile, can you tell us more about this beast? These guys up there, they might be able to help us" Melissa said pointing to what would hopefully be some form of ally.
The mermaid would stretch out her hands though, shaking her hips slightly. Whatever creature they had to face, they had to dispatch it quickly. They could not allow the marines or the other forces on the land to reach the temple first, if they did, the guardians might be murdered for their treasures.
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 20, 2020 11:37:20 GMT -8
Chile saw the people fall to the ground herself, finally pausing in her dash across the forest. Rigel would check to see if Melissa was okay before finding Cabra and a few of her subordinates in a small clearing, bloody and scratched up. "Come quick, they're hurt!" Rigel would call to Chile and Melissa, trying to examine their injuries. The attacks made on them didn't resemble a sword or gun, they came in patterns of four, or semi circle marks matching the image of jaws. They were from an animal.
"What happened to you guys?" Rigel would ask. It seemed unfortunately obvious what would've happened to them all despite his earnest question.
"Rigel?" Cabra struggled to her feet, grunting through the pain of her injuries. "It was some animal. We were on a scouting trip and it just started attacking. I couldn't even fly away. That thing only stopped chasing us once we got far enough from it."
"You stumbled into the Devil Taker's territory," Chile would explain. "You wanna know that it's like? This is it," she'd say to Melissa. "It's an obsessive and territorial animal. No social skills and no instinct for cohabitation. Now come on, we've gotta get going."
"Have you ever seen injuries like this?" Rigel would ask Melissa. When Chile tried to start running again, Rigel would forcibly stop her, a hand on Chile's shoulder. "You're being too hasty," he'd explain. "If we're close to its territory, then we can find our way... at our own pace. You should help Cabra and them get some help." Chile looked insistent that she wanted to protest, but Rigel cut off her motor mouth again. "You're looking at soldiers that survived their fight with the Devil Taker. They fought on equal terms with us, even," he'd explain. "If you bring them to your fight, you'll have an experienced fighting squad to help you all out."
Chile still looked annoyed at the request, but eventually crumbled and acquiesced. She would help the other soldiers, and point out the rest of the directions to Rigel and Melisssa. It was unfortunate to lose their guide and allies. "At least we can walk the rest of the way, right?" Rigel would ask Melissa, before resuming their trek to the beast's territory.
"great....." Melissa uttered. She had hoped that this creature wasn't as strong as they had made it out too be. These people had primitive weapons and though they had some power to back them up, certain things could grow used to that power. Melissa and Rigel, even Cabra were foreign with different variatiants of powers. A strong man, a water manipulator and a flying lightning bolt squirrel. Yet Cabra was downed, perhaps the creature surprised them? "Were you aware of it? the Devil thingy? did it jump you?" she asked as she inspected the strange wounds. "I'm no doctor or animal specialist, but I'd say...these wounds were similair to....." she turned to Rigel. "Honestly, no idea" she said shrugging.
Melissa let out a soft snigger. "Equal Terms? You mean they kicked our butts" she said clapping a hand on Cabra's shoulder. She gave the flying squirrel a wink. "Melissa Devaroux, mermaid" she said. Winking once more as she looked around the forest. "We should formulate a plan right? Bait it out with someone. I don't mind being bait?" she volounteered. "If these guys are fighting alongside us then that gives us a better chance. Water and electricity are a pretty neat combination" Melissa said. Only to realise that Rigel didn't intend on taking them with them. "Damn" she said. "He's right though" Melissa said to Chile. "These guys are nice, make sure they get back safe. If theres anyone available as back up, send them our way" she said with a smile. Though it was faultering a little. She waited for them to head off before turning to Rigel.
"I guess it's just you and me, Devil killers? more like devil appertisers" she said, though she trudged on. "Gotta hope it hates sushi right?"
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 23, 2020 0:33:40 GMT -8
Cabra's subordinates seemed terrified by the idea of going another round with that beast. Even if the mink had spunk, those soldiers were seizing any opportunity to get well away from that fight, even if it meant moving to another battlefield, evidently. "I was trying to make us look good," Rigel would reply to Melissa. When Chile led the group off to another temple, they'd soon leave his field of vision. "Why don't you ever think up team attacks for us, huh? I can do cool stuff," Rigel would joke, beginning their walk to the territory of the beast.
Combination attacks aside, Rigel was trying to think up some kind of strategy for the beast. He wasn't much of a hunter of animals. His enemies were people with clear intelligence and well defined motivations. The guesses and hypotheses from the Shandorians weren't a tremendous amount of help in deciphering these things. He watched some small, darkly colored rodents scurry across some branches above him, trying to study the beasts while he walked, trying to think of a way to figure out their goal. As far as he understood, the only thing an animal wanted to do was to eat and mate. Even these rodents were scurrying to compete for some food at the end of the branches.
If the animal was alone on this island, then eating would be its only goal. Or perhaps it was lonely? "What does this thing want?" Rigel mused aloud. Melissa and him still had a short while before they'd broach the animal's territory, so a fair bit of planning seemed like the best way to spend it. "Do you have any insights on how to beat this thing? You're like a fish beast man, right?" Rigel knew it was far fetched, and possibly offensive, but he was basically grasping at straws.
Rigel would continued their conversation until reaching what seemed to be the border of the Devil Taker's territory. No lines or fence or signage marked the domain of the animal. It was the absence. Where the forest had teemed with the life of beasts large and small before, in entering this area, not a single thing roamed except for the beast, and for Rigel and Melissa.
"Ahhh my bad, we don't need help in looking good though" Melissa said striking what she would think was a seductive pose. Though she would move on as they walked. "Combination attacks?" She mused. "I honestly can barely come up with my own attacks. It sucks, most of what I can do is only good when theres a fuck ton of water. If we were in the water, I'd ruin you" she said laughing.
Melissa sighed softly. "Maybe we can let the thing eat us if its big enough to take us in one go. Then we just. Pop out of its stomach" she said. Though she certainly sounded serious and the look in her eye was serious too. "Honestly, I think the best thing to do is first find the fucking thing, I kinda wish it would just find us, My fins are so sore" she said moaning loudly. "DEVIL TAKER" She shouted loudly. "COME AND EAT ME. I'M A FISH BEAST MAN APPARENTLY, EVEN THOUGH IM NOT A BEAST OR A MAN" Melissa shouted sarcastically rolling her eyes at Rigel
"I'm a mermaid" she said. "Normally, mermaids are beautiful and more half human on top and a single fish on the bottom. But i'm diseaaassed" she said moving her fingers eerily. "Plague rain caused me to come out like this" she said motioning to her figure. "I used to hate it, the way I look, teased and bullied. But people shut up whenver I sang, they didn't care about my appearance whenever my voice was distracting them" she said eventually plonking herself down upon a fallen tree. "I need to sit down, my flippers are killing me" rubbing them gently. She took a drink from one of her water skins, the fresh water one. Offering it to Rigel.
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 24, 2020 1:06:44 GMT -8
"What? Coming up with some flashy technique and giving it a killer name, what's cooler than that?" Rigel would ask, only half jokingly. "I'll workshop something with you." If Rigel got to see her powers even closer, perhaps he could understand them a bit more. So far, the only devilish powers he'd seen on the island were Melissa's. "We can do some sparring, and I'll prove you wrong," he added, taking a fighting stance for a moment. "I always liked studying fighting. It's the same for me as studying the stars."
He laughed along to Melissa's plan for taking down the beast from the inside out, but couldn't take it seriously. "I don't think I like the idea of possibly becoming some Devil Taker crap." Normally, Rigel might fear that the mermaid's shouting would startle the nearby wildlife, but none was to be seen. The two pirates were the only living things around.
"Mermaid, right," Rigel accepted the correction. "I wonder if there's a doctor that could cure this kind of disease? I've heard that plague is bad news." Rigel imagined what his parents might think about the situation. He was sure they had medical colleagues that were researching the Rain Plague and ways to counter its averse effects. "I wonder how many other mermaids that would help! The ones that can't sing, y'know?"
Their break would go on for only a few more moments before being violently interrupted. Wind and heat crashed through the branches of trees above Melissa and Rigel.
It was the only beast around them, the only thing that stood in the domain of the Devil Taker. The beast, even on all four legs, exceeded ten feet in height and nearly fourteen in length. Its weight, presence and wingspan made it seem far larger. The beast didn't seem any sort of natural. Its fur patterns and piercings and temperament seemed manufactured, or at least trained. This beast wasn't natural to this island, just as the Shandorians had said. Nothing about it was natural. It was exciting.
"You got your wish," Rigel quietly said, bracing his body for a fight, cracking his neck from side to side. "Let's see what's so scary about this thing."
"There was one, when we travelled to Ohara, we read about a doctor who had found a cure, he stopped the rain once, but....he's long gone now" Melissa said, sadness filled her voice at the words. They had looked for a cure for so long. "Honestly, I'm done looking for it, if it happens it happens, but I don't wanna go my whole life just wondering what would happen if I got rid of the parts of me I didn't like. Maybe i'll become a cyborg and just get me a metal body" she said laughing.
"I'd like to fight ya, one day, maybe not just now though. I'm pretty sure on dry land, you have the advantage, but if theres a decent sized body of water, your all mine" she said with a wink as she rubbed her fin. She gave out a small yelp as the sound wind burst forth, the heat struck her, crawling into her throat ever so gently before yanking the moistness from her. She tried to clear her throat, but it only ended up creating more of a blockage. Though the ugh, sight of the Devilish creature allowed her to swallow the knot in her throat easily.
"NOPE. NOPE, NOOOOOOOOOOOO" she screeched throwing her hands into the air. "THERE IS NO WAY, NO FUCKING WAY WE CAN TAKE THIS BASTARD" she said as she turned. Looking to Rigel she shook her head. "THIS IS NOT WHAT I WISHED FOR. THIS THINGS GOING TO EAT US" yet as she screeched she began to pour water into her hands cupping it gently. "I'll move with you" she said rolling her eyes.
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 25, 2020 1:13:09 GMT -8
"Hey! A second ago you thought getting eaten was a good idea!" Rigel argued. The creature was terrifying, sure, but it was also new. That was what the pirate chose to focus on. In environments of harmony and beauty, this thing was outlandish and fantastical. Even to someone unfamiliar with the island, Rigel could tell it didn't belong. The Devil Taker probably thought the same thing of Rigel and Melissa, that they didn't belong either. "Besides! If it takes one of your arms then you can get started on that cyborg body!" Rigel's shouting caused the beast to focus its attention on Rigel.
The Devil Taker reared its head back, readying for a charge. From the boughs of the tree, the beast glided down towards Rigel, fangs closing in on the pirate. "Let's see if you're as scary as you look!" Rigel cocked his fist back, curling his spine away from the animal. "Cygnus Pluck!" Rigel's fist collided with a paw of the beast, meeting the Devil Taker on its descent. Rigel tried to match the beast's strength, but found himself pushed back by its weight and aggression. Rigel retreated from the force of his own punch.
Rigel laughed nervously. "Oh, man... maybe you're right, Melissa! I don't know if we can take this thing." The Devil Taker shook off Rigel's punch with little effort, prowling towards the pirates even closer. Rigel's technique could fell full grown man, but this beast was only momentarily inconvenienced. "I really want to find out, though."
The pirate would take another fighting stance to receive the Devil Taker's charge. As the chimera galloped towards Rigel, its snake tail would take aim at Melissa, spewing a narrow column of dark green haze at her. That green trail meant for a dangerous wake behind the Devil Taker.
Rigel would try to stand his ground against the charge, stepping up to the Devil Taker and receiving the beast into his arms. "Cassiopeia Dent!" The attempt to redirect the beast's energy into the earth would only somewhat succeed. Rigel would crash the Devil Taker into the ground, but feel the plunge of its claws into his side. A harsh slash across his flesh. Rigel understood the fear Cabra and her subordinates felt. That pain was gruesome. It was becoming quickly apparent why so many different people had trouble with the Devil Taker chimera.
Melissa watched Rigel with a semi smirk. His optimizing seemed to have no end. "YOU GOT THIS RIGEL" she shouted in support as she collected more water into her hands. She was preparing her own technique. "Or not" she concluded as Rigels strength was met with that of a much more powerful foe. He retreated and the beast swooped following. Now Melissa thought this creature nothing more than that a mindless beast driven by instinct. Yet its next move was that of an intelligent one. For as it swooped to meet Rigel, its tail released a green fog. Its range was pretty far, and Melissa couldn't clear it. She had to think fast as she moved the water in her pallms. Just in time. The fog over took her entire being, blanketing her, she couldn't see. She could hear but all her vision granted her was a hue of blue and green. She took in a deep breath.
Water span around her head, the poisonous fog unable to penetrate the barrier of water that protected her. Thank god for quick thinking. Her hands up at her side holding the large sphere of water that allowed her to breath without issues. Perks of being a mermaid, water was just like air to her, and fog couldn't penetrate it. She took a couple of deep breaths. The poisonous fog or so she presumed was beginning to prick her skin. She couldn't stay in there. She had to pick a direction. The last direction she saw Rigel in, she charged, She had to move quickly but safely, she couldn't risk falling and taking in the toxic stagnant air.
How long had it been since she had been in it honestly she didn't know. Eventually she burst through the smog, the ball of water still upon her head. "RIGEL" She shouted as she pulled the ball, the water beginning to spiral around her hands, rotating like buzz saws, while the droplets of waters that failed to connect would drip from her fingers, with a delicate flourish of her hands she shot them towards the creature, though she would hit they would not even dent the hide of the beast. "FUUUUUUUUUUK" she shouted as she moved towards the beast, blunt force may not work, but the woman would charge, aiming to bring the spinning blades across the snake like tail.
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 28, 2020 19:09:43 GMT -8
Rigel needed a moment to collect himself from the wound he'd taken. Lucky for him, Melissa was there to catch the burden he'd dropped. Drops of water exploded against the Devil Taker's hide, and he stumbled from the impact, thrown but not injured. Even her special powers weren't enough to make a mark against the chimera. Rigel ducked behind the trunk of a tree, tearing a piece of cloth from his shirt to swipe away to wrap his shallow cut. Even the smallest weakness wouldn't stand in a fight against something this ferocious.
Unfortunately, his cover wouldn't last long. The Devil Taker's thick horns would obliterate the tree that was hiding Rigel from it, felling the trunk and branches in a single, powerful attack. The direction of the fall forced Rigel to move. Melissa was moving to cut towards its tail. If the chimera beast pursued a retreating Rigel, then she'd have to chase it in turn, or be forced to miss. Rigel wouldn't be the reason for it to fail.
"I'll keep it steady!" Rigel promised, bracing for the beast's charge. Its claws raised up to strike down the mere human before it. Rigel couldn't let that happen. "Andromeda Bind!" He intercepted its attack, wrapping the animal's tendons inside his grip. The acceleration of the Devil Taker's attack was fully sapped. Instead of clawing up the pirate's body, it was struggling to move the front half of its body. This was difficult, but still didn't accomplish a whole lot. Its head still snarled and snapped, eager to close in on Rigel's body with its teeth, plus that wickedly venomous tail still writhed and hissed, dangerous in its own right.
The amount of weapons available to this chimera were plenty. The gravity of its hulking body was a difficult thing to control. Rigel was weaker than the Devil Taker, but he had technique, and he had a reliable partner watching his back, or in this case, their enemy's back. "Your turn, Melissa! Ruin this thing!"
Locked on, the mermaid and her buzz saw arms charged forth. The tail, the tail. Thats all that went through her mind. It was moving much like a snake ready to strike. Its eyes locked on her, why did its tail have eyes. How what....This creature was.. No she couldn't show fear. "YOUR TURN MELISSA, RUIN THIS THING". The voice of her partner fueled every thing in her. Each step felt stronger, each step she took, she cleared more ground than the one before it. The hissing creature shot forth when she was in range. Yet she did not back down. She charged as if her life depended on it....well it did.
She wasn't sure exactly what was worse. The hissing from the tail, the ferocious screech of pain from the Devilish creatures main mouth, or the sound of skin upon her whirling blades. She put her hands together as she ran, as the snake lunged, so did she. She threw herself with all the strength and weight of her entire being. There was an oomph from the force of the tail striking her, but the creatures wide maw had not been enough, The whriling blades caught its softer flesh from within, much like a blender the creature split from both sides, its body spinning around the saw's before being expended all while Melissa was in mid air. She landed on the ground, pain shooting through both her arms.
The creature would begin to rampage in pain, This at least bought Melissa some time to move out of the way, narry an inch of space seperated her and the creatures paw that would almost crush her. Scrambling with all the strength in her body, the woman of water pushed past to get to Rigel, she was ecstatic at taking the head....or well...the tail....yet something was wrong, her arms felt...heavy...sore, she was...she stumbled when she reached him. "Something....somethings wrong?" she said worry evident upon her face. Pain was shooting through both arms. a quick look would identify the cause, marks, above where the blades had been, long.... the tail had managed to bite her, a last strike before its death...."This is gonna fuck me up isnt it" she said wincing as she tried to move her arms. Though they would not have the time to sort it....the main body was still there, and it was probably pissed.
