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Post by bronydude on Jul 9, 2011 14:14:42 GMT -5
Wagon looked at Ranger and shifted on his hooves a bit, fighting had never been his idea of fun or something he wanted to do. His fighting skills were unknown to even himself having never found himself in a situation he couldn't talk his way out of.
Once Cloudfall had finished speaking Wagon had become aware that it was his turn to speak and he couldn't put off saying anything any more.
"Well..." He paused for a moment thinking about what it was best to say. "I have never really had to fight before but not because I run away or anything... just never had to before."
He looked around again and then thought of his bag opening it up. "I didn't know what to bring so I sort of grabbed a ton of stuff that might be handy as I left." He tipped the contents of the saddle bag out so he didn't miss anything.
"I always bring my tools with me, never know when a hammer could be handy or a wrench." He looked at the other miscellaneous tools he had brought with him comprising of various screwdrivers, a wrench and a few other odds and ends. "I also got told once that a knife was never a bad idea when out roughing it." He pointed his hoof at a small pen knife that lay beside his other tools. "I also thought that a blanket and some food would be a good idea not knowing how long we were gonna be out here."
He looked at Cloudfall, and then said "I may not be too small and quiet but if something needs moving you can count on me to get my hooves dirty getting it shifted."
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Post by mysticeyes on Jul 11, 2011 15:51:14 GMT -5
"Just do what you think is right really..."
Mystic Eyes allowed himself a grim chuckle. Who knew what was right in times like these? He certainly didn't. What he did know was that these woods, although beautiful in their natural state, made him a little nervous. Being a bison, he preferred open fields and plains where he could see clearly all around him. He noted that one of the ponies (Muse was it? Mystic had never been very good with some of these weird pony names) had had a similar idea and seemed to be glancing around the forest, looking for signs of movement. Well, Mystic certainly approved of that. He twitched his ears, listening for any strange noises that might not belong in a forest. His large head swiveled around as well, due to the positioning of his eyes, he had about a 330 degree field of vision. No one would sneak up behind him easily.
Up ahead, Trixie was fiddling with something she had pulled out of her pack. Mystic wanted to see what it was, but it was hidden by Trixie's head. He snorted, and then turned to the pony closest to him. It was no use in both of them looking all around and wasting energy.
"Muse right? If you watch on either side of us, I'll keep an eye out for our rear." His voice, gravelly at the best of times, sounded like a growl as he tried to be as quiet as possible. Mystic dropped back a little as he said this, keeping his eyes to the back like he had promised.
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Post by eclipse on Jul 12, 2011 1:56:38 GMT -5
Willow frowned a little at Trixie's instruction; she wasn't really sure what to do when there was almost no information to go by, and no one had answered her question. "So no one was able to figure out more about the monster based on the damage it did?" she said softly with a little disappointment tinged in her voice. She had been hoping they had gotten some information from the city to help them. At the very least a description of the damage...
She shook her head and sighed, trying to plan a course of action for herself. She couldn't help them find the monster, not with her current abilities. Maybe she could distract the ponies from Equestria, to give her teammates more time to hunt? After some consideration, she smiled deviously. She knew what she was going to try and do; hopefully it would work.
"No one follow these lights," Willow said in warning, generating a small ring of four flickering lanterns. She kept them as soft as she could, trying to match the ambient light around them(although they were still a bit brighter than she would've liked). Slowly she focused on spots in the horizon, casting them as far in each direction as she could, then suddenly changing their tone to a friendly yellow light that reminded her of fireflies, but brighter. This should waste some time for the other side, she thought cheerily.
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Post by musicmustang on Jul 12, 2011 3:46:46 GMT -5
As the group continued along the plant life was thicker he was having a hard time watching all sides, he was a bit relieved to hear that Mystic could watch their rear, He listened to Willow but didn't answer due to lack of knowledge he hoped Trixie would know... she had to have some plan right? But maybe she was right do what you think is best, and right now Muse had to be watching for anything around them. "actually Willow brings up a good point, maybe we can get a knowledge base from the damage that this creature did anything would help, its a lot better then nothing." Even though they were only walking Muse enjoyed the team work it gave him more hope for when they really need to work together.
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Post by ace on Jul 12, 2011 8:14:03 GMT -5
Ace's ears turned toward Willow as she voiced her warning, his head following suit. Well that's pretty cool looking he thought watching her conjure the ghost lights and scatter them. So they now had begun to take action. Mystic Eyes and Muse were keeping an eye on their surroundings and Willow had a plan to distract the opposing group,
"Just do what you think is right" seemed to be working out pretty well so far. The only question was, what could he do to contribute? Ace hated feeling so useless and decided the least he could do was provide conversation,
"So.....what are those lights supposed to do?" Ace asked, stepping back so that he'd be even with Willow.
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Post by The Great and POWERFUL Trixie on Jul 13, 2011 18:56:15 GMT -5
"I know that question wasn't directed at me, but Willow's idea is quite clever." Trixie slowed down to a trot, allowing the others to catch up to her. "The lights, at least from what I can guess since this is a somewhat stealth based operation, are decoys. Sent away from us to seem like lanterns carried by our group, leading the Equestrians to be fooled off of our trail and possibly distract the creature long enough for us to tranquilize it."
She held out the darts she removed from her saddlebags before. They were good sized glass needles filled with a sedative, and attached with fins for stabilization. "I just shoot these into the creature with my magic and it should be out for the better part of 24 hours." She safely deposited the darts back in her saddlebag and latched it closed with a metallic click.
"At least, that's what Watermark told me."
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Post by Red Charge on Jul 13, 2011 22:34:39 GMT -5
As both groups progressed deeper into the forest, they began to see a major difference, cobwebs decorated the trees, the noises of skittering legs could be heard all around them, and the canopy burdened by spider silk darkened their paths.
Something was obviously nesting in these woods, and whatever it was, it had minions all around the two groups. The odd sensation that they might be heading into a trap was not far from the minds of the brave ponies, but they hat to carry on, for the sake of their respective groups. They could not fail their leaders...
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Post by cloudfall on Jul 13, 2011 23:03:32 GMT -5
"Well... so much for flight...." Cloudfall muttered quietly to himself watched the trees they passed get more and more covered with webbing. The strings connecting the treetops could probably, maybe, be broken through, but he really didn't want to risk it. He could still fly around as long as he kept low, but even then, it would still be risky.
Glancing around quickly at the noises, and a chill ran down his spine. His mind started racing with ideas for what could be making those sounds, and with the webbing, there was a favorite that kept playing over of a shadow coming down and picking them off one at a time. He pushed the image to the back of his mind and shifted his stance as he walked. He didn't know what was out there, even if he had an idea, and he wasn't skilled at fighting, but he still wanted to be ready.
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Post by bronydude on Jul 14, 2011 14:33:30 GMT -5
Wagon looked around him as they carried on, the scenery and the sounds were certainly starting to make him feel a little anxious. This just didn't feel right, perhaps it was the dark trees or the sounds coming from beyond sight.
He looked up at the cobwebs wondering how big the spiders were that had made them, it was at least keeping his mind off the sounds but there also seemed to be a heavy feeling surrounding them.
He looked around straining his eyes to spot any movement to try and at least see what the noises were, he saw something out the corner of his eye briefly. He spun around to take a second look and he saw it again. A glimpse of a light in the distance. He stopped suddenly pointing a hoof out in its direction.
He quietly whispered not wanting to make any loud noises but also because he wasn't sure on what he had just seen. "Hey! Is it my eyes playing tricks on me or can anypony else see that light in the distance? Are there any towns in that direction?"
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Post by Selenia on Jul 16, 2011 23:05:24 GMT -5
Selenia continued steadfast with her group into the ever-darkening forest. The closing in of the canopy and excessive cobwebs around them was finally getting to her, and she admitted it was starting to be a tad creepy.
Selenia had no problem with spiders, but a giant one that was attacking a town would be a tad different. That is, if this creature was a normal spider anyway. She quickly shook off any doubt about the mission and trudged along through the underbrush of leaves and twigs, stumbling over the occasional root that eluded her detection.
She was well in thought about the inevitable encounter when she was shaken out of her mental planning session with Wagon's statement. She raised her eyes to the horizon, and she too saw the light that Wagon saw. She had a difficult time placing what could be making that much light, perhaps a bioluminescent creature? She dismissed that thought before it even managed to take form. Then it hit her.
"That must be the lantern of another group... But what would any other ponies be doing this far out of town, especially when a monster had been bashing up the town and everypony told to stay indoors while our envoy took care of it?" She pondered for a second, it could just be a harmless group of lost ponies, in which case somepony would have to lead them out of the forest, or it could be a trap, as rumors of a shadowy cult had been sprouting up, and they surely wouldn't want to pass up an opportunity to gain a unique and powerful addition to their ranks.
"We should probably check it out, the consequences of not helping whoever that is definitely outweigh the risks. We don't want any casualties, let alone civilian ones. That would be undesirable for everyone." Selenia pitched her opinion forward, hoping Ranger would oblige to offer a helping hoof to whoever was carrying the light, if it was anyone at all.
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Post by pelboy on Jul 17, 2011 16:08:03 GMT -5
Riot tilted his head to Selenia. “Do we have to?” Huffing a little, he quickened his trot, “This is Everfree Forest, there’s magic and monsters everywhere! A little light could be anything.” He really didn’t like the idea. He would never leave another pony on their own, that totally wasn’t cool. But that was just it; if it was a pony in need, why wasn’t Riot’s gut screaming at him to run to the rescue? And why would they be in Everfree forest? It’s not the sort of place you can accidentally wander in to and not realise! The same way you’d realise where you were if you fell into the ocean.
He knew that it was a tad out of place to try and direct the group when he was evidently no sort of leader, but from the past he’d learned that if something feels wrong, it probably is. Riot was much more focused now, and rather than blowing everything out of proportion he switched to a ‘Find it, finish it’ frame of mind. He heard unsettling noises as did the rest of the group, but now it was going to take more than some dumb noise to shake his resolve. “Seriously? Are these ‘minions’ even trying?” his confidence was growing to the point of getting cocky. “They think these noises are scary? Wait ‘til they get a load of me! Their ears won't ever stop ringing.”
He recognised that he was out of his league with the empty threats he taunted the trees with, but hey, if it gave him the confidence he needed to rely on, then so be it. “So, do we stay? Or do we go?” he looked at each member of the group in turn, searching for a deciding answer from somepony.
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Ranger
Acolyte Pony
I'm a wood-pony and I'm okay...
Posts: 136
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Post by Ranger on Jul 19, 2011 12:09:40 GMT -5
Ranger frowned at the light, "No way that light's natural." He surveyed the enviroment, "Density of trees as well as the cobwebs in the area would have blocked a natural light from that far. Whatever it is, that's magical. Could be a Will-O'-The-Wisp, but no one ever proved those existed. But then again, it could also be a unicorn." He motioned for everyone to stop, "Wait here." He ordered, "And if something happens, defend yourselves."
Slinking into the forest, Ranger quickly navigated himself towards the light, but already from distance, he could tell there was nothing there. No noise, the acoustics in this part of the forest were horrible, and any sound would have caused a raging riot. But no noise came from there. A ruse to draw attention, perhaps a trap even. Ranger frowned, before turning back. He saw a shadow zip across the tree tops, but couldn't tell what it was.
He had best return to his comrades.
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Post by eclipse on Jul 19, 2011 14:24:30 GMT -5
Willow nodded when Trixie explained her lights. Decoys, that's what they were... As they moved deeper in the forest, she shuddered a little as the scenery slowly got covered in cobwebs. "So this thing is a spider of some sort..." she said quietly, trying not to think of the stories she had read a long time ago about spiders who ate light. It was a fictional story, Willo'Wisp, don't let your imagination get the best of you, she chided herself, straightening up and heading forward, making sure to give the cobwebs a wide berth. They were pony-sized, so she had to assume they would snare a pony the same way smaller ones ensnared flies.
She was glad for her lanterns; even as far away as she had placed them, they provided a little extra visibility, lighting the trees several yards away with a soft yellow glow (only a glow, but better than nothing). Suddenly one of the lights flickered as a dark shape got between the lantern and her eyes. She started and watched the darkness for a moment before whatever it was moved on. "Do you think there's more than one of these things? Maybe it's a colony..." she said to no one in particular, fear in her voice. She knew their mission was capture, not elimination, but that really just meant that they were at a disadvantage if this thing attacked them. There were only so many of those darts of Watermark's, and when they were out they were in trouble.
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Post by musicmustang on Jul 22, 2011 0:52:45 GMT -5
Muse Though for a second then spoke up "Is it possible that the 'monster' is a massive spider and the 'minions' are just its offspring?" he asked the group of ponies and one Bison. "Also by how deep we have to go into this forest and how dense it is I'd say that they aren't fond of the light." Muse was just spit balling but any information he could get before hand the better he didn't like going in without much information. Muse walked quietly as he grew worried that speaking could attack un-invited guests to their group.
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Post by mysticeyes on Jul 22, 2011 6:19:57 GMT -5
The spiders didn't worry Mystic Eyes, the darkness did. His eyes were pretty useless in the dark, and although he had a great sense of smell, all the dank woodsy smells were getting in the way of him picking up a good scent. He was starting to feel a little blind.
Oh well. If those spiders came his way with malicious intent he would just charge right through them. Simple, but effective. He was sure he could escape harm even if they were quite sizable.
At Muse's words Mystic let a small smile flit across his face. This pony was smart, that was for sure, and Mystic approved.
"I'd say you're right about that." Mystic said quietly, "luckily for us, we have a filly who seems to have a talent for creating light." He nodded toward Willowisp who seemed fearful at the thought of a colony of spider creatures.
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